Regular readers will have noticed a number of changes here over the past weeks and months. I’ve been working virtually full time on the blog since December making improvements and in general, trying to nail down what it wants to be when it grows up. Today, I’d like to give you an update covering:
- Mission
- Improvements
- Planned content
- Other resources – and a reminder regarding safety
- Readership
- How you can help
Mission
The role and goal of Retro Renovation centers around learning from our midcentury design ethic and empowering homeowners to apply that knowledge in ways that are appropriate to their own homes: “Whether you own a mid century home or simply love the retro look, you’ve found your place for: New product recommendations for your home renovation projects … inspirational vintage images … stories of other readers’ homes … quirky info about the 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s design ethic… and a community of homeowners dedicated to cherishing their postwar ranch, cape, colonial, contemporary, split-level and bungalow homes.”
Improvements
With so much content now on the blog – and readers saying it’s hard to find things – improving navigation has been a key goal. You’ll notice the new Fast & Easy Box in the first sidebar: It will take readers directly to key product recommendations in six areas. I’ve also added a “New? Start Here” section on the nav bar to help readers understand and navigate the site. Finally, I am working to find a new Category widget that will help me organize all content in a more intuitive way. Other improvements have included: Adding a Galleries section (much wanted by readers); adding a new Gallery tool that makes viewing images easier; adding a new All-Topics Forum (sorry, cannot handle photos yet – and seems glitchy, argh); moving to a new theme, Thesis, which provides more design/navigation options; and moving to a new more high-powered server that can handle increased traffic. Oh – and I now pay real tech guys, who get called in every week to fix some glitch or another.
Planned content
In terms of content planned for this year, I think you could say “more of the same” and then some. I have always felt the fundamental role of the blog is to uncover products for you to use in your updates — as this was my key problem when renovating my kitchen and three full bathrooms. In addition to the practical stuff, I also love featuring vintage design images… reader stories… time capsules… social history… and an occasional story from the current news that relates to homeownership trends. Pretty soon, I also plan to master podcasting – as there are several people from the midcentury design world that I’d love to talk to and share with readers.
Other resources – and a reminder regarding safety
While Retro Renovation focuses principally on design, it seems that many of you are also interested in DIY and fix-it information. Since this is not my forte, I’m likely to recommend that you discuss these issues with local professionals, and perhaps check out other websites known for their restoration info and how-to, like Old House Journal or Old House Web. At the same time, we all care very much about managing environmental and safety issues properly, so this is a good opportunity to remind everyone that when undertaking a restoration project, be sure to familiarize yourself with and use recommended best practices regarding materials. For example, the EPA hosts websites on both lead and asbestos in the home. If the house is “new to you” I believe that it’s always good advice to bring a professional in to identify all the materials in your home so that you know what you are dealing with – on your floors, your walls, your pipes, insulation, etc. This also includes proper disposal. There seem to be some good resources to help.
Readership
Blog readership has grown a lot. Today, we have about 50,000 unique visitors monthly – that’s double 4-5 months ago. January was a particularly big month – I think everyone was bundled up at home researching their to-do lists! Readers are mostly from the U.S., but we also have several thousand from Canada, the U.K. and Australia. In all: folks from 145 countries tuned into to see what retro homes were all about last month! Interestingly, via comments and emails, I also am seeing more readers with homes from the pre-war era – bungalows and Victorians. Some feature post-war interiors, some have earlier styles. Moving ahead, I think I will try to reach back further in design history, occasionally. And of course, the 70s are hot, so I’m working to include more on that groove-fest era.
How you can help
How can you help the blog continue to pursue its mission and help other homeowners? Well – by reading, commenting and telling friends about the blog, as usual. Also, it’s great when you send me your finds and resources that can help other readers…or when you send articles or exhibits, movies or simply ideas to feature…and when you let me know if there are products that you are looking for. Most of all: Have fun with the site, I hope it is helping you to “Love the House You’re In.”
I will close… first, with an apology – that with more readers emailing me, it’s getting harder and harder to respond promptly. I hope you understand. I may not get your photo on the blog for a couple of months – but know that I have it. Thank goodness for gmail’s infinite storage capacity.
…. And second, with gratitude for your continued readership and enthusiastic participation.
If you’re interested in starting a blog of your own, be sure to watch for an upcoming post with tips for home-bloggers based on my experience.
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- How to update the 1964 bathrooms at Amy and Gary’s house? How to update these two 1964 bathrooms in Sumac...
- xoxo to all time capsule hunters, retro recon detectives, and STPB ambassadors The New York Times story also spotlighted the efforts of...
- The Gonce House and their fabulous 1