Why is it so hard to find a house that's original? (Raleigh: chapel, new house)

[underPSI]

For the o.p., you might like my Mom's house. House was built in '79, ~2600s.f., custom built, located in N. Raleigh in a highly sought-after neighborhood, 2 story w/ full basement, 2 car garage, and all the original appliances and almost everything else that goes along with the year 1979.
The house definitely has character!

[VaNC]

There are also a lot of modernist homes in the Triangle. Some are for sale. Just google "triangle" and "Modernist" and "homes" and you will find the site. Some are even for sale. Sorry, would post the link but we are not allow to link to blogs here, for some reason.

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by underPSI

For the o.p., you might like my Mom's house. House was built in '79, ~2600s.f., custom built, located in N. Raleigh in a highly sought-after neighborhood, 2 story w/ full basement, 2 car garage, and all the original appliances and almost everything else that goes along with the year 1979.
The house definitely has character!

Well, I might be interested, if it were built in 1879. I've been looking for/at houses built around the early 1900's that have been renovated at some point.

[Claire_F]

Originally Posted by zitsky

Well, I might be interested, if it were built in 1879. I've been looking for/at houses built around the early 1900's that have been renovated at some point.

If you do a search in zip code 27597 for older homes, you can find a couple of nice looking older homes in my area.

7404 Halifax Road in Zebulon was built in 1806. It's actually not far from 401.
1736 Green Pace Road in Zebulon was built in 1930.

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by VaNC

There are also a lot of modernist homes in the Triangle. Some are for sale. Just google "triangle" and "Modernist" and "homes" and you will find the site. Some are even for sale. Sorry, would post the link but we are not allow to link to blogs here, for some reason.

Thanks, that was a great tip. I'm going to check out a few of the houses listed on that site. I wish they covered houses before 1950, but it's better than nothing.

[al_roethlisberger]

Originally Posted by underPSI

For the o.p., you might like my Mom's house. House was built in '79, ~2600s.f., custom built, located in N. Raleigh in a highly sought-after neighborhood, 2 story w/ full basement, 2 car garage, and all the original appliances and almost everything else that goes along with the year 1979.
The house definitely has character!

Although not mid-century/modernist in the purest sense, even homes built in the late 60s and into the 70s are starting to become "classic" in some circles. It is always funny that if one waits long enough, something becomes stylish and retro

But I tell ya, even though many of the cliche's of 70's architecture(e.g. burnt orange shag, avocado appliances, wrought iron, and dark woods, etc) are examples we all roll our eyes about, some of these homes, especially "high style" versions, if preserved and unmolested are actually something to behold. One may still not find it their taste, but the examples that really were put together by a good architect, designer, and decorator actually are often much unlike the suburban knock-offs that we all grew tired of 20+ years ago. Some are really showpieces, and are cool to preserve in their own right

And mid-century homes, including the "ranch", are also finally getting their deserved credit. Some of those are really neat too. There was an entire neighborhood of Usonian homes in the San Jose, CA area that almost fell to the wrecking ball during the recent "flipping decade". But fortunately the neighborhood got together and saved them. The houses aren't much to look at on the outside, by design a pretty plain box, but inside and related to the surrounding landscaping really are something unique and special.

So, if one looks, there really are likely a lot of unique and special homes out there.... of all styles.

Al

[uncletupelo]

They are many neighborhoods in Raleigh that have tons of character and unique homes built before 1930. What exactly are you looking for? paulsetliff.com is a great site that highlights many of these classic old Raleigh neighborhoods. It also shows the latest sell prices in each hood.

[DanielleNC]

A lot of people are suggesting places in Raleigh. Wasn't zitsky looking primarily in Durham? Zitsky, what is it you were exactly looking for in the older homes? There are so many in Durham I am sure there is one right out there for you. You also mentioned in your first post how you are sick of seeing Craftsman style. A lot of the homes built in the early 20th century are Craftsman. What style do you prefer from that era? Oh, and of course price range.

[uncletupelo]

I think he was talking about the new houses that the tract builders call Craftsman style, but are the furthest thing from being a Craftsman home. Same with Charleston Style etc. Most are very bad attempts at recapturing the authentic style.

[al_roethlisberger]

Originally Posted by uncletupelo

I think he was talking about the new houses that the tract builders call Craftsman style, but are the furthest thing from being a Craftsman home. Same with Charleston Style etc. Most are very bad attempts at recapturing the authentic style.

I recently visited a nice family that purchased a new home in what I would call a pretty "luxurious" or "upscale" new development, populated with an odd mix of "classically styled homes", which included many of the "Craftsman" variety. And I apologize for the heavy use of quotations, but I don't know how else to best convey the marketing around these terms

Anyway, in this one case I was purchasing a porch swing from the family because it was too large for their front porch. It turns out that their parents, hoping to give them a wonderful house-warming present, heard they had bought a "Craftsman" home and thought a porch swing would be the perfect gift.... almost by definition

However, because the house was really not much more than a fashionable facade, with an.... honest..... 2-3ft deep "porch" , the swing was unusable, which is a really sad, but poignant commentary on these houses

The only think "Craftsman" or any one of the 5 styles the builder glommed together in a strange time-warp assortment, were cliche'd brackets, stubby square columns(vinyl covered at that!), and some "cedar" shakes on the front elevation. Beyond that, the other 3 sides of the house were acres of bare vinyl or hardiboard(type) siding pierced by a depressingly few windows

As I drove away I wondered what that upscale neighborhood would look like in 10, 20, or worse 50 years. I just don't think it will physically or stylistically/aesthetically hold up either.

I felt kind of bad for the neighborhood with that thought in mind.

Al