We're at a new url: RetroRenovation.com !
Click the link above to see the same great coverage -- and even more new features -- about 50s and 60s kitchens, bathrooms and everything for your mid century modern retro reno!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Recreate yesterday’s sunny coral-yellow-green 50s style kitchen
I've moved: Please see my dramatically improved site: RetroRenovation.comToday: Modern day products to recreate yesterday’s flashback kitchen. My finds include:
Formica microdot laminate in yellow: http://www.formica.com/publish/site/na/us/en/index/laminate/colors_collections/microdot.detail.6900.0001.html 
Wilsonart brushed yellow laminate: http://samples.wilsonart.com/p-134-maroochy-brush-4745-60.aspxmples.wilsonart.com/p-134-maroochy-brush-4745-60.aspx
Sherwin-Williams Pink Flamingo Paint from the Suburban Modern palette: http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/paint_color_palette/color_themes/suburban/int_suburban.jsp
Armstrong’s Marmorette (true linoleum) sheet flooring in Green Parrot:http://www.armstrong.com/commflooringna/product_details.jsp?category=linoleum&item_id=2770Pretty cool! If this kitchen wouldn't make you happy - nothing would!
"Redi-Baker" for your retro kitchen: eBay pick of the day
This adorable Nesco Redi-Baker seems like a great countertop addition to any 50s style kitchen! eBay link:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280165098734&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Stangl birds are classic 50s style: eBay pick of the day
Stangl art pottery is totally near and dear to my heart...READ THIS ENTIRE POST at my new site:
RetroRenovation.com
Monday, October 22, 2007
Illustrator Al Parker helped define 1950s domestic ideal
Yesterday my husband David and I went to see “Ephemeral Beauty: Al Parker and the American Women's Magazine, 1940-1960” ...READ THIS ENTIRE POST at my new site:
RetroRenovation.com
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Watch soon for a new url: RetroRenovation.com
After several months of very active blogging - and learning more about how to do it effectively, I will soon be changing my url to RetroRenovation.com.I'm getting help from local experts, the Berkshire Web Wizards. Our #1 goal is to ensure that people who really want to know about this topic can find the site and hopefully, tap into information that will help them in their 50s and 60s style retro renovations.
I have a long long list of topics yet to cover. It seems like every day, I come up with 5 more! Stay tuned and look for my weekly updates on this and other topics every Sunday morning.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
50s style bathroom towel bars – Hyde Park series by Delta
When I renovated our three bathrooms, every single detail became an obsession. At one point, I wanted to re-chrome the original, rusty towel bars. But it was ungodly expensive, and they weren’t expensive to begin with, just very typical for the 50s.
After a lot of online exploration and poking around stores, I ultimately bought the Hyde Park series from Delta, available through my Home Depot. Fortunately, I’d seen it there during my research and had taken notes, because when I finally went back to buy them, they were no longer on display. But – Home Depot can order them for you.
The reason in particular that I liked them – was the 6-sided kind of reverse-lug wrench look of their base. (I am sure there is a technical term for this: Help!) This lug wrench styling was exactly what is on my vintage faucet. They also have a nice hefty feel. Go for the chrome – of course (!) (even though one photo in brass finish)
The problem with so many towel bars today – as with toilets and sinks – is that they are so fussy, designed "on victorian steroids". 50s styling came out of the streamline and deco eras…very clean, industrial looks to reflect the new modern, non-fussy viewpoints.
One last thing – if you end up going with a wall-mount sink and Franklin Brass legs, simly add the Hyde Park towel ring to the right or left. A fine solution.
No url today. Go to Home Depot.
The reason in particular that I liked them – was the 6-sided kind of reverse-lug wrench look of their base. (I am sure there is a technical term for this: Help!) This lug wrench styling was exactly what is on my vintage faucet. They also have a nice hefty feel. Go for the chrome – of course (!) (even though one photo in brass finish)
The problem with so many towel bars today – as with toilets and sinks – is that they are so fussy, designed "on victorian steroids". 50s styling came out of the streamline and deco eras…very clean, industrial looks to reflect the new modern, non-fussy viewpoints.
One last thing – if you end up going with a wall-mount sink and Franklin Brass legs, simly add the Hyde Park towel ring to the right or left. A fine solution.
No url today. Go to Home Depot.
Fabulous mid century lamps with traditional 50s or 60s style -- Weekend eBay pick of the day #1
These mid century lamps are just gorgeous. Great shape, great design, great shades -- they have it all! They are well worth the price! When you decorate in 50s or 60s style, remember, our moms were not slave to a "modern" look. More traditionally styled elements like these can look fabulous and ensure your decor is not too predictable. I have instructed my friend Linda B. to buy them but you can snap them up first if you move fast!
eBay listing ends soon:
50s and 60s style Thibaut wallpaper -- Weekend eBay pick of the day #2
My favorite wallpaper company of all time is Thibaut. They make beautiful wallpapers at a reasonable cost - not cheap, but a very good value for the quality they deliver.
I love their sense of style. In many cases it is quite timeless. Case in point: These 2 eBay wallpapers -- which I think would fit beautifully into a mid century retro renovation style home. As you can tell, I love the oriental theming. I did this in my foyer (with vintage paper) and it's awesome.
