eBay pick of the day #2: Great vintage lights

Lighting is the theme this Sunday, not that I planned it that way! See this eBay lister for terrific vintage lights. I might just buy the bathroom sconces for my husband for a surprise birthday present.

Before you bid - check the completed listings. These lights are the real deal, and the sellers don't give them away for a song.

eBay listing for all items: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtrue_2_form

eBay pick of the day #1: Awesome retro medicine cabinet - mint in box!

This is just an incredible find! A 50s cabinet, mint in box, never been used, found in grandpa's attic.

Snap it up.

eBay listing ends Oct. 11: http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-Century-Modern-Medicine-Cabinet-Chest-Eames-Era_W0QQitemZ190159902219QQihZ009QQcategoryZ38157QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Faucet for your retro reno kitchen sink

I did a ton of online searching to find the faucet that would be just right for my vintage Kohler sink. I had a one-hole installation, and wanted a single handle faucet as I think it's a lot easier to control the hot/cold mix better. One problem that I found with most other faucets was that the spout was too short - like only 8". This one -- from Chicago Faucets -- is 10" long. And, I'll tell you -- it's a wonderful faucet. It's not inexpensive, in the $300 range -- but it has a tremendous "feel" -- it's nice and heavy and substantial. And considering that you use your kitchen faucet gazillions of times each day, I've always felt it was well, well worth it! Highly recommended!

Here's a link to buy one, you might find better deals elsewhere on the web: http://www.chicagofaucetshoppe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=831

Not much time left - great barkcloth drapes on eBay now

Sold for $156.49.
Last eBay listing for the weekend! I'll only list draperies if there are several pairs in one lot. That's because I've found that you need quite a few to piece together to fit your actual windows. Even at the starting price of $99 these seem like a good deal - for 10 total panels. The colors are terrific and if the barkcloth as listed is actually quite heavy, they are a great find!



Here's the eBay link, auction ends on Sunday!: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300156788794&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

Vintage bathroom fixtures - save tons, get the real thing -- on eBay now

These seem to be a great find at $299 - especially if you're nearby and go pick them up. I ADORE the color! The sinks look best on chrome legs - ask about that. If you're installing these in a retro reno - take a look at the vintage-colored tile from Olympia tile. This might look good with the Heron blue - or even speckled black-and-white! Yes - you can still get it!

Here is the eBay Buy it Now listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-A-S-Manchu-Yellow-Sink-Tub-and-Toilet-Set-1958_W0QQitemZ230176791972QQihZ013QQcategoryZ71283QQcmdZViewItem

Sweet 50s lighting fixture - chandelier - on eBay now

I'm going to start posting more great items from eBay - hopefully I can figure out whether I can put them in a separate section. This is a great little light that would look terrific in a small house foyer, bathroom or girl's bedroom. Lighting can make a huge difference - like jewelry on a little black dress. Go for it!

Here's the link to the eBay listing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/REALLY-COOL-1950S-CHANDELIER-LIGHT_W0QQitemZ260167480677QQihZ016QQcategoryZ46287QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Awesome reproduction barkcloth for upholstery and draperies

I bought one yard of melinamade.com's "celestial aqua" barkcloth to make the valance in my kitchen -- and the fabric was just awesome. It is really nice and heavy-weight...great "hand", or feel...and the colors are rich and beautiful.

In the photos you get to see Melina herself. If you read the "about" section on her website, you can see that she got into the business out of passion -- which we totally identify with!! The site also notes that she was able to identify one of the few remaining companies the still weave barkcloth in the 40s-60s way, so this is the real deal.

Here is the link to the fabric section of her website: http://www.melinamade.com/Store2/vintage_fabric.php3?cookie_set=/+

I think that the "about" section is really great, too: http://www.melinamade.com/about.htm

And, you can read in my February post of about her wallpaper, too: http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=21680917&postID=2945308984387315455

Great mid-century design fabrics to use for upholstery and draperies - from Maharam

This fabric collection from Maharam -- called Textiles of the 20th Century -- is fabulous! It features vintage design fabrics for upholstery and draperies taken from original design classics from mid century designers (and their early 1900s European forefathers) including:

Gunnar Aagaard Andersen, Anni Albers, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, Josef Hoffmann, Arne Jacobsen, Koloman Moser, George Nelson, Verner Panton, Dagobert Peche, and Gio Ponti.

This stuff is expensive -- and you must get it from a designer or fabric showrooms -- but it is incredible, really well made, and well worth the investment. If you're on a budget, consider it for some dining room chairs, for example. Or, upholster just one perfectly curved chair for real punch.

The website is very good, it makes it easy and fun to look at the fabrics. Go straight to the "Textiles of the 20th Century" binder.

http://www.maharam.com/maharam.html

50s coppertone kitchen fixtures on eBay NOW

Less than two days to go on these items, which I just spotted on ebay. A GREAT light-clock-range hood set for your 50s kitchen! In particular - I rarely see the vintage Nutone range hood available. And this one has a backsplash - which I've never seen! I'd snap 'em up if I wasn't all set.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZteresadryer

Heywood Wakefield furniture - made new - still available

It's fantastic that you can still get original-design Heywood Wakefield furniture, built new. In 1992 a Miami company bought the rights to the HW furniture line and began producing it to original specifications.

