Do you have ideas… questions… suggestions… wants… and needs… that you’d like me to research and write about this year?
Add your Comment — and I’ll work on it.
And: I’ll start an occasional newsletter in 2009. Just type your email address in the box, hit go, and you’ll be signed up.
1) Pictures lots of pictures. Before’s and afters. Maybe just a section of pics under categories, Kitchens, Living rooms, Exteriors, furniture etc.. No text really needed but pictures inspire.
2) How to blend the old(Retro) with today’s styles.
3) Landscaping and gardening, I feel that old bushes like the older Spirea variety and those dreaded Fitzers are part of Retro, so good ideas with how to add a “retro” shrub and landscape to our abodes.
Every one have a good prosperous year.
Kind Regards,
Robert
I live in a part of the world with very few mid-century modern homes and I would like to live in one, so I would like to see some info on building your own, tenants to follow, old house plans, etc.
Robert, I like that landscaping idea. I am something of an eccentric with my yard. I grew pumpkins in the front yard last summer, which looked really fun, but wasn’t really too retro, I’m guessing.
I’m an interwebs junkie and I can never seem to find enough resources. Since I found this site about a month ago I seem to be checking in a couple times a day. I’d love to see more input from the readers. Trying to reverse decorate a house to before it was built isn’t an easy thing (70′s rancher going Mid-Century, one room at a time) and I would love to get ideas about the details, accessories, etc.
Since I am a furniture junkie, it stands to reason that I would love to see you feature more furniture. Also, furniture care suggestions for furniture of mid-mod vintage–you are a master at tracking down information!
Thanks for a great year of blogging and for saving the pink bathrooms!
I think a great addition would be to list shops/stores in the particular areas that we live in….you never know how far people will be willing to travel to look at and/or buy items for their homes. Ohio has some great vintage shops in the Colymbus, Cleveland, and Toledo areas, as well as some great antique malls around the state. Of course, website URLS would be welcome as well!
I love seeing the before and after pics and how other people are restoring rather than “remodeling”. Also any resources for vintage and reproduction materials is greatly appreicated. Thanks so much!!
First of all.. I would like to wish Everyone a Happy, Healthy & a Prosperous New Year ahead!
What I would Love to see on here is:
#1- Alot of Pictures of Kitchens & Bathrooms (Pref Aqua & Pink ones) before and after
#2- Going on a ‘Mid-Century Modern’ Vacation? Take alot of Pictures. I just Love, Love, Love the ‘Main Street USA’ type of Towns that have stood still in time. (Like My Town, Wildwood, NJ it’s very 1950′s/1960′s) I know…. I will start putting some Pics online.
#3- Interesting Stories & Pictures.
#4- I really Loved all the Retro Christmas Pictures that everyone sent in. Why can’t We leave Our Christmas decorations up all Year long!
#5- I would Love to see on Retro Renovation a link to Retro 1950′s/1960′s Songs that We could listen to while surfing retrorenovation.com.
Have a Kitschy New Year Kory
Kory Carroll
#2- Going on a ‘Mid-Century Modern’ Vacation? Take alot of Pictures. I just Love, Love, Love the ‘Main Street USA’ type of Towns that have stood still in time. (Like My Town, Wildwood, NJ it’s very 1950’s/1960’s) I know…. I will start putting some Pics online.
Here’s something I’ll share with the group: We’re getting married at the Wildwood DooWop Museum in October and having the after party at the Starlux. Both are prime examples of MCM in NJ.
Do a Flickr search for Wildwood Doowop and you’ll come up with some pics.
What Robert said!
Pictures, pictures, pictures, pictures.
Old with new.
Landscaping.
1. I would love to see some info on the mid-century ranch style motels that are kept up that would be fun destinations throughout the country. Places that are as good on the inside as they are on the outside.
2. More tiki! Tiki destinations around the country.
3. Photos photos photos!
Thanks for the great site!
More auzzie stuff
PugFreek, Can you help me out with scouring for retro-Australia posts? Send me recommendations and I’ll be happy to do more. Did I ever say: I think I was meant to be born an Australian!
I’m also interested in more landscaping ideas, not necessarily following exactly what people did back in the 50s/60s, but some ideas about how to capture the look without the intensive labor involved (huge lawns to cut, better water-saving methods, etc.).
