Willowisp
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Posts posted by Willowisp
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They seem to appreciate their privacy so no, probably not unless they come online and share it with us.
As for how we know who designed any particular building. Unless a home was well published at the time of its being built, it takes lots of research to figure out the architect and/or builder. We try to find original owners or their families. So much of it is lost to history. We are trying to keep that history alive or bring it back to life. That's what this message board and Houston Mod is all about.
Are there any updated photos of the house since the renovation/preservation??
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Send me an email to info @ houstonmod . org and I will give you Mr. Vale's email address. I haven't talked to him in almost 2 years so I don't know how his health is these days. In discussing plans he said "they're all in storage somewhere." He was a little vague about the quantity of plans etc he still has. Ben Hill, especially, has researched his work and both of us would enjoy helping you document your restoration. Ben has met several of the owners of his houses and can point you in the right direction in contacting them. I can include him in the emails to the info address. Vale was a prolific architect. It's incredibly sad how much of it is gone now.
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Mine was re-done in 2000. We bought the house in 2005. No issues yet. The garage is another story, but I don't think that's ever been properly re-roofed. I've invited "mdadm" to join this conversation, as I heard good things about his roofing experience and would consider hiring his guy next time my roof needs work. We'll see if he responds.
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I'm pretty sure "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" the story of Freddy Lyman features The Stahl House. I think it's Halle Berry. She comes home to find the house trashed. I was more heart-broken for the house.
Also, the best part of "A Star Is Born" starring Judy Garland is when she's in her mod mansion.
I bet there's a whole slew of threads on Lotta Living devoted to this.
What gets me is how in advertisements there are so many moderns, yet in Houston there's not enough respect paid to these great houses.
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Recent Updates to Houston Mod Buildings
2003 Briarmead Dr.
2107 Briarmead Dr.
423 Isolde
4810 N. Braeswood
4815 Braesvalley Dr.
503 Electra
6126 Meadowlake Lane
6206 Ella Lee
De Menil House
Ginzbarg House
Hull House
Kirk House
Lurie House
Alabama Theater
Central Square
Farnsworth and Chambers Building
Jefferson Chemical Building
The Student Life Plaza, University of Houston
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Has anyone seen the "Willa's Wild Life" cartoon on Qubo (NBC Saturdays)? Her living room is great! Don't ask me why we watch Saturday morning cartoons...
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That's great, other than it being a hideous paint color and my detesting of ceiling fans, both undoables except for the painting of brick. But maybe they had a good reason to paint it...
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Is it the same book as on Glenbrookvalley.com?
http://www.glenbrookvalley.com/amenities/?action=picture&itemId=734248
I've got a copy of the 1955 book (Jackwood St.) I need to scan in for everyone.
Jason
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That's where I went! It never occurred to me that I may have sublimanally gotten my interest in mid-century modernism from my intermediate school.
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Thank you for splitting the threads! You read my mind...
The House of the Century (Angleton) posts were moved to a separate topic:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/index.php?showtopic=22474
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Hey all,
You may remember that "What You Get For The Money" came to Houston about 2 & 1/2 years ago. They filmed our house and immediately went on hiatus. I always figured they didn't really know if they could acurately claim how much you would actually pay for a house after so many American cities' housing markets went south...
Anyway, they are finally airing the episode with our house! I'm curious to see what it looks like on tv over 2 years ago. I think we will be in the mini-segments at the end so you may have to watch on slow motion to actually see it.
The airing date is Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 12:30pm central. Tivo it.
Jason
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Hi all,
I didn't keep track of all of them while I was putting them in, but there are some new additions on the Houston Mod website buildings section. Both Ben and I had a great time over the Thanksgiving break taking pictures and talking to people about their houses.
Most notably, I updated several in Briargrove and Memorial Bend (of course those are all well documented on Michael Brichford's website). I also added a few Lost Moderns.
If anyone is interested in adding buildings to the website, please let me know. We are planning a submission feature on the website at some point, but for now all you need to do is email us the information (architect, year built, address, neighborhood, summary of the history if you have it, and photo if you have it). After that the website committee will look at the submission to make sure it fits the criteria and put it up on the website to continue filling out the list. We are nowhere near done and every building helps. We are aware of some glaring omissions, but there are also plenty of buildings we don't even know about yet. It's just a matter of time and knowledge to get all of Houston's modern buildings their own little spot on the web.
Thanks,
Jason
www.houstonmod.org
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Brazos Books should have it now unless they sold out in a month. I don't know why they didn't contact you if they were supposed to.
The other best way to get the book is at the Mods of the Month or through the PO Box ($3 for shipping).
I talked to the realtor and we may be able to arrange a Mod of the Month at this house. Sadly, it's an estate sale. They are cleaning up the house and getting it ready for sale. The woman I met there two years ago has passed on. I feel even worse now that I never took her my book!
The realtor actually said someone was interested in buying and remodeling. I told her I'd love to be part of that process as I have experience. Who knows if that's serious though. It could just be someone who said "I like this".
Jason
The listing photos are beautiful! What a view with all those windows. So sad to hear it's neglected and probably a goner.
Jason, I'm sorry to complain, but I called Brazos Bookstore for a copy of your Jenkins book last spring when it came out, and gave them my CC number (I was a little surprised they asked for it at that time.)
