If you do remove it you will likely have trim to replace or patch in. Just something to think about. It looks like you have nice wooden trim throughout, so your best option would probably be to match it. Painting trim every 3 years is a pain in the @$$. It might be a good idea to try to match the baseboard before removing the cabinet.

I would try to locate a snazzy door with the little windows, to further realize his great idea. I would also find an inspiration fabric and do the relatively inexpensive recover of chair seats. Use the inspiration fabric to choose a stencil for the white drapes in the dining room and stencil them with fabric paint - as an inexpensive face-lift, and a style-experiment. Perhaps just a border, as they are finished at the top. I noticed that the back door had the little inset window, common in that era.

after seeing more of your house, it all seems to jive together. everything except the door :)

You've got tons of comments, I may repeat some that you've already heard. As someone currently house hunting, I can not find a 50s' house with these elements still in them. People have taken them out and put in off the shelf items from the local big-box store which clash with the space they are in and often don't function nearly as well. Because you're on this site, you are thinking about it before grabbing a hammer and that's a good thing. I would love to have your house! So please consider leaving these items alone (this will also be cheaper for you!!!).
Someone posted photos of a new front door above, they are NEW doors that can be found at www.crestviewdoors.com - check out their photo gallery.
Also, go to the facebook page for Retro Renovation or their website at www.retrorenovation.com - you're going to find lots of resources there for your age of house and inspirational photos.
Also, pick up a copy of Modernism magazine or Atomic Ranch magazine - they will both have resources for you and inspiration photos. Atomic Ranch often has photos of houses that people have made feel "today" without ripping out all the "yesterday". Just remember if you take out all these wonderful elements your house will end up looking just like everyone else's and you are a unique person - why shouldn't you have a unique house. Don't forget to also use the search function on houzz.com and look up "Mid-Century".
As far as opening everything up....often times open plan houses feel much smaller than those with walls. The divider by your entry is necessary - otherwise people will be walking directly into your dining room and I don't think you'll like that as much - it's a visual barrier that isn't constraining the way a wall is. Also, 50's kitchens were designed for function - live in your house for a while and note what does and doesn't work for you in that area and then decide if you need to change it.
I just ask...if you decide to remove these increasingly rare features of your house, please remove them with care and donate them to a reuse center or sell them - many people are trying to find these elements for their mid-century homes that careless homeowners ripped out years ago. Thoughtful design will make you MUCH happier in the long run, so just give this some time, do your reasearch and then create a well detailed plan. Good luck.

(PS - avoid HGTV shows - they don't value styles from other decades doesn't matter if it's 1900 or 1980, if it's not "today" they rip it out without any thought about salvage value - remember, this is for a tv show and often times the techniques are not recommended by designers or contractors.)

i just had been noticing the closet trim.....

I would say marvinone has given you the best of all advice. I definitely agree.

I think the shelves are the best part about that half wall. I love it, but if you're unsure, live with it for a while. It may grow on you or not, but there's no need to do construction on something, only to find out that it worked better the other way.

I just read one of your other comments which stated you wanted to take out the pink half bath, so I'd like to direct you to Retro Renovation's sister site www.savethepinkbathrooms.com. I don't know what yours looks like and I know there are bad ones out there, but they are becoming more rare every day.

Someone above asked the great question...why did you buy the house? I often wonder why people buy a house and decide to change everything about it? Sometimes it's the location, sometimes it's due to damage, sometimes it's worn out items like carpet/appliances. But I think their suggestion is a great one, something made this feel like home to you and you should put your finger on that before tearing it out. I STRONGLY recommend contacting a QUALIFIED interior designer or architect for a consulation. If you just have them come in and spend a couple hours helping you analyze your space then it's worth it. I bet that service would be a minimal charge. By qualified I mean, check their credentials. AIA or ASID means they are members of professional organizations which require you to have design and construction education and knowledge. I'd start there (or reply directly to Gary Finley, ASID above!!). Houzz.com has a database of designers that you could find in your area.
I suggest you find someone who might like mid-century style so they can help you work with what you have - otherwise you'll be spending all your money rebuilding a house that didn't need to be rebuilt.

And with that...I will step down off the soapbox! Again - good luck!!

I have something similar in my home. It just houses figurines and collects dust. I have accidentally broken several of those figurines as well since I walk past it several times a day. I would keep the half wall to define the space, but get rid of the shelving unit. Or you could build it in completely with a nice stained glass window that would allow the light to filter through but not be too closed off.

marvinone,

STANDING OVATION!!!!

