Just curious: mid-century modern?

hoffse · May 2014

The other boards are slow. I'm wondering what you all think about mid-century modern architecture? Is that a style that would ever appeal to you as a home-buyer?

A truly spectacular MCM house came on the market recently. We think it's priced too high right now, but we also think it will probably sit for the summer because it won't be to everybody's tastes. They are having an open house this weekend, and H and I are going to check it out. They added an addition, finished the basement, fully updated the electric and plumbing throughout, etc. And then they really leaned into the MCM thing - reclaimed wood posts, steel drums they turned into light fixtures, etc. Very clean lines, whitewashed wood floors throughout. H and I agree it's pretty badass. I actually think it looks like the setting for a Crate & Barrel magazine.

We tend to like ultra-traditional (1900-1920's-esque) or else pretty contemporary (I have a lot of abstract art in our apartment). The houses that try to marry the two rarely appeal to us.

We aren't chomping at the bit to buy this one - as I said, it's overpriced. We would like for it to sit for awhile so we can seriously low-ball them later this fall, if we decide we want it. It's a flip, so the current owner is really looking at dollar value here.

Our biggest question on this one would be potential resale - how many people simply wouldn't consider it because it's "modern?"

Xstatic3333 · May 2014

I had to look up what MCM meant, but then realized I love it! We'll probably end up in a 1900-1920 home ourselves, but I'd definitely be open to something like you described.

From some of your posts it sounds like you're in a good buyers' market. I confess to being a little jealous-most of the homes I stalk online are under contract within a couple of weeks.

brij2006 · May 2014

This may sound really dumb, but to me they're more of a house for young professionals without kids. To me they don't seem very kid friendly and cozy. If that makes any sense.

You bet your butt that if we had stayed in Chicago area and bought, that's likely what we would've purchased before having kids and moving out to the burbs.

hoffse · May 2014

@Brij - not dumb at all. H was actually wondering the same thing. I do think MCM can be "warmed" up by adding wood, pops of bright color, etc. But it's definitely not the traditional "homey" feel that you tend to expect with homes for families that have small kids. Luckily this one doesn't seem to have the same issues that you run into with others - with tall ledges, floating stairs, etc. - which are actually dangerous with little kids. But yeah, I do get where you're coming from. We'll get a better sense when we go to the open house this weekend.

@Xstatic, our buyer's market is so-so. There are definitely houses out there, but the market isn't crazy flooded with them. This one is so overpriced that it would really need to sit for at least 90 days (I suspect) before the seller might consider a significantly lower offer.

@April - I'll try post some pics later this evening from my home computer