Lotta Living

(LottaLivin’) has been serving the MCM Mid Century Modern Historic Architecture Preservation Community since 1999. The Original Number One Online Authority on Architectural Rehabilitation and Restoration of Mid-Mod Design, Googie, Modernism and Atomic Age Living.

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Mid Century Modern Home Restoration Home Improvement Basics

Lotta Livin tips for successful preservation and restoration of a Mid Century Modern home.
Keeping the basic original elements intact: post and beam structure, stone work, concrete block, paint, siding, roof line and more.

Original façade lines – Post & Beam Elements ADD$ Value

guides_style1_facade01 guides_style1_facade03 guides_style1_facade02

SUBTRACT$ Value Mitigation
  • Changing the essential style of the home into a Mediterranean Villa, Spanish Rancho, Victorian Mansion, Seaside Shanty or ???
  • Covering posts to make them look like classical columns
  • Covering up exposed beams to look like other conventional framing
  • Adding lattice screens to “improve privacy”
  • Adding addition not in the style of home
  • Remove any elements that detract from the Post and Beam design
  • Remove plaster columns
  • Remove lattice and put up drapes or shades
  • Sell your home cheap to someone who will restore it and move to neighborhood with the kind of home you like instead of remuddling a piece of history.

Three Tone Paint Job ADD$ Value

guides_style1_paint02 guides_style1_paint04 guides_style1_paint03

SUBTRACT$ Value Mitigation
  • Paint job that fights architectural elements
  • Painting everything one color
  • Paint house using 3 color scheme:
  • 1) house base – neutral or color
  • 2) trim – white/light or brown/black
  • 3) decorative door color

Original Carport ADD$ Value

guides_style1_carport01 guides_style1_carport02 guides_style1_carport03 guides_style1_carport04

SUBTRACT$ Value Mitigation
  • Carport enclosed
  • Decorative” garage door with windows
  • White metal colonial style garage door
  • Converting garage into illegal apartment
  • Open back into carport.
  • Replace door with plain metal or wood door without decoration.
  • Give Modern feeling to converted space with unadorned  door

Original Concrete Block and Wood Siding ADD$ Value

guides_style1_concrete01 guides_style1_concrete03 guides_style1_concrete02

SUBTRACT$ Value Mitigation
  • Spanish stucco
  • Plaster medallions
  • Fake brick siding
  • Brick work
  • Fake archways
  • Three or four masonry materials where one or two will do.
  • Remove stucco and medallions
  • Remove and repair siding
  • Remove archways to reveal original architecture
  • Simplify use of materials

Original Stonework ADD$ Value

guides_style1_stone03 guides_style1_stone02 guides_style1_stone01

SUBTRACT$ Value Mitigation
  • Painting over original stonework
  • Removing stonework
  • Sandblast stone

Original Roofline ADD$ Value

guides_style1_roofline06 guides_style1_roofline05 guides_style1_roofline04
guides_style1_roofline03 guides_style1_roofline02 guides_style1_roofline01

SUBTRACT$ Value Mitigation
  • Changing pitch of roof
  • Adding shingle roof in place of a tar & gravel on roof too low for shingles
  • Adding second story visible from the street that does not reflect the original style.
  • Spanish tile roof
  • Roof over the front courtyard entryway to square footage
  • Sawing off overhanging roof and beams
  • Visible satellite dishes
  • Less than thoughtful placement of the ac unit
  • Filling in roofline with unnecessary trim
  • Relocate satellite dish or AC unit when possible
  • Tear down inappropriate additions or mitigate overall look by adding Modern details or adaptations
  • Replace with tar and gravel or composition roll
  • Repair wood beams

* Source: This presentation is based on the Paradise Palms neighborhood (designed by architects Dan Palmer and Bill Krisel) house tour held in October, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV – Produced by Mary-Margaret Stratton. Please give credit to LottaLivin if you use any of this information. Thank you.
* All images are used for educational purposes only. All images retain their original owner’s copyright. No infringement is intended.

 

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