Heywood Wakefield "blonde" furniture was the epitome of 40s and 50s decorating. If you need a sofa - they have several models from which to choose, and a number of fabric choices. You can also provide your own fabric. I'll do a post on Maharam and melinamade.com fabrics tomorrow - they both have great designs from documented vintage patterns.

Of course, it's still great to buy original vintage pieces - if you can find them. Regarding vintage sofas - it's been my experience that it's very expensive all costs in -- what with the need for the piece itself, the fabric and the upholsterer. In addition, if there have been smokers or pets, you've go to rip the whole thing down to the springs. Perhaps better, with sofas, to buy the reproduction and start fresh.

http://heywood-wakefield.com/

Retro fireplaces, from Malm - I can't believe they still make these!

I've moved: Please see my dramatically impoved site: RetroRenovation.com

These are fabulous beyond belief -- I am blown away that they still make these great, cone fireplaces! Okay, we're now into 60s style...but I think one of these Malm Fireplaces will look great on the screen porch we're planning out back. Alternatively: In the attic, when we get around to finishing off the space as an all purpose open space for yoga, reading, my daughter's sleepovers and a spare guest room.

You can find cheaper versions of these, originals, on eBay. A company called "Preway" also made them, including in the famous orange. But, I think that buying this classic design but new is a great idea - including going with the gas logs!

http://www.malmfireplaces.com/

Out with the new, in with the old - Rejuvenation Lighting puts retro in new lights

I've had great luck with finding vintage lighting on eBay. I think the prices are the best, and it's great to have true vintage lighting.

But I also love some of the lighting available from Rejuvenation Lighting, a Portland, Oregon-based company that creates reproductions from vintage stock. I've purchased some of their sconces for my bathrooms, and they were great.

As the years go on, they continue adding to their Modern America collection. The pieces featured here are particular favorites of mine.

http://www.rejuvenation.com/collections/Modern_America_Lighting.html

50s style NuTone Ceiling/Wall Fan solves your exhaust issues

Yes, vintage-style ceiling/wall exhaust fans are still available. We installed this model above our kitchen stove, in exactly the same spot we tore out an old, plastic one. The finish is a brushed stainless-style -- and it looks fantastic!

There are enough CFM's (exhaust of air) to meet current code in our state - so we didn't need a range hood, which would have looked out of sorts. Also - this exhaust fan was much less expensive than a range hood! Great find!

Also - I've seen these installed in the wall, where they can also look great. And, they can be installed in bathrooms, but not above the tub/shower, the instructions say.

http://www.nutone.com/product-detail.asp?ProductID=10179

"Acorn" forged iron exterior hardware for retro style

My brick, ranch-style home has a colonial feel, especially on the exterior. I am dressing it up with black-iron hardware and lighting -- and it looks terrific. In fact, if you look at a lot of the classic "California ranches" you see these kinds of colonial touches, with the black forged iron really making the wood and brick "pop."

"Acorn" hardware appears really well made and just what the doctor ordered. Van Dyke's Restorers has a great selection -- you can see it best by browsing their Catalog (rather than online). In their Fall 2007 catalog there are 8 pages of Acorn products. Call 1-800-558-1234 for a catalog. Their url is vandykes.com, but again, the catalog is the way to go.

For the most complete listing of Acorn products, you can go to the Acorn website -- http://www.acornmfg.com/index.php. However, it is a bit hunt-and-peck, not really oriented to consumers. Looks like you can buy closeout items direct from them, but otherwise you must go to a retailer.

More great 50s style kitchens!

It's an abundance of kitchen designs this week! Starting soon I will be analyzing each kitchen and pointing out great design features and ideas to consider for your own 50s restoration!

What's not to like about these retro kitchens?

Come on, how can you not LOVE LOVE LOVE these kitchens?

In our collective American memory, we may think of 50s kitchens as kitschy -- and maybe that is one word you can use. But, in my view, these kitchens are full of great style... daring, exuberant and non-conformist. In addition, there's a lot we can learn from layout and use of materials in these designs - which benefited from learnings from time/motion and efficiency studies that went earlier in the decade and post-WWII, were being brought into the home.

St. Charles Steel Kitchen Cabinets: Sold for $500 on eBay

This looks to be a terrific set of vintage steel kitchen cabinets now on eBay through October 5. I like the color - and the glass fronts look really great, I've never seen that before.

Also - grab the stainless steel and laminate counters, the two sinks, the stovetop, warming oven (!), backsplash and hood, and the built-in ovens.

What a find! If you're near Lake Forest, Ill., and want to create a great vintage kitchen - here's a great set!

For those of you simply interested in retro kitchen design, there are lots of great tips in this kitchen - a nice one!

Update Oct. 6: This kitchen sold for $500. A steal!