And it’s always great to find out about sources for stuff—although Pam already does a great job of that, so just keep up the good work!
I love seeing what real people (on budgets) are doing to restore their houses, too.
I would love to see a slide show of before/after pink bathrooms. I have a 1956 pink/mauve tile bathroom and am at a loss at what to do to make it fabulous. I need ideas!!!
Love this website-its really helped me out since we bought our home!
Oh Pam, you know you are a goddess to us! How could we give you any suggestions?! I just think more, more, more of what you already do so well!
I vote for more reader photos, which is more up to us than you (your hands are pretty tied until we actually send them). I’ve been meaning to for months! I not only have photos of our house, and many questions that I’d like reader input on, but lots of vintage resources that I think “I should dig that out and scan it” when I see another reader asking for ideas. Landscaping, for example! I bet I even have directions for pinch-pleats in one of my vintage sewing books.
I love the newer highlights on furniture and other household “pieces” (art, dishware, collectibles, etc) because they are things I can satisfy my midcentury cravings with while I wait to be able to afford the larger projects.
Probably the most important resource this site provides to me is the encouragement, and the knowledge that I am NOT ALONE in my love for keeping things original in my house, restoring what has been changed, and for valuing things from the past. I love that we are all “green” before everyone else, too. Long live RetroRenovators!!
I’d like to see more on how to cope with poor past remodels when we lack the funds to restore — what can be done with just paint and fabric, for instance, or what comparatively small changes would pack the most punch.
And definitely, more photos! I’d especially like to see more photos of actual interiors, particularly during transitions and of common modifications. I adored the post on white-painted fireplaces, for instance, and I’d love to see more on popular redecorating and remodeling choices in the 50s and 60s.
I’d like to see a more active user forum. Somewhere that I can create a topic and get feedback or input. For example, I’m looking for some wallpaper but can’t afford Bradury & Bradubury. Maybe someone knows of a less expensive outlet for this type of material.
Before and after photo sets. And include the “in progress” stuff so Renovators can see what kind of mess they can anticipate during the process. But I say all this for selfish reasons: I have lots of photos and no place of my own to post them.
I would like to echo what Tikimama said about the affirmation of knowing I’m not alone and that there are real people out there besides the snobby princesses on HGTV who just can’t imagine life without granite this and stainless that. (OK I’m fine now)
I think you are fabulous and I appreciate everything you do Pam. Personally I enjoy helping others with their reno/decorating decisions + hearing what others think too. I ADORE old house plans (find me a 2000 sq.ft. long ranch please as we plan to build in 2 years) and I’d also enjoy seeing both modern and traditional styles from the midcentury (cause I can never decide). But most of all I am so happy to know that there are wonderful, down to earth, interesting people like you and all the rest of ya out there! Landscaping ideas/photos would be great too. Your red geranium thing has me totally inspired to only do red geraniums this year in my window boxes, etc. Fun.
Sara, I will be happy to search for a 2,000s.f. long ranch for you! Do you want 3 bedrooms or 4? 2.5 baths, I presume?
I love the time capsule pics!
Tired of the pushing of stainless steel cabinetry.
How to find contractors who are willing to work in older homes? (i.e. not a newbie plumber or electrician who only knows how to deal with houses built after 1998)
Where can I find replacement casement windows?
How do I take care of my asbestos tiles?
How do I deal with friends who actually think IKEA is fun and their products are wonderful?? (The cafeteria is good; I give ‘em that.)
So glad I found your site; I check it daily. SRSLY, you are heaven sent.
Pam:
First I would like to say that this is one of the best websites I have seen that deals with mid-century modern… everything! You do a fantastic job of keeping it fresh and interesting.
I agree with the pictures, pictures, pictures. I am remiss in sending photos myself, so that is a resolution. I would like to see even more emphasis on how to renovate, restore and overall get the look on a budget. It seems that most of the audience does not have the resources to spend as we would like; so far I have gotten great ideas beyond what I already knew. Sharing sources is one of the most critical things we can all do. Whomever first shared the info about the Habitat for Humanity Re-stores is high up on my list!
Peter in Jacksonville
Pam, I’m with Tikimama: you have reached goddess stature in the eyes of many of your readers, so more of the same!
