Our homes and our cars.
Capitalism and freedom at work.
The automobile and our home play a big part in the Great American Experiment.
Ownership of either or both of these material things is a measure of who we are. It is more than just transportation and a roof over our heads. It is a feelgood statement that we have arrived! It is not arrogance, just fact! Owning personal property was a major reason that immigrants came to America in the first place. We can never over emphasize the human need for freedom and all that can be achieved with freedom.
The ending of World War Two in 1945, brought millions of young servicemen home. All of these men and women were heroes coming back from the brink of hell! Their goal was to forget the nightmare that they had lived through and return home to a normal life. They wanted to get married, start a family, learn a trade or go to college. They were bursting with enthusiasm and pent up energy. They wanted to start life anew.
There was an immediate need for America to respond and we did. The fires of American ingenuity were lit. Detroit went from building tanks to building cars. Farmers expanded land and crops. The G.I. Bill was created for returning soldiers to get into college or buy a home. Businesses were started and thrived. Manufacturing put on another shift.
Homebuilders went into high gear. The same energy used in wartime was now being shifted to peacetime.
Ownership of a home and a car became common place. Oh, and one more thing that happened was babies. Births skyrocketed and formed “the baby boomer generation.”
The American family began living the good life! It was now possible for most families to own a modest 1000 square foot frame or concrete block home for under $5000. This same family could also buy a new American, fourdoor sedan for about $600. People were making more money and they were spending it. This was the beginning of a new middle class America. It survives today thanks to freedom and the American dream!
The American home.
From the farms to the cities.
Many of our early American homes followed European architectural designs from Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and England. The original settlers to the American shores and the immigrants that followed, brought with them their comfort zones. Many of these architectural styles found favor in the new land.
Some common architectural names include Colonial, Federal, Georgian, Roman and Greek. New American styles included the Cape Cod, the Salt Box, Prairie Style and the Shot Gun. The inspiring Prairie Style was created in the 1930s by Frank Lloyd Wright.
After 1940, new movements gave us Modern, Neo-Eclectic and Contemporary designs.
Innovation and design continues to evolve to this day.
Owning your own home was not commonplace in the early 20th century, when renters outnumbered owners. However, after World War Two, home ownership increased to nearly two thirds of the population.
Post war thought changed the culture of home ownership. It also inspired the great migration away from the farm. These new non-farm families were locating in urban areas close to big cities, with their new cars and their new homes. “Urban sprawl” was born.
Builders and architects began building communities of homes, opposed to single standing homes. The idea was to form a city center connecting single home plans into a community of homes. This would include a town center focus with full services, landscaping and traffic design. “Cookie Cutters” was a new term commonly used.
These homes were simple and basic and affordable to the masses. They were usually pedestrian in appearance, certainly not elegant, but would more than serve their purpose and gave immense satisfaction and happiness to millions of American families.
This middle-class housing boom did have a negative side. This event gave us look alike homes in look alike neighborhoods all over the country. Visualize an average home on an average street, in any city, built from 1945 to 1965, and generally you will not find a lot of difference from one to another. You will see them as small, functional, basic, similar in purpose and appearance.
Now, there is nothing wrong with this idea and, in fact, we do not hear a lot of clamoring for any changes. On the contrary, many people may not want change. In many cases people want to live the same as their parents did. They may want their traditional family comfort zone, where they easily fit in with others. This family home and surroundings is their castle and don"t you forget it!
Because Americans love their same old, same old, it has been difficult for architects and builders to step outside the norm and introduce anything new, bold and fresh. The market responds to subtle change and can be more than a little finicky. It is also a present day challenge to build increasingly larger homes at the same low prices. We want fast and cheap.
There is a fork in the road ahead for home ownership. On one hand we may be heading for tougher economic times that may limit home ownership. On the flip side and if the economy remains strong, our living spaces could become larger and more diversified.
We will also witness the ramifications of smaller families, both husband and wife working, incomes vs debt ratio"s, credit availibility and lastly, the positive or negative outlook of the American people. Castle or cave, The future is a bit unknown at this time.
Your very personal home.
What to look for
The physical needs
The geography, location, climate, culture, the schools, proximity to shopping and to work, property size and shape, trees and landscape or not, costs before and after purchase and other relative questions will play a role in any home buying experience and your degree of happiness.
The property
The size, the lay of the land (flat or rolling), the soils, drainage, access to water, sewer, gas and electric, special requirements, special costs, regulations and taxes will need to be addressed.
The structure.
The design, style, floor plans, the materials used, the base (generally concrete or wood), the type of roof and walls, windows and doors, attached or unattached buildings such as a garage will play a role in your purchase.
Interior space
The total size needed for most people is generally between 1000 and 3000 square feet.
