by Architectural Observer | Feb 20, 2018 | Blog, Observations
There is no doubt that television has had a huge impact on shaping consumer activity; it is a primary function of the medium. Like virtually everything, television can be used for good or bad. TV’s power to shape our culture could have been harnessed to...
by Architectural Observer | Feb 1, 2018 | Blog, Observations
How is it possible that a house could be lived in for well over a century without ever getting a real bathroom?! That is just one example of how intact and relatively unaltered this amazing house is! On Wednesday I was surprised to learn that a house in Russell,...
by Architectural Observer | Jan 31, 2018 | Blog, Mail Order and Kit Houses, Observations
I recently ran across this house on Zillow. It looks a lot like a kit house sold by Sears called the Osborn. The house was offered from 1916 to 1929 and seems to have been a popular model for them. I’m not sure if the house below is an Osborn, but if not it...
by Architectural Observer | Jan 29, 2018 | Blog, Observations
Often the most dominant interior feature of Craftsman-style bungalows, the colonnade has lately been enjoying something of a revival – even showing up in new construction. Long before the term “open concept” forced its way into the world’s...
by Architectural Observer | Jan 25, 2018 | Blog, Observations
There are replacement window installations and then there are really strange replacement window installations. The center house of three contiguous row houses has had some rather uncommon surgery on its two primary windows in order to accommodate the installation of...
by Architectural Observer | Jan 22, 2018 | Blog, Observations
Americans have long been noted for their eagerness to embrace whatever is new – even when it’s a revival of something old! This has been especially true of architectural styles. In the 18th century we were embracing Classical details in new construction;...
