Here in a narrative version are the answers:
1) After WWII, builders started sub-divisions with a vengence. After all, there were all these VETS with VA financing wanting to buy a home. So, in the West Ridge area of Chicago (Far North...almost Evanston) the first builders put up housing. West Ridge had been laid out, complete with sidewalks during the 1930's as a WPA project. There was one street which had older homes, some brick bungelows from the 1920's and a few old farmhomes.
Enter the modern builder who put up an all brick 2-story Georgian with basement, complete with pink bathroom tile; metal Venetian blinds (anybody know where that name came from?); wood floors in the living room and dining room with walls painted a dark hunter green; white kitchen appliances. This was November, 1947 and the house was purchased for $18,500. Today, that same home with several additions would probably sell for $300,000.
2) What every suburban home buyer wants: NEW! A new home with wood cabinets that have the look of hand carving; granite countertops; upscale stainless kitchen appliances; wood floors; 2-story family rooms with fireplaces; first floor dens in addition to 4 bedrooms upstairs; professionally landscaped with a brick paver patio in the back; and a 3 car garage.
That's the home you'd find today in Ashwood Creek, Ashwood Park and Kinloch...starting in the $600's and going up to over a cool million.
3) How fantastic that in 1975 you could buy a house and get everything to match...that is as long as you liked avocado or harvest gold. We had a frig, dishwasher, double electric oven/range (they stopped making those) in avocado (a GE kitchen was how the builder advertised it) and we put in matching Armstrong Solarium. I suppose that I could have worn green and then either I'd be invisible or Irish!
Our plush velvet carpeting was also in a shade of avocado...except where an independent child got tweedy bright red shag!
The 2 car attached garage had an extra large apron which was perfect for a small workshop or storing a lawn mower.
4) We were invited to a diplomatic diner in the personal residence of a very wealthy family. Now, how did I know that they were wealthy? Well, their kitchen appliances were aqua and they had carpeting in the kitchen and swinging doors from the kitchen to the dining room which held a big table. Imagine kitchen carpeting...it was the rage! This was in the late 1950's continuing into the early 1960's.
And when I listed homes in the late '70's that still had carpeting in the kitchen I knew we were going to have problems!
5) Ah...my first listing in 1977. Spanish Inquisition theme. You walked into the foyer and were greeted by deep red flocked wall paper; black and white tile floors and black wrought iron railings. The only thing missing was a suit of armor. As you climbed the stairs you sank into red, red shag carpet that must have been at least 2 inches thick. This decorating theme was high style in the early to mid 1970's.
6) Imagine my delight in seeing a home with off-white walls; beige plush carpeting; and ivory kitchen appliances. That was in the 1980's and it was a reaction to all the previous colors. Now, neutrals...beige, ivory, cream, off-white...at least 100 different varieties of white. This neutral period lasted for almost ten years. It was inoffensive and you could live with it...especially if you used accent colors. Pillows anyone?
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