Hi -

I was looking around the Sears archives and came across this home:
[URL=http://www.arts-crafts.com/archive/sears/page42.html]

It's the closest floor plan to the home we just purchased in Western PA. The home we just purchased has a living room to the right when you walk in the front door and a dining room to the left. It is one big room, though. The kitchen is right behind the dining room. Plus, there is one more room off the living room that could be a family room or even an extra bedroom.

You walk straight through the living room to go up the steps. There are two huge bedrooms behind the row of roof windows. Behind the one bedroom is another 10 x 10 bedroom (or trunk room). There is a bathroom upstairs as well as an enclosed sleeping porch.

I've attached a picture of our home for comparison. Do you think it could be a Westly?

I'm excited to be able to get furniture, decorate, etc... knowing the style of the home we just purchased.

Thank you for any input.
Kristi

Here is a side view of the home.

Thank you again!
Kristi

Nope. The exterior should be pretty much a spot on match. The dormer needs to match - there should be the Sears five piece eaves brackets on the eaves as well as the distinctive proch columns.

Check out this link at the old house web for a story about a Westly with actual photos.
www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/detailed/12265.shtml

When Sears designed their kit houses, they copied popular homes of the day so many other houses have tons of things in common with Sears homes, including floor plans.

It is a GREAT looking house though!

Donna

moved and merged - one topic one thread, please and thanks - no need for three separate threads

Stonecat, Moderator

kristi
Member
Posted 03-10-07 09:54 PM
Hi -

We just purchased a home in Western Pennsylvania built in 1914. I only have two exterior pictures for now that I have attached. Is there any way from the attached pictures to determine which style the home is?

Thanks for your help!

Home_front.jpg (23 Kb, 27 downloads) Front of House

Posts: 8 | Registered: 03-10-07

kristi
Member
Posted 03-10-07 09:56 PM Hide Post
Side view of home.

Thank you.

Home_side.jpg (2 Kb, 19 downloads)

Posts: 8 | Registered: 03-10-07

Ignored post by kristi posted 03-10-07 09:56 PM Show Post

Bev
Member
Posted 03-10-07 11:16 PM Hide Post
Congratualtions, you are the proud owner of a classic A & C Bungalow. There are experts on this forum who can tell you exactly who made it and if it is kit house. (I think it is, but this is not my area of expertise.) Sometimes, they can tell you the span of years it was offered, and even the page number of the catalog that it was ordered from.

It has a porch that goes across the full length of the front of the house, a classic sloping roof line and that tiny series of roof windows that let light either into unifinished attic space or a couple of upstairs bedrooms.

It is a wonderuful house. Please post pictures of the the inside when you have a chance.

Bev.
Posts: 185 | Registered: 05-11-06

Ignored post by Bev posted 03-10-07 11:16 PM Show Post

kristi
Member
Posted 03-11-07 08:47 PM Hide Post
Hi Bev -

Thank you so much for the input. I kind of thought that it was, but thought this would be the place to find out for sure. It is the house we've always wanted and feel blessed to have it.

It has two huge bedrooms behind those roof windows and another smaller bedroom and bathroom upstairs. It also has an enclosed sleeping porch upstairs.

I will post more pictures after I go to the home inspection this Wednesday. I will also look around the forum some more. I would love to get more information on the house.

Thank you again. This is such a huge help.

Kristi
Posts: 8 | Registered: 03-10-07

Ignored post by kristi posted 03-11-07 08:47 PM Show Post

Ralph Jones
Member
Posted 03-12-07 07:22 AM Hide Post
Good Morning Kristi,
There are about five such houses here in London, Ohio but, since they were built before I was born I can't be of much help to you as to whether they were kit houses or not but I don't think the kit homes came on the scene till after the first world war. I have been in several of them adding insulation as well as laying floors where there was no floor before.

Some had open spaces the full size of the house.
You truly have a nice find in your house.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

http://hometown.aol.com/ralj7/index.htm
Posts: 817 | Location: London, Ohio | Registered: 12-21-04

Ignored post by Ralph Jones posted 03-12-07 07:22 AM Show Post

kristi
Member
Posted 03-12-07 03:25 PM Hide Post
Hi Ralph -

Thank you so much for your input. I've posted over on the Kit Home forum as well to see if there is any input there that can help me learn more about the house. I searched around some of the archives, and the floor plan of our home looks a lot like the Sears "Westly."

I am excited to know for sure that it is Arts and Crafts Style. I can now get some new furniture, decorate, etc... with that in mind.

It truly is the home we've always wanted and my husband and I feel so blessed to be able to buy it.

Thank you for your input. This is truly a great forum. I've learned so much on it just looking around and reading old posts.

Kristi
Posts: 8 | Registered: 03-10-07

Ignored post by kristi posted 03-12-07 03:25 PM Show Post

Bev
Member
Posted 03-13-07 10:45 AM Hide Post
I wish I knew if anyone had reprinted any catalogs of the companies that made kit homes between 1900-1930. They would be a good resourse for people like you.

I think IU came across a book on the web of kit homes but I didn't keep a record of it. Sorry.

Bev.
Posts: 185 | Registered: 05-11-06

Ignored post by Bev posted 03-13-07 10:45 AM Show Post

Donna Bakke
Member
Posted 03-13-07 11:37 AM Hide Post
Do a search for Sears houses on Ebay. there are several reprints on CDs that are available for under $25. Also search amazon because dover has reprinted the 1926 Sears Modern Homes Catalog and a couple others too.

Rose Thornton has published a couple of books on Sears homes. One tells the history and how to identify them and the other highlights the top 60 designs sold by Sears with actual photos of the homes as well as the catalog pictures.
It aslo details how to ID the homes.

Donna
Posts: 87 | Location: Cincinnati, OH USa | Registered: 07-08-02

Thank you to all for your input. It has been extremely helpful.

When we put the offer on the house, we just knew that we loved it but knew nothing else about it. Since it was built in 1914 and looked Arts and Crafts, I decided to post here and see what I could learn.

I've ordered a couple of books through the library that have been recommended on this website. We go up for our home inspection tomorrow. I'll take some interior pictures as well as pictures of the street. There are quite of few homes like the one we bought in Grove City (PA). It makes sense since the town boomed during the turn of the century.

Our realtor is also on the board of the Grove City Historical Society so I will be talking to her about the history of the home tomorrow as well.

Thank you again for the information. This forum has really helped to get me on my way to understanding my home and loving it even more (as if that were even possible). : )

Kristi

Dear Kristi,

Take a picture of the fireplace and any built-ins. You are so lucky to find such a gem. It will be an adventure to rehab and furnish your new home in A & C.

Bev.

Hi -

Below is a link to the pictures I took of the home when we were there for the inspection.

One of the reasons I was confused about the style is the fact that there are no built-ins around the fireplace. I'm wondering if someone removed them along the way (that is just so sad). Thankfully, my father-in-law is a woodworker so that can be easily fixed.

Someone also removed half of a wall between the dining room and kitchen.

Thanks again for all your help. Enjoy the pictures.

Kristi

http://photos.walmart.com/shareethumbnailshare/AlbumID=...1/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB