Retro Renovation

Remember the Sunbeam appliance center (pictured at the bottom) that I bought myself for my birthday?

Well, I recently saw this ad for another one, from Westinghouse. Isn’t it just spectacular?

Why these never caught on, I don’t quite understand. Probably the expense…But oh, as a design statement - well worth the investment!

DESIGN TIP: Notice the nice little set of shelves built between two wall cabinets. A nice touch for collectibles, cookbooks or even appliances. Keep it tidy, though! Also a brilliant idea if you’re installing salvaged cabinets, and don’t have quite the right fit; see if you can make the shelves with extra cabinet frames cut down to fit…The idea in a postwar kitchen is to go for the “fitted look.”

Tags: 50s kitchen

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Today, some haute haute haute Italian bathroom accessories. My google search says that Fontanta Arte is a ‘legendary’ designer of mid century lighting. These 1960 bathroom pieces certainly would make a statement in any of our postwar jewel boxes $$. Tempting, anyone?

Tags: 60s bathroom

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I heard from Rafael in Puerto Rico — sounds like he’s a great boyfriend in that he helped his girlfriend with her bathroom renovation. But oops, he’s in the doghouse because the asymmetrical 1960s sink got damaged in the process. Isn’t it cool? He’s looking for a new one:

Hi Pam:

I found your page through a Google search…I believe that you might be able to help me. I am looking for an American Standard to replace the original one I broke accidentally while helping my girlfriend renovate her apartment. It was installed originally when the apartment building was constructed around 1966-68.

The sink is made of white porcelain, measures roughly 24″ wide by 18″ deep, and rests on a pair of chromed legs. I have searched the Internet without success trying to find a replacement. I found some new American Standard sinks that look similar, but not as wide (20″), as the original (24″).

I have attached a few photos of the sink (the faucets are not original). By any chance have you seen this type before? I have seen on your website some old catalogs and advertisements. Maybe there is an American Standard catalog from the 60’s that features this sink. Have you seen one? I will appreciate any help you can provide to help me find a replacement.

Thanks!

Rafael Marrero
San Juan, PR

So…I don’t have any immediate answers for Rafael on the history of this sink, most of my materials end around 1965. But for him — and anyone looking for vintage sinks, I’d recommend Re-store, craigslist, ebay and other regional salvage places like historichouseparts.com and deabaths.com. And remember this place in NJ with all the mint-in-box Cranes?!

Also, Rafael’s question inspired me to poke around online, and I did find some really cool “country” sinks that I couldn’t resist posting, below. They are all pretty expensive, and not really midcentury - but maybe would work in a 40s country cottage. Good luck, Rafael!

s

Tags: Retro bathroom

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These vintage Woodard patio sets are to die for. They can appear quite pricey (compared to the lower-price items I usually feature) - as $475 for this 12-piece set currently located in Middletown, Indiana.

But, this brand is available new, today, and I assure you that the price is exponentially higher — so the vintage sets are still a great deal.

Tags: Add new tag, vintage woodard furniture patio kitchen

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I am super excited at the new mosaic flooring I discovered at Daltile this weekend while poking around their website.

These three new choices now to go to #1 among all possible flooring choices for 50s and 60s homes. Guys, the American Olean Chloe is nice, but not nearly as correct for the postwar period. (It’s a holdover from the 30s and early 40s.) Drats, 5 years too late for my 3 bathrooms. Oh well.

FYI, the very first design shown — “Random” — is by far my favorite. I cannot tell from the online material whether different variations of white are possible. I know we tend to think that all the whites must match - but I don’t think it’s a must, particularly when it comes to the floor.

Ring the bell, put out a press release, this is BIG wonderful news for the retro renovation community!!!

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I’m in love with vintage 50s Drexel furniture. I’ll feature Ohio Catherine’s home soon - and you should see the matching set she has in a bedroom and dining room — gorgeous! Does anyone know the name of this design? To me, it has a Shaker feel. The set is in Houston, the upholstery looks new/great, and there is a matching table.

Afternoon update:

Thanks, Troy, for identifying this as Drexel Declaration. Here’s what’s posted on the site that Troy links to, in his comment. There are no photos of the dining room chairs on the link, but see the “step table” in the photo, on the right? It clearly shows detail linking the design to the chairs above. Cool!

Drexel
Drexel Declaration was designed by Kip Stewart. His idea was to link the American craftsmanship of the Shakers with the modernism of the late fifties and early sixties. The original knobs are white porcelain…

Tags: vintage Drexel

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Welcome to Woonsocket Trish (way fun to write that), who has questions about her new/old two-family in the beautiful state of Rhode Island:

Hi Pam,

I found your website while I was searching the web trying to find out more about our kitchen. I absolutely love what you do and enjoy reading your blog. I was never a big fan of the retro look until recently. My boyfriend and I bought our first house in January of this year in Woonsocket, RI.

The house was built in 1954, and it’s a two family. The 1st floor apartment, which we are living in, has been updated through the years, but the 2nd floor apartment looks like it hasn’t been touched since the house was built. When I first saw the apartment, I really hated the kitchen and bathroom, and couldn’t wait to start working on them. But now I feel like it would be wrong to destroy something with such a history…. Everything is in great condition, the stove works great, and the countertops are almost perfect.

I have a few questions for you if you dont mind answering them for me. First, I’m not so sure the floor in the kitchen is original, when do you think that was put in? Also, I’m not sure about the linoleum on the stairs and hallway being original (almost a marble effect w/red and blue)? Lastly, do you have any idea what the blacksplash and countertops are made of? It’s not a completely smooth surface, you can kind of feel the ridges in it. It’s a light beige color, with gold threads or cracks, and pieces of gold glitter in it. Thanks so much for your time and help. I hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you, Trish

Hmmm. I asked Trish about her countertops and she reported that they were indeed quite hard - impermeable. My answers:

Yes for sure, the linoleum on the stairs is original. This is in all my historical material, quite common. And very very cool!

Your awesome pink bathroom is original, too. Love love love the floor. Although, I am doubtful about that sink/vanity. That looks like it was installed later. One quick investment - a black toilet seat and cover would really pop. And if you want to invest — wallpaper would make this space over-the-top fabulous. Send me a photo of the lime green bathroom, too, Trish!

Sink and cabinets: Here’s where everything turns tricky. This photo and the three that follow all lead me to believe that the kitchen was re-done in the mid- to late 60s.

To start, I have never seen a porcelain sink-top installed on top of the counter like this. I tend to think you had a steel cabinet in at least that spot originally. When the kitchen was updated, the owners retained and reused the porcelain sink top:

Stove: I am NOT an expert, but I do not think that this harvest gold came into style until the mid-60s. I love your arched entry way!

Your flooring also has a 60s or even early 70s look to it. Which isn’t bad — if it’s in good shape, it’s got a ton of character. I’d work with it! Cute dogs, if indiscreet!

Countertops: While I’ve never seen these live, I have seen ads for “laminated plastic,” which these could well be, considering their look and hard surface that Trish describes. However, the finish certainly sounds 60s rather than 1954. Overall, the surface sounds extremely cool - and if it has held up in perfect shape - all the better!

Recommendations for the kitchen: As this post is getting quite long, I think I will do recommendations within the next 10 days.

Meanwhile, congratulations, Trish, on recognizing the jewel that you have and for seeking out the resources to maintain it.

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This is so cool, what showpiece for your retro renovation kitchen! …Another kitchen fixture that has the look of a car dashboard, like vintage stoves.

Note, one virtually identical to this, sold for over $100 within the last two weeks. Sounds expensive, perhaps - but have you checked the price of NEW kitchen sink faucets lately?

