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1930s Real Estate: Vintage Home & Floor Plans

A favourite post on my blog is ‘Vintage Real Estate – Choose your House from a 1958 Modern Living Homes Catalog‘. It features a collection of 1958 home & floor plans (and interior design ideas) that you could of purchased & then had made. It was a fun post for lovers of Mid-Century design.

After I saw my readers enjoying the post, I knew I had to do it again. This time we are going to venture into 1930, withOur Book of Attractive Small Homes” by John H. Hagerty Lumber Co. We are once again going to look at the home designs & floor plans like we did in 1958.

Let’s pick our favourite 1930s home!

Note: This catalog was found at archive.org. 

Vintage Real Estate: 1930s vintage home plans and floor plans from 1930 of attractive small homes

1930s Real Estate

Intro:

“Every design in this book is a reproduction of an actual home, in which a family resides in cheerful comfort and each home is selected because of its practical economy, pleasing architecture and individual merits.


Complete plans for each house illustrated have been accurately prepared by competent designers who specialize in small house design and construction.”


Vintage Home & Floor Plans From A Catalog From 1930

Design 906-C. 5 Rooms (2 bedroom aka Chamber) & 1 Bath.

“This bungalow is worthy to be called home by anyone. It is attractice, original, home-like and modern in all points. The arched door, rustic stone chimney and entrance, pointed gables and wide siding are all harmoniously blended into the complete home.”

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for a 5 bedroom, 1 bath small home. Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Design 907-C. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Craftsman home.

“The broad low roof with its heavy overhang, exposed rafters and broad verge boards are very effective features of this modern dwelling.” “Can you imagine a more appropriate present for the wife and family than a home built along the lines and arrangements similar to this design?”.

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for a 1 bedroom, 1 bath craftsman home with a broad low roof and exposed rafters. Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Design 909-C. 1 Bedroom, Dinette & Bath.

“A Charmingly conventional bungalow with a simple layout. This simplicity of room arrangement allows for an easy accessibility between rooms and more important, makes it possible to get every penny out of the building dollar in actual value. Plenty of closet space is provided”.

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for a 3 bedroom, dinette & 1 bath small home. Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Design 911-C. 5 rooms (2 bedrooms), Alcove and 1 Bath.

“Here is a cottage with an English trend; a quaint little home, a pretty little dwelling. The trend in design has been observed here; and considering the architecture involved and the convenient plan treatment, this home offers the utmost return upon the investment.”

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for 5 rooms (2 bedroom), alcove and 1 bath small home. Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Design 916-C. 3 Bedroom, 1 Bath.

“The New England Colonial type has stood the storm for well over a century; it has spread to the four corners of the globe and has grown in popularity as time passes”.

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for 6 rooms (3 bedrooms) and 1 bath small home with porch -The New England Colonial. Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Design 918-C. 3 bedroom and 1 bath.

“There have been many pleasing treatments of the bungalow, and this offers a subdued touch that has accentuated the charm of this type. There is an English Cottage tendency to this home, and it has been well adapted to the bugalow design in such a manner as to secure the beauty inherent in both types.”

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for 3 bedroom, 1 bath small home.  Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Design 935-C. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath.

“It is seldom that such a pleasing, distinctive design is met – for this home in it effective treatment of plain surfaces and regions of contrast has resulted in a most striking design. A touch of the French cottage, quaint and comfortable in appearance; a design of value. The construction costs are surprisingly moderate.”

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for 1 bedroom, 1 bath small home.  Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

The Vintage Home Designs Continue….

Design 928-C. 2 Bedroom 1 Bath.

“This design is an inexpensive bungalow executed in face brick. It proves to be, from the nature of it’s architecture and construction, an unsually cool home in hot weather. The arrangement of rooms is practical, allowing considerable freedom in the placement of furniture, and will appeal to a large number of discriminating people.”

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for 2 bedroom, 1 bath small home.  Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Design 933-C. 6 Rooms (3 bedroom) and 1 bath.

“This is a type that has stood the test of years, it has spread throughout the country – it has proven highly economical and has offered besides this economy an architectural treatement that has been pleasing. A distinctly American type – a type popular to those desiring comfortable porches.”

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for 3 bedroom, 1 bath and porch small home.  Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Design 955-C. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath & Dinette.

