Sad "renovation" of a lovely mid-century home

[steponmebbbboom]

This house did not speak to me before or after these kids were done with it---my initial feelings were, let these dumb suburbanites wreck as many ranch bungalows as they like. but that's also how i feel about anything on HGTV nowadays---I only watch it because the 90s are over, my TLC heroes are off the air (Joe and Ed, Dean and Joanne, Bob and Norm in that order) and there's nothing else left to watch. And this is my point: I realise I am a product of my X generation and the current fashion. In the urban renewal era of the 60s - 80s people regarded Victorian architecture as "rot" much as they regard modernism today. in 30 years, perhaps we will lament the nuclear family sensibility and what traces of "sense of place" these developments still had in the 50s. Who knows what new horror land developers have in store to inspire the next generation of old-house enthusiasts.

If MCM becomes the new Arts&Crafts in 30 years then at least these owners have carefully documented the destruction. Back in the 60s no record would be kept at all. We may not like what they've done, but they're making a good buck on it and there are generations before them making the ones we have left all the more special and valuable. Even 110 years after being built, I had no problem finding a house I could afford with enough old-world original charm to make me happy and enough ill-advised remuddling to get my creative energies flowing. Chances are in 30 years there will be enough kids born in the 90s to care about the mid-century houses that are left.

[eclecticcottage]

It's all about perspective. In a few more years, MCM homes will be the new Queen Annes and Greek Revivals. Consider new builds now, they lack the character and build quality of the MCM homes in comparison.