Fine Craftsmanship Lives On In Lower Merion Woman’s Sears ‘Kit’ Home

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woman on porch with flowers Sears ‘Kit’ Home
Image via Tyger Williams, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Judy Lieberman, Lower Merion, on the front porch of the Sears prefabricated kit house she bought in 1992.
sears home kit DIY
Sears catalog ad for the Barrington model kit home.

Despite the near disappearance of the once unmatched retail giant, build-it-yourself Sears ‘Kit’ homes are still cherished by their owners, including Judy Lieberman in Lower Merion, writes Kevin Riordan for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sears used to offer close to 450 models of “kit” homes in its catalogs between 1908 and 1940.

The mostly single-family detached houses that made up its Modern Homes line were an instant hit – partly due to their affordable prices – and have maintained their fans to this day.

One of them is Lieberman, who was smitten with her Sunbeam home as soon as she saw it in 1992.

“I have a fine-arts background, and this house spoke to me,” she said. “That’s the original front door, and I love it. I love the moldings, and the windows, and the light.”

The design details of the Sears ‘Kit’ homes that caught her attention were among the reasons why she made an offer quickly. Soon, she became only the second owner of this charming abode.

“This house speaks of a different era, and what was valued then – materials and craftsmanship,” said Lieberman.

Read more about DIY Sears ‘Kit’ homes in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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