My wife and I purchased a 1920s home for exactly this reason. It's not a magnificent home by any means, but at that time, they seemed to pay more attention to s

My wife and I purchased a 1920s home for exactly this reason. It's not a magnificent home by any means, but at that time, they seemed to pay more attention to small details. Simple things like the kinds of molding used. The kinds of window frames on the outside. The attention paid to the facade rather than just the function of the home on the inside. The leading on the glass of the builtins (which conveniently also makes it very easy to replace broken pieces). The art deco themes on the door. The stair railings which are both functional, yet artistic at the same time. Not to mention the lighting, which is so far removed from 'Restoration Hardware generic chic' that it almost makes you want to cry to think about the kind of thing we find acceptable today. Everything is subtle but it makes life better to live in something pretty rather than meh.