Are 30’s houses ‘period’?

[JoJoSM2]

I’ve heard yes and no and wonder what the majority of Mumsnetters think.

[TeacupDrama]

Yes Art Deco period,

[minipie]

Yes I think so. Though if I read period in a property listing, my first assumption would be Victorian or Edwardian. But I do think 30s counts.

[DramaAlpaca]

I suppose it depends on the house

[minnieok]

No, needs to be pre ww1 usually. I've lived in 3 1930's houses, they don't differ significantly in design from 50's or 60's houses

[Besom]

I have a 30s house and I wouldn't really call it period. It doesn't have any period features abd I'm not sure you'd be able to distinguish it from a 59s or 60s house. I lived in Victorian ones before though

[ThanksItHasPockets]

At a glance, 1930s semis can be indistinguishable from 1950s because in the post war period a lot of suburban housing was needed, quickly, so they used 1930s designs. Original 1930s semis will usually once have had some distinctive features though, especially cornicing and stained glass. I love 1930s houses.

[JoJoSM2]

I suppose it depends on the house

That’s what I’m wondering too. I’ve seen some with original stained glass/doors/fireplaces/picture rails/detailed facades and they look ‘period’ to me. Most look very bland, though.

[emsyj37]

I have a detached 1930s house that has features- parquet floors, plate racks, stained glass windows. I wouldnt describe it as period tho, but couldn't tell you why not!

[ThanksItHasPockets]

The oldest are ninety years old so the definition of
‘period’ will have to shift at some point. My house is of a style that would probably be described as ‘new build’ despite being twenty-five years old.

[LioneIRichTea]

Yes, Art Deco

[SnuggyBuggy]

They can be although a lot will have been extended. Ours does still have a single stain glass window.

[TeacupDrama]

I suppose for a house to be period it needs original features if they've all been removed it is only the outside that is period, an original 1930's basic semi would have deep skirting boards,solid wood interior doors with high knobs rather than handles, simple picture rail, often stained glass in door and top sections of windows, stepped tiled fireplaces, wooden banister if original layout two decent size reception rooms but tiny kitchen

[Lelophants]

I think they do! Especially early thirties. They can have very similar features to Edwardian.

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

Mine is a 30's semi. I wouldn't describe it as a period house but it has original features like parquet flooring ,picture rails and stained glass everywhere. I have been gradually removing the picture rails though - just got fed up with the dusting and repainting. The hall will soon be the only room that still has them. I think anything built up to the 1920's would be described as "period"

[MarshaBradyo]

I wouldn’t say so. Definitely not your usual 30s house

But Art Deco possibly

[yomellamoHelly]

Ours has no 'period' features. All obliterated over the decades and people around here continue to modernise them as per their own tastes. So no-one trying to restore them to what they might once have been.

Therefore I don't think they are.

[MarshaBradyo]

Art Deco I’d say is more than details, but the whole house

[FlamingoAndJohn]

It kind of depends on the house really.
I live in a standard 3 bed semi. Most of the estate was built before WWII but my house was built after. It looks exactly the same.

[ShowOfHands]

Our 1930s house is distinctively 1930s with original quarry tiles, fireplaces, picture rails, paint edged floorboards etc. I don't think of it as period really but it is of its period iyswim. You know immediately it's 1930s.

[MarshaBradyo]

This to me is Art Deco, rather than the typical 1930s semi or terrace

[CountFosco]

I have been gradually removing the picture rails though - just got fed up with the dusting and repainting.

No! I've just spent ages finding a picture rail to match the original ones in our house because previous philistine owners took them out of several rooms. I'd rather dust a picture rail than have holes in the walls from nails.

[Flamingolingo]

Depends entirely on the house, its position, and condition. There are plenty of 1930s houses that don’t really count because they don’t necessarily have the things that people expect from a period house (high ceilings, original features, big rooms). But there are also houses that most certainly are period. One of my friends lives in a 1937 house which is full of wonderful features, such as wood panelling, stained glass, parquet floors.

[ThanksItHasPockets]

Oh no, the picture rails

[SnuggyBuggy]

The high ceilings are lovely, makes even the smaller rooms feel more roomy and we have a nice tall Christmas tree.

[SoupDragon]

They can definitely have "period features". Mine has original leaded lights and some picture rails. The reset has sadly been ripped out though (I think it originally had panelling in the hall if next door's is original)

I don't think they are the same as 1950's/60's houses at all - I would say there is a difference in ceiling height for a start.