HOME PLANS FROM LONG AGO

I found this great little treasure when browsing at an antique store the other day:  "House Plans for Everybody" by S.B. Reed, Architect, published in 1896.  

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On the title page, it reads, "For Village and Country Residences, Costing from $250-$8,000 - Including Full Descriptions and Estimates in Detail of Materials, Labor, and Cost, with Many Practical Suggestions and 175 Illustrations."  It turns out that this is a very early (maybe rare?) edition.  The cover is prettier than any other covers I've been able to find researching online, and this edition is even older than the one in the collections at the Cornell University library.

If you love old homes, can you imagine having built this one for $700? 

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At 16' x 29', the main floor has just two rooms:  a living room and a parlor.  Upstairs, were 2 small bedrooms ("chambers"), a large bedroom, and two small back-to-back closets.  No running water.  No kitchen.  No bathroom.  

Check out the cost estimate (and note that this was considered a detailed cost estimate in 1896!):

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The next model up, "Design VII," has the added luxury of a kitchen, and would range from $750-$1,050.  The $300 price difference would add an unfinished basement ("cellar") and two covered porches ("verandas").  Still no bathroom.  

 

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I also love this vintage advertisement from the 1950's for modern homes designed by architect Cliff May (known as the father of the California Ranch house).  You could move into your dream home for just 1 cent down! 

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Long Beach area homes like this now sell in the $500,000 - $800,000 range.  I love the last line:  "It can be said in fact that a CLIFF MAY Home makes a community with a personality."

I wonder if there are any original owners of Cliff May homes still living in them and whether they'd agree that the homes afforded them "more time for relaxation and recreation."

 

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Decorating with Family Treasures

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CREATING A THEMED DISPLAY

We have a bunch of old optometry-themed pieces.  I used to display the stereoscope with a single card before we moved, first on top of the piano then on top of the mantle.  This time, I wanted to create a themed display that would be more visually interesting and more of a conversation-starter.

The large 24"x30" shadow box came from JoAnn Fabrics.  The inside back surface it came with was a black felt-like fabric.  I wanted more visual contrast, so I had the custom framing department at Michaels cut a piece of acid-free mat board to put in front of the fabric.  The cards are held in place with removable Scotch Wall-Mounting Tabs. 

THE BACKSTORY (WHAT IS IT?)

My father-in-law and his father, too, were optometrists.  They would have used the stereoscope and these fun cartoon cards to check how well a child's eyes were working together.  The two images would appear as a single 3-dimensional image through the stereoscope, and feedback about whether or not objects appeared to align would be used to diagnose vision problems, such as "lazy eye."

YOUR CHALLENGE

There is plenty of trendy stuff out there that has one purpose - to catch your eye and convince you to buy it.  You know the stuff I am talking about - the "that was SO yesterday" decor you see all the time at garage sales.  You have to listen very closely to that little voice when you are out shopping, asking you, "Is this just for a future garage sale?"

And, maybe search the attic first.  Sometimes a little creative thinking can result in something you would have paid money for -- but is so much more meaningful because it has a family story to tell.