Haven't heard a word from them for several months. Can you shed any light on that?
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Ben brought it to my attention that this house is for sale.
When I wrote the Jenkins book, I debated a long time about whether or not to feature this house. All of the houses I featured were in Bellaire and just south of Bellaire. This house is off of Woodway on Pine Hollow. I didn't have any vintage photos of the house, and there would be little way to make it look great now, so I decided to leave it out. I went over and visited the current owner once and toured the house a couple of years ago and it was looking neglected.
I'm starting to regret that I didn't feature it now, as it is up for sale, and likely to meet a demo crew. Hopefully we can all get over there soon for a tour. If one had the money and interest, this would be a very interesting project. Many original features remain, and the view/real estate is terrific.
The house was built in 1953 for the Sullivan family. There is a bedroom addition with lots of glass that follows the style of the original house.
I have a small newspaper clipping of it, but on my home computer.
Jason
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Sorry, it must be because I'm at work...
Anyway, Mad Men is my favorite show now that The Shield is gone. It's not only because of the 50s/60s interiors, but that helps. I hope it doesn't go overboard and keeps its slow paced appeal. It's one of the few shows I don't delete after watching the first time. I always want to see the previous episode again before the next one airs.
I did one of those facebook "Which mad men character are you" a few weeks ago and turned out to be Paul Kinsey. I was so happy to find out this week that Kinsey is a preservationist.
My friends have an open invitation to come over to my place to watch the show on Sunday nights. Just give me a little warning so I can make some martinis and mint juleps.
Jason
^They seem to be working but here are static links just in case:
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I guess the person took those pictures down. If someone sees them before I have a chance then maybe host them elsewhere?
Jason
Willowisp- The floor plan of The Draper's house is a very funny find... lot's of details that are spot on. One aspect of their house that's always struck me is the rather claustrophobic feel to some of the rooms. Especially the den/TV room -- where everyone always seems to be piled-up.
Perhaps there should also be a plan note at the base of the staircase, pointing to the wall: Orange juice spill.
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Here's someone's architectural drawing of Don and Betty Draper's house:
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Hey all,
I've found myself using facebook a lot over the last few months, so I decided to start a Houston Mod group there. It will be another place for us to talk or just to give and get updates on our activities.
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?drop&ref=mb#/group.php?gid=2249771973
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Granted it was a Sunday afternoon and not rush hour, but I didn't think the traffic noise was that bad at either house today. Hopefully someone appreciates what these houses have to offer and buys one of them.
Jason
They look pretty good for someone who can tolerate the freeway. Living next to a big road, I know the negative side of noise, but there are things that can help fight and/or mask noise. It's just another choice in living where you do.
Jason
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I wanted one, but thought they were too expensive compared to other doors.
I had the same thought with the refrigerator I wanted, the Big Chill. Just wasn't ready to hand over nearly $3000 for one, as bad as I wanted it!
Jason
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They look pretty good for someone who can tolerate the freeway. Living next to a big road, I know the negative side of noise, but there are things that can help fight and/or mask noise. It's just another choice in living where you do.
Jason
Perusing my porn tonight - HAR - I stumbled upon these 2 mods on Woodvalley, both conveniently open on Sunday August 23rd:
Sunken mosaic tile shower, exposed beams, terrazzo flooring, divider screens, UFO lighting, teak walls: I'm intrigued.
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Come out tonight and listen to me ramble on about my book!
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Hey all,
Here's a link to the Library event. Confirm your attendance if you have a profile on facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=92266297606
ArchiTypes and the Houston Public Library are pleased to announce the sixth installment in our successful series, Authors in Architecture.
High Style in the Suburbs, the Early Modern Houses of William R. Jenkins, a book written by Jason A. Smith and published by Houston Mod brings eleven of William R. Jenkins’ early house designs into focus and documents many of his notable and innovative designs of the 1950s. The book includes vintage photos from when the houses were new and current photographs by Benjamin Hill.
During a career that spanned over 3 decades, Jenkins was a notable architect of both residential and commercial projects in a distinctly modern style. His work received acclaim from both the popular media and architectural scholars on a national level. His works were published in Better Homes and Gardens, House and Home, and Arts + Architecture.
Join us for the 6pm presentation and discussion at the Downtown Houston Public Library (500 McKinney) and then a book signing and reception at Architecture Center Houston (315 Capitol) at 7pm. While at ArCH, take a look at the exhibition Endangered Modern: The Real Story, also in conjunction with Houston Mod.
This monthly series is free and open to the public and generously supported by the Architecture Center Houston Foundation.
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Karen Lantz and Andy Farkas's house was just on HGTV's What You Get For The Money. Congratulations, guys!
They are finally showing the season that our house will be featured, but they are not showing them in any particular order. Ours is show #708 while Karen's is #801.
It had gotten put on hiatus for a year or so. I assumed this was because with the market the way it is, no one knows what you really can get for the money anymore...
It would be cool if it was shown soon after the library lecture on August 20, or if I at least know about it by then.
I'll post again when I know more.
Jason
1956 Parade of Homes
in Houston Mod
Posted
Excellent work! I'll see if I can link that from Houston Mod.org.