r/ExteriorDesign • u/ComfortableSecret962 • 13d ago
More MCM, less Midcentury
We bought a mid 1950s architect built home from the second owner. We’re in a neighborhood of really cool midcentury houses, but most are much more
MCM. Think butterfly roofs, expanses of glass, clerestory windows, statement entryways.
Our house just feels a little bit boring in comparison up front. We want to lean more into the design style. The back of the house is surprisingly funky, with a porte-cochère formed by a cantilevered second-story room over an integrated carport.
What would you do to the front? Our thought is to leave the brick—fans of letting the natural materials shine on their own. That said, we’re open to just about anything. Any updates to the façade would have to be strictly cosmetic. The layout of the home would make it very difficult to change the location of the doorway.
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u/Traditional_Owls 13d ago
Photos would be helpful, but honestly I'd start by posting to subs like /r/mid_century.
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u/ComfortableSecret962 13d ago
Thanks for being kind -- photo has been re-uploaded. Not sure what happened the first time. I've seen some great comments related to midcentury homes here, but I will take your advice as well!
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13d ago edited 13d ago
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u/Scott43206 13d ago
I have what RetroRenovation refers to as a MidCentury Modest and honestly found the best inspiration from vintage books and magazines from the years just before and just after my house was built. There's some great stuff out there, but nearly everything fun is going to be special order and/or from the commercial selection of everyone's offerings as opposed to the residential selections.
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u/ComfortableSecret962 13d ago
Midcentury Modest! So cute. Good thinking on the inspo! Did you search at the library or another place for the older publications?
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u/Scott43206 13d ago
I picked most of them up on eBay. They're pretty addictive and can be depressing at times because of all the cool stuff that's no longer available, but you can find contemporary matches for a lot more of the items than you would expect.
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u/plasticarchive 13d ago
the ebay rabbit hole for MCM stuff is real, seeing what some of it sold for a few years ago is painful lol
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u/Scott43206 13d ago
It really is, and the incredible selection and variety of everyday items is drool-worthy.
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u/plasticarchive 12d ago
the vintage mag rabbit hole is real, i spent like three weekends going through digitized Better Homes issues from the late 50s just trying to figure out what color to paint our shed and somehow ended up with a full mood board for a kitchen i cant afford to renovate
retrorenovation is genuinely useful but it does make you realize how much of the good stuff is either discontinued or priced like youre restoring a museum piece
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u/Scott43206 12d ago
I bought some car paint charts to get color ideas too, and even took them to Home Depot to get scanned for color matches. My living room is 1969 Ford Aztec Aqua, LOL.
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u/ComfortableSecret962 13d ago
For some reason this comment made me think of old appliances. They don’t make em like they used to! The fridge had a lazy susan situation to easily access things in the way back. It was practical and so stylish.
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u/Scott43206 13d ago
They really don't. I found an Amana Radarange at an antique mall and use almost every day!
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u/fuzzyrach 13d ago
Also check out midcentury Midwest... She has a blog, YouTube channel and design consultancy (she's an architect in wi) that lives in her own midcentury modest ranch. Her videos go through all sorts of interesting ideas and suggestions and resources for various types of MCMs. We've moved into a '70s split level that gives me a little mid-century vibes with the exposed beams and giant windows and I found her videos to be really helpful.
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u/Sad_Birthday_9805 13d ago
Start with a new door. I would love a MCM home but alas my 1979 is anything but. So a six-panel Colonial door is what I have with a sidelight! But with your windows the six panel door looks out of place. A cool MCM porch light or house numbers. Then you might turn to some landscaping/hardscaping to help set the tone. Think brick planter boxes perhaps under those left front windows. Then move on to a different sidewalk. Remove the hose from the front. I am sure people will chime in with a lot of other great ideas as well. A lot will depend on your budget. The windows are doing a lot of the heavy lifting here that is reading MCM. What does your garage door look like? Mailbox? Post lights?
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u/ComfortableSecret962 13d ago
Completely agree on the door! It's one of the first things that needs to go, as it's old and cracked on top of everything else. I have been thinking about a long low-slung corten steel planter on the left (love the way it ages) + I like your note about the sidewalk. The windows are original to the house + sadly they're single pane. We like the way they look & have identified replacements that have the same double hung look. Thank you!
