Everything old is new again
The saying goes that everything old is new again, and this adage certainly holds true when looking at the renewed interest in home styles of the past. Today’s homebuyers suggest that they are captivated by the details found in homes built before World War II, and are responding to the charm and character typically found in home construction from that era. Some of the “new” house styles that are making a comeback are Queen Anne houses, bungalows, Colonial houses, California houses, and Italianate styles.
Homes built in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s also display well. Buyers are interested in any architecture inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and the builders of this period. These homes often feature design elements that include sleek lines, flat roofs, geometric shapes, and open floor plans.
Mediterranean-inspired homes were popular in the 1920s and experienced a renaissance in the early 2000s. Builders incorporated Italian and Spanish touches throughout the interior and exterior, such as stucco siding and tile roofs. These houses are often multi-level, with wrought iron accents.
When buyers buy an older home, they choose one of two options. They will keep the original elements of the time if they are in good condition. For some families, that may mean bonding with gold-flecked Formica countertops and pink or blue tile squares in the bathroom. If the cabinets are solid wood, they can be left alone or returned to their original finish. There is a similar retro movement to preserve the original windows of pre-World War II homes, restore, reglaze, and replace window counterweights or cords. Otherwise, the preference is for double pane windows.
However, if the previous home has been remodeled one or more times, buyers will often decide to upgrade further to include must-haves for new homeowners, such as:
– A stainless steel dishwasher
– Built-in wine cooler
– Stone, poured concrete, glass or granite countertops
– Maple or glazed cabinets with panel glass doors
– Recessed lighting with pendant fixtures
– Built-in microwave with matching cabinet fronts
– Recessed lighting combined with pendant luminaires
In the bathroom, glass and stone materials are popular, along with sinks mounted on antique vanities. Brushed nickel is the preferred material for faucets and fixtures, while rainfall showerheads and handheld sprays are popular in tub and shower enclosures.
Contemporary colors for bathrooms are blues, greens and browns, which mimic the outdoors, combined with accents in shades of red and orange.
Open floor plans, combining family room, kitchen and dining room, are still preferred. Media rooms, game rooms, and exercise rooms are also desirable.
Shoppers continue to shy away from rugs, even in bedrooms. If it is included in the decoration of a house, its use is very limited. Wood, including exotic hardwoods, remains a popular choice for flooring. Bamboo and cork are also popular for their durability and sustainability.
If an owner is lucky enough to find a claw tub that works, they stay. If not, the preference is for a bathtub or a whirlpool bath.