Built-Ins!

[cadman]

Hey Guys,

As some of you might know, I'm designing a 50's jet-set house I intend to build in the next year or two (this year it's the matching garage I need to get up). For all intents, you could walk up to the house and honestly not know it was built in the 2000's. I'm talkin' flat and butterfly roofs, flagstone, extensive glass, etc. The turquoise app's I've brought home and redone are slated for the kitchen; the "laundry room" equipment is still up in the air though.

Since I'm building in the country, I can design in things like a clothes chute, two-prong outlets, concealed pushbuttons and other creative subtleties shut down by code-wielding inspectors, so the sky is really the limit when it comes to recreating the magic and mystique of mid-century modernism.

I'm doing what I can to locate original pieces to make the feeling authentic, like NOS light fixtures and switches, but I'm at the point where I'm looking at some of the unique ideas that pop-up on our forum here.

For example, a whole-house fan. That never would have crossed my mind.
Or perhaps locating some authentic built-in wall heaters for the bathrooms.

So my question to you guys, is what other Built-Ins would you love to see resurrected??

 

[petek]

I'm thinking

The ironing board, that should be built in and drop down from behind a waist high cupboard or panel.

 

[petek]

Something else to chaw on.

but I always loved pocket doors, singles or doubles that slid into the wall

 

[polkanut]

How about a built-in...

My grandparents built their home in 1956-57 and they had a built in ironing board installed. The board folds up into the wall, and has an outlet inside as well. The door is finished the same as the rest of the woodwork throughout the house. The board has a support leg on a hinge underneath. My wife and I have one in our 1925 bungalow also, and we just love it. I grew up with one in my parents home which was built in 1922, so I didn't know there were any other kinds of ironing boards.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Cadman sounds exciting...

Do not remember hearing this news before, sounds fantastic.

If I was doing this, it would be right along all the things you were saying. How about these fun things for consideration:

Those concentric ring vent covers, with a really big one (or two) in the living room, especially if ceiling is vaulted.

If you do an acoustic ceiling, make sure you add the sparkles!

A room divider "screen"

Over a den table, dinette table, etc: One of those hanging lamps that hangs by its own encased cord. The cord retracts into the "bulb" a foot or so above the lamp part, allowing you to lower or raise the light!

A vintage NuTone intercom system, with the play through the house radio.

Vintage door chimes, with the long chime pipes.

Wetbar, but a cool one, not a model home one. Mini stainless steel sink with the "doctors" curved spout.

If a two story, a second, narrow staircase at the back of the house.

Centralized vacuum system

A sprinkler system run on the old, big mechanical timer system

A dutch door in the back. This is where the door is divided in half, and you can have just the top open. Add of course the tablette on the outer side.

Pass through window, covered by removable shutters, between the kitchen and the dining room.

Blue bathroom appliances

Laundry room inside, of course. Tile floor in there, vintage tiles if can be found. A retractable clothes line in there also, even if you never use it.

On the patio, a redwood picnic table.

A crawlspace that is so big it could be a room itself.

 

[petek]

Built in stereos and tvs were also quite popular, hidden behind sliding or pull out drawers of a built in wooden wall/shelf unit, speakers also built in behind period speaker cloth and grillwork. They leave the room looking open and spacious in a modern/minimalist house and no octupus of wires to be seen. Somewheres I have a 50's Popular Mechanics showing a nice setup like this in a modern home. Just can't place where it is at the moment.

Kevin.. I remember those retractable lights you mentioned, they were quite popular... oh and a built in kitchen diner nook for eating at. With one of those lights dangling over it.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Speaking of lights....

What about those brushed gold, triangular shaped lights...either on wall sconces or from the ceiling...know the ones I mean?

 

[dalangdon]

What fun!

First off, excuse me for a moment while I channel that quintessential 50's mascot Reddy Kilowatt: Please don't do an ungrounded (i.e. two-prong) electrical system. It's dangerous and foolish in this day and age, and the last thing you want is for your dream house to go up in smoke.

