Ted and Marzie just closed on their “new” 1948 ranch house. But… do we really call it a ranch house, when the facade also has some delicious Streamline Moderne married to it? And… how should they decorate? Ted wants our ideas — and has sent photos to inspire our input. The invitation is out: time for all of us to put out thinking caps on and play decorator-designer!
Ted writes:
Hi, I have a problem I’m hoping you and your readers can help me with. I just purchased a house because it spoke to me, only I can’t quite figure out what it is saying yet. It’s giving me mixed messages. The house is a 1948 ranch with the typical long, low horizontal lines of a wide, single story house with a hip roof and big overhangs, combined with the strong vertical lines of a curved glass block and brick Art Deco “Waterfall”, or “Streamline Moderne” entry. So is it a mid-century modern ranch, or is it Art Deco or just plain eclectic?
Some details have been lost over the years, but some remain like the original pink and blue bathroom, and there was a swinging kitchen door found up in the attic with a round port in it reminiscent of a ship (think Streamline). The bathroom addition to the right with its high, small windows is totally wrong, and the rest of the interior is just plain vanilla post war ranch with its plain, narrow trim and 8′ ceilings.
I have some ideas, many actually, but I’m struggling to come up with a cohesive direction to go with for this house as far as design inside and out. Do I use the remaining original bathroom with its worn tile as my inspiration, and match the new kitchen to it, or do I go with a more modern (1950’s/1960’s) feel throughout? Personally, I’m seeing red countertops and light birch cabinets for the kitchen on the inside, and sunny yellow with bright blue doors and grey trim for the exterior. I admit, I’m typically drawn to Arts & Crafts/Revival houses of the 1930’s with their warm, custom crafted details, so I’m a little out of my element.
I’d love to hear what ideas you and your readers have, including directing me to vendors that might fit the bill.
Ted, whatever you call it, I love it — thank you for sharing; congratulations; and hooray that this house has made its way into thoughtful hands. And I love your sense of humor. Yes, readers say they listen to their houses, too, and sometimes it even gets… spooky! Okay, readers, here’s your chance:
- What to call the style of this house?
- How to remodel in a way that suits the original architecture — kitchen, bathrooms, colors for the exterior, and general ideas welcome!
Melanie says
I have no idea what you’d call it, but it’s wonderful! If it were mine, I’d play on the art deco aspects and go that direction with the decorating.
The exterior has all kinds of fun stuff going on that just needs some color to set it off. Perhaps some soft greens?
BungalowBILL says
I think you can fit your love of arts and crafts into that home easily, just go more towards the European Secession style. Would fit perfectly.
Pam Kueber says
Golly, I need to study up! Hi, BB!!!!!
Ted Crocker says
Me too. European what?? Gotta look that up. Thanks BB.
Felicia Alexander says
“European Secession” = Art Nouveau as it was practiced and developed in Central Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, etc.) in the 1890s through the turn of the 20th century. The best-known artists who practiced this style are probably Gustav Klimt, and Alphonse Mucha. The general term in German for the Art Nouveau style is “Jugendstil” (literally, “youth style”). among others. The Vienna Secession (“Wiener Secession”), which included Klimt and others (including some architects) was a specific submovement within the genre. The curvy lines characteristic of the style would certainly complement the glass block walls of Ted and Marzie’s house, but I’d be judicious with it and avoid going overboard.
Stephanie says
What a cool house – congrats! I would not be surprised if this home was designed in the ’30s, but construction was delayed because of the war. The moderne touches give it real interest and glamor.
Do an internet search for Miami in the ’40s for some great examples of the moderne style, as well as colors and interiors. It wasn’t all the pastels that we tend to associate with Miami now – there were warmer tones and lovely deeper palettes.
And that bathroom is a true treasure.
Ted Crocker says
It really kills me not knowing the back story for this house. I know it was a custom home for a doctor. So how did he or his wife chose this design – the only one in this town I live in? So far it’s a mystery I’m dying to solve.
Felicia Alexander says
See if your county assessor’s office can pull up the early records for the property to get the name of the original owner. Then, in addition to doing an Internet search, get thee to thy local public library. If your town had a local newspaper and was small enough at the time for the building of an unusual house by an affluent local resident (and/or a local architect) to be news, you may get lucky and find a newspaper article about it. Also look for “parade of homes” features in the local paper during the first eight or ten years of the house’s existence. Best of luck!
Lisa Pildes says
Great idea and look up the owners, too. Maybe you can find kids, cousins, neighbors who remember the inside. Is there an online neighborhood group (like Nextdoor)? Post a request for info. Good luck and enjoy yourselves!
Nanette Wallace says
Beautiful house! LOVE THE BATHROOM and the glass block, it’s fantastic! I hope you keep that bathroom, it’s a gem. The house is reminiscent of ours which was built in 1945. Ours looks like a ranch from the front/street view but it’s actually a Bungalo with wings attached on both ends which give it a traditional ranch look. We also have glass block in our kitchen and I’ve added it in other areas of the house as well. Many of the features / fixtures etc in our home were from the 1930s since the house was built during the war, new things weren’t being made at that time so the builders went with deco era stylings for lights, door knobs etc. It’s been classified as Transitional Ranch. I’d say yours is a streamline Moderne as well which is also falls into the transitional ranch period.