And using Gary Finley, ASID is a great idea!

i'm blushing............................and waiting!

mlondon17, sorry if I sounded agravated. it is indeed a cool house and it has a lot of midcentury elements. in my present house I have done more archeology than renovating, peeling down the 70 and 80's out of a 50's ranch much enlarged over the years. under hideous (but expensive) paneling I found the back of a previoulsy exterior stone fireplace, under formica and drywall beautiful old brick fireplace, under tile that would have been great for a wall accent but that was horrible and slippery, was great oak floor full of character. bathrooms had layers and layers of tile, yet one was a gem of 50's blue tile in perfect shape, except for the hideous wallpaper in purple :-( .
I think you can work with your kitchen, reconfiguring what bothers you, changing the elements. that is if the cabinets are good or the layout is without hope. but I tend to agree with everyone, a consultation might be a great thing. my point is working with the design of the house will make your house much better than stuff i have seen, where people have bought a beautiful and cool eichler in NY and then turned into a cottage!!! full of florals and fluff and mauve and pink. I have seen tudors turned into midcenturys in decoration and vice-versa and it is repulsive.

I am sure you will turn your house into a thing of beauty, it seems like a lot of house.

and if Gary Finley does not want it, I will take your divider. I would take his advise in a heartbeat.

I think the shelf is really cool. Don't see dividers like that very often and I love unique personally. I can see snow out the window and can appreciate how the divider would be a great buffer for cold air coming directly in on whoever is sitting at the table.

Appreciate your house for what it is. The fireplace is certainly mid-century modern as are the large windows. Pink powder rooms are something that many purists wouldn't welcome, but they are true to the times. I wouldn't feel bad about changing a pink powder room, but the room divider is another matter.

thank you everyone! like previously said we bought the house because of the size, potential,price, and location. It is located by a river so i can fish after work everyday. We are not thinking of changing much to the upstairs, we are just curious to what other people think of the wall divider. We thought maybe staining it darker to match or painting it or taking the top half off or leaving it as is. The kitchen will need some changes due to the fact that it has some poorly setup areas done by previous owners. We pulled out all the carpet and restored the wood floors and plan on keeping those the way they are. I will not pull those up so i can take the black tile out and put a uniform flooring through out the house. I would be willing to take out the black tile and get something that blends in with the wood floors better. We are mostly keeping the house the way it is but we did take down some hideous wallpaper and replaced some light fixtures. I am an electrician and it bugged me having such a poorly lit house so i changed the style of the fixtures. Our basement had wood paneling in it but wasn't really finished and the electrical was one huge code violation so i gutted the whole thing. I will be making the basement more modern than the upstairs. We will be using can lights to gain a little extra clearance on ceiling height since they are only 7'. The only thing down there to save is the wood fireplace which is great! I never really noticed the door till everyone said something about it but that will have to wait because its -8 right now but definately will change that.Would staining the trim darker ruin the mid-century feel? I'm a sucker for darker woods. Thanks again for all the input, there's has been way more than i would've imagined. this is not mlondon its her husband Trever

THIS IS OUR PINK BATHROOM! And the master bedroom right before we moved in.

The built in is nice. I have some of those. Mine have been stained dark and they look good too. As for the pink bathroom... it is up to taste... it does not seem like a prime example of the era's pink bathroom. As for the paper, at least yours is light in color. this is what mine looked the, and now. I still have to remove the shower door and down the line I plan to replace the vanity with something a little better since it is a cheap 1980 horror of chipped formica and questionable taste

Wow, that is beautiful built in casework in the master! I love how it matches everything else in your house. Just try getting Pulte or KB to do work that well nowadays.... I really hope you plan on keeping the wood trim the way it is, once it's gone (painted) it's gone for good.

I would consider leaving the tile and just changing the countetop, preserving the sink. it is very unusual. I would, change the faucets as they tend to leak lead over time.I now only use low lead compliant.

before this is over, I'm guessing the entry divider will be auctioned off for charity................so much about so little!

mlondon17,

I'm loving it!

Asian inspired.

Are you planning to re-model your entire home? If so; then the funky shelving unit will more and likely have to go.

how much....what is the budget?

i agree, paint the wood white. it only looks dated because that wood is a little 70'sy. white or black will modernize it. people will be jealous.

Love it! It's super awesome funky just the way it is! I suggest some colorful fiesta ware pieces on it to funk it up some more. It's an outstanding piece. One of a kind. Although I agree a mid-century front door would make the whole foyer pop!

I love the shelves. Repainting in a color that complements the wood tone will make it great.

We removed ours and added an arch. You can find premade nonlinear.

no wonder you bought your house, it is absolutely terrific.

most of us here hope you maintain and keep the original feeling design, and it would certainly be easier to keep going in that direction.


to make it look like a traditional home will take a lot of work. only you can decide if that's what you want.


you have an opportunity to have a 50's showcase that will be the envy of the design community.

as you click through fifties designs here on houzz, do any of them speak to you?

if not, again, you have your own answers and ignore everybody here who loves your house.

fortunately you have other remodels going on in the house don't have to decide right now. the most important piece of design is taking the time to make sure you get what you want; and the most important component of that is to understand what resonates with you.

time is on your side lol. ( hey we should make a song about that)


other thought is how long will you be in this house, if for quite a while then leaving everything as is could really enhance the resale. if for a short time then the world at large may not have caught up with how fabulous your house is, it may be easier to sell it with a more "right now" box store look

consider that any remodeling you do now will be dated in about 10 years, you will grow restless and want to do it over again. this is a pretty normal process.


