Greetings to the board-

My girlfriend and I just bought an Arts and Crafts Bungalow in MA. While we are only the fourth owner since 1916, I am very interested in learning more about all of the details of this house...I am hoping you all can help up with the identification. I lack the experience to fully and accurately ID this house and its vintage. I fear that it might be a hybrid but I an note sure if it is a kit or something else...

The house was built in 1916 and has many of the period details are intact. There are a few original stained glass details, including 2 full length stained glass doors entering into the dining room. I have attached a few photos of the house, I have over 200 from the sales process, so if there are any other details that you would like to see, just let know - I am sure that I have it. I also have a video from Coldwell Banker that takes you through the entire house. If this would be helpful to you, just let me know, and I can email it as well.

Can you help me to ID this house?

Many thanks in advance - Jamie and Mary.

Here are some photos and a floor plan -

Can anyone lend me a hand here? Best wishes for the holidays - Jamie and Mary.

Wish I could be of help - its not a Sears that I recognize but I don't know what it is. The interior looks gorgeous!

Thanks...I appreciate you looking into it!

Still searching for information... Jamie.

Dear Jamie and Mary,

The woodwork looks like it is in excellent shape--no paint. Was it restored before you bought it?

Is there a second story that you can get to with stairs or do you just access it through a hole in a closet? It looks like you have a garage under with some of your photos.

Great house. But I also don't recongize the floor plan.

Sometimes if you search the original records at the court house, you might be able to find the original permits to build the house. That might tell if it was an original design or pre-fab A & C house.

You are very lucky to find such a gorgeous house.

Bev.

Jamie & Mary,

Bev has given you great advice. I would do my research at the City or County Building Development offices to see what records exist concerning your property. An Historical Society in your town might be able to give you further information. There also may be folks in the neibourhood who might know some of the history of your home or other homes in the area.

Congratulations on your new home.

Fred

Thanks Donna, Bev and FZweig -

Yes, there was some substantial renovations done on the house in 2000 (all new systems - electric, plumbing and heat) but really it is all original, with just a few exceptions.

As for a second floor, there are stairs from the far side of the kitchen (from that hall way) that lead up to a < 800 sq ft second floor. There is no attic space to speak of, not even a crawl space, but there are a few eve storage closets.

There is also a garage, that I think was part of the original construction. It is a 2 car garage that is next to the house and separate. There are some old heating pipes out to it, that were never connected that we might use to bring electricity out there from the main house.

Good suggestion checking the original deed and construction permit records. I have already made a few trips, but all I can find is records back to the 40's - I need to visit the state archives and see what I can find, but alas that is not a small project.

The previous owners have done a really nice job maintaining the house in its pristine state... if you are ever in the greater Boston area, drop us a note and come by for a visit.

Jamie.

Oops - Just realized that I only posted the floor plan for the first floor but I seemed to have missed the second -

Here is the second floor:



and just to be complete, the first:

You are so lucky--you have more than one bathroom. They did a great job with the renovations. I really admire that kitchen. I get really tired of seeing all white kitchens--I know that white is authentic but it seems to be over used. The wood cabinets are a nice touch for the kitchen and enhances the period look.

When we were looking in the Boston area for a house a few years ago (ending up not taking that job), the Real Estate agent told us that nobody wanted A & C houses. They were hard to sell and advised us not to buy one. (We had planned to ignore his advice.) Has the market for A & C houses changed?

I envy you that wonderful house. Is the A & C furniture and pottery yours or the previous owner?

This forum is a great place to find sources to fill up a house like that with A & C antiques and reroductions rugs, fabrics, pillows, etc. You will have lots of fun.

I know of a guy in Southern NH who deals in A & C furniture. He is a great guy and started us on our collection many years ago.

Happy New Year and best wishes in your new home!

Bev.

Thanks Bev -

Yes, are very lucky, especially since the market in the Boston area is so quirky.

We would love to know your contact in Southern NH, since we are essentially starting from scratch when it come to furnishing this place. The stuff you see in the photos are from the previous owners, whom we both think have very good taste, but alas it is all going.

Thanks again for your thoughts and ideas... JAmie.

You are going to have a blast.

It is easy to find A & C chairs, footstools and library tables but hard as heck to find bedroom furniture. The settles and couches are beautiful designs but often uncomfortable. Soon, you will surprise yourself. You will buy that one piece of furniture that suddenly makes the room look all mission.

I will be looking up that dealers info for you and put it in my next e-mail.

If you want to really learn about A & C furniture, get the reprints of the original catalogs for Gustave Stickley, Limbert, Roycrofts, etc. They are cheaper than the beautiful coffee table books that give you great ideas for A & C interiors. When you are starting from scratch, those catalogs will let you recognize a hidden jem and buy cheap.

We started off with generic furniture and now are replacing pieces with Stickley and Limbert. We have most of our furniture and now collect pottery, linens and metalware.

Good luck, and Happy New Year,

Bev.

It's not a design that I recognize as being one of the 370 Sears kit homes, however...

Probably 1/3 to 1/2 (guesstimate) of Sears Homes were modified and customized, so that makes positive identification pretty challenging. There's also the fact that, prior to 1918/1919, house sales for Sears were pretty anemic.

There was also Bennett Homes (based in New York) and someone else...whose name eludes me. It could be a kit from one of those firms.

Rose