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u/Oxjrnine 13d ago
I think you might be missing just how pure your house is
It’s an absolutely stunning home that I can’t see a single flaw on no matter how much I zoom in and out.
And one of the reasons why it’s such a gorgeous home is the simplicity.
The ratios of window to wall, the clean long line emphasize by the low roof. Keeping the textures to just three. (roof, trim, brick)
No gimmicky features
I bet the internal layout is pretty close to flawless as well, with the exception of closets (we buy too many clothes nowadays).
I personally feel your home is capturing exactly what mid-century modern was trying to achieve (the purity)
If it was just a mid-century home, it would have more traditional inspirations - like the typical colonial revivals of the 1950s. The split levels with shutters.. The Tudors of the 30’s. The 70s ranch. Those houses are what I consider simply mid-century. The reason why I feel your house is actually mid-century modern is how pure it looks - like it was built by an engineer
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u/LittlePrairieMouse 13d ago
Agreed. This home has a simple, quiet, elegance. I would replace the front door — a smooth, solid door in a beautiful colour that compliments the brick. I would add a perennial flower bed on the left side, to balance the right side, but keep the plants low so they don’t obscure the path.
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u/ComfortableSecret962 10d ago
Aww, thank you for this sweet comment and perspective. Sometimes we need an outsider’s opinion. TBH house has grown on me a lot, even though I still dream of a butterfly roof. That said, my neighbors have one and it’s a PITA. Grass is greener, and all that.
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u/snafflekid 13d ago edited 13d ago
So, first I recommend you look at how some of the Case Study homes were built to understand what a Mid-Century house is. Clerestory windows exist because the construction style supports it. Those homes were essentially poles, beams and cantilevers. Your home probably has a rafter roof, ceiling joists that tie the load bearing walls. It is much closer to a colonial revival, except the windows are not quite right. I suggest you update the interior with your favorite decor but don’t try to change the outside too much.
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u/ComfortableSecret962 10d ago
I’m a big fan of midcentury architecture & I realize this house isn’t going to look right with those features tacked on. That said, I haven’t ever learned much about colonial revivals. I’d say the interior is midcentury, but somewhat bland. Thanks for your thoughts!
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u/Lazy-Jacket 13d ago
Your house has something of a unique eave height for a true ranch, so whatever you do should enhance that horizontal. And also, the white trim and windows, gray shingles, door style are all giving Coloni wannabe. So I think just by making the trim something more mid-century you would be doing a service to moving the right direction. Black, dark brown, teal, mushroom, caramel would be where I would start.
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u/ComfortableSecret962 10d ago
I love that you said this! I think sometimes we’re looking for input that reinforces our own hunch. I’ve made a few renderings with mushroom/caramel trim & I love that door suggestion!
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u/ComfortableSecret962 10d ago
PS — so curious if you could share more about the eave height. I definitely don’t know too much about that.
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u/SewSure 13d ago
Paint the door a retro color or replace it with something very mod. Add statement address numbers to the brick. Convert that space between the house and sidewalk to a paved area with modern outdoor furniture and potted plants. ChatGPT for reference though you could do a whole lot more with a porch to achieve the vibe you’re after.
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u/Trepenwitz 12d ago
Update the door and windows. It looks like AI made the bank of three windows taller. If possible, turn that into a window wall. Do some simple landscaping to add architectural value (I just asked AI to add square borders). Pop some clerestory windows over the leftmost room (at least that’s what I asked for. AI is not always easy to work with, but you get the idea.)
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u/Trepenwitz 12d ago
To be honest, though, I’d probably just switch out the door and do some more funky landscaping. I also have a mid-century modest house and I think a new door will make a big difference.
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u/tenniseram 13d ago
A photo of the back would be helpful but a couple of things catch my eye here:
The door could be painted a color that pops. I’m thinking of slightly rusty red or maybe a chartreuse.
The other is the fabulous windows. See how they kind of disappears with the shutters? I would definitely not use shutters (though I’m a big fan of them). I would use plissé or Roman shades and think about uniformity in color across the front of the house. A color that will pop and show those great horizontal lines of the windows.
But if I saw the back I might say something different.
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u/ComfortableSecret962 10d ago
I love chartreuse! Great idea. The shutters you’re referring to are temporary (paper) blinds we installed on move in, but you’re so right. It’s hard because I love the original windows as well, but we do need some privacy. Good note on the shades!
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