Newbie-Hi! Want to ID the Style of this House, 1937 in Mich

[sparkie]

Hi!

I was looking for an architects forum and found you. If thereis a more appropriate website please suggest.

Link to front elevation view:

I just bought this foreclosed house right next to my newly widowed Mom, 82 yrs old...My mom, not house. House is 69 yrs, original footprint well-built in 1937 in Michigan.

This house has not been well cared for since the early 60's. I am a skilled DIY'er but remodeling is new to me. This poor old little gem needs alot of lovin'. ")

I just took some photos this morning. Please remember it is a construction site right now and disregard some of the junk outdoors. You know the expression, "I'm sorry, the house is a mess". Actually, the outside looks better than some of the inside.

(A photo I posted of my upstairs bath at a pro plumbers site scared a master plumber).

I feel I should restore & maintain to the original character. I believe this house has alot of potential. I have little experience with an older home so I am in for some fun!

I am a commercial/industrial electrician by trade.

First off, what style is this house? In 1954, a new mstr bdrm & mstr bath was added to the back side, from frontview it is the rear right corner. The addition has casement windows. In the 60's the rear 3 season porch w/ jalouise (sp?) windows was added.

One nice thing about owners of last 50 yrs not maintaining it is alot of the origianl materials are still intact, such as trim, doors, oak floors for nearly all rooms, incl 2nd floor bath, kitchen & breakfast nook.

It needs a new roof & front door among many things. I was wondering about using a metal roof. Would a traditional standing seam roof fit or still w/ clasic shingle look. My personal style is informal, relaxed, alittle cottagey. I also like southwest & european country. And Art Deco. I forgot to add: Craftsman, Mission & Prairie. And the "Jetson's home" when I was younger.


This house is near a lake. Has a view of lake from the 2nd floor flat roof walk out over nook & porch.

WINDOWS: These are the orig. SINGLE paned double hung. I will replace w/ double glazed. I like the look of 6 over 1 double hung. Will probablynot use any casement cause there is zero overhang at eaves to protect from rain. So I am thinking that any rain will hit interior of even a cracked open casement. The jalouises, not very ebergy efficient right?

Thank you for any info & suggestions you can offer!

(I am trying to learn how to post photos from a webhosting site. Sorry this one is so large).

[sparkie]

More photos:

[Kevin]

Sparkie, I think it is a pretty cute little house, congratulations on getting it! Even though the remodeling was not entirely friendly to the underlying style.

I think this discussion is perfect for our Home Design Forum - frequented by several helpful architects - so without prejudice in the least, I'll move it over.

[sparkie]

Thank you Kevin for moving the thread to were it belongs. I know little/none of design, home styles, etc. But I can usually fix the toilet or electrical circuit.

Thanks Again!

[SDR]

Having lived for the majority of my life on the American East Coast, I can say that this is often called a "Cape" -- named for the early residential type built on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It is characterized by a medium-pitched gabled roof whose ridge is normally parallel to the entrance facade, and the road. The placement of openings is typically, though not always, symmetrical. The added entrance enclosure is not unusual in colder climates, and the dormers are another common variant. Lapped siding like yours is typical. Early examples often had functioning shutters on the windows.

Houses like this could be found almost anywhere in North America, I believe, most of them built between 1920 and 1970. The first tract houses, at the Levittowns in New York State and Pennsylvania, in the late forties, were based on this ubiquitous model.

See also http://www.designcommunity.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7872#7872

SDR

[sparkie]

Hi SDR,

Thanks for pointing me towards Capes. just read the link to thread you left for me. I enjoyed that thread and what a useful idea for showing different looks to a home. (hand drawing onto copies of original photos & sending back & forth via internet).

Are my photos on this thread HUGE? I posted these images differently than I have before. I know it can be a hassle to scroll left & right to read the whole sentence.

I'll now go look at some homes in Cape area for ideas.

Thank You Again

[SDR]

Sparkie, if you can choose the size of your images as you transmit them to the hosting site, a maximum of 600 high or 800 wide is preferable. It's not too late to replace the ones you have up -- though I don't think the text on the thread will shrink, now that it's expanded. [I just figured this stuff out a few months ago mysef. . .]

[sparkie]

SDR,

These darm photo things. I also have a heck of a time reducing an image for email.

I just right clicked on the photos in my thread (here) and the properties are 800 X 600. ??????????????????????? I had a thumbnail image option at Photobucket.com and a %. I thought they were at 50%.

I'll go play w/ one now to see. So, I am assuming you are seeing them huge also. So many variables? Your screen resolution, mine, pixels, %, webhosting...

[sparkie]

Testing attachment option





Didn't work.

I'll try something else. I see error message now. Does not stand out clearly.

[Phil Carvey]

Hi what a little beauty.
PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT FIT A METAL ROOF
if you can afford, please, please go with cedar shingles, It'll be worth every cent. desides the asthetics , you'll find it a lot quiter and the timber shell is more harmonious to your senses...touch wood.Phil Carvey

[sparkie]

Phil,

Thanks for the house compliment. I like the look of the classic standing seam metal roof. I saw some houses in old fishing villages on east coast that resembled this one in feel and some of them had the standing seam roofs.

The other option, which you will probably not like, is dimensional asphalt shingles. I am leaning towards a deeeper green w/ black/dark gray shadow lines. I have installed a few asphalt roofs, much less expensive and easier to install. The metals, especiallyon this moderately complex roof may not be a DIY'er job.


Thanks Again!

[sparkie]

Interior on top of 2nd floor landing. Notice the curved plaster corners and white shaped wood valance over dormer window in 2nd of twin bdrms.

A slice of oak floor underneath that carpet pad. The doors, trim & hardware are original.