Way too often folks will tell me, “We’ve got dozens of those little Sears kit homes in our city,” and when I ask, “How do you know that?” the response is always the same: “You can just tell by lookin’ at ’em! They’re the square boxy little things.”
Oh man.
That’s one of those comments that’s grown fairly wearisome (and worrisome).
For more than 15 years, I’ve been mired in this niche topic and I can say with some authority, you can not identify Sears Homes thusly.
The Sears “Carroll” is a classic example of this. It’s hard to define the specific housing style of the Sears Carroll, but I’d say it’s a splash of Modern and a heaping helping of Minimal Traditional. In short, it’s not one of those “square boxy little things.”
Perhaps it’d be easier to just say – it’s a unique house and yet is most certainly is a Sears kit home.
Thanks so much to Mary Perkins for sharing the photos of her “Carroll” in Cincinnati.
Enjoy the photos.
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The Carroll, as shown in the 1932 Sears catalog.
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I've been traipsing around the country for a long time, but have never seen a Carroll in the flesh. The Perkins' home in Cincinnati is "flipped" and the mirror image of the floorplan shown above.
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Upstairs, there are three good-sized bedrooms, and double closets in two bedrooms.
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The Carroll was offered in 1932 and 1933.
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Now that's one fine-looking house, and it's a Sears House! Mary (the home's happy owner) says that her husband found authenticating marks on the lumber in the attic. This Carroll was built in 1932. Photo is copyright 2015 Mary Perkins and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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Another view of Mary's "Carroll" - before it's most recent paint job. Photo is copyright 2015 Mary Perkins and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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The home's rear is also a good match to the Carroll's floorplan, and there's a small addition to the kitchen. If you go back and look at the floorplan (above), you'll see that the 2nd-floor bathroom extends a little bit beyond the first floor's footprint. By the way, that does NOT appear to be a Sears & Roebuck hot tub. Photo is copyright 2015 Mary Perkins and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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The Perkins' added this dreamy solarium to the rear of the house. Mary said that there was no delineation between the living room and the original sunroom (as is shown in the floorplan above). Photo is copyright 2015 Mary Perkins and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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The Perkins bought the house in 1987, and it was shortly thereafter that a neighbor told them it was a Sears kit house. The wood trim in the dining room and living room retains its original varnished finish. Photo is copyright 2015 Mary Perkins and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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A lovely view of the Carroll's original batten door (unpainted, thank goodness) and what appears to be an original light fixture. Photo is copyright 2015 Mary Perkins and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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In the Carroll's living room, the Perkins did some repair work to the existing brick fireplace and added this beautiful Walnut mantel. Photo is copyright 2015 Mary Perkins and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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What a fine-looking house - from front to back and top to bottom!
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Thanks again to Mary Perkins for sharing these photos.
To read more about Sears Homes in Ohio, click here.
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Absolutely beautiful. Interesting use of siding to accent the elevation on the top.
The Perkins’ additions added more beauty without taking away any original features.
Thank you, Rose.
The ‘small, boxy thing’ is probably the first myth that gets exploded once someone starts researching.
I got the first one right then have yet to make a Sears match on several dozen more. I think you put it right in the book talking about a million little bungalows.
Love this house. The unique ones are fun!
Hello! Stumbled upon your site in a search for our presumed Sears home!
We have been looking for years, and after viewing this blog post, I am fairly certain ours is a Carroll model that has been slightly modified!
I am happy to send pictures if you are still interested in this sort of thing!