I bet many here agree with me to leave it as it is, a classic, means you will not need to redo it every 10 years. to leave your house is a fabulous 19 fifties designer it is as an extra bonus you would not have to redo it every 10 years. :) :)

Great point Montgomery. ALso mlondon17, consider that keeping the features does not mean living in a time machine. you can keep the most remarkable features and choose other things that complement them. you can have a 50s fireplace and a super comfortable sofa, so long as you do not insist in swag curtains in florals ;-) Good luck, I suspect your houzz discussion will be feautured in most commented in 2013

AS AWESOME as it would be, I live in the Midwest so i highly doubt Mr. Finley will be able to come consult. :p However I am strongly considering having someone come in and help me with all these decisions. I want to keep the wonderful features this home has to offer. I also want to give it some appropriate updating. A compromise between my husbands current traditional style, and me wanting to keep the character of the home. I'm still contemplating the pink bathroom and how to make it.... ummm well... I'm not a fan of the flower wallpaper.
how do i know if I'm getting a good interior designer? And what/how do they charge?
We plan on living here for a Looooong time. :) I'm super excited and i DO want my home to stand out and speak of my personality. I do NOT want it to be cookie cutter- I see things i love- but I'm never sure how to incorporate those things into my home.
We haven't given ourselves a huge allowance for the main level since we are finishing the basement. Just cosmetic/accessory/facelift type stuff for the main level.

whatever you do dont add arches!!!!

I would take out the top piece and paint the bottom unit black. Storage is a good thing but the top piece is out of proportion to the top

It's a great statement piece. Don't take it out!! I think if you paint the doors and/or walls as mentioned above you will be happier with it. You might try a couple of things just to see if you like it better: paint the inside of the cabinet (where the"family" plaque is) the color of the door(tape sample paper up first before you commit). Second, how about some fretwork or molding trim on the lower section by the front door . Look up "fretwork" on this wonderful houzz site for ideas. The divider Is a classic plus it gives lots of storage which is always good!!! If your door was more midcentury modern it would be more cohesive, I think.

Lots of good ideas given already, but the hardest part about giving advice on design is going off of just pictures, to get a true feeling of house and home, you do need to have someone come in, look at the neighboorhood, the surroundings, the whole house inside and out, and then have a face to face discussion with you and your family to get a true feeling for style, wants, and needs. When you contact designers, builders, ask for references, obviously look at past work pictures or in person. Costs should be discussed and agreed upon before any work starts of course. Licensing is also a major factor to consider, and you should also just get an overall feeling of comfort with the person(s) you hire. If you are anywhere near my location I would love to talk with you. Looking through your idea book, I think the work I do is in tune with your tastes. Feel free to visit my homepage, and if you like what you see feel free to contact me.

bottom line here

with all the comments, and time invested on this enrty, there is no doubt enough (too much) conversation for a decision to be made on the wall divider!

Someone will buy it, if its removed. There are those in the world that understand it and consider it of value..

there gets to be a point (not to be too parental) "call it like you see it and don't look back".....

Do what makes you happy.

Then, at least one person will be pleased.

there are two in the HOUSE lol

As if more proof is needed that this dilemma is truly touching on a raw nerve : full-fledge-preservationist, middle-of-the-road-appreciate-your-past, and out-with-the-old crowd, here is my take on the pink bathroom:
- remove paper, use a steamer.
- paint in a pale grey color or white
- going with Aja's suggestion, get a cherry tree wall decal, or paint it if you are artistically inclined
- get a vanity top in dark grey such as corian or caesarstone in a leather finish. reinstall the sink
-get a new light fixture and a new faucet

oops picture did not upload
[houzz=]

It's a very cool piece, but the colors of it and the walls, door, etc. clash together. If you repainted then it would look FABULOUS

I would recommend removing...will open the room more.. That partition serves no point. Replace with wall decor beside it.
http://www.bargainbacker.com/Wall-Decor_c_13.html

I would keep it! Its unique and a great place to show off some lovely vases or even photos. You can't have enough shelving and if you don't overcrowd the shelves, it will still seem very open. If you absolutely have to tear it out, make sure to sell it because there are those of us out here who would LovE to have it!

I'd take out the upper portion, leaving the bookshelves and adding a granite/quartz topper to the base -

Take the upper portion - cut off the top and bottom pegs, hang it to the wall with a collection of something - or simply as wall art. Two for the price of one!
good luck.

I had similar shelves with brick half wall on bottom..we sheet rocked over all of it so we didn't have to tear anything down or disrupt floor. That way if next owner wants it, it's there. I thought I liked the shelves at first but couldn't find things I liked on them and got tired of the look.

You should remove the shelving and the half wall to create a more open space when you open the door to your house.

Remove shelving; keep half-wall.

Remove the shelving (outdated)......keep the half wall. You could put a small slab of granite on top of the half wall for some interest?

Look at the passionate responses you have received. Why have a cookie cutter house and remove the original detail? Embrace the potential of your house.

This original post is over a year old.

Have you decided. If so, do you have any pictures you can post?