(thank you for indulging me. I know it's none of my business. We now return to regular programming)

* A "modern maid" (or equivalent brand) built-in toaster is a must.

* Formica counters in kitchen, bath and laundry room

* Massive stone fireplace with slab that just out from the bottom of the firebox.

* Abstract wallpaper "mural" someplace in the house.

 

[retromom]

A Place for Guests!

Hey Cory:

You've got to have a Murphy Bed! It's the ultimate built-in!

 

[drmitch]

Mid-Century

Sounds like a great idea cory, and finding the stuff is part of the fun. I passed a home that was getting a remodel last week and they had all their junk piled on the curb,and there was a turquois toilet! I wanted to stop and get it but my mom said I was crazy! I was wondering if they had a matching tub. Thost kinds of things are going to get very expensive when people start restoring ranches.

 

[Cybrvanr]

Here's some of my thoughts for a nice mid-century house:

Flagstone walls, inside and out!

floor to ceiling picture windows, nice for looking out into the woods, and bringing the outdoors inside

For the rooms and areas that don't have floor to ceiling picture windows...like the walls with kitchen cabinets...use celestory windows at the top of the wall

Vaulted ceilings with exposed beams.b

radiant floor heating. Extremely comfortable in the winter, nice because there's no mechanical hardware showing like ductwork, plumbing, radiators, vents, etc.

Glass block, works anywhere, beside an entry door, around a shower, underneath a bar...Extremely versatile stuff! Install colored neon lights behind it for an even better effect!

smooth, non-patterned wood paneling. Looks very nice, especially after it's freshly varnished and polished!

"boomerang" or faux marble formica countertops with chrome edging

a "Sputink" chandalier in the dining are (or in the entryway too!)

A carport with a concrete geometric patterned block screen

 

[Cybrvanr]

PHONE BOOTH!

You'll definitely hafta add one of these somewhere in the house too!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Full-Size-Telep...Z6199079683QQcategoryZ985QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[hoover1060]

Kitchen...

This may be too much 1960's, but here's what my dream retro kitchen would look like:
Birch cabinets, white/gold fleck counters. Built in cooktop and wall oven in stainless steel, SS dishwasher and white fridge.
OH don't forget the switch for your disposal has to be on the fake drawer front in front of the sink too!

 

[westytoploader]

A whole-house fan would be nice, preferably with the louvers! Also, a chrome Broan/NuTone wall fan in the kitchen to complement the vintage Vent-A-Hood. Vintage disposer, Hobart KitchenAid DW, '64 Frigidaire set ;-)

This may sound a little off-the-wall, but how about a room with glass walls? On jetsetmodern.com there's a house with walls that are basically one big giant window!

Last but not least: Electric wall heaters, washdown-type toilets, and 1960's Speakman showerheads in the bathrooms!

 

[westytoploader]

Another idea...

I was watching "Ugliest Bathroom" a few months ago, and the winner that got the renovation originally had solenoid-valve faucets!!! Yes, the sink, tub, & separate shower were controlled by Osterizer-style pushbuttons on the wall--one for "Hot", "Warm", "Cold", and so on. The control center was in the basement. I had never seen anything like this before!

Good luck building your dream home!!

 

[swestoyz]

Slipery When Wet

All of these ideas are great Cory, I hope you find some inspration in these. But have you seriously contemplated some sort of body of water, besides for bathing, somewhere in the house? Like the Sanatra house, where the pool comes in the house? I think I also want to hear the sound of bubling water, or maybe a little fountain as well when we enjoy a nice cold Hamm's with the ladies... not THAT big of a deal here in Iowa...

Ben

 

[Cybrvanr]

Howabout a big organ

Oh yes! the gold fleck countertops would be perfect for the kitchen!!!

One of the things that many of the more affluent folks had back then was an electric organ! Back before the days of electronic synthesizers and computer chips, it was all done with electro-mechanical tonewheels. While these organs were certainly cheaper than a pipe organ, they were still quite expensive, costing as much as a new automobile!