Individual room shapes and sizes, the number of total rooms, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the kitchen size and shape and materials, colors, textures all makeup the place where we live our life.
The physical plant.
It is the heating, cooling, water and power that give us livability. From the simple to the complex, it is many times a question of economics, regulations and the environment.
New components and technology.
Inquire into the possibilities. Put some time into study, planning, and vision. You can be both a practical person and a visionary. Did I forget to mention, use common sense?
Personal needs.
Future family size, children"s needs, special needs, handicap requirements, special rooms, garage and/or work shop, enclosed yards, pets, basement, second floors, hobbies and privacy are among the many special requests.
The bottom line is choose wisely!
New directions.
Some “far out” ideas
Our homes are just great and there are always folks trying to make them better. But I would like to throw some notions out there for you to chew on:
• The house structure
The roofing and walls of our homes are the strength and protective blanket between you and the outside elements.
How about a totally different direction? For a moment, let us forget about the appearance of the standard everyday house. Suppose we could install a translucent cloak or balloon like covering that would be both the roof and the walls and would be one way transparent seeing inside to out. Now the next question might be, how do you do something like this without it looking like a circus tent?
• Windows and natural light
The role of the window is to allow natural light in while being able to see out and offering some security. The cloak covering (mentioned above) would provide 180
degrees of light. This same covering could be toned or adjusted to control the amount of light desired. Presently, high rise buildings are doing marvelous things with tinted glass.
• Doors
The function of a door is to provide security, ingress and egress. But, frankly, doors are boring! Do you remember the tv series, Star Trek” with Captain Kirk? In their spaceship they moved from one room to another through hands free panels that opened and closed quickly and silently. Sell your stocks in door hinges!
• Heating and cooling
This generally involves units that blow cold or hot air through the same outlets mounted in the floor or ceiling. Since hot air rises, heat introduced at the floor level doesn"t need to be blown, does it?
Cold air is a “horse of a different color,” in that it is heavier than hot air and can move downward. Therefore, blowing hot and cold air through the same outlets doesn"t get it.
Maybe we need a new approach!
• The indoor environment
There is no good reason that the inside of our homes contains dust, dirt, pollens, harmful bacteria, and other undesirable stuff, especially when they are moved about with those same hot and cold air blowers. Surely we have the technology to better control the home environment. This must happen!
• Nature"s energy sources
Why have we not used the sun for heating? This should be a no brainer! Generations past used collected rain water for cooling, for cleaning, for crops and of course for human subsistence. We haven"t built a dam in years. Why? What happened to all of the talk of using waves and rivers for energy? Now they speak of windmills.
Let"s see how that flies! We haven"t built a nuclear power plant since Jane Fonda and her stupid movie, “The China Syndrome,” scared the heck out of everyone.
Drilling for oil and gas is a no brainer, of course, but we also need to look at a myriad of energy sources including the chemical elements, the wind, dams, fire, rivers, the ocean, and a zillion other opportunities. Remember, if you"re not moving forward, you are moving backwards. Get the government out of the way.
• Wiring and plumbing
The moving of electricity, fresh water and waste is normally pre-installed in specific locations within your home. This does not easily allow for movement or change.
Wouldn"t life be easier if you could add a bathroom by just plugging in, or adding a light fixture anywhere in your home? Just asking!
• Lighting.
Much better lighting is needed in our homes. It"s a wonder all of us aren"t blind. We need to rethink powered lighting as to the results that it produces. As I see it, there are three distinctively different lighting needs.
# 1) Natural lighting. Translucent ceilings with fully adjustable toning could offer natural overhead soft lighting for the entire home.
# 2) Space lighting. This electrical use would be a supplement to the natural lighting. It would be a whole house system located in the ceilings or walls to wash the rooms with light.
# 3) Pinpoint lighting. Unlike the first two sources, this would be smaller, adjustable and directional, low voltage removable units for up close use.
• Interiors.
I contend that many architects don"t know squat about the living side of a house. They are followers. They start out with the square footage under roof and then go about dividing this space into bedrooms, bathrooms, dining room, kitchen and living room. The designers and builders give us the same bland, year in and year out, short on excitement, three/two living space. You can travel this country and find the same boring house on any street in any state. We need some new thinking and some pizzazz!
• Rooms.
Privacy is great, but I don"t particularly like walls! Pre-designed walls limit changes and load bearing walls really restrict change. People don"t like to be restricted! There is no earthly reason that we continue to accept someone else"s idea of chopping up our space.
While discussing rooms, it is important to recognize that we folks out here have some new ideas for our rooms. We need office space, a space for our computer. Some people are into rooms for entertainment or watching tv or working out. Generally, people have different needs today than they did in previous generations. Therefore, the interior space of the American home needs to be modernized.
• Storage.
There is never too much storage space and every nook and cranny is potential storage.
