Kit Houses Stand the Test of Time

See how these mass-produced catalog houses have made their way into the modern day

Bud Dietrich, AIA December 12, 2011

Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin. Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there. Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having been featured on television (CBS News Sunday Morning, HGTV, CLTV, etc.), in magazines (Better Homes...

Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa... More

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Kit houses were America’s first mass-produced, prefab homes, sold by Sears, Montgomery Ward, Gordon Van Tine, Aladdin and a few others. The materials for these homes, ordered straight from a catalog, were delivered to the building site by rail and truck. Remarkably, all of the parts, from lumber to windows to the kitchen sink, were delivered ready for assembly by a local contractor or even the owner.

As the popularity of the kit house grew, so did the available styles and sizes. Sears and others were able to produce homes that catered to every pocketbook and every taste. More than 70,000 were sold throughout America, and many of these homes are still standing. In fact, there are several communities from Maine to Illinois to California that boast a large, intact collection of kit homes.

Like the bungalow, the kit home started with the dawn of the Auto Age and the ensuing growth of inner-ing suburbs.

More: The Bungalow: Domestic Design at the Dawn of the Auto Age

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Kit houses came in many different sizes, styles and types. All of the material for this Craftsman kit house would have been ordered through the retailer's catalog and delivered to site by rail and truck.

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As one lot owner after another ordered from the catalog, it wasn't unusual for entire neighborhoods to be built almost exclusively of kit homes.

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Initially small homes for small lots and marketed to budget conscious purchasers, these homes have a richness of detail that belies their modest origins.

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Kit homes are ripe candidates for renovations and expansions. By adding windows to this living room, this kit home is made more attractive for today's owners.

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Like the bungalow, the typical kit house kitchen was originally modest and basic. Through renovation, remodel or a possible addition, these kitchens can meet 21st century desires for spaciousness, light and convenience.

Bud Dietrich, AIA

A page out of the Gordon Van Tine catalog for the "Columbia" model, which the company also marketed as the "Hudson." Montgomery Ward marketed a slight variation of this home as the "Cedars," selling the kit for $2,515. Not bad for all of the materials to build a home.

Bud Dietrich, AIA

A 1920s Gordon Van Tine "Columbia" model, purchased from a catalog page like the one above, after renovation and expansion. New siding, windows and front door ensure the home will be around for another century.

Bud Dietrich, AIA

Many kit houses that were originally small, often only six rooms and one bath, have been expanded for added living space such as a family room as well as master bedroom and bath.

Bud Dietrich, AIA

Ceiling heights in the original kit houses were usually generous, allowing new spaces to have the same. An addition to a kit house also affords an opportunity to add windows, increasing the amount of natural light in the house.