That said, I’d love to see more about Danish modern furniture styles and makers. That and mid-century gardening/landscaping/plant material ideas.
Thank you for your inspiration and for sustaining this great community of like minds!
Totally in agreement. with the votes to elevate you to goddesss status. It boggles my mind to think of the work you but into this site.
More pictures, like everyone else, I can’t get enough retro eye candy.
Expanding user forums are a great idea.
Recipies, I love Chex Mix! But there must have been some great food/simple entertaining ideas. My parent’s entertained a lot, but I don’t remember mom slaving in the kitchen.
This is wayyy off topic, but TV HOMES. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Samantha Steven’s home from BEWITCHED. OMG, who do I kill to get that stove. I’ve never seen one like it. Wouldn’t fit in my house, but I LOVE it.
Mooski, in Massachusetts.
Mooski, I think that Samantha Stevens had a Tappan Deluxe or a Frigidaire Flair. I have images of these and will share in 2009! Ironically, I haven’t even begun to broach vintage stoves yet, and these were my first love!
This year I moved back into the house I grew up in. It was built by my parents in 1960. My NY resolution is to send in pics of my blue and grey bath and knotty pine kitchen. This site has given me a renewed appreciation of what I have. When we remodel we will keep the tile and the knotty pine, with just a few changes to make it more livable. I promise to send before and after pics.
Anyway more pics, landscaping tips and expanded forums is what I would like to see. Thank you Pam!!!
Pam,
Bewitched did in fact have a Frigidaire Imperial Custom Flair, I believe it was a 1961 model. They are my new found love.
Pam- HAPPY NEW YEAR!! What a great year- finding you & your site! You make the process of remodeling & maintaining our ’50′s home possible. I agree that we all really owe you! Thanks for all the help & support this past year!
I just would like to say that it is not always the big things that we need help with. It is in the details that pull everything together & makes it work. Example, I had a great pull-down light. But, the glass shade had broken & I couldn’t find a replacement anywhere (the glued original just didn’t do it).You guided me to the source & now it is perfect. If you could continue to be the great resource of hard to find details that makes everything work.
Also, it is so helpful when you put our problems out there & we get input from not only you but the other readers. I have found that even if you don’t have that problem now, around the corner you can refer back to what was discussed.
You do a great job with the site & I so appreciate all of your hard work!
Nancy
A section with local expert resources for readers to contribute to. For example, who does great floor work in the metro Memphis area? Lighting resources? While I’d love to be “that person” (as would my husband) who renovates everything on her own, we simply aren’t and need the help! Plus, we like contributing to the local artisans and experts to keep our economy healthy here–there are many small businesses and craftspeople who are having a difficult time.
More tiny 40’s bungalow and cottage renovations, rooms, decor, homes etc…..
I agree with Joe, a more general retro reno forum would be great. Right now it’s all steel cabinets and three “misc” categories. I would love a forum where I could go, for instance, and post a question asking who makes authentic looking windows to replace the crappy aluminum ones that some idiot put in place of the original double hungs. I’m thinking of a forum with a lot of categories about various areas and aspects of retro houses that come up in restoration. Most of that stuff currently gets a lot of discussion when Pam happens to have a blog entry about it. And then you just search and sift through the discussions. I love the blog, but a more active forum where we can all go and ask questions to each other would be a great addition.
Google the word “googie” !!
Spring’s right around the corner…well it will be right around the corner…sometime, so I’m thinking PATIO PARTY!!! Mid century patio furnishings, grills, MUSIC!, libations, heck…even perhaps fashions. I am also all for Vacation stuff. I have lots of pictures of mid century hotels and stuff from my various vacation/roadtrips to offer. There are lots of great ideas here!
More Auzzie stuff, more radios, ideas to make ect
i would love more on how to do more retro with paint and accessories, things that can easily be updated to sell. we aren’t in our ‘dream house’ and are renovating the whole thing, but as much as i’d love to add more retro touches, i have to go traditional for the resale value.
Hi Pam, I’d like to see a section on more readers homes & as I’m a collector of mid-century ceramics etc. more on accessories to compliment the retro renovations, cushion covers, vases, wall art etc. to help complete. As you know, I’m also an aussie so I’d like to see more local suppliers too, as our house is always a work in progress! x
Hey retroppo, I’ll try to find out more about retro-Australia, but you and PugFreek are going to have to help me!
