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About Rikki Nyman
Expertise
Residential architectural questions concerning houses designed between 1900 and 1950, where the question pertains specifically to styles, designs, plans, building materials, color schemes, paint colors, interior finishes and so on. I am NOT qualified to answer engineering questions or issues involving construction methods, plumbing, electrical and the like. For example, I can describe what an appropriate color scheme would be for a vintage 1920s kitchen, or sources for plans for Storybook Style houses. I can not tell someone how to replace the electrical wiring in their old home.
Experience
I have been researching old houses and writing about them for more than five years. (See www.antiquehomestyle.com, which is my site.)
Organizations
Oregon Historical Society
Architectural History Center, Portland Oregon
Publications
www.antiquehomestyle.com
Education/Credentials
B.S. History, Minor in Architectural Design
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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Visual Arts > Architecture > Information about my home
Architecture - Information about my home
Expert: Rikki Nyman - 10/5/2008
Question
Hello,
Thanks for being an AllExperts volunteer. I was an expert here for many years and enjoyed it a great deal.
I was hoping you might tell me what you might know about the style and architecture of my home.
You can see it at:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/10503440naJBdTYQhi?vhost=home-and-gard...
I've owned the home for 9 years and have been restoring it slowly but surely. I know it was built in 1921, in Chula Vista, California. It was part of a 7 acre land sale, and was used as a lemon farm. It has an attic and 1/2 basement, and a separate garage that also had a small room for a servant. It has a "secret" room that is presently accessible only from the basement that is under the stairs, cedar lined, and appears to have had access to the breakfast nook. At some point in time there was a retractable bed that went into the room. We have hardwood floors, crown moldings, and wood doors that I am told are "gum wood".
The historical records for the home indicate that there are some missing beams from the front of the home:
http://www.cvhistorichomes.com/no_22.htm
So, now to what I'm trying to do:
1) I'd like to know if the shingles upstairs are supposed to be natural (wood stain) or painted. I personally would like to have a wood stained look.
2) What would be a proper color combination for the home?
3) I have a growing family, and the upstairs push-out above the front entry is presently a small office. I'd like to push it out even further to convert it to a bathroom. Ideally, I would do this in conjunction with building a historically appropriate covered porch on both sides of the entry. I'd also push out the big round supports to make sure it stayed symmetrical, and push out the porch too.
4) I like to think the home is a "Craftsman" style, but the I've never seen anything like the big round posts that are used in the front entry. Is this a common style? Is this an architectural mistake? I've seen different types of supports used, but never something like these. Can you tell me anything?
Well - I'm sure I've asked too much. Any information, insight, advise, suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks,
JC
Answer
JC --
First let me say your house is very beautiful and typical of 1921 residential architecture.
Stain was often used on shingles and from a practical standpoint it made sense. It protected the wood without requiring the kind of aggressive maintenance needed on painted surfaces. Of course you have to restain every year or so, but you don't get the kind of build-up with stain you do with paint.
The current color scheme now is not atypical. Here's a link to a Sherwin Williams ad c. 1911 (http://www.antiquehomestyle.com/outside/color/index.htm) that is similar to what you have on your house now. (I'll do a little research and look for alternate schemes c. 1920 today for you.)
I don't think pushing out the porch and the small room upstairs would hurt the house at all as long as it is proportional to the overall structure and new porch design. Hire a good architect with solid experience working with vintage homes.
Your house is definitely a Craftsman style, but architects were very innovative during the first part of the 20th century. Many homes were eclectic because they drew from several styles. For example, you might expect square, battered columns on your porch instead of the simple Doric style, but many architects combined "modern" Craftsman features like the knee braces and exposed rafters with traditional details like classical columns or windows.
Though your home is very Craftsman, it is also very traditional. The symmetry and two-stories are typical of the popular side-gabled Colonial Revivals. (Two-story Craftsman homes tended to be uncommon; many architects at the time didn't like the look.) The clipped gable was very popular from about 1915 to 1925. One other characteristic that is interesting is the window arrangement on the main floor which is reminiscent of the Prairie style.
Some purists would be inclined to make it more Craftsman and remove the eclectic elements. I personally like the character and appreciate the manifestation of the collaboration between the architect and home owner because it reflects the owner's tastes as well as prevailing trends in 1921.
Hope this helps!
Rikki Nyman
www.antiquehomestyle.com
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