McMansion Styles Slowly Fade From The Suburban Landscape

AMcMansionis a large home, often mass-produced with low-quality materials. These homes were popular in the 1980s through the early 2000s but have fallen out of favor. Today, many homeowners gravitate toward the simple living movement of smaller homes.

What Is A McMansion?

McMansionis a derogatory term used to describe oversized and ostentatious houses. The homes are constructed with cheap materials and considered eyesores. Because the homes are builtfaster than other house styles, the dwellings are believed to be the “fast food” version of housing.

The name association with McDonald’sis not a compliment. When a comparison is made to the fast-food chain, it’s not meant as a form of flattery.

History Of The McMansion

McMansionsemerged in the 80s and became popular during the run-up to the subprime mortgage crisis of 08. As the polar opposite of minimalism, McMansions symbolized the American Dream. All of a sudden, maximalism replaced minimalism.

The term isn’t relegated to only the US. McMansions are international and popular in Australia as well. Not only are the houses larger in Australia, but homes have more land. In rural environments, these houses sit on a few acres.

Today, new homeowners are remodeling their homes so they won’t look like McMansions. The trend is what designer Jean Stoffer calls “deMcMansioning.”

“I actually prefer a remodel versus new builds because it’s all about seeing potential in what’s already there,”said Stofferwhile explaining how younger families often buy homes that have an outdated aesthetic.

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The McDonald’s McMansion

In Long Island, McMansion refers to theMcDonald’s McMansion. This is an operating Mcdonald’s franchise built inside a home from America’s Colonial period.

Also known as Denton House, this fast-food restaurant sits in New Hyde Park, New York. The home was scheduled for demolition in the 80s before it was converted into a Mcdonald’s. When the home was remodeled, the owners agreed to transform it but only if they could keep the original exterior.

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Traditional Mansion vs. a McMansion

Some people confuse mansions with McMansions, but their architectural styles are different.

Here are the key differences between mansions and McMansions.

History

Over 90 percent of real mansions are standing today. These homes were built before the 1980s. On the other hand, most large homes built in the 90s were McMansions.

The owners of mansions weren’t middle-class, like McMansion buyers. They were owned by those with titles, affluence, or those who inherited their homes.

Class

Real mansions are tasteful and feature timeless materials. They weren’t built in a week like some McMansions. The construction quality of a mansion is superior.

Adaption

Authentic mansions adapt to nature and their surroundings.

Building Materials

Stone, wood, and brick are common building materials for mansions, making them more structurally sound and long-lasting. Some homes have multiple chimneys, and all of them have sturdy front doors.

Plastic and other types of less expensive materials are prevalent in McMansions.

Cohesion

In real mansions, everything is cohesive. There isn’t a mix and match of materials – good flow is crucial.

McMansions don’t feature the same classic cohesion.

What Makes A McMansion?

Although McMansions don’t have a specific definition like other types of houses,craftsmanorcolonial,for example, there are a few common characteristics among them.

But not all McMansions are the same. After all, the term McMansion is slang, and slang terms represent a feeling.

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Minimum: 3,000 square feet

Most McMansions are at least 3000 sqft, larger than most homes in the world. The size is one of their most defining features.

Some McMansions can be smaller. For example, a 2500 sqft three-story home may be classified as McMansion.

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Cheap Materials

Before the financial crisis and the bubble burst, homeowners wanted to keep up with the Joneses. For that to happen, they used the cheapest materials possible in order to afford the sheer size of the home. The lower budgets explain why the construction quality of McMansions is lower than other homes.

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Hodge Podge Of Materials

Many times, the materials in McMansions depended on cost. Because of this, the houses feature a mixed bag of materials.

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High McMansion Ceilings

High ceilings were important to McMansion owners to create a grand entrance. Huge living rooms and entryways with two or three stories and a chandelier in the center are common features.

Some consider the layout a waste of space since it reduces liveable areas.

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Large Garages

It’s typical to find two or three-car garages in McMansions. Garages sometimes double as storage space.

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Mass-Production

豪宅的全盛时期,批量生产。Tract communities and suburban environments feature the home style.

The homes look the same because they’re cheaper to build using the same materials. It’s also cost-efficient to reproduce homes with similar styles and compositions.

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Sometimes, theterm McMansion is incorrectlyused to describe any large or elaborate home but is most often intended as a derogatory term.

Today, the trend is focused on small houses instead ofbig houses. The advent of the tiny home has changed how US homeowner perceives their living spaces.