In answer to what would I like to see on your fantastic blog this year – I would love to see some exteriors that are in keeping with a retro style. I’m interested in seeing how others have handled exterior paint, landscaping, hardscaping, patio spaces and outdoor decoratives.
Thanks!
Wendy, thanks for your comment. I have some great exterior planned – closer to spring. But I forget sometimes, it’s always summer out west!
I too am a huge fan of this site. Mid-century modern is my true love, yet I really appreciate that Pam includes all of the different styles from the mid- 20th century. You never know what interesting details (trivial or not) may show up on these posts.
I agree with those above who want to see more floor plans, more reader submissions and more miscellaneous posts. The more photos, the better! But Pam, you have my unending appreciation just for what you’ve done so far!
The enthusiasm that Pam and all of the participants show is something I really enjoy. I also like the respect that everyone who posts here seems to show for differing opinions.
Tailfin, thanks for your comment, and I really want to applaud and affirm what you said here in particular: “I also like the respect that everyone who posts here seems to show for differing opinions.”
This is really really important to me. That on the blog, no one trashes others’ opinions, and that we remain mutually respectful – of the period we are studying – each others’ choices – and hey, even the TV makeovers. An again-goal of mine this year: If I don’t like it, I say “hmmm, not my cup of tea but here’s what’s interesting…” or some such. It’s only decorating. And I don’t know of too many people who make their decisions lightly – it’s almost always with a spirit of love and wanting to make a nice place to live.
Ooooo…and how about a “Favorite Movies” section or thread. I love old Audrey Hepburn movies. What’s the one with Humphrey B.? That one has GREAT mid-cent/danish mod furnishings!
Landscaping, Landscaping, Landscaping. Not just plants, but patios/outdoor furniture/etc. I need this info so badly. The inside of my house is in good shape, but the patios (there are several) are a disaster and we don’t really know what to do with them.
Before/afters and house tours are a big hit with me
Please don’t stop providing the heavy-duty practical info on flooring, fixtures, etc.
Would welcome less glamorous stuff too on things like maintaining your retro home, dealing with low-pitch roof, etc.
Maya, thanks for these suggestions. I’ll keep my eyes peeled. While I may not have the first-hand experience, I’ll watch for good information, put it out there, and we can all share.
Hey Christopher – the movie is Sabrina, and I think you are maybe remembering Bogart’s character’s office. I love when he demonstrates the strength of their plastic (?) product by balancing it on two chairs, then jumping up and down on it.
And if you love 50s fashions/hair/makeup – this is a drool-inducing movie! Plus, it’s a great story, very romantic.
Pam, Best suggestion is to keep up the good work! I am hopelessly addicted to your site. I wish I had found it sooner. I certainly love seeing pictures of before/during/after renovations, as well as vintage inspiration photo’s. My favorites are the time capsules. It’s wonderful to see things that have survived the test of time, as well as the HGTV fashionista remodeling crowds. Christopher’s idea on more of the vintage patio stuff could be a lot of fun. TIKI PARTY!!!!(Yeah St. Louis winters are horrible; can’t wait for spring)
Hi Pam, I just also wanted to add that I too would like to see more ideas for exteriors, including ideas for cladding, materials, paint colour colour schemes, etc. We have unique “mondrian” style light columns & I’d like to see more quirky, kitsch, unusual stuff also. I’m really enjoying your site so much, thanx Pam for feeding our retro souls! Michelle x
http://www.flickr.com/photos/retroppo/1451145130/in/set-72157602181434312/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/retroppo/2394519465/in/set-72157602181434312/
I would like to see some things that people have had in their family for a few generations and they are working into their homes – not just the great things that we find at different types of shops/sales that are from the post-war era. I have pieces that have been in my family for 50+ years (some of them 60+ years, or more) that I am trying to incorporate into my late 1950′s house. I always find family pieces and the stories behind them to be incredibly interesting.
I love how such good ideas on retro renovating come out in the comments sections of blog entries. But, again, more than once I’ve had a specific question that I’d love to pose to the community in general, but there’s no current thread going on that topic… take for instance “any ideas on period appropriate baseboard, door and window casing to replace the mix-mash of 50s through 90s stuff my 1950 house currently exhibits.” A general forum might be the way to go. The only downside would be potentially less comment traffic on the main blog entries.
