historic house plans

[munkii]

TOH posted the link to the Building Technology Heritage Library today, and I thought I'd share it here because it could be resourceful. It's basically archive of architectural trade catalogs (elevations and floor plans).

archive.org/details/buildingtechnologyheritagelibrary

[bunnymendelbaum]

love it!
Thanks for posting.

[munkii]

May 29, 2013 10:50:56 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

This is the exterior of our house and I can't exactly figure out what the "style" is.  Tudor revival?  It's sort of cottage-y, though.  

It can fit into a generic category of Tudor Revival: its facade is asymmetrical, it features arches (on the doorway and some of the windows), the windows are multipaned (which is typical of this period on this house type), and the grouping of windows is typical as well.

However, it's missing many TR features: no chimney near the front of the house, no timber work, no stucco, no battlements. None of these is a required feature of TR, but it is typical to have at least one of them on a TR house. Plus, there are other features that make me prefer not to give it a label.

The heavy stone framework around the window and, particularly, the door scream Jacobethan Revival. JR houses were built during an earlier period; though, it's not uncommon for popular features of houses to carry on to the next design era/period.

The steeply pitched hip roof is very French Colonial Revival. FCR also shares many of the same features as TR. For that reason, I would say it is an FCR house. Interiors would be the same for both.

With regard to interior finishes, that website is not very user friendly. However, I did some links for you:

1910 interior design advice: archive.org/details/CommonSenseAboutInteriors

1912 furniture and interior decor: archive.org/details/SpecimensOfFurnitureAndInteriorDecorationMorrisAndCompanyDecorators

1918 interiors: archive.org/details/TheInvitingHome

1920 stencils: archive.org/details/TheAlabastineStencilCatalog

1920 fireplaces: archive.org/details/ReadybuiltFireplaces

1920 color: archive.org/details/TheColorBook

1921 linoleum: archive.org/details/BlabonArtLinoleumStylesFor1921

1923 tile catalog: archive.org/details/TheBatchelderTilesACatalogOfTileProductsMadeInLosAngelesByThe

1923 wallpaper: archive.org/details/TekkoESalubra

1924 tilework: archive.org/details/BasicSpecificationForTileworkAndRelatedDocuments

1925 rugs: archive.org/details/TheHeartOfARoomIsTheRug

1925 finishes: archive.org/details/TheHomeBeautiful

1925 window treatments: archive.org/details/KirschRodWindowDrapingBook1925

1925 ceiling design: archive.org/details/GeometricalCeilings

1928 color and interiors: archive.org/details/KingColorRulesTheHomebyC.d.HolleyAndAssociationsAcmeQuality

1928 décor: archive.org/details/Built-inBeautyForHomesOldAndNewByMarySamsonHarms

1928 wood walls: archive.org/details/WallsOfWoodAnIdealMaterialized

1929 fireplaces: archive.org/details/DonleyBookOfSuccessfulFireplaces

1930 wall and floor finishes: archive.org/details/ZenithermForWallsAndFloors

1930 interior finishes: archive.org/details/WetherillsInteriorGlossFinish

1931 rugs: archive.org/details/OlsonRugs1931

1931 Modern Decorating: archive.org/details/ModernDecoratingIdeasFromTheHouseOfColor

1931 decorating: archive.org/details/HomeDecoratorsIdeaBook

1935 building materials catalog: archive.org/stream/HomeOwnersCatalogsAGuideToTheSelectionOfBuildingMaterials/F.w.DodgeCorpCca92001#page/n105/mode/2up