Ugly House Photos

We’re going to take a moment to appreciate the quality, charm, and craftsmanship of kitchens from 50-60 years ago.

This is a beautiful kitchen from 1948 with original cabinets and tile.  Well-maintained and cared for.  Looks brand new.

This Phoenix home was built in 1953.  Original cabinets and tile.

Here’s its original stove/oven.

Original oven and tile in this 1959 Phoenix home.  The cabinet doors are not original; they would have had beveled/sloping edges.

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[Let us take a brief break from snarky comments and just enjoy these photos]

Today we’re traveling back to the 1950s.  Time has stood still at this Petersburg, Virginia home.

Some 1970s design elements too.

Crushed velour chairs!

Awesome bathroom.

Groovy wallpaper.

Original 1950s kitchen cabinets & oven.

Large dining room.

Close-up of the chandelier.

Fun times in the basement.

Wet bar and a God’s Eye art piece.  Good times.

The sunroom.  With Astro-Turf?

Thank you to Mikey Fuller and photographer Wanda Bond for these great photos.

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It’s not for sale, but we thought you’d get a kick out of this.  Talk about brightening up the neighborhood.  At least it looks very clean.  The windmill’s a cute touch.

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You readers are loving the retro styles of the 1950s & 1960s homes, so we’ve got more for you the next three days.  Enjoy.

1959 Phoenix home.  Original owner.  And you can see her sitting there on the green couch.  Crushed velvet chair.

Mint condition, original bathroom (except for the sink faucet).

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Phoenix home built in 1958.  Original owners.  Original décor.  It’s like going in a time machine back to 1958.  Everything in pristine condition.

Bedroom with the most delightful of curtains and light.

Hall bathroom with dramatic shower curtain and classic hanging light.

Yes, that is velvet wallpaper in the bathroom.  In perfect condition.

Countryside mural in the dining room.  There is bright green shag carpet in the dining & living rooms.

Wallpaper with gold in the hallway.

Orange banquette seating in the kitchen.  Flowery wallpaper.  Original pull-down lamp.

Super cool fireplace.  Green shag carpet.

Make-up dresser in the master bedroom with built-in drawers on both sides.

And for the grand finale, an outside bar on wheels with carpeted sides!  Yes, carpet!

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Last fall we highlighted Phoenix area kitchens as they looked in different decades, from the 1950s to the 2000s.  You’ll find all the posts linked here.

This is a Phoenix kitchen built in 1960.

House Beautiful magazine and website now has slideshows available of kitchens from around the US from each decade too.  The links per decade are found below.

1950s slide show

1960s slide show

1970s slide show - foil wallpaper

1980s slide show - hanging baskets and, ick, pot racks

1990s slide show - brass milk jugs?

2000s slide show - lots of exposed cabinets and more pot racks

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Today we pay tribute to Michael Jackson.

“Remember the Time” was a song from Michael Jackson’s album Dangerous.

Let’s look at a Phoenix home built in 1953.  Do you remember the time when a freestanding fireplace, red linoleum flooring, and wood paneling were popular?

Do you remember the time when homes needed miles of wires and cables for cable TV, phones, alarm systems, and surround sound?

Do you remember the time when floral wallpaper was a must have?

Do you remember the time when blue carpet was trendy?  What’s with the dirt and grime on the walls?

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World famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed several homes in the Phoenix area.  [For 3D models of some of his Arizona and other US homes, check out this website.]

One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Phoenix homes sold last week for $2,800,000.   It was built in 1951, just eight years before FLW died in 1959.  Frank’s son David Wright was the original owner of this house.  It had never been offered for sale before.

[Disclaimer: We are not calling this home ugly. Due to its historical significance, it is worth presenting to you today.]

Let’s take a tour.

The house has a spiral design with ramps.

The lifting of the house from the ground provides room for air to flow freely.

Here is an archival photo believed to be from the early 1950s.

Another old photo showing the foundation.  The lot size is 2.18 acres.

The curved walls can be seen in the kitchen.

Concrete block and wood were the dominant building materials.  This is the living room with a dramatic wood ceiling and concrete fireplace.

Approximately 2,500 square feet home with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.

Curved hallways.

The wood looks brand new instead of 58 years old.

Another fireplace.  Beautiful wood ceiling.

Staircase.

There is a guest house as well.

Exterior view of the spiral ramps.

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This place gets a pass; it’s not ugly or cluttered.  Just a refreshing retro 1950s vibe.  The cat should go, however.

The plate colletion’s a bit much.

Stainless steel tiles are a popular way today to update a kitchen.  Peel & stick and you’re done.  Typical oven from the late 1950s and early 1960s.

For a comprehensive look at furniture, home design, and home features in the Phoenix area from the 1950s to the 2000s, check out the index of 77 posts.

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I had the pleasure of visiting this fine Scottsdale home on Sunday.  It was built in 1959.  The kitchen is in its original condition, complete with original pink Westinghouse oven, original electric range, and original Kitchen Queen range hood.  My family had the same type of oven at my childhood home.  Those ovens were built to last.

Original kitchen cabinets.  Look how the washer and dryer are in the kitchen.  Very European.  This house has been for sale for 610 days.

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