“There are many resons for wishing to own this home. First of all it makes an excellent apperance, quite unsual, in fact. Second it has splendid room arrangement, each room being accessible to the other. Third, it is modern in every sense of the word and has all the accessories and conveniences which the present day affords. Lastly, it is a splendid investment, suitable for a narrow lot and very economical to build.”

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for 1 bedroom, 1 bath and dinette small home.  Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Two more adorable 1930s houses to chose from (many more left to browse in the catalog).

1930s vintage house plan and floor plan for a small home.  Circa 1930 small house plan catalog

Well friends I hope you enjoyed house shopping in 1930 with me. I think I want all the homes personally, but I would love to hear what your favourites were in the comments section below!

Now on a personal note, I’m off on my next adventure to Vietnam and Toyko Japan at the end of this week. I will have new blog posts to share with you while I am gone so don’t worry about that!

Thanks for dropping by!

Further Reading: Vintage Home Decor Inspiration

Liz

Better Homes & Garden Vintage Magazine Covers 1920s to 1960s

Fun fact! Better Homes & Gardens has an online archive of ALL their past magazine issues and it’s ALL FREE to read (just supply an email). Oh boy did I ever go down a vintage magazine rabbit hole for this post. In fact I had such a hard time deciding on what to do with this new found archive, that I kind of froze and just stared at my computer. SO…I defaulted to what I like to post about….vintage magazine covers.

Let’s begin!

Oh! and after you done here please check out an archived BH&G magazine post from a copy I have in my collection… Vintage Advertising from a May 1939 Better Homes & Gardens Vintage Magazine

1940s vintage magazine from Better Homes and Gardens from March 1944 featuring two young people in 1940s fashions harvesting their plants and working in a garden

Better Homes & Garden Vintage Magazine Covers: 1920s – 1960s

The 1920’s Magazine Covers

Better Homes & Gardens launched in 1922 as ‘Fruit Garden and Home‘. The magazine offered informative articles, cooking techniques, and contests.

July 1922. The first magazine for this company. Love the art nouveau design on the cover.

Articles inside include: “A little garden in the city”; “What $50 will do in the backyard”; “Summer dress for all-year round furniture”; “Flowers that will bloom on hats and gowns”.

1920s vintage magazine cover for Better Homes and Garden originally called Fruit Garden and Home. July 1922 featuring an illustration of a lovely floral garden.

October 1923, “Fruit Garden & Home” cover featuring an illustration of a tudor style home.

Articles inside include: “The planning & decoration of bedrooms”; “Origins of the Morris chair”; “Bulbs for windows or gardens”; “An adventure in home building”.

1920s vintage magazine cover for Better Homes and Gardens called Fruit Garden and Home October 1923 featuring an illustration of a tudor style home

In 1924 (August), the name changed to Better Homes & Gardens, and it was considered one of the “Seven Sisters” women’s service magazines (Source).

Fun Fact! The Seven Sister’s Women’s Service Magazines were:

  • Better Homes and Gardens (1922-)
  • Family Circle (1932-2019)
  • Good Housekeeping (1885-)
  • Ladies’ Home Journal (1873-2016)
  • McCall’s (1873-2002)
  • Redbook (1903-2019)
  • Woman’s Day (1937-)

The Seven Sisters is a group of magazines that has traditionally been aimed at married women who are homemakers with husbands and children, rather than single and working women. The name is derived from the Greek myth of the “seven sisters”, also known as the Pleiades (Source).

Articles inside include: “Building a Cottage That Was “Different”; “Lawn enemies in the Summer”; “The home’s crowning glory”; “Landscape planning service”.

1920s vintage magazine cover for Better Homes & gardens August 1924 featuring an illustration of a vase filled with Flowers.

The 1930’s Magazine Covers

November 1930 featuring the cutest sunny 1930s kitchen design. I love the cupboard with the fold down table. Perfect for small spaces (like my home).

Articles inside include: “The Kitchen Has Had Its Face Lifted!”; “Gardening on a shoestring”; “A house that grew in California”; “Color schemes for your Kitchen”.

1930s vintage magazine cover better homes and gardens november 1930 featuring an illustration of a 1930s kitchen

March 1933 cover featuring a women in 1930s winter fashions planting / planning her flower garden for spring. Her beloved Scottie Dog is watching her closely.