Thanks for your offer to help the search for the 2000 sq.ft. ranch pam! 3-4 bdrms/2-1/2 bath, super mud room and large living room (not “great” room)
Oh, and on Bewitched I noticed a red geranium on the window sill of the kitchen from a living room shot! You’ve really got me searching. I look forward to a great retro year.
Like many others, I love the how-to’s that you can’t get anywhere else. I don’t have any salvageable real linoleum, but I read the “how I saved our linoleum” post with rabid interest.
I also like anything that helps us figure out how our 1955 home ought to look. Short of breaking into the octegenarian neighbors’ untouched time capsules, you’re my only hope.
I LOVE this blog and am so glad I found it! I did a search on the Madmen kitchen and stumbled upon it.
We downsized into a 1952 story-and-a-half bungalow that had only one owner and nothing had been updated since the kitchen (1963). It needs quite a bit of updating, and since I love mid-century modern, this blog is helping me get ideas and resources for hardware, etc. It’s also motivating to see there are many other people who are into the period!
I’d like to see period landscaping (as others have mentioned) as that’s one of the projects we will be tackling come spring. I love lots of pictures as well.
FYI I have a gray tile bathroom, a knotty pine upstairs (our master bedroom), a knotty pine finished basement (thinking tiki louge, here) and a kitchen that was very custom for 1963 (nutone built-in food center, Philco “galaxie” double electric oven).
THANKS FOR THE BLOG!
Welcome, Jeanne, and thank you for such nice comments! I’ll email you some time in the future – we want to see pics of your place. However, I’m overloaded with reader pics I haven’t run yet…I’m particularly into running more knotty pine this year. So get your digi-cam ready, girl. And don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help with any specific wants/needs that come up. Oh, where do you live?
I would be happy to take some pictures soon. I wasn’t really a fan of knotty pine but am trying to embrace it.
It’s a work in progress. I think I have some good ideas, though. I live in Dearborn, Michigan.
I would like to see more of this website! Just found you today, and instantly added you to my blogroll, and I had to write a quick post about it. I really dig this place! So, after I finish my leisurely stroll through Retro Renovation, I’ll let you know what I want to see more of. That should be sometime in early March. Thanks for the great resource.
Hi Pam
I am totally infatuated with vintage stoves, refrigerators, chest freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers…you name it! Any info on vintage appliances would be awesome!
Also – I can’t get enough of readers ‘before and after’ pictures…the more the better.
Thanks so much for all your hard work – your website is my renovating bible!
Tammy
Retropink57, welcome and thank you for all your comments! I’ll be workin’ on it!
I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your website. I found it by accident when I was looking for aqua appliances. I grew up in several houses that had aqua appliances in the kitchen. Although my tastes are very traditional (French antiques and ovrstuffed, skirted sofas and chairs), I am also very fond of a lot of styles from the 50s and 60s. I grew up during that period.
I love what you and some of the readers have done in restoring the mid century modern look.
I would love to see more before and after pictures, more furniture pictures, and more home plans and renditions from that era.
Keep up the good work! I look forward to more interesting posts!
Retrocat – welcome!!!
More ’40s.
I’m living in a very small home built in 1961 for my family. It is a work in progress, it’s full of this and that collection. The only renovation of any kind that altered the look was wall to wall carpet in the late ’70s, and Armstrong vinyl over the kitchen and bath floors. The three bedrooms and laundry room have the original brown over white speckled terrazzo. I’m going to have a $3.50 period appropriate hanging saucer fixture put in the dining area, and an upgrade wall light fixture in the green fixture/white tile bath. Our builder was Mackle Brothers of General Developement. A lot of homes here have been “improved” (destroyed beyond recognition) and about ten have been leveled. From about 1958 to 1962, the largest two homes of the model series were slightly larger than 1100 square feet. All later models became larger and more deluxe.
Ok, what I’d like to see added are console stereos and sound systems of the mid century period, as this makes up a large part of my collection. Also wall treatment, I like knotty pine and that neat looking grooved wall board some of these little houses had. Also built in ovens, cooktops, and Frigidaire, GE products of the ’50s. Love this site!