I have a friend with a 1948 house that has many similar features to yours, they call it Streamline Moderne. It’s very very original and decorated to the 9’s. You may find a lot of wonderful inspiration in her home:
http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2016/04/1948_streamline_moderne_home_t.html
Pam Kueber says
So many longtime readers (and contributors) are commenting on this story. You are all still here! I’m crying.
mimi says
Of course we’re still here. There’s only one retrorenovation!
Carol says
We know you have been busy, life happens and Kate moved on,(wiping tears) so we realize why the posts have thinned. But, just know this, if you’re here, we’re here.
Pam Kueber says
🙂
GS says
Love that Portland home! Wow. I agree it could be a nice inspiration to this home.
The Other Theo says
This article defines Art Deco and Streamline Moderne (or Art Moderne) in ways that more firmly put your house in the latter rather than the former:
http://circaoldhouses.com/art-deco-art-moderne/
Specifically, the house aims for the horizontal rather than the vertical and aims for minimalism rather than ornate detail.
Ted Crocker says
Horizontal and minimal. That is what I will focus on and highlight.
Tiny says
I grew up on a street with a very similar house! I loved going in there. It had the exact same curved glass block windows. The kitchen had dark blue linoleum floors and red countertops with the chrome trim. The cabinets were white, and there was a curved eat in booth type table with blue vinyl upholstery.
The exterior was similar too. It was white, with the same brick around the entrance and a navy blue door. I loved it since it all since it seemed so exotic.
You might consider a privacy fence around the patio made either of glass blocks or concrete blocks which were common to the era.
Retro Retro says
Tiny that kitchen sounds delicious.
Thanks for the kitchen color scheme ideas!
Kylllikki says
Tiny: Sounds like a perfect kitchen for that house!, Amazing how the owner was visualizing red counter-tops – must have been channeling the original kitchen 😉
Ted Crocker says
In our kitchen, I see linoleum floors, and a round ended countertop combined with a round ended settee attached perpindicular to the countertop.
Heidi Swank says
One last comment: If you are looking to make your windows more energy efficient, please do not replace them. It is about a 40 year return on investment. Plus, there are many other more cost effective options to window replacement.
See the National Trust’s Saving Windows, Saving Money publication that is easily locate-able through a Google search.
Heidi Swank says
I looked up your house in my go-to house guide: A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia McAlester.
You have a late Art Moderne home. McAlester defines these as having a smooth exterior wall surface, usually of stucco; flat roof, usually with a small ledge (coping) at the roofline; horizontal grooves or lines in walls and horizontal balustrade elements give horizontal emphasis; facade usually asymmetrical.
I would guess that the sliding glass door is a marker of this being a very late Art Moderne home. This style of home was popular between 1920-40, taking over for the earlier Art Deco style. Both Art Deco and Art Moderne residential buildings are not super common, so I would suggest taking care to put back and keep as much of the originality of the building as possible. If nothing else, that will help with home value.
The Field Guide is pretty cheap to get, and it has several excellent photos of this style of home. I particularly like photo 7 on pg. 585 from Daly City, CA.
This is quite the find! Congratulations! Can’t wait to see the progress.
Pam Kueber says
Hi, Heidi! Thanks!
All: Here’s the Field Guide, I have a copy too, but it’s packed away while I remodel the Mahalo Lounge. Easily found on Amazon (affiliate link): http://amzn.to/2veQSwI
Bette Jean says
Speaking of your Mahalo Lounge…when finished how ’bout a contest with the prize being a cocktail party at your house? Pick several winners…our responsibility to get there. Winners rsvp to you, any regrets just rinse, lather and repeat til you get a full house. Heck, I’d come from sunny FLA even in the winter. In fact, I should automatically be invited for thinking of it! ????Can’t wait for the reveal.
Ted Crocker says
Daly City is very near to me. Wish I could see the picture.
For me, it is the combination of the hip roof with the Streamline Moderne facade that I find so intriguing. Most in the US are flat roofed per the guide. Every house I come across with a similar setup seems to be located in Australia.
Meschelle Sahli Dolak says
Ship-Shape Mod. Love the whole thing (except the kitchen cabinets)! Fill it with things you love, and then you’ll love it always. Good luck with your reno, and congratulations!
Ted Crocker says
Thank you. Those kitchen cabinets are 1980’s oak with cheap boxes. They’ve gotta go, probably to the garage for storage.
Linda says
Wow – what a stunner! As said – live in it a bit, fix up the front, you’ll get a better idea of what you want. My home is a 1952 ranch, I’m like you in your style preferences. If you think about it, when you buy a home you don’t bring in all new things – it’s a mix of things you already have & new – so going from the mid 30’s thru the 50’s would be ‘realistic’. If you avoid most extreme examples of style, I think you’ll find things you naturally love end up mixing nicely. At least that’s been my experience. It’s HARD – but go slow. And PLEASE keep us posted on your progress! Best of luck :>
Retro Retro says
I have to endorse what Linda advises – 100%.
GO SLOW!
Move in what furniture you have and want to keep – and maybe do nothing more right now but paint the interiors. Eggshell white, and bone white are classic interior paint colors of that era (especially for mid-century modest homes). Plus, those colors let you easily and quickly change the color schemes with just the room furnishings and accessories.
Congrats on your “new” mid-century find! Have fun with it!
Ted Crocker says
Good point on the interior colors.