Good House of the Yearbook: 1981

Today's good house is a bit of a snout house, but it's got enough vintage charm to make up for it. In fact, it's a rather early example of a house that has a full-sized protruding attached garage, marking a transition from the integrated attached garages more commonly seen in 70s split-levels. In the 80s, the trend towards larger, two-story houses was exacerbated by increased exurban sprawl which allowed for larger lot sizes. 

This particular example is rather transitional, with the aesthetics still mostly resembling a split level despite being a two-story house. The fake Tudor half-timbering makes it a little more bold than other examples from the period and the flared brick elements on the garage symbolize that the owners were in fact quite proud of it - the garage becomes a status symbol in its own right. 

The owners mostly kept the original touches of the house like the wooden dowels in the den, and the dark trim, however many elements have been replaced throughout the years, likely because of simple wear and tear. 

Undoubtedly this room probably had a non-painted brick fireplace and wood paneling of some sort, though the parquet is original. I assume they chose the color scheme to go with the kitchen which is very funky. 

Part of the reason houses are so fascinating to me is that you can tell that things have been updated periodically through time, and it's a bit of a guessing game to determine what came when. I doubt this kitchen is original but it is still dated. The floors are recent, the linoleum backsplash probably came in the 90s as did the countertops. The cabinets are consistent with late 80s examples in books. Still, it's a fun kitchen, especially the red outlets. 

Finally, it's clear that the owners love some of the vintage touches of their house, like the green bathroom fixtures and the shower door, and again, replacements are likely due to normal wear and tear vs the desire to renovate in order to sell the house. Overall, it's a cute little place, and definitely one from its weird little era. 

Link to listing: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/372-Rand-Rd_Des-Plaines_IL_60016_M89676-57086