Welcome, astrosonical! Where do you live? Your home sounds just wonderful!
Thanks Pam! This is the River Park section of Port St. Lucie Florida. My section, as well as the later ones, were built for retirees, early on, a few of them had children, as did my family. I have always loved this house, it has quite a way to go before it can touch some of the eye-popping homes the other folks have shown, but the basic framework is here. I love period furnishings mostly of the ’50s and ’60s, also kitchens and baths with their original fittings. I have few really neat ’50s things, and also have a great love of ultra modern table lamps. I inherited one with a matchstick shade, that complements my Stromberg Carlson console with a matchstick grill. Please, add lamps and light fixtures to my open thread requests.
I’ve just stumbled across this site and I’m absolutely delighted to see other like-minded people. Thank you, Pam!!
I plan to renovate my parents’ postwar (circa 1947) Victory home later this year, mainly to increase its energy efficiency. I feel that these houses haven’t gotten a lot of respect, and that’s a shame because I think they represent an important part of our history.
Due to some extensive 1970s renovations, not a lot of the original fixtures remain in the kitchen and main floor bathroom. However, I see some great ideas here to bring back the home’s original spirit. I’d like to see more examples of late 1940′s decor on your blog. Keep up the great work!
Welcome, Carleton Heights Girl. I’m definitely focused on ensuring that I keep covering the 40s. In fact: Come back tomorrow for some good stuff (if I say so myself.)
Thanks, Pam! Looking forward to it.
Hi Pam! I’m always progressively retro – fitting my place here in Australia, and I am up to a point where I am seeking ideas on mid century art work. Rather than using advertising prints of the time, which seems to be popular, I’d like to create a more authentic feel in my art work choice. Can you give some guidance on piece that would be appropriate for a family/sunroom and a kitchen area? One of the problems I have encountered with mid century pieces is that the scale of the works are too small for the size of my walls, given that the room dimensions now days seem much larger.
Thanks for the opportunity to chime in.
Xxx Super Kawaii Mama xxX
super kawaii mama, welcome to our retro renovation community, it’s great to hear from another australian reader! i have noted your question – and will noodle it and plan a post. i am very interested in this issue, actually!
Pam, I know your web real estate is limited, but I think the “Join the Fun” section showing the latest reader comments could be expanded. With the site getting so many new people commenting, we often miss new comments.
I would like to echo Super Kawaii Mama’s request to see what kind of art choices people have made to complement their mid-century furnishings & homes. I am lucky in that my dad is an abstract painter (and a damn talented one, if I may brag on him!), and I have quite a few of his pieces in my home.
Some are actually authentic mid-century paintings in that he created them in the 1950s and 1960s; others are representative of his later and current work.
I also enjoy using every day items as art, but I would love to find additional sources for paintings, prints and drawings from the mid-20th Century. Obviously, I tend to lean toward the abstract, but I have an appreciation for all styles.
Mid Mod Pam 01.02.09 at 2:30 pm
PugFreek, Can you help me out with scouring for retro-Australia posts? Send me recommendations and I’ll be happy to do more. Did I ever say: I think I was meant to be born an Australian!
I dont think you did say that!Retroppo, and I will look out for
Australain stuff!And I would also like to see more Kitch, unusal stuff!Oh i forgot the Australain count is now 3!
Who is the third, PugFreek?
Isn’t it Super Kawaii Mama (above), PugFreek and Retroppo?? The Australians, that is!
Mid Mod Pam,
I was hoping to find a site about recommendations for selling a Mid-Century home.
We are selling my husband’s childhood home (finished in 1959) after the death of his parents. The place is in terrific shape, a Mid-Century split level with one pink bathroom and one blue.
Sadly the first real estate agent we talked to recommended replacing original fixtures and using Pottery Barn colors (!)
We would really love to see the home bought by someone who can love and appreciate it for it’s unique design. Do you know of any websites for selling a Mid-Century home?
We are in Glenview Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago.
Thanks!
Lizvocal
Gosh, Lizvocal, no, I don’t know of any specific sites. And I don’t know of any agents in your area who specialize in midcentury homes, although I know of some on some other cities… it’s growing. I guess I’d suggest really doing your research into real estate agents locally who CARE about vintage homes and spotlighting their special characteristics… they ARE out there. Good luck!