By Holly Schwartz
We are a society that loves our gadgets. It should come as no surprise that in 2016 we expect new construction to cater to and incorporate popular modern conveniences. For instance, surround sound systems, steam showers, heated flooring, media rooms – these are some examples of features found in homes built today. Oh yes, our homes have come a long way since the 1960s, which was a time when suburban Southern California experienced a serious construction boom. In Laguna Beach, there were about 5,600 single family homes built during the ‘60s, and in Newport Beach there were approximately 3,700. Looking back it’s interesting to note the evolution of technology in our homes and see how some fads circle back.
Step back in time and consider some of the characteristics that were prominent in homes of the 1960s. First of all, intercom systems could be found in some homes, allowing people to listen to music and communicate between rooms. We’ve certainly come a long way, with today’s new homes being outfitted with whole house automation systems allowing you to integrate sound, climate, security and more all into one!
It’s also interesting to note that the design of homes was quite different in the 1960s, with each room being separate. Living rooms weren’t open to the kitchen like they typically are today, and were set up for gathering and for watching television. Of course at that time many TVs were large and served more as a furniture piece in the room. Today, TVs are more like art pieces, hanging from the wall and not encroaching on the room. They are also situated in the space so they can often be enjoyed from other rooms, like the kitchen.
Speaking of the kitchen, technology has definitely come a long way here! It used to be common to see double ovens that were often much smaller than the ones we are used to seeing today. They could be found as freestanding units or built in to a brick wall (just like the one on “The Brady Bunch”). It was also common to see them in white or vintage bright colors like turquoise or yellow. Compare that to the stainless steel professional grade ranges we ooh and ah about today that are massive in size. Interestingly, the former hip, bright colors are seen as trendy now so it’s fun to see those accents popping up in décor today.
Also in the kitchen it is worth noting that microwaves are now typically built-in. Back in the 1960s, microwaves were only just being introduced to homes and were certainly not considered standard. You know what else wasn’t s
tandard? Built-in dishwashers. Thank goodness for modern conveniences! Can you imagine having to roll your dishwasher into position every time you wanted to use it and hook it up to your sink? Today our dishwashers are plumbed to avoid that hassle.
Holly Schwartz is a realtor with Villa Real Estate who lives in Eastside Costa Mesa and can be reached at HSchwartz@VillaRealEstate.com.