Tags: 50s kitchen

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Hi Pam,

Our kitchen is a galley kitchen about 9×9 in a small Southern CA bungalow. We just moved into our first home in November of 2007 and have been doing our best to bring as much charm back to this beauty as we can. We’re living in our construction zone - as I’m sure most folks do.

I’ve wanted to change the window treatments since we moved in, but we’ve always had bigger fish to fry. We’ve replaced the sink and faucet. We replaced the hardware on the cabinets we intend to keep. The cabinet that had been under the sink was a cheap mdf replacement, so we just removed it with the intention of replacing it when we find or build something ourselves.

We tossed some of the floor tiles down to get the effect for the photos, but we haven’t gotten to the flooring yet. We actually just taped the edging to the counter as well.But, now that we’ve received the stainless steel edging and have an idea what it will look like, we’re excited to move forward with a backsplash. Should we go with a Subway tile like Kathy, or perhaps another idea?

I know that you’ve had fantastic ideas for other people and it would be great to read about any thoughts you or other readers might have for us. Thank you so much!!

Amy in SD

Readers, that’s “San Diego”, I think! Amy, first of all, congratulations on your new home — and it looks like you have fabulous taste and are doing a fine job without any help at all. Here are some thoughts:

1. Of course — I love the edging from NewYorkMetal. com
2. And the floor is awesome, too! Looks like this Congoleum that Portland Laura found and which we featured last month:
   
3. Re backplash: I think that subway tiles would be just great in this kitchen with its bungalow styling. As I mentioned in an email, how about putting subway tiles 5/8 of the way up the wall (even with the height of the backsplash) wrapping around where your stove it, too? I think that would look really nice, be very functional in terms of inevitable mess around the stove, and also tie both sides of the kitchen together. Here’s a photo from BungalowTile.com, (you can also get subway tile from mass makers like Daltile.) I would stick with a 3×6 edge, though:
   
4. Did you say you were going to change the curtains? Goodness, I love them. Like, really really love them. The way the sun filters through… How about just putting in really nice cafe rods. I like the ones featured at Rejuvenation lighting:
5. Finally - and you know that I would say this - whether you add subway tile wrapping the stove, or not — how about a wallpaper that includes the blue from your and floor and at least one other accent color for fun — like the red of your cute potholder. Bradbury & Bradbury makes some fabulous reproduction 1940s paper. Many styles would look so great in your kitchen — of these 4, the three with blue in them would look great, I think:

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I’ve been emailing with Massachusetts Ellen for a while, about her quest to re-create her parent’s 1955 kitchen. If anyone knows of Crosley cabinets for Ellen - please comment here!

My parents had a 1955 Crosley kitchen. It was the state of the art kitchen - actually the set from the 1955 Crosley Bendix dealers’ movie which my father made. Original kitchen was in Wilmette, Illinois. It won a design award and was in McCall’s magazine — and I have been trying to recreate this kitchen for years here in Falmouth, Mass.

Wish I could find the film, made by Wilding, which was bought out by Bell & Howell, in Chicago. Found this reference on Google. May be in the Chicago Film Archives.

Would also love to find a copy of the McCall’s magazine. I am not sure which issue- sometime between 1955-56, I think.

HELP. If anyone knows where I can find the cabinets, please let me know! Cabinets were copper in cooking area, laundry area was white. Floor was speckled tan, cream and beige tile- like marmoleum. Countertops beige speckle formica, stainless steel sink. Appliances were ss electric cooktop (this was midcentury modern sleek, not Happy Days) and separate frig and freezer. Freezer had an ice cream maker, frig had thru door water. Both had circular chrome center handle. @ ss wall ovens. Accent color was a soft aqua/turquoise.

Found not one, but two, sets in Cincinnati, but lost them both. One sold, the other remodel delayed indefinitely, due to health probs. Color doesn’t matter. I will have them repainted. The fridge (which Ellen already found-Pam) will need to be painted too.

Attached is the photo - which shows my mom and dad in a messy, but well-loved kitchen.

Thanks so much for your help.

Tags: Crosley kitchen

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