By Jack Bookwalter
When
mid-century modern houses were built in the 1950s and 1960s, the most
striking feature of their interior was usually their open and flowing
floor plan. Living room spaces flowed into the dining room, which
flowed into the kitchen. A vaulted ceiling over it all really did
make the core of the house one big “great room.” This was,
after all, the era of “togetherness.” If the ceiling was
vaulted, and especially if the beams and rafters were exposed, this
one large space seemed like being in a mountain lodge. All the better
to snuggle beside the large chimney and hearth that was always the
focus of the living area. Mantle-less chimneys were usually made of
flat elongated “Roman” brick, although stone and scored
concrete block was also used.
If the
central living area of your modern home has not been boxed-in by subsequent
remodeling attempts, consider yourself fortunate. If it has been altered,
you might consider making it one big room again. Remodeling efforts
in the 1980s and 1990s to gain space by breaking large spaces into
distinct rooms, usually only served to make each room feel cramped.
The living
area would more often than not be in the rear of the house, opening
out to a large patio or garden. This completed a transformation that
had been going on since the turn of the (last) century. In Victorian
times, the front porch announced the family’s presence to the
world. As streets got more crowded and noisier with automobiles, porches
became smaller, and the rear yard more important to the family’s
life. Finally, in mid-century modern homes, the front entrance was
simply a nondescript (though often colorfully painted) slab panel
door. All the family life of the house was oriented toward the rear.
The rear yard or patio was viewed through huge picture windows or
walls of glass. Usually, sliding glass doors, an innovation of the
time, provided outside access.
An atrium, built in the middle of the house, furthered the concept
of indoor/outdoor living. This feature was popularized in California
to take advantage of the mild climate. When atriums were built into
Oregon homes they provided the additional advantage of bringing natural
light into the center of the house. Unfortunately, many atriums have
been filled-in over time to provide more living space. If you are
an empty nester, or the thought of scaling down appeals to you, consider
taking out the added-on (or I should say added-in) space and restoring
the atrium to its proper open-air position. You may find the extra
light will make the other rooms seem larger and more open.
Many people wonder if all that exposed glass in modern homes results
in exorbitant heating bills. The answer is: probably not, but it all
depends. Thermopane windows came into popular usage in the1950s and
many, if not most, modern homes were constructed with this, or similar,
energy-conserving glass. Also, many modern homes were constructed
with radiant heat; that is, heating coils embedded in the concrete
slab. This is a clean system of heating the large open spaces found
in modern homes. By allowing the floor to warm you, you experience
warmth more intensely than with forced air. This also allows the thermostat
to be set lower.
Unfortunately, over the years, many homeowners installed forced-air
replacement heating rather than repair their
existing radiant system. This was largely due to over-promotion of
forced air heating being the “latest and the greatest.”
Radiant heat is going through a second renaissance. Homebuilding magazines
are crammed with articles and ads on the subject. Consider restoring
your radiant system if it’s not working. Finally, if all else
fails, consider placing an insulation layer under the roofing when
it’s time to replace the roof. Homeowners who have done this
tell me it makes all the difference in the world.
Mid-century modern homes were often constructed with natural stained
beams, tongue and groove ceilings, and wall paneling. Over the years,
some homeowners misguidedly painted over the natural wood to conform
to the “all-white” look, or the “neutral look.”
This was often pushed on the homeowner by real estate agents who thought
a new coat of paint might freshen up the house and make it more saleable.
There might have been a few cases where the wood surface itself was
in such poor condition that a good paint job was all that could save
it. But usually it was completely unnecessary and a detriment to the
historical integrity of the house. Fortunately, real estate agents
(like the rest of us) have come a long way in understanding the historical
value of 1950s era houses.
If you would like to restore the natural finish to your modern house’s
woodwork, be advised that this can be a long and
arduous task. Some kinds of rough-cut cedar can be especially difficult
to remove all traces of paint. But you have options. First, consider
restoring only a portion of the natural wood. That will be less expense
and effort for you and a white room with natural wood highlights is
not inconsistent with the 1950s Scandinavian design trend. Even though
Scandinavia is a long way from Oregon, there is precedent here for
that style. World-famous Finnish architect Alver Alto designed the
wonderful library at the Mt. Angel Monastery located about 30 miles
south of Portland. Since this is one of only two buildings he designed
in the United States, it puts Oregon on the map for Scandinavian modernists.
Getting back to your painted woodwork… If you still want to restore
all the wood to its original natural appearance, consider sandblasting.
Not the kind of sandblasting that removes centuries of grime from
monumental buildings on the East Coast, but a kindler and gentler
version made for indoor wood surfaces. Be advised though that not
all preservation-minded people approve of sandblasting on wood surfaces.
The call is yours to make. Finally, there are the old fashion ways
to remove paint on wood: chemical strippers or heat guns. Both require
lots of scraping and lots of elbow grease, but many homeowners feel
that their restored shimmering wood interiors are worth any and every
effort they have made. |
