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Is this a clue?! Do we hear the resonance of remodel madness beginning again?
First, let me say that I love your site. It has been a real inspiration to us as we attempt to follow in your footsteps (we live in a 1913 home a couple of miles north of you in Wilshire Park).
I’m sure you’ve thought of this, but just in case others haven’t I wanted to post something that your old ads remind me of.
I have taken to searching EBAY for items from the year my house was built. I just put “1913″ in the search field and tell it to look in TITLE and DESCRIPTION. Thousands of listings pop up, but then I just click on categories I like. I have found some really cool items, such as a hammered copper trophy from a Los Angeles Dog Show (I lost that auction, unfortunately) and an awesome calendar which I hope to display in our kitchen when it gets renovated.
For example, when I looked just now under 1912, I found some great color ads for Jello, Cream of Wheat (really great actually), an awesome Fruit Crate Label for Panama Canal Lemons (Santa Barbara) and a really cool 1912 calendar plate also from California. I also found a repro Oreo sign – turns out that Oreos came about in 1912! It really helps to get a feel of the time that our homes were built when you see the pop culture that was around then.
Keep up the good work!!
To avoid “losing” ebay auctions, I’ve been told services like auctionsniper.com are very helpful. They allow you to schedule a bid at the last minute for your highest allowable amount.
I love the ads. I collect ’20s, ’30s and ’40s copies of Good Housekeeping, and the ads are fascinating.
Hi!
Jim and I collect vintage Fiestaware and such. There are hundreds of print ads for it with the wonderful 1940-1960 kitchens. Here’s a website example http://www.fiestafanatic.com/vintfiestaeph2b.htm
By the way, we finished stripping the dining room, living room, and entry hall-including the entry hall mirror! A staining we will go!
Monica
Look at all those new fangled gadgets. Built-in cabinets! Hot and cold water mixed in the faucet! Ice boxes that don’t need ice!!! This truly is a wondrous age we live it.
Yep, looks like the kitchen is next on the list. C’mon, kids, time to get back on the horse. We just finished, and here’s the final product: http://homepage.mac.com/pjfraser/house/PhotoAlbum191.html
Shhhh… Listen there in the distance… You can hear it… Out there a brain is storming…
I made the mistake of cleaning the basement and shed. I had completed 2 or 3 house projects including some major resto jobs without cleaning it and I’m famous for not putting tools away or unpluggings table saws etc. Now that its clean… I’ve got the itch to get back on the resto horse and do some more damage… I mean work. It seems like you guys may be feeling the same way.
You guys are good! A few little innocent kitchen photos and you have us figured out. Yes, the wheels are turning…or the hamster is running faster…or something like that. Plans are being made. That is all I am going to say right now. Now, if only the financial wheels were turning…then we would have something to blog about.
I see you have Standard plumbing ads up. That is my favorite 1920s brand of plumbing fixtures. It could be because my house has the original Standard plumbing fixtures including tub and faucet. Problem was my toilet and sink were replaced so I bought a top of the line Standard purimo toilet from 1926 and ironically a peg leg sink made by the same company the same year. I even have the 1920s porclain mixer set with it to replace exactly what my grandparents ripped out. Anyhow I would like to get one of those Standard drain board sinks like your ads and want one of those GE monitor top refrigerators to restore my craftsman colonial back to 1928.Great sight.
Just wanted to mention one tip if you are looking for old ads. You local library probably has hundreds of old magazines dating back to the early 1900′s. You can usually check them out and then just color copy them to be framed and hung. Great site by the way!
Hi!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through your blog this afternoon and admiring all of the fantastic work you have done. Your home is gorgeous!!! You should be very proud 
My husband and I just moved into a somewhat neglected tri-level home built in 1983. Our hope is to gradually improve this house room by room and add some “old house” elements that will give it more charm and character. We have to be careful, though, to not do so much that we price ourselves out of our neighborhood. One of our BIG priorities is replacing the nasty doors with real wood doors and also adding wood trim & detailing throughout. We love Craftsman homes and look to homes like yours for inspiration.
Here’s a question: I like the look of white trim, but we’ve been debating going with stained wood (like your fabulous woodwork!!) to keep that warm, Craftsman feel. It would be really, REALLY expensive to do use really high quality wood, though. If we use a lower quality wood and paint it white, it won’t matter so much that it’s not perfect grain, etc. I noticed in the ads above that ALL of the woodwork is painted. Do you have any comments about when bungalows/Craftsman homes began painting woodwork more commonly? Do you have any thoughts on the pros and cons of painted vs. stained woodwork when cost is the biggest issue and you’re basically starting from scratch??
Again, love your site!! I’ll be back.
Thanks!
Jacci
Hi Jacci.
Congrats on the house! Bungalows began featuring painted woodwork in common areas (living room, dining room, etc.) in the late teens, around 1918. Some homes had painted woodwork much earlier. By the 1920′s, white painted woodwork was the fashion of the day and featured in many homes. People even painted over their “natural” woodwork to be in style.
Private rooms: bathrooms, kitchens and some bedrooms, usually (but not always) featured painted woodwork, even in the very early 1900s. In bathrooms and kitchens especially, white was considered clean and sanitary. Sanitation was a big focus/concern for people living in the early part of the last century.
I feel that painted or stained woodwork comes down to personal preference and budget. Painted woodwork is the more economical choice. Yet, if you really love stained woodwork and you want to keep costs down, you can use a lessor quality wood such as popular. The wood will need to be sanded EXTREMELY well. Wood conditioner is added prior to staining. It is a lot of work, but if that is the look you are going for then it is worth it.