Importantly, you can also get these through wallpaper stores. Watch for a future posting on more Thibaut papers, I am going to do more research as I think this is a hot topic for many people.
Both papers are from the same seller, click here for one of them (my favorite) and then go to Sellers Other Items for more possibilities:
Retro 70s style chandelier set -- Weekend eBay pick of the day #3:
Okay, so these may be screaming 70s or 80s, but I am finding that once you get into retro mid century, you develop an appreciation for 70s and 80s style that has vision, integrity, panache, too. This looks to be a great set - a chandelier and a single sconce to tie rooms together.Link to eBay listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140169169150&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004
Friday, October 19, 2007
Lands End towels and rugs – in 25 colors and complete sets -- great for your retro 50s or 60s bathroom
When we retro-renovated our three 50s bathrooms a couple of years ago, I searched high and low – obsessed! -- for towels and matching rugs in the perfect accent colors. The only company that I could find that had complete matching sets at a decent price, was Land’s End. They have giant, large, medium and small towels, washcloths, big rugs, small rugs, contour rugs (the kind that fit around the toilet. Hey, you have to have one of these!)… the whole kit and caboodle.Even if you decide to go with a “toned down” retro look, vamp it up with the towels. The risk is quite modest – and the payoff immense! For example, in my husband’s bathroom we have a set of burnt orange towels and rugs to match one of the minor accent colors in the flamingo-and-Florida themed wallpaper. In my light brown-white-aquamint bathroom, I have dark brown towels. Our third light blue-and-white bathroom has bright red towels – to pick up on the faded geraniums in the wallpaper. In all three cases, the towels and rugs made a huge difference, they were a big add.
Thanks to Julie Roberts of Land’s End for sending images – great service – just like I’ve always had from the company!
Link to towel sets at Land’s End:
http://www.landsend.com/pp/SupimaZipdryTowels~175841_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::BMT?bcc=y
Vintage Copper tone Wagon Wheel Chandelier -- Friday eBay pick of the day
I’ve always wanted one of these vintage Wagon Wheel lights, they are so cool. In fact, I may have to build a screen porch $$$ just to make a place. Remember – that the term “ranch home” came out of the west, from homes built on ranches. So this kind of western motif can be totally appropriate in a vintage 50s or 60s home, and is guaranteed to bring a big smile to anyone’s face! A retro light like this can go in a kitchen, a rumpus/family room – really anywhere that you’ve got the ceiling height. I like this one because it has 4 globes, so will provide functional illumination. And, you know that I like coppertone, it always warms up a room.
This listing is for the first photo shown, For purposes of illustration, I’ve shown a separate light on eBay (smaller, second photo), assembled and hanging, so you can see how this looks hanging. Note the 2 have slightly different detailing.
Link to eBay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-WESTERN-WAGON-WHEEL-CHANDELIER-LIGHT-FIXTURE_W0QQitemZ270177494612QQihZ017QQcategoryZ13862QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This listing is for the first photo shown, For purposes of illustration, I’ve shown a separate light on eBay (smaller, second photo), assembled and hanging, so you can see how this looks hanging. Note the 2 have slightly different detailing.
Link to eBay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-WESTERN-WAGON-WHEEL-CHANDELIER-LIGHT-FIXTURE_W0QQitemZ270177494612QQihZ017QQcategoryZ13862QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Luxury Waterworks sink, wall-mount with chrome legs and towel bars
Finishing up my recent series on bathroom sinks matched with chrome legs, I wanted to spotlight this Waterworks model. No doubt, it is GORGEOUS. But, the chrome legs with integrated towel bars do run $1,475... while the sink is $315. If you've got the cash and the desire, this certainly would be the centerpiece of your retro reno bathroom. But, if you just want the look and the basic functionality, see my other, recent bathroom posts on wall-mount sinks from Crane that can be matched with $30 chrome legs from Franklin Brass. Another thought: Think about it, the original fixtures used in our retro homes were NOT luxury. They were stylish...and functional...but, accessible to the growing population. In that spirit, I really prefer to seek out affordable products to complete a retro renovation.So in that spirit: Try salvage shops...or even place an ad in your local paper. I advertised in the items wanted section a couple of years ago, and immediately turned up a wall-mount sink with fabulous chrome legs with towel bars, and nabbed the set for $65. It had be sitting in someone's basement for 20 years. It was in perfect shape, and looks awesome in my tiny but functional - and beautiful - master bathroom.
Waterworks website, certainly worth salivating over: http://www.waterworks.com/Waterworks/Products/Products.nsf/ProductsCat/02DC9A03EA1C2D6105256D9D00752A2B?OpenDocument
Vintage Borg bathroom scale -- Thursday eBay pick of the day
I am absolutely opposed to weighing yourself - ever! But, I am an absolute advocate of finding a vintage bathroom scale to accessorize your retro reno bathroom! This olive-colored vintage Borg scale is promoted as being in mint condition...to be sure, the olive colors and design are great -- very late 60s, early 70s. Match this to the Olive colored towels (available from Lands End, watch for future post)...maybe even your wallpaper has a touch of olive?
BTW, don't settle for anything less than "mint" with these scales -- they can be had!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
