Best Collection Of 51+ Stunning Chicago Tribune House Plan Contest 5 Room House Satisfy Your Imagination

Art deco houses reflect the amazing architectural designs from the roaring twenties and thirties. During the heyday of the style, the Chicago Tribune ran a well-known house plan contest that featured a grand total of five room house plans. Original designs, traditional layouts, and contemporaries filled the competition. House plans were requested by engaged families, hopeful couples, and prospective homebuyers who wished to explore the possibilities.

House design teams rethought how to structure Art deco homes for the contest, coming up with unique solutions and inventive ideas. Let’s look at some of the best-known five room plans that were submitted to the Chicago Tribune contest.

The traditional plan for Art deco houses formulated by the Chicago Tribune was three bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, dining area, and a living room. Entries for the contest had to feature this core layout, and then designers could add in artistic flourishes and special touches. Some contestants went for a contemporary five room house feel, making the home look more modern and up-to-date.

New materials were often incorporated into the designs, with the latest technologies implemented for those people who wished to maximize the potential of their future homes. For example, designer Ross Chupp created a plan for an Art deco bungalow that featured an indoor bathroom, a functioning fireplace, and a built-in electric range.

Unsurprisingly, there were some more luxurious five room home plans presented in the contest. Although they still had to have the three bedrooms, single bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and living room as a basic structure, designers could use rare woods, marble countertops, and add more large rooms to display their work. These plans became known as the Grand Rapids and Omaha types, and often included a large and brightly lit entryway to the house.

Other features included slate shutters, French style windows, and custom designed staircases that were trimmed with sophisticated moldings. Many architects added bathrooms, extra bedrooms, and larger kitchens with better appliances. These plans became relished by America’s wealthy classes - providing a luxurious yet retro style living experience.

The ranch style five room plan was one of the more popular entrants in the Chicago Tribune contest. This was a long and slender style of home, featuring an often brightly colored front exterior and situated in a location that provided maximum exposure of the home’s surroundings. The most popular ranch plans featured two bedrooms, along with two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining, living room, and any other requested amenities.

The living room was usually situated at the front of the house, while the kitchen and dining areas at the back were often open plan. Designer G.J. Anderson created a popular Art deco ranch style plan that featured a large garage, cool washrooms, and a mixing of wood and brick elements.

The open concept five room house was another popular plan submitted to the contest. It focused around the idea of an area that housed the whole house - a genial living, dining, and kitchen combo. The plan featured a large living area overlaid with a modern kitchen, and a designated sitting room for visitors - all located under one roof.

The bedrooms were situated either side of the living area, as were the bathrooms and utility areas. This plan often featured vast windows and plenty of light due to its grand size. Designer Soang Manurung presented the Tribunes judges with an open concept house plan featuring a stone fireplace, a family room, and an extensive patio fronting the property.

The small five room house was a popular plan for the space-conscious amongst the contestants. This low-cost, easily maintained home was designed to provide everything that a family would need in a space-saving and economical manner. Architect Alice Clinton designed a two bedroom, one bathroom house that featured a modern kitchen, cozy living area, and a usable outdoor space.

The total square footage of her plan was only 1,067 square feet, yet it was enough to comfortably house four people. Ideas for the small five room plan included modular rooms, secret storage nooks, and an overall reduction in energy bills and running costs.

A cottage five room home design combined a modern aesthetic with aspects of traditional country living. Designer Maude Courtney proposed a cottage reinterpretation of the classic five room plan, featuring a modern living room, durable bathroom fixtures, and an open-style kitchen with breakfast bar. She also included extras in the plan, like a full-size pantry, a big front porch, and a hidden storage area.

Courtney also used her knowledge of Art deco design to give the exterior a bold face-lift. She incorporated stone gutters, French-style windows, and an eye-catching slate roof, which gave the plan even more personality.

Farmhouses were also a popular type of architecture during the era, and so featured in the contest. The farmhouse five room plan often had more spectacular living outdoor but still featured all the basic elements of a five room plan. Designer Lionel Cass presented a design that incorporated a long front porch, as well as a kitchen window that overlooked a bed of flowers.

Other staples of the farmhouse plan included french doors, a rustic kitchen, and a bright and airy breakfast nook for dining. This type of plan often made the kitchen the heart of the home, where the members of the family all came to stay updated on news and gossip.

The modern five room home plan usually featured the use of a lot of glass and steel to give it a more urban look. This type of plan was popular due to its unique looks and low maintenance needs. One popular design featured a lounge room, a living room, and three bedrooms on the same floor. This room style was also used to maximize efficiency of the home interior and appearance.

Designer Cliff Jones submitted a modern five room house plan for the contest that featured an outdoor deck, an open swimming pool, and a large kitchen and dining area. This type of home was ideal for families who wanted that extra living space - a luxurious addition to the Art Deco home.

Affordable plans were an important part of the Chicago Tribune house plan contest, giving people of all budgets an opportunity to experience the luxurious Art deco style. Contestants submitted plans featuring two and three bedroom designs that included all the staples of the five room plan but had a minimal impact on the wallet.

Designers went to great lengths to arrive at a style that met the contest criteria while still being economical to build. The result of the Affordable Five Room House Plans was often a combination of a traditional country style with the more modern Art deco style. For example, Robert Anderson created a plan that had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, a dining room, a living room, and an attached garage.

The last popular type of five room house plan submitted to the contest was the craftsman style. This type of plan included natural materials, with basic colors and more expansive connected spaces. Designer Lisa Powell created a Craftsman design that focused around a porch, a great room, and a modern kitchen.

Her plan also incorporated wider hallways than those found in the standard five room plans, giving it an airy and spacious feel. With the staggered walls of this plan, Powell gave the house an impressive presence and represented a great example of how the arts and crafts style can blend with Art deco.