Articles inside include: “We show you some new wall-coverings”; “The vegetable garden can be beautiful”; “Early flowers this way”.

Further Reading: Everyone Loves a Scottie Dog, Especially the Vintage Community!

1930s vintage magazine cover for Better Homes & Gardens featuring a women in 1930s winter fashions planting / planning her flower garden for spring. Her beloved Scottie Dog is watching her closely.

August 1934 cover features a pair of angel fish hanging out with other fishes.

Inside the issue was an article on the 1934 “Century of Progress” Chicago World’s Fair. I did an post on this topic which you can enjoy by clicking on the above link.

1930s vintage magazine cover better homes and gardens august 1934 featuring an illustration of a angel fish and other fish

April 1936 featuring a 1930s couple admirding a model of their home they could build.

“Inside – How to Build, Garden, and Decorate It”.

1930s vintage magazine cover from Better Homes and Gardens April 1936 featuring a 1930s couple looking at model of their home they can build

I love this cover from September 1938, as I am a balcony gardener and very proud of my space (scroll to the end to see an image of my balcony). Now I don’t look as cute as our cover model with her big wide brimmed hat, but my flowers do!

Articles inside include: “Three homes in white”; “Let go..and sleep”; “A better home at sea”; “How to plan next Spring’s bulb garden now”.

1930s vintage magazine for Better Homes & Gardens from September 1938 featuring a cover model on her balcony garden holding a watering can and wearing a wide brim hat.

The 1940’s Magazine Covers

“Gardening Guide” June 1940 features a woman in her gardening overalls consulting the guide on where to put her flowers in her garden. Hope she figured it out!

Articles inside include: “MORE dollars & sense in home planning”; “June indoor (& outdoor) gardening guide”; “For the bride”.

1940s vintage magazine for Better Homes & Gardens June 1940 featuring a woman with 1940s hairstyle and ribbon in her hair in overalls standing in her flower garden with a question mark on her face.

October 1940 features a stylish woman in 1940s fashion (what a stunning hat and two piece suit!) holding fabrics for her home redesign.

Articles Inside: “Fall Furnishings – Rooms Transformed and Pictured in COLOR”

1940s vintage magazine cover for Better Homes & Gardens October 1940 featuring a stylish women in a two piece suit and a 1940s hat holding fabrics for her home decor

The United States did not enter WW2 until December 1941. I was very interested in seeing when the articles in this magazine went from “change your wallpaper each season” to “wartime tips for your home”. I previewed each month from January 1942 on and this is when I saw the change….

February 1942. No articles on anything to do with war but just a letter from the editor on Pearl Harbour.

1940s vintage magazine cover for Better Homes & Gardens February 1942 featuring a flower garden in front of a house

June 1943 of Better Homes & Gardens had the “most” articles on Wartime topics then any of the months before it (after June there would be more and more).

Wartime Articles featured:

  • Building Tomorrow on the Home Front (article on encourgement of the youth who are at home)
  • If You’re Needed in a War Plant, Mother . . .Excerpt from the statement of policy of the War Manpower Commission
  • Yankee Kitchens GO ON THE Production Line (article about women who cannot work IN a factory but picking up war work in their home so that they can still do their part)
  • Mother Eisenhower TALKS ABOUT Her Most Famous Son
  • Salting – ANOTHER way to keep part of that victory garden until next winter is to salt it down.
  • Live Outdoors This Summer (article on how to enjoy your backyard when you can’t travel)

On a side note, I ADORE the backyard patio furniture on the cover. That fridged umbrella and the matching chair our lady is enjoying a book in, is fantastic!

1940s vintage magazine cover from June 1943 featuring on the cover a women enjoying her floral garden while sitting on her backyard patio furniture including a fridged umbrella.

We will now skip ahead to the end of the war and the end of the decade with this December 1949 Christmas themed cover. “Christmas is celebrated all over the country, in whatever house you own”

Articles inside include: “Decorate with Christmas Cards”; “Decorate your table for Christmas”; “How to make foil trees”; “Treat yourself to a midwinter garden”

1940s vintage maagazine cover featuring a 4 different styles of homes from Mid Century style to traditional with a Christmas tree and family in the center.  Christmas is where ever you celebrate it.

