August
- Katherine Lisecki
- Aug 14, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 15, 2024
“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Featured Design: Midcentury Architecture
A midcentury modern house design typically features a broad, low structure with spacious, open interiors. It often includes expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces, emphasizing a strong connection with nature.
History
Born after WWII, architects fleeing Europe came to the United States and began designing Midcentury Modern homes, blending their influence from Bauhaus, a design school in Germany focused on combining mass production and functionality, and American's high-prairie architecture.
After the war, American's sought homes that prioritized lifestyle, family, and nature, leading to the creation of midcentury modern homes with large windows, open living spaces, and modernized kitchens. This architectural style evolved into three distinct variations over time.
Key figures like Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Marcel Breuer were among the original designers, with Frank Lloyd Wright influencing many in this movement.
Midcentury architecture was popular from 1945 - 1969, and continues to be highly desirable today.
Within Seattle, there are many mid-century homes that feature the beauty of the PNW living with expansive views. Just a few are featured here. Generally, these are some of the most popular homes among buyers, bringing in multi offers and high escalations.
Values/Elements
Clean Lines & Geometric Shapes
Access to the Outdoors
Floor to Ceiling Windows
Large Areas for Gathering
Changes in Elevation
Minimal Decoration
Midcentury Modern
Refers more toward a design but also can be used when referring to a Midcentury home that has been renovated with today's modern features throughout the homes like updated kitchen appliances, using original 1950's and 1960's furniture like the famous Eames chair, new design finishes to reflect the history and aligning with the original values.
Resources & Cited Sources
Mortgage Rates: Still All The Rage
It's true, what you may have read on the news, interest rates have finally come down fairly significant when compared to all of 2023 through 2024.
The Feds are still anticipating a meeting to lower rates in Sept., but please remember, this is different than mortgage rates. It does have an impact on the mortgage rates, but today's rates are already lower because lenders are anticipating the change by the Feds.
There may not be more movement come Sept or lender's could even raise rates since they already lowered them.
As always, shop when the time is right in your life; however, if you are circling, now is a good time to jump back in.
Exploring PNW
It's not too late! Need some help or motivation? Here is a guide to take advantage of WA's three beautiful national parks.
Join world-renowned muralists in Bellingham, WA for a weekend of mural painting, demos, music, parties, education & inspiration this weekend (8/16-8/18) at the Noisy Waters festival. More Details
There's still plenty of time and great artists to close out the summer with an outdoor concert! The Gorge Line Up or Seattle's Outdoor Concerts
Explore some of the top Seattle restaurant's: 38 Essential Eateries
Here's to closing out the summer with a bang!
Monthly data for separated by area: Seattle, Eastside, Pierce, & Snohomish
With inventory rising across all markets, pricing took a bit of a hit. I'mm sure it will rebound with the recent news of better interest rates and buyers that are taking their last summer hooray come back to start their search. Those buyers that are shopping are lucky to avoid as much competition and more options!
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