Dutch Colonial is a Gordon Van Tines Kit Home. Van Tines kit homes are often mistaken for Sears Catalog homes. I wrote briefly about Sears Catalog homes in Ranch Style House Time Traveler where I want to go back in time to the early 1900s to buy a Sears home for the Back To The Future price of $650-$4,400.
This Dutch Colonial is however, a Gordon Van Tines mail order Kit Home. If you live in the Haddam, Connecticut area it is on the market for $549,000. Built back in 1929, the house has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and 1650 square feet on 3 acres. I fell in love with the house at first glance. The exterior blue color melts my heart. The porch entrance and whimsical half-moon shutters seal the deal. I want to wear it around my wrist like a charm bracelet. I don’t say it lightly. This Dutch Colonial exudes charm.
The house still has the original kitchen and bathroom features. The listing details on OldHouses says this Dutch Colonial is a “Classic Gambrel Kit Home.”
Just a wonderful original corner hutch in the dining room that I want to steal.
Can you believe how wonderful this fireplace is with the two Butler Cabinets?
The most darling kitchen is completely intact from the original catalog design. Now this is an apron sink!
Read some more about this for sale by owner Dutch Colonial and see other rooms in the house here.
Send me an email if you know of a Sears Catalog or Van Tines Kit Home. There are large neighborhoods of Sears homes in my area that I plan to visit this spring and summer.
Hi, this is a No. 704 from Gordon-Van Tine. The same house was manufactured by GVT for Montgomery Ward and called the Sovereign.
There’s a 704/Sovereign outside Chicago. It does not have the trellises and it has a sunroom off the side. That’s because GVT changed how the model looked over the years. I think the house in Conn. that is pictured above was likely built about 1920.
http://www.sears-homes.com/2012/01/wardway-sovereign.html
Lara
Sears Homes of Chicagoland
Hi Lara, thanks for the link to your fabulous site and showing me the twin Dutch Colonial in Arlington Heights.
I adore that sink! My grandmother remarried and her hubby had a Sears kit house. He had never updated it- some things were wonderful, some not so much. 🙂
I like the line…some not so much; old folks are sometimes good for that. They get comfortable with what they have and their ways. Everyone loves the sink. Thanks for stopping in and link up your great DIY Drapery Sconces tomorrow on Meet The Neighbors because the girls will love to see it.
It really is charming. I just love all the built-ins. They never wasted an inch did they. We owned a Sears Roebuck kit house once, as a summer home. Have I ever told you that? Anyways, I found what was considered ‘stock’ and sub-standard materials then are better then I see in most new homes today. Just look at that trim- the corner cupboard, and do you know how much that cast iron sink would be worth today! If you could find one!? Nice one Dee. I LOVE IT!!!
Sometimes new homes are spam in a can. I am slap happy you stopped in today Cheryl.
you cracked me up with “I would wear it as a charm braclet” it is a charming house with amazing details thanks for sharing
Yeah! Glad I cracked you up as was somewhat of my intention xo
We should do a Sears Catalog series. I am so happy you loved it too.
OH, MY!
The exterior . . . that fireplace . . . the built in’s . . . the kitchen sink . . . so much wonderful detail.
The house was built 1 year after my house.
Built 1 year after your house, that is so interesting. Did not know you lived in a historic beach beauty.
It’s wonderful! I love the exterior paint scheme, and the kitchen, and the built-ins…. what a gem!
I think you have a sink sort of like this in your house too Sarah. I now remember my aunt having a sink like this in a house she lived in. Old House love!