Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Guest Post: Remodeling California Ranch Houses

I am honoured and delighted to welcome Lisa from a mid life of privilege here as a guest in the Humble Bungalow.


Hello all. Lisa here, from Privilege. Where I write about style, some anxiety, and the raptures of living. All from a High WASP perspective, with my tongue very firmly in cheek. I try not to be a jerk.

High WASPS are funny about their houses. One of our more pronounced quirks is that we prefer what one might call 'authentic' house style. In other words, indigenous forms, where design takes inspiration from location and architectural history. As the Hostess described yesterday in her story of how the Bungalow came to be. Heritage status can be a wonderful thing.

For example, my Aunt Eve lived in the School House in East Aurora, New York. It had been, in fact, a one room school house of the sort common in early America. My mother's family's house on Cape Cod was, well, a Cape Cod. My father's family lived at 740 Park Avenue, an apartment building so native to New York privilege that someone wrote a book about it.

I have inherited, or absorbed, this bias. In my opinion, if you build a house it ought to at least attempt to speak the local architectural idiom. If you remodel a house, you should honor the original design.

Here in Northern California we have several indigenous styles. The Arts and Crafts bungalow (as seen in the Humble Bungalow), the Spanish mission style, and, in my neighborhood, the California ranch. Which looks something like this, in its original form.


Or this. Perhaps not found on actual ranches all that often, but built by the thousands in the 1950s, to cover acres of Northern California countryside. The architecture responded to our climate and lifestyle - no basement, no attic, an attached garage or carport for the cars that took us to all those shopping centers on all those long roads.


But these houses were built in 1953. By now, almost every one in my neighborhood has been remodeled or replaced. High WASPs have an opinion about which were done well, and which were not.

A brief aside. It's rude to say mean things about other people's houses. However, I need to illustrate my point. Therefore I've taken these photos as faux Polaroids, in the hopes that no residence is recognizable. If I have failed, if one of these houses is yours, I apologize. Please feel free to come and point fingers at the scraggly tomato plant in my front yard. I pronounce it open season on the Privilege[d] raised beds. I hope that suffices.

However, I cannot help but believe there are ways not to remodel a house.

My particular pet peeve above. Random windows. Windows don't make a house special, on their own. This little ranch has been subverted by multiple arches. I didn't even show you the circular portal. Unnecessary. Unfitting. Unattractive. (As is High WASP snobbery, when I let it show, but I am making this as true as I can. I do not know if it matters.)


Trying to remodel a classic derivative - the ranch - into another classic derivative - the mission - doesn't make much sense either. Particularly painting siding orange to resemble stucco. And using obviously artificial roof tiles to resemble old Spanish clay.

OK. Again, my apologies. Let's move on to more pleasant matters. Some remodels, when the original design is beautiful and comports with modern taste, do well to explore the original territory. But treading the 1950s California Ranch path too closely will lead you straight to Jetson-land. Plastic bucket chairs and all. Which in a groovy pad in Brooklyn might be quite, um, groovy. Here it would make one feel just a little too Stepford Wife-ish. Whether one is in fact man or woman, by the way.

Witness below a tasteful alternative to historical recreation. We shall call it Simple Modernization. Add a new front door, with redwood grain, and expand the 1950s side panel window with glass block. Put in simple dual-paned windows. Replace your cement path with brick. There's brick in the neighborhood already. It's OK. Not too historically irrelevant. And rip out those water-hogging azaleas and replace them with neat, structural grasses.

Let's say you need more space. Do you build a second story and cover the facade with mock Tudor beaming? I hope not. Just build a bigger 'ranch' house, with a porch. We shall call this, Cast A Wider Net. OK, sure, the porch is more characteristic of Oklahoma ranches than California, but good enough. Good enough.


However, my favorite way to remodel a ranch is to tie in the classic 'modern' idiom*. The people below went all sort of Mies van der Rohe on the left, and all rustic wheelhouse on the right. The porch beams are clear-stained, knots left showing. The key here is an overall grace of proportion, creating a palimpset, a layering of then and now, that remains a pretty house, with pretty flowers out front. We can call this, Modernity, Then And Now. Or, frankly, you can call it whatever you want.


For, when all is said and done, house styles come and house styles go. My father's New Jersey family home was a red brick mansion complete with carriage house. Built by dry-goods-turned-banker money, for a newish wife. Georgian without King George, if one is charitable. Were it still standing I'd probably think it beautiful, now. For all we know, today's McMansions may be the next era's nostalgic design classic. Hipsters may snap up brass door lanterns, octagonal windows, and gold-chunked brown granite counters, and cart them off to next year's Brooklyn. Stranger things have happened. I think.

*It's interesting, is it not, that "modern" is to date a timeless idiom implying an undated modernity? Someone more expert than I, feel free to weigh in.

images
Large California ranch image via Wikipedia
others by me

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The Humble Bungalow beginnings...

This is the background of how we came to live in our Humble Bungalow....the beginning.

Early in our marriage we dreamed of living in a nice area of town and of one day owning our own home.
As luck would have it, we had the good fortune to find and rent a large Edwardian 2 story house with views of the ocean in an old established area close to town. We resided within walking distance to a large city park and small village shops. The rental house had many heritage features and we quickly warmed to it's charms but not to the cold and draughts!

This was at the time my husband was very busy launching his career with an architectural firm and I stayed home to raise our two children. It was such a happy time!
I walked everywhere pushing the buggy with our Golden Retriever Rufus, at my side.
I would choose different routes and look longingly at the wonderful old homes in our neighbourhood. When I saw a For Sale sign I'd look for it in the Real Estate section of the newspaper to see how much it cost. Very few homes were in our price range, with the exception of those listed as "fixer uppers" as our realtor later advised "buy the cheapest house in the best location."