The sounds that come out of one of these old organs is unique and very popular in both classic tunes and in the latest music. They are very fun to play, and with all the knobs and buttons, one can get very creative with all the interesting sounds they'll make. If you're musically inclined, you'll definitely enjoy playing one!

For a mid-century modern style home, the Hammond X-66 would look just right in there!

 

[toggleswitch]

or a mid century (or was it early 60s?) GE central control panel that used low voltage wires to power relays that turned lights on and off from a central location..... how futuristic.

Personally, I am interested in off-the gridders and non-electric stuff. Especailly old non-electric (electrically controlled, that is) central heating systems.

Non-electric lighting & washers however? BOOO-HISSS, IMHO

http://www.lehmans.com/index.jsp

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Cybr...what year.....

Is that Hammond organ? And are those Leslie speakers???!!!

My dad still has the "Schober Theater Organ" he made from a kit. He never plays it and I have been needling him to get it tuned again!

Organs were very big. Hammond was higher end, but there was also Lowry and Magnus on the very low end. I restored a tiny Magnus.

 

[petek]

Cory

I found that Nov 58 Popular Mechanics and scanned the
"House Full of Built-Ins" but for some reason when I try to attach them here they don't go...maybe they're too big.. I'll try again later..I can send try emailing them to you or if you want the mag I'll mail it. Also has the 59 cars, well some of them.

 

[petek]

Yay,, forgot about the organ

And you can find them so cheap now. I've still got my spinet, I think I posted a pic of it already. And the day I bought that sectional there was a beautiful late 60's or early 70's Baldwin spinet there as well. Course I had to sit down to try it out and everything worked perfectly, even the "Phantom Fingers" arpeggio. Loved it.

 

[cadman]

Wow guys, looks like great minds think alike!

The ironing board is one I've been trying to figure out... where exactly to mount it and make it all work..I'll have to dwell on that one.

I've got the Beam vac sys planned, the pocket doors upstairs, a great pull-down dining light, and lots of other things you guys will love. Even the phone booth! (for the garage of course)

To give you guys some more info, the design really came into maturity just a few months ago but I've been working on it a bit over a year now. Ben has seen some of the 3D models but I'll keep it all a secret until I get rolling with the hammer.

It's 2/3 flat roof one storey, with a second storey on the last third for the master bedroom, bath, rear observation deck and front sunning deck. That storey is a butterfly and will complement the dual width carport on the opposite side of the house. Main level- sunken living room, lots of glass including a multi-panel sliding door roughly 18' opening, a freestanding fireplace, and an entertaining room with bar, grasscloth, glass and stone. The kitchen overlooks the living room, seperated by a long counter (turqouise boomerang formica!) The major apps are turqouise, and the small ones are sunny yellow. I still need a turqouise kitchen sink (and Frigidaire DW).

I'm also on the hunt for the starburst front door escutcheon after one slipped through my hands on eb*y a while back.

Westy, are you talking about the Farnsworth house in Illinois? I hear they give tours!

The electrical system will be something to behold, approx all the lighting circuits will be relay driven and computerized using an industrial PLC, but "programs" are run with sleek pushbuttons and via a chrome phone dial in the living room that was military NOS surplus. Almost everything will be 30 amp capable as I'm getting tired of tripping breakers when I fire up multiple Radaranges, washers, and tube TVs. The two-prong outlets are only in the more visible areas for visitor shock value (sorry, couldn't resist) but are just as safe as the grounded outlets as long as I'm only plugging in two-pronged plugs. There are separate isolated outlets (hospital grade) for the audio equipment where the buzzing from a light dimmer would drive me batty. Oh yeah, only dimmers with brass centered knobs : )

When I finish, you're all invited for a housewarming party! Great ideas guys, keep 'em coming!

 

[foraloysius]

We had a built-in 8mm film projector in a house we lived in. It was built in a cabinet on a small platform that could swing out. At the other side of the room there was a hidden screen that could be pulled down.

 

[swestoyz]

Speaking of projection...

