The 1950s House Explained

Learn more about how 1950s houses and flats were built and the different styles of interior decoration. An ideal guide if you are renovating a period home.

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After a golden era of house building in the 1930s, Britain emerged from the Second World War with a desperate need to rebuild its bomb damaged towns and cities. Brighter design, careful planning and what was called 'Townscape' began to replace the traditional character of Victorian housing. The 1951 Festival of Britain was regarded as a tonic to the nation and offered modernity in all aspects of living. New homes showed this vision and were finished in the latest materials of vinyl and Formica.

DIY was all the rage, and there were novel ideas in interior decor. There was a steady increase in consumerism as new technology introduced the gadgets of modern living - cookers, vacuum cleaners and fridges.

This book, originally published as The 1940s and 1950s House Explained, has been updated and is ideal for those who want to learn more about the background to the period - how houses and flats were built and fitted out and the different styles of decoration. For some it may be a nostalgic trip and for others a useful starting point to renovating a period home. Trevor Yorke's numerous diagrams, drawings and photographs enhance an authoritative, but approachable text.