Sears Home Renovation: Bringing Fresh Style to Your Kit House

Renovating a Sears kit house can be a great way to give your home a fresh new look while still maintaining its original charm. By incorporating modern design elements, you can create a unique and functional living space.

The typical Sears kit house has a rectangular shape with a centered front door and symmetrical windows, which can be a great starting point for a renovation. This classic design can be updated with modern materials and colors to give your home a fresh new look.

One of the most significant benefits of renovating a Sears kit house is the potential to increase its value. According to the article, Sears kit houses can be worth up to 20% more than similar homes in the area. This makes renovation a smart investment for homeowners looking to sell or increase their property's value.

Incorporating natural light and ventilation into your renovation can also make a big impact. By installing larger windows and upgrading your home's insulation, you can create a brighter and more comfortable living space.

A fresh viewpoint: Home Renovation Planning Software

Sears offers a wide range of home renovation ideas, including modernizing your kitchen with their selection of high-end appliances.

A kitchen renovation can recoup up to 102% of its cost at resale, making it a smart investment for homeowners.

Consider updating your bathroom with a new vanity and mirror, a simple and cost-effective way to give your bathroom a fresh look.

A bathroom renovation can pay for itself with a 102% return on investment, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Sears' home renovation services also include installing new flooring, such as hardwood or tile, to give your home a polished look.

Hardwood flooring can last for decades with proper maintenance, making it a durable and long-lasting choice for homeowners.

Incorporating Sears' home renovation ideas can help you create a beautiful and functional living space that you'll love for years to come.

A unique perspective: Home Depot Bathroom Renovation Cost

Renovating your kitchen can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can create a warm and inviting space that's perfect for cooking and entertaining.

Kathleen's experience of stopping to notice a small pond through the undergrowth of a neglected garden is a great reminder to slow down and appreciate the potential of a property.

Custom quarter-sawn white oak cabinets can add a touch of warmth to your kitchen, as seen in the renovation of this 1920s home.

The brickwork that emerged during demolition can be a great feature to incorporate into your kitchen design.

Pendant lights from Rejuvenation can add a stylish touch to your kitchen, as seen in this renovation.

A microwave from Kenmore can be a practical addition to your kitchen, and the brickwork can provide a unique backsplash.

Marvin windows and doors can bring in natural light and provide a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors.

A fresh viewpoint: Kitchen Renovation Home Depot

Renovating your home can be a daunting task, but breaking it down room by room makes it more manageable.

Start with the kitchen, where a simple update like installing new countertops can make a big impact. According to the article, new countertops can increase your home's value by up to 10%.

In the bathroom, updating the fixtures and tile can also make a big difference. The article notes that a new showerhead can save up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute.

A new porch can make a huge difference in the curb appeal of a home. A 1925 Craftsman bungalow gained major curb appeal with a smart new porch.

The porch's design is echoed by other improvements inside the home. The porch's gracefully tapered columns are a nice touch.

Architect George Clemens and master carpenter Jesse Treadway worked together to create a period-style built-in room divider. This divider replaced a wall without gutting its original intent.

A double-faced room divider now straddles the kitchen and dining room. The divider features lower cabinets between airy piers.

The built-in room divider is raised on the dining side to hide cooking clutter from guests. The cook can still glimpse the cabinetry and tilework.

Tapered piers, similar to those on the porch and carport, set off the kitchen while opening it to the dining room.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Home Depot Kitchen Renovation Cost

The Sears Barrington, a Modern Tudor style home, was featured on House Hunters Renovation in 2015. The episode "Stressful Suburban Renovation" showcased buyers Stephani and Dan as they renovated the house with the help of interior designers and contractors selected by the network.

The original owner of the Sears Barrington was Harry E. Benson, a metal polisher who obtained a $5,000 mortgage from Sears Roebuck in 1928. This Sears house was landmarked by the Villa Park Historical Preservation Commission.

The house has been recently listed for sale, giving us a chance to see the before and after photos of the renovation. The Sears Barrington was a popular model in the 1928 Sears Modern Homes catalog.

Here are some interesting features of the Sears Barrington:

Identifying Sears Modern Homes

Sears Modern Homes were sold between 1908 and 1942, with some debate about whether homes built in 1941 and 1942 qualify as Sears Modern Homes. Original paperwork, including blueprints and letters of correspondence from Sears, can be used to identify a Sears house.