The 1950’s Magazine Covers

June always seems to have good covers as seen in this June 1950 cover. I love the shift to Mid-Century design happening here with the clean lines and that fireplace (must be cold in June wherever this is).

Articles inside include: “Old fashioned charm in modern kitchens”; “How to beat the heat”; “Get double value from your flowers”; “Cool Summer Living”.

1950s vintage magazine cover featuring a 1950s Mid century livingroom decor and design as seen in a Better Homes & Gardens Magazine June 1951

Here in Canada, many retired adults making the trip to Florida to avoid the cold winters we experience in most of my country. They are called ‘snowbirds’ and they love the state of Florida. I envision that some of them still live in cute Mid-Century homes like the one pictured below in this February 1952 magazine.

Articles inside include: “How much does college really cost?”; “Your house can grow with your family”; “Summer furniture you can make”; “There’s living space in your garage”.

1950s vintage magazine for Better Homes & Gardens from February 1952 featuring a Mid Century Florida Home complete with Mid Century Patio furniture on the front lawn.

June 1955 – The Big Barbecue Better Homes & Gardens Roundup.

Sample of what is inside (future blog post coming on this issue):

  • WHAT’S NEW in home furnishings
  • How to talk to the person you married
  • Detroit looks ahead
  • Growing plants in boxes
  • News in dishes: NEUTRALS
  • A cruise on the Great Lakes and so much more!
1950s Vintage Magazine: Better Homes and Gardens June 1955 featuring the Big Barbecue Roundup. The Cover has a father and his two sons cooking food over a big outdoor fireplace made of stone with a mid century lamp on the fireplace.

April 1957 is showcasing a pretty impressive late 1950s kitchen and dining design. I love the indoor outdoor look.

Articles inside include: “Three simple steps to remodeled storage”; “Decorative ways to blend TV into a room”; “It’s rhubarb time!”; “How to drive safely at night”.

1950s vintage magazine cover featuring a 1950s Mid century kitchen and a 1950s housewife from April 1957

The 1960’s Magazine Cover

The homes in this May 1960’s edition of Better Homes & Gardens are pretty impressive inside this magazine. I recommend taking the time to check it out (If you like Mid Century Design).

There is a also a recipe for “cheesecake pie” if you like to bake.

1960s vintage magazine cover from Better Homes and Gardens from May 1960 featuring a Mid Century Home and patio area. The photo features a young girl in early 1960s fashion and her grandfather enjoying Mid Century Patio Furniture.

November 1963: “Party Ideas & Foods – A Big Special Section! Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes….And more!”

1960s vintage magazine cover from Better Homes and Gardens from November 1963 featuring party food ideas and thanksgiving food recipes

I suddenly have a craving for pancakes or waffles with strawberries and whip cream! Maybe it’s this delish looking January 1966 cover that is doing it? (I think it is!)

Articles inside include: “Our best new recipes for small appliances”; “Furniture refinishing”; “Five European vacations that include time to relax”.

1960s vintage magazine cover from Better Homes and Gardens from January 1966 featuring waffles covered in strawberries on the cover. The magazine features new recipes for small appliances and so much more!

Our last magazine cover is from March 1966 and features a groovy orange fridge and a space age dining table. Fun (if you like orange)!

Articles inside include: “10 showcase kitchens”; “Show-off desserts”; “Crafty craft ideas”

1960s vintage magazine from March 1966 and features a groovy orange fridge and a space age dining table. Fun (if you like orange)!

I hope you enjoyed this post, it was quite an endeavour to put together because I wanted to share almost EVERY cover with you. I guess I will just have to do another post (or two). Please share in the comments section below, what your favourite was above or anything else you wish to chat about on this magazine.


Vintage Inn NEWS!

My blog ‘The Vintage Inn Blog’ is STILL on Feedspots “Best Nostalgia Blogs” on the web! I am #12 out of 25. I am also still on their list for “Best Vintage Blog” several years running (#19 out of 80).


What I love about this list is that they use stats to make their decisions…
“The list is curated from thousands of blogs on the web and ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness.”


As a marketing professional, I really appreciate this. Thank you to my readers for making this happen!


Thanks for dropping by! Oh and here is my balcony garden!

Small Balcony Inspiration: Tropical Balcony with flowers
Small Balcony Inspiration: Tropical Balcony with flowers

Further Reading:

Liz