I'm re-posting this here from the 'kit homes' forum - I think it may belong here better!

Hi guys,

OK, I didn't get any responses on whether or not my house is a kit home. I'm thinking that means it probably isn't! But I'm still trying to figure out what 'style' or design my house is.

I am about to remodel the kitchen. I'm knocking out the partial wall between the kitchen and dining area (because both are way too small), putting in new cabinets and appliances, etc. I love my house and want to stay true to its original style and design. Problem is, I don't know anything about house style and design! My house has arched doorways, glass doorknobs and hardwood floors. But I don't know the first thing about architectural periods to know what the means!

Can anybody help me figure out what style my house is, so I can make good choices about my kitchen remodel? I'll post some photos of the outside and inside below. Thanks for any help you can offer!


http://s685.photobucket.com/al...0my%20house%20style/

Hayley

Hello My friend,
That is a stick built house of the late forties and early fifties and the give away is the fact that it is setting high as we used to call them for the foundation is at least 3 courses of cinder block above finished ground. Your stoop as they called them left nothing more than room to open the front or back door to let yourself into the house. Another trait was there were no side overhangs and for years people were complaining about the weather being blown into the house as a result of the lack of overhangs. The front and rear of the house usually had maybe a 6" over hang and that was all. I'm sorry but, it is not a kit home.
Go to your Auditor's office to find what book it is in at the records office and you will find not only when it was built but the first owners of the house and all through the history of the house and how many different owners there were before you bought it.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Ralph,

Thank you so much for your response! I'm glad to know a bit about my house. Also, glad to know for sure it isn't a kit house. I'm a little disappointed but I suspected as much and I'm just glad to know.

Mine is the only raised foundation on the block, and I have often wondered about it. I plan to do landscaping this year or next to "screen" the foundation in front with some evergreen-type shrubs and flowers.

I definitely see why people didn't like the lack of overhang - it is certainly a disadvantage. However, I love my house and think it's adorable so I don't plan to change that any time in the future (when the roof needs replacing in 5-10 years, for example).

Do you have any advice/recommendations for the kitchen remodel, as far as sticking to the current theme/design of the house? I am planning white cabinets with glass mullions to match the existing ones (which I unfortunately will have to remove as there are so very few of them and they are impossible to match exactly without expensive custom cabinets). Also, I plan to extend the hardwood into the current kitchen area to match the rest of the house. Other than that, I'm a bit stuck as far as cabinet hardware, color of appliances, should I do valances and/or shelves over the windows, etc.

Also, I am considering losing the small side window in the kitchen to get more cabinet space. There is a door with windows three feet to the left, as well as a window around the corner about four feet to the right. Is losing a window in favor of wall cabinetry a bad idea?

Thanks again for the info! I understand if you don't have time to answer all the questions, but thanks for reading.

Hayley

Retain the kitchen cabinets, maybe create a space in the dining room to use them as a china hutch or something. It will be far enough away from the kitchen that comparisons won't show the differences so much.

I'd stick with white appliances. If you wanted to do something really cool, look for an old c. 1940s Magic Chef or Tappan range. They are built like battleships but have such a lot of character.

If you can track down old Youngstown, Geneva, American Steel cabinets, you might be able to refurbish those. They are also way cool.

Your house also would have had linoleum (not vinyl!) floors and either tile or linoleum counters.

For the bathroom, look for vintage 40s fixtures ... pink is classic. If you haven't looked at Flickr there are lots of images for mid century vintage kitchens for design inspiration.

I have a bunch of tiny kitchen designs from the 1940s that I've been collecting. Some are extremely clever.

Also, since it's not Arts & Crafts, you might check some of the other sites that are more tuned in to your particular period & style (i.e., mid century minimal traditional).

Rikki

Please help identify our future house. It was built in 1915 in Minnesota.

All of the woodwork and floors have never been sanded or stained!

Lisa

where are you in MN? my house is similar to this. I live in Como park St Paul or as I call it gods country ha ha......

Hi. We almost bought in St Paul! We loved the Crocus area. Due to school, work, etc, we leaned over to Minneapolis..the house is in north Lynnhurst/south East Harriet neighborhood.

I am brand spanking new to this forum! I would love to see pics or hear about your house. What year was it built? What have you done renovation wise? Are there any local groups devoted to restoration?

We close on this in May. It is a true two story, with 3 br up. The attic and basement are raw...which is what we wanted.

Have a super day!
L

our home was built in 1917, we also have a full two story with 3 bedrooms upstairs. here is a pic of my dining room.

WOW. Beautiful. I love the table. It looks very similar to the one I grew up with. I only have the top of it left. It broke in one of the moves.

Great pottery too! What a nice room.

Since yours is a two story also, I assume your staircase up is to the side? Also, could you describe your bathroom? Ours has a tub/shower combo that has to be added later....

Lisa

Hello Lisa,
Welcome to the Arts and Crafts Society and I am sure you will find many things that you will like as you travel through the many forums.
Please come back often.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Arts and Crafts Junkie,
I sure like your dining room as it reminds me of my grand mothers dining room especially the china cupboard as she had one exactly like it.

The corner protection is a good wall saver for they are easier to replace than the corner which in those days was plaster.

I would love to see you whole house as it would bring back some great memories to me.

Ralph

Hi Ralph,

Thank you for the welcome! Any thoughts on our house?

Lisa

is that your dining room built-in? cool glass

It is in the dining room! I love your bonsai btw. I had a Ficus Benjamin that was over 25 year old, and it had some horrible infestation while we lived in Georgia....(southern bugs!) and died. I have not been able to get another one, it makes me so sad!

you have a good eye, I think bonsai trees go great with arts and crafts

Lisa have you been to Eastwood gallery in ST Paul www.eastwoodgallery.com? they specialize in A & C antiques they also host the 9TH ANNUAL TWIN CITIES ARTS & CRAFTS AND 20TH CENTURY MODERN SHOW at the fair ground. also check out the twin city's bungalow club /www.bungalowclub.org/
if you want to come over and check my place out send me and email come on over...

Thank you! I would love to come visit. We are still playing with dates on when to drive from Tucson to Minneapolis...

Another question. In remodeling, have you kept original windows or used the more energy eff. type? We are going to have to make this decision soon....

we do have the original windows, changing them in a 100 year old house is a bad idea, new ones never fit, our houses are crooked for new windows. When it comes to windows its all about the seal between your windows and your storms, I am in the middle of replacing ugly aluminum storm windows with original wood storms, with the proper seal they are as good as it gets pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease do not get rid of your original windows.