The Mid-Century Modern art deco house design is all about sleek lines and a contemporary feel. It emphasizes simple open plans, with glass walls and an open kitchen. Wood and metal accents complete the look, in addition to furniture pieces like sectional sofas and chairs. The style often evokes memories of farmhouses of the past, with clean and uncluttered lines that are both architecturally and aesthetically pleasing. Although this style is popular today, it was first introduced in the 1940s and 1950s, and then re-introduced in the 1990s. Mid-Century Modern House Design
Mid-Century Modern House Design
The Usonian House Design is based on the iconic designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. This style emphasizes a natural, organic look, with a focus on natural light and materials like cedar, clapboard, stone, and glass. Usonian houses are designed to be highly energy efficient, with large windows and natural ventilation. Architects used natural landforms for design inspiration, which is why Usonian houses often blend harmoniously into the environment. Usonian House Design
Usonian House Design
Harvey Houses are characterized by their central patios, often constructed from glass and open to the outdoors. This style was popular in the early part of the 20th century, when builders used a combination of concrete and stone to create a unique style that introduces elements of Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean architecture. Rooms of this house designs often open onto the patio, while bright, light accent finishes give Harvey houses their unmistakable character. Harvey House Design
Harvey House Design
The California Ranch house design is usually low to the ground, with large windows, patios, and long verandahs. It features minimalistic exteriors, with natural materials such as wood and stone for accents. Inside these buildings, there are often plenty of family-friendly features such as fireplaces and built-in storage, as well as the possibility of adding a guest suite. California Ranch House Design
California Ranch House Design
The Foamcore house design is a more modern version of the California Ranch house. These houses are designed to be energy-efficient and eco-friendly, with solar panels on the roof, rainwater being captured, and walls made of foam-core insulation. The interior of this house style often features natural stone and wood finishes, and minimalistic architectural elements. Foamcore House Design
Foamcore House Design
The National Plan Service (NPS) house design was created by the Federal Government during the Great Depression. These houses are known for their simple yet pleasing designs, which often feature a mix of basic materials such as wood, brick, and stone. Common elements of the NPS house design include pitched roofs, entryways with arched openings, and narrow halls. National Plan Service House Design
National Plan Service House Design
The Atomic Ranch house design is a nod to the 1950s, when this style first emerged. These houses often have pronounced angled roofs, with classic 1950s touches like exaggerated cornices and paneled front doors. To complete the look, many of these homes feature bold furnishings such as geometric rugs and retro furniture pieces. Atomic Ranch House Design
Atomic Ranch House Design
The Vintage Tudor House design is a traditional timber-framed style, with pointed arches, steeply pitched roofs, and expansive balconies. This style is often characterized by interior features such as vaulted ceilings and exposed wood beams, along with wallpaper-clad walls and furniture pieces with fabric upholstery. Vintage Tudor House Design
Vintage Tudor House Design
The Earth Berm house design utilizes natural materials such as earth and rocks as part of the construction. These homes are built into the side of a hill, with the earth providing insulation against hot and cold temperatures. The exterior design typically features stones and wood accents, with large windows to bring in natural light. Earth Berm House Design
Earth Berm House Design
The Colonial Revival House design is inspired by traditional American architecture, with simplified features that draw upon English and Dutch Colonial styles of the 17th and 18th centuries. Architectural features such as dormers, gables, and roof overhangs are common in this style, in addition to wood accents, and colonial-style furniture pieces. Colonial Revival House Design
Colonial Revival House Design
1950s House Design: A Reflection of Fun-Loving Lifestyles of the Post-War Era
During the 1950s, the country saw an unprecedented surge in new houses being built following the long years of war. This emergence of a post-war building boom opened up a world of possibilities in the field of
house design
. As the style of living changed from conservative pre-war standards to a more carefree and fun-loving approach, houses built in the 1950s also began to reflect a newfound appreciation of the good life.
The
1950s house design
used curvilinear shapes, thin columns and expansive windows to give off a sense of airy feel. There was a strong emphasis on bringing light and nature into the home and allowing it to brightly color the interior space. Room walls were often decorated in bold hues such as yellow, orange and green to further add to the lighthearted feeling of the design.
Materials
Popular building materials used during this period included brick, aluminum, concrete and steel. These were often combined with bright-colored bricks and contrasting stones to give the house a very distinctive look. In terms of roofing, curved and peaked styles were often used to create a jovial aesthetic.
Spaces
Homes of the 1950s had rooms that were often interlocked with one another. There were also plenty of creative ideas being implemented, such as space dividers in the form of bookshelves, trellises or walls and half-walls of glass that created distinct fields of living and entertaining areas. The common areas, particularly the kitchen and living room, were connected to create one inviting and functional space.
Architectural Features
Typical 1950s-style homes commonly had single-pitch or A-frame roofs, low-slung hallways and cozy nooks. Varied rooflines, shallow eaves and jutting out porticoes were also common features and gave the home a distinct charm. The pervasive use of interior shutters, extensive use of glass for doors and large windows enhanced the airy feel of the interior. The outdoor patio was also integral to the design, though these served more as decor items than functional outdoor living spaces.