Public records, such as mortgages and deeds, can also be used to identify a Sears house. From 1911 to 1933, Sears offered home mortgages, and Sears company officials or the Sears, Roebuck corporation may be named on the mortgage or deed associated with the property where the home was constructed.

A built-in in the dining room can be a game-changer. It cleverly frames the view from the table, allowing guests to see the artful backsplash over the range without any clutter near the sink.

For example, a bi-level built-in between the dining room and kitchen can be a great way to add storage and create a sense of flow. This was done in the example shown, where the art tile by Pratt & Larson adds a touch of elegance.

To create a seamless look, consider a slanted-leg built-in that adds period style to the dining room. This was done in another example, where Elk Creek Construction added a built-in that not only adds storage but also enhances the period style of the room.

The key to a successful built-in is to balance form and function. By raising the built-in on the dining side, you can hide cooking clutter from guests while still allowing them to glimpse the cabinetry and tilework.

The compact size of a Craftsman-style home is one of its best features, making it perfect for cozying up on a chilly evening.

Updating the kitchen in a Craftsman-style home means adding style-appropriate white oak cabinetry, just like the homeowners did in their fixer-upper.

Open up the room and install modern appliances to create a functional and comfortable space that still honors the original style.

The original white oak trim in a Craftsman-style home can be a treasure, but it often comes with layers of unwanted gray paint, just like the homeowners in Chagrin Falls.

Stripping off the old paint and adding a matching mantel can make a big impact and restore the trim to its former glory.

A Craftsman-style living room is all about creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, and a well-placed rug can help tie the whole room together, like the Guildcraft Carpets used in the example.

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The master bedroom is a sanctuary for relaxation, and it's essential to get it right.

A cathedral ceiling can make a big difference, adding a sense of grandeur and making the space feel more spacious.

The homeowners in this example had a previous addition that needed some TLC, and a new cathedral ceiling was just what the doctor ordered.

In this case, the quarter-sawn oak was buried under paint, which is a common problem in older homes.

Plaster was falling off the walls, which is a sign of more significant structural issues that need attention.

The bedroom ceiling was low, making it difficult for tall people to move around comfortably.

Having a full bath in the master bedroom can be a luxury, but it's not always practical, especially in older homes where space is limited.

The floor plan of this home underwent a significant transformation during the renovation. The one-story house gained 380 square feet.

A mudroom and a sitting room-guest room were added, utilizing what was formerly a detached garage. This creative reuse of space not only increased functionality but also added value to the property.

The mudroom-laundry area was cleverly integrated into the home, complete with a washer and dryer, as well as beautiful stained-glass windows. The original windows added a touch of elegance to this often-overlooked space.

A new front porch replaced the old portico, providing a welcoming entrance to the home. This change also helped to open up the kitchen to the dining room, creating a more spacious and airy feel.

The existing bath was remodeled, but unfortunately, the finished basement is not shown in the provided examples.

The homeowners in the Craftsman Living Room Style example chose to preserve and restore the original white oak trim in their living room, stripping away layers of gray paint to reveal its natural beauty.

They added a matching mantel to complement the existing trim, creating a cohesive look that enhances the room's character.

The Arroyo Craftsman chandelier and Wildwood Lamps sconces add a touch of elegance to the space, while the Sherwin-Williams Light French Gray wall paint provides a soothing backdrop for the room's furnishings.

A plush Guildcraft Carpets rug completes the look, tying together the various elements of the room's design.

The homeowners' decision to update the kitchen with style-appropriate white oak cabinetry and modern appliances shows that it's possible to balance traditional and modern elements in a renovation.

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Sears Modern Homes have a rich history and are being preserved for future generations. Several of these homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Alhambra model is one such example, found at Triangle Ranch near Philips, South Dakota. The Hogue House in Chelsea, Oklahoma, is another notable Alhambra model.

Sears Modern Homes can also be found in historic districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For instance, the Eastwood Historic District in Cincinnati, Ohio, features 10 Sears Modern Homes of various models.

In College Park, Maryland, a Sears Alhambra and a Sears Sheridan can be found in the Old Town College Park historic district.

Here are some specific Sears Modern Homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places: