by Architectural Observer | Mar 2, 2019 | Blog, Mail Order and Kit Houses
Offered between 1913 and 1918, the Sears Hawthorne was a somewhat ungainly-looking Craftsman style bungalow which was not a huge seller. It was essentially the one-and-a-half story version of the Sears Avondale which was far more popular with kit house buyers and...
by Architectural Observer | Feb 28, 2019 | Blog, Mail Order and Kit Houses, Uncategorized
One of hundreds of house designs published by the Radford Architectural Company of Chicago in the early twentieth century, Design No. 1131 is an eclectic composition in that it combines Colonial Revival, Queen Anne and Shingle style influences. This example in...
by Architectural Observer | Feb 27, 2019 | Blog, Observations
Today we’ll look at two different types of alterations which can negatively impact how we perceive a structure. Sadly, the following examples are fairly tame… there are countless others which are far worse. The first category, Indifference, will highlight...
by Architectural Observer | Feb 24, 2019 | Blog, Observations
Have you ever thought that some older buildings seem to be oddly proportioned — perhaps a bit top-heavy? Often there is nothing wrong with their proportions; the problem may instead be with our modern perception of what a building’s exterior should look...
by Architectural Observer | Feb 18, 2019 | Blog, Observations
Door hardware, like other architectural details, can often help to guestimate the age of the house when its history is unknown. However, this method is only reliable when it is known with certainty that the hardware in question is original to the house. Hardware, like...