I found our future home on one of my afternoon jaunts....it was a block from the ocean, several blocks from our rental and I thought it looked like we might be able to make it into something beautiful.


This is how it appeared before we took on the restoration!
It had been a rental for many years and was in dire need of TLC.

The house was built in 1912
designed by
Milo S. Farwell architect

A California Arts and Crafts Bungalow
we knew very little about arts and crafts back in 1982
but we learned very quickly!
We visited Santa Monica in California
and purchased a book written by Dr. Robert Winter
also known as "Bungalow Bob"
titled The California Bungalow
he was a pioneer in raising the awareness of the architectural value, 
significance, and importance of Bungalows
from a heritage standpoint.




 The cover has faded from years of sunshine 
as the book sat in the Stickley Brothers bookshelf
( grandmother owned this and she gave it to us when we bought our home)

The restoration and renovations
have taken many years
of research
and work.

We really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into...
the scope was far beyond our thoughts
and taxed our budget and challenged our energy.
We tackled one room at a time
and worked on the garden in between.
Everything we did had to be in the arts and crafts style
and look as if it was original.

We are proud to be tenants here in the Bungalow
preserving it for the future having applied and received approval for heritage registry status.

It is Serendipity...
What started as a humble home purchase has turned into a lifelong journey
we have met many people along the way who are dedicated to heritage and preservation of old buildings.
We have journeyed to meet experts in the field
and have had experts come here to visit.



Our modest and tiny bungalow
 Summer 2010

Monday, October 4, 2010

What a lovely way to spend a weekend!

A lovely weekend away was just what we needed...just the right amount of travel with lots of walking, a little imbibing, food that was cooked and served by someone else and a wee bit of shopping.
Mr. HB does not adore shopping but he indulged me for awhile!

I went to Hermes!


and purchased my new scent
Voyage d'Hermes
very light 
with a touch of citrus
I saw a lovely scarf worn by the shopgirl
but for some reason I wasn't tempted
now there's a surprise!


We made the obligatory rounds of the bags and shoes
and went down to look for a jacket for Mr. HB
I fell madly for the Armani jacket that he tried on
he looked so handsome in it 
Mr. HB was not as enchanted
I believe it was the $$$$$ factor.
We did find a well made cashmere jacket in charcoal grey that looked every bit as nice
which Mr. HB happily purchased.


Are these not divine?
no shoes for me though...
I have another purchase in mind


Lovely granddaughter Isla
is growing up so fast and needs a chair of her own
and Grammy wants Isla to have what she needs
we drove to a large baby store
and picked up this modern chair

if you ever watched a cartoon show called
The Jetson's
 on TV 
this would be the chair that they would have in their home in space!



I had one martini with 3 olives...I ate one before capturing this image.
the next few images are not in order
and show some of what we dined on over the past few days...


Mushroom Bisque


Bruschetta and salad



Strongbow cider for me and a beer for Mr. HB


Spicy Thai chicken drumettes for Mr. HB


Pasta and meatballs for Mr. HB


Clams and pasta for me
The diet starts tomorrow!


Our hotel 


The bridge we crossed to get to the baby store


a room with a view


ocean glimpse


the sun was out


looking east


looking west


Voyage d'Hermes


a litte something pour moi


Gap wool vest meet Debbie Kay

I am back in the Bungalow sipping my tea
content to be home
rested
relaxed

I hope that your weekend was fun.







Sunday, October 3, 2010

Escape from reality....and what I am taking...

My minimal weekender bag contains
my skincare and make up products,
a lint roller,
lingerie
night gown,
2 artsy necklaces, statement pieces from Debbie Kay Designs
and...
these pieces


black bathing suit for lap pool and hot tub
black leggings, 
black dark denim jeans
camel tunic top
ecru loose weave scarf
black bag
black flats
gold low heeled shoes
black Tee
white Tee
print top in shades of heather and grey
beige V neck knit jacket
with ruffled fabric detail

it's a casual getaway
walking
shopping
browsing
hand holding 
time to relax 
with Mr. HB
add my black trench
an animal print scarf
and I am ready
it all fits into a "carry on" size suitcase

our hotel has robes and hair dryers so no need to pack those

Hermes is on the horizon
will be posting
more
later...
stay tuned





Saturday, October 2, 2010

recipe for recovery...a tasty diversion and a family field trip

To cheer me up my Mom and sister arranged to have an outing
we drove out of town to a lovely hotel on the water
sat on the outdoor patio on a warm and sunny afternoon
dined on a delicious and healthy salad
I shared my recent troubling eldercare issues
they listened
gave me air time
and support.


We stopped in and browsed at a thrift shop
we seldom visit.
I wandered the aisles
feeling rather foggy
 my thoughts were elsewhere.
The sun was streaming in the windows and this was in a ray of sunshine.
in the light I glimpsed the details
it tickled my fancy
a
leather handbag
butter soft
and
embossed 
with chains and tags
and
long straps
in basic black
the workhorse colour 
that takes me anywhere anytime


Canadian made 


side zippers expand the bag
transforming the capacity
what a great idea.

I liked the "look"
a little more dressy
cross body
for hands free shopping

and the best part
it was
$10.00

I feel propped up
by comments left here
I am 
giving thanks in gratitude for family,
friends,
and blog buddies.

You guys rock my world.