Maybe architects should give an award each year for the most unique use of hidden spaces. Remember the old scary movies always involving a dark old mansion, where the bad guy pushes a button and the big bookshelf rotates and reveals a secret passageway?
Now that was an exciting idea!
• The flexibility syndrome
The single biggest change agent needed in our homes today might be a desire for more flexibility. Nearly everything built into our homes is pretty rigid and not easily adaptable.
We may need more or less space, we may desire a change in design, our personal habits and culture may change, the children moving out demand change, getting older demands change and of course we may have physical changes such as special handicap
requirements. The bottom line is that inquiring minds want to know if anyone out there is listening!
• Time and space theory
I contend that there is a direct correlation between the time spent in a particular area of your home and the amount of space required for same.
For example, we spend 1/3 of each day sleeping, therefore about 1/3 of our total square footage should be in the bedroom/bathroom area. Another example might be, if you cook and eat all of your meals at home, perhaps up to 1/4 of the total space might be allotted for the kitchen and eating areas. Now this would be food for thought!
A further breakdown of this theory
The master bedroom suite, using the above logic, would therefore emphasize special needs and comfort, such as size, shape, color, texture, natural light, good lighting, openness, ease of movement, soft carpeting, overhead fans, good ventilation, a place to read or study, a large and private place to dress, mirrors, loads of storage and other personal needs should be considered.
The kitchen and eat-in spaces need a facelift. This will involve size, shape and emphasis on our special needs. We might ask about the types of meals we eat, the preparation required, how many people are involved and will these meals be generally in a formal or informal atmosphere? These spaces also need new innovative thought regarding comfort, flow, beauty, function, lighting, ventilation, and tons of storage. I ask also, why does the kitchen have to look, well, like a kitchen?
The entertainment area with our high television usage may be, for some, an area where the family spends a great deal of time. This may be one room or more, including space for the tv, music, reading, relaxing, entertaining and could also be an optional space for office work, recreation and special projects. The area needs to be cozy, but functional, with pleasing textures and colors. Personal emphasis should include special lighting and electrical needs.
Your cave. Your castle.
I would like to tell you what I believe a home is to me. First of all, I"ll tell you what it isn"t. It is not a place to sleep, eat and park your car. I"m referring to something much deeper. I"m speaking of a place where you walk from the physical side of your life to a more spiritual and personal side.When you open the door to your home, walk in and close the door behind you, you have immediately separated yourself from all that stuff that has possessed your total being for the past many hours.
Your home is your sanctuary. Think protection, security and privacy. This is your private place where no one can come in unless you invite them. You are in control! You call the shots!
You then kick off your shoes and blow out a deep breath, like you are releasing all the weight of the world. At this moment in time, there is no pretension, there is only you.
Freedom"s next step may involve a glass of beer or wine, some soft music and sitting back in your favorite easy chair to unwind.
If this all sounds familiar to you, it is because all of us face this same experience everyday. The world outside your door can be menacing, tangled and overwhelming. The home is the place that separates us from the insanity of life. That"s the reason that your home is more than a structure. It is your security blanket. It is your cave or your castle. It is your little private world.
It is better if your home is a bit older, like wine, it gets better with age. A home with some size to it is good, as this offers more places to hide things and yourself. Your place need not be too tidy. A little dust is good for the soul. A small bed like place, comfy like a mattress of straw, a bit lumpy and with some pillows, near a window is good for afternoon naps and your regeneration.
Some other get away areas may include an old soft chair with a little light over your shoulder for reading. This area is especially cozy when not kept too neat.
It is good if some rooms in the house have some warm spots or cold spots. In the winter, it is refreshing to visit a north window and see a little snow on the inside of the glass pane. This is a reminder to be humble!
A covered and screened porch in the spring and fall is wondrous. The fresh air, the sunshine and the busy noises wake us up to life. On the porch you are still in control.
Only a few feet away is that door to your privacy and security. The porch is also better if it has some age with natural wood floors and perhaps an overhead fan. This is a place where you can be a spectator to all the activities of life, some children playing, some neighbors discussing the everyday stuff, a dog barking and a gentle breeze through the trees. This is great! Back in the house, if it"s a bit cold, a good warmer-upper is an old stove or fireside. Every home should have a fireplace. It is oh so civil!
These remembrances allow us to see what is really important in life. The good things are usually simple and cost little.
I also like color. It can be used to set the tone of a particular room, or make it warm or cozy. The opposite side of that is the wonderful feeling of natural wood. My father used knotty pine in his office and I will never forget the majesty of it.
Basements and attics can be great hideaways if temperature or moisture is not a problem.
I love old roomy garages or barns. They can hold memories of another time.
All in all, today"s homes and today"s cars, have lost a bit of the character that they once had. However, they remain our most valued personal assets.
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