There will be a "theatre", oh yes, there will be.... hehe

 

[westytoploader]

The Farnsworth House--that's it! The name kind of slipped away for a minute. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed and built it in 1951 when most thought glass houses were impossible. Here's the site...

http://www.farnsworthhouse.org/

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Cory, don't forget about a Pink Bathroom. No 1950's home would ever be without one. Finding Pink tile is a challenge but it can be done. And I know of a salvage place here in Minneapolis that has quite a few vintage pink sinks and toilets, they might even have a pink bathtub. We have quite a few huge home and building salvage stores here that you can get all kinds of fixures and things.

 

[dalangdon]

Thanks for reassuring me...

I actually used to be rather blase about electricity (not that I ever took a bath with the radio on the edge of the tub or anything like that) until I got the O'Keefe & Merritt and plugged it in and noticed how there was a slight tingle on the surface of it. It was two prong, but it also had a ground screw on the back, so I grounded it to the conduit for the unused electric stove hookup, and it was carefee cooking after that.

And then, when we rewired the house and got rid of all the scary knob and tube, the electrcian told me all sorts of grisly stories about "old-timey" aluminum wiring and fuses boxes, etc, etc, etc.

The house sounds so cool - don't forget to have your address numbers back lighted!

And instead of electric bathroom heaters, I'd go with radiant floors. I have one in my bathroom, and it's wonderful. Add a heated towel rack, and it makes winter mornings much less grim.

And maybe a heat lamp/fan fixture like motels used to have!

And low brick planters in the interior? Has that been mentioned yet?

 

[fnelson487]

Farnsworth House

Funny you should mention that. I live in St. Charles which is about a half an hour from Plano where the house is. Some friends came in from LA and we took a tour. The most amazing design, especially for a late 40's house. Most impractical though. I remember coming home and thinking, where in the world did Dr. Farnworth hang her ironing board. Not to mention, no place for a washer and dryer. She woke up one morning and we she got out of bed, she saw a group of Japanese tourists looking in from the yard. When they saw her, they took off running. Definitely worth a trip and a tour. Classic Mies.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Farnsworth House and Misc. notes

Loved it! Have not seen it in person. It reminds me of a house in
France I believe built for some sort of expo, and I think even earlier.
There is something really out of this world about the Farnsworth house,
especially in that (presumably) silent wooden setting. Almost alien.

In an associated note, it hit me like a ton of bricks watching Blade
Runner on AMC the other night, that Harrison Ford's apartment was the
Frank Lloyd Wright Ennis-Brown house in the Hollywood Hills. A few
years ago we took a tour of that house, and I have a reproduction brick
from the gift shop there, that is exactly like the brick used. It is so
clear in the shots in the movie, as the brick treatment is also used
inside. The Ennis-Brown house was open to tours, but is closed now due
to landslides and the need for about $2M to save it. I am willing to
bet they will accomplish that.

It is amazing that I have seen that picture a number of times before,
but since touring the house, it is now so clear in the movie. They just
lit it so it looks like an apartment. If I had remembered that when I
took the tour, I would have asked/looked for where it was that they shot
the scenes, as only one room and part of another was shown.

http://www.ennishouse.org/
Another home you all might like would be to check out the "Sleeper
House" shown in the movie Sleeper. We called it the clamshell house
growing up, and would see it high on a hill when we used to go up into
the mountains outside Denver. You will love this if you have not seen
it before.

This may be the ultimate expression of what many of us here really
crave! Absolutely top drawer.

http://www.kentwoodhomestour.com/sculpturedhouse.html

 

[maytagbear]

If I ever build....

I too, want central vac, but I really want a small Hobart dishwasher (the sort that look like a standard home dishwasher on steroids), and either a DishDrawer or two, and/or a KitchenAid briva or two.

I've only seen DishDrawers installed stacked, but I think a nice installation would be to have a right hand one, and a left hand one.

If this house is going to be anything but a ranch/rambler, get the elevator shaft and electical rough-ins now (put doors on the shaft, and lock them). An elevator may make all the difference when a person is no longer vigorous, but still otherwise competent.

Lawrence/Maytagbear