Is your house "normal"?
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graygables · 07-24-2006, 11:55 AM

Would you consider your house a "normal" house or does it have weird architecture/construction?

Our house was built my my DGFIL about 60 years ago. I'm thinking he either ordered plans from Sears or made it up as he went. From the outside, it looks like your ordinary, smallish ranch, but the layout of the thing with interior doors and all is just weird. There is a load bearing wall down the middle length of the house, making all the rooms no wider than 11 feet. The living room is 22 feet long with doors that completely close it off in odd places, so furniture arrangement is so hard, I quit. I've moved it all out to turn it into a scrap room! The rooms DH built for DDs in the basement are even stranger (it helps to listen to your wife sometimes... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]) I shudder to think of the realtor's face when we finally die and they have to sell this place.

Did your house have a *real* architect??? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

jimmymac · 07-24-2006, 11:59 AM

Standard boring apartment here

simbarel · 07-24-2006, 12:08 PM

Dawn, the title of this thread cracked me up. It could have only come from you, too. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

Our house was built in 1930 and presently is a ranch, but the top floor burnt off some time in the 1960's. This is the only 1-family on this part of the street, I've tried to judge what it looked like before the fire, and I think it had just the 2 floors, with an arched roof.

Older homes in this area were built with a lot of character--lotsa woodwork, molding, nooks, etc. Once the Fosses got ahold of this in the 60s they systematically altered what was probably a charming home into what would most similate a double wide. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] We've been working on giving it BACK its charm and it's a long-long road. So no, not real normal. But for the most part, it's a rectangle and something totally bizarre happened with the foundation...there's no clear line from where it goes from brick to cinder block, it's really weird. DH tells me that the kitchen will be demolished by the summer so we've been pricing out stuff. I think we're going to install a big industrial stainless steel sink and have cabinets underneath. ANYthing is better than what we've got now! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

Happymommy · 07-24-2006, 01:04 PM

Our house is one of the newer homes in Havertown (built in the late '40s/early'50s-- it's a standard brick twin (which means its attached to one other house-- kind of like a rowhome/townhome but nothing on the other side of my house). Yeah it's "normal" -- no architectural uniqueness to it. Lots of twins and singles in this area were built in early 20th century, and they have tons of charm--sort of like Rachel was saying-- really rich woodwork, built ins-- alot of them are really beautiful. Alot of them are really big too. We took whatever we could get to be in this school district, but this house is boring.We have a pretty covered porch in the front-- but that's about it.

Belle* · 07-24-2006, 01:41 PM

Our house was built in 1926 and it pretty typical for Wethersfield at that time. There is now an enclosed front porch that I think used to be a covered front porch. One neat feature is the attic which is partially finished but difficult to access due to the narrow, steep staircase! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

crystalloubear · 07-24-2006, 01:49 PM

I found photos of houses I liked and sat down with an architect to tell him what I liked of each. He then drew up the plans and I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] it

Here's the finished product

I doubt anyone would call it normal though.

fourdrawfs · 07-24-2006, 01:54 PM

from your title I thought something completely different... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] my "house" is normal, but my "home" is crazy.. with two teens, a 9yr old and a 3 yr old everyday is a adventure!! I have kids coming and going all the time, I try to get the lil guy down for a nap amoung all the noise, I usually have extra kids at dinner time. But I really don't mind my kids friends are all good kids and aleast I know where they are-usaully in the pool,Lol

SarahJ · 07-24-2006, 01:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I found photos of houses I liked and sat down with an architect to tell him what I liked of each. He then drew up the plans and I it

[/ QUOTE ]

Crystal, your home is gorgeous! Can you share pictures of the interior too?

There's nothing unique about our house at all. We have the same basic floor plan as 5 other houses on our cul-de-sac. Some things like the powder room, pantry and laundry rooms are in different locations in each house. Other than that, they're cookie cutter. We hope to have something a bit more unique one day.

boosmom96 · 07-24-2006, 01:59 PM

Our house is definitely not normal, but it did have a real architect draw the remodel plans (that would be DH). We live in a 2 story fourplex and have the entire top floor for us. We've been working on the remodel for 10 years and I think we have another 10 or so to go!!

Tink and co. · 07-24-2006, 02:30 PM

Our house is pretty normal I think as far as construction goes. It was custom built 13 years ago this fall (but not by us). I like that our house has lots of big open space, and all the rooms are big. Even my closet--yep it's big enough to be called a room! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

JoanW · 07-24-2006, 02:35 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I found photos of houses I liked and sat down with an architect to tell him what I liked of each. He then drew up the plans and I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] it

Here's the finished product

I doubt anyone would call it normal though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but where is the swimming pool?????? And the thatched roof tiki bar??? And where is Juan, the cabana boy???

**DrDolphin** · 07-24-2006, 02:37 PM

Since I have a brand spanking new townhome -- I definately think I fall into the "normal" category (first time for everything!)

ilovedisney0_0 · 07-24-2006, 05:34 PM

Mine is pretty normal. I live in a suburban neighborhood of Phoenix, and all of the houses are different but the same. Nothing crazy or wacky. I actually like my house a lot better than others I have been in in this neighborhood, because it has a very open floorplan. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Amy

joyjoy · 07-24-2006, 05:39 PM

My money pit is "normal" for ranchstyle houses built in 1972. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] It has all those formal dining room/formal living room type spaces that are closed off from one another. What were they thinking? I refer to the dining room as "The Conservatory" and the dining room as "Granny's Parlour" and we never go in there. Well, Mieke hangs out in the parlour.