New trends come and go all the time and one of the latest trends is going back to homes and styles of the 1940′s, 50′s and 60′s. People are rediscovering the charm and architectural styling of that era. There’s a growing population that instead of eradicating existing structures and styling is interested in resurrecting the post modern styles inherent in these homes.
20 million new homes were built in the US during the baby boom years of 1945-1960 and most of them in the suburbs. There were 3 predominant styles during that period. They were, the Ranch style, the Colonial and Cape styles, and this is also when split levels came into vogue. These homes were typically 1,100-1,700 sq feet and while this may be on the smaller side by today’s standards, they had a spirit of an age to come “green”. Their compact footprint takes less fuel to heat, fewer chemicals to clean and less material to renovate.
Really the time is now for homes built in that era. They have become the more affordable houses on the market today. They are also often filled with hidden treasures like architectural elements that can be highlighted, original wood flooring that can be re-surfaced, or original appliances that can be re-furbished and set as the center pieces to your retro reno.
The great thing is that you can still do practical modern upgrades that’ll improve the functionality of your home while doing a retro reno. Some of the modern features that can be taken advantage of can include energy-saving features like solar energy systems, heat pumps and continuous flow hot water systems. This all can be done by paying attention to stylistic details that’ll add that retro spark.
There’s actually a lot on the market in terms of retro influenced design elements to help you re-create the original spirit of your home because of the interest in these sorts of renos. Searching for original retro pieces in good working condition can add even more original flair to your design. This process may not be as speedy as a “modern” renovation but the hunt is part of the fun and the satisfaction in such a reno. If you work slowly to collect all the parts before you start your reno.
If you’re racking your brain, wondering where to source out your retro reno materials, check out some of these ideas: -Craigs list, -EBay, -freecycle.org, -recycle.net, -restorationandbuidlingserices.com, -Your local Thrift, Goodwill, Salvation Army and Estate sales, -Local salvage yards, flea markets and swap meets and -Auctions
Another great resource that has sprung up is a new blog called retrorenovation.com. Here you’ll find daily updates on retro styling tips for your kitchens and bathrooms. It is a great source for retro inspired wallpaper, countertop materials, flooring, lighting and furniture, as well as cultural inspiration from books, exhibits and advertising.
If you’re thinking of searching out the perfect mid century home to retro reno, you’ll want to be looking for a place that has good indoor/outdoor flow. You’ll also want to look for flexible living spaces that’ll give you different options of opening things up into larger spaces, or sizing them down into smaller spaces. You’ll also want to look for a place that has consistent interior detailing including doors, base boards, moldings and ceilings.
These are all things that can help you bring the retro character of your home to life.