Looking like something straight out of a television program about house flipping, this former authentic Craftsman-style house has been reduced to a caricature of itself as the following “before” and “after” photos illustrate.
In the “before” photo (image courtesy Google Street View) the house was essentially intact. The only real changes it had suffered were replacement porch supports dating to the mid-20th century. Original and style-defining attributes which were sacrificed as a part of the transformation include 12 over 1 wood window sash, a transomed window, narrow clapboard siding, decoratively notched rafters and the chamfered ends of projecting beams. Unpainted stucco has been painted, further eroding genuine patina.
The makeover, which appears to have been television/media-inspired, saw increasingly rare historic details swept away to be replaced with the ordinary. Ironically, some effort was put into giving the porch a more stylistically appropriate look to the porch supports, yet they were painted out in a way which is inconsistent with the Craftsman style; the columns also appear to extend past the lintel supported by them.
New, larger, siding now sports corner boards and new, squat, casement windows replace the taller original double-hung originals. Exterior casings, while new, are consistent in width except for that of the front door which is underscaled for the style. The decorative rafters have been replaced, running right over the beams which were intended to project through them. Gone are the notched tails.
Current fads and trends have a permanent effect on cultural resources such as historic building stock. These fads and trends are promoted heavily on television and other forms of media. Television’s purpose is not to educate people; its purpose is to sell commercials and drive the economy. Culturally responsible conservation does not require throwing everything into a dumpster and replacing history with new stuff. So much potential was overlooked in this remodeling; a far more sophisticated house could have been had at less cost had there been a greater understanding of quality materials, a greater appreciation for architectural integrity, and a greater respect for history. Welcome to our McFuture.
Needs some work, but not near-total replacement of everything!
Would you like fries with your McHistory?
Now indistinguishable from any contemporary tract house.
I see they also lopped off the pyramidal tails of the soffit brackets so it was easier for them to slap aluminum over it. That’s a particular annoyance for me, as it removes the intended emphasis of the brackets supporting the fascia board. I see it done all to often, though. Occasionally, I do see the tails maintained and carefully covered in bent aluminum to match the shape. Although the painted wood looks better, I do give those installers a lot of credit for not taking the easy, sloppy route!
Agreed! Your comment reminded me of a house I photographed several years ago – both before and after it was wrapped in vinyl – and inspired the following post:
http://architecturalobserver.com/replacement-siding-before-and-after/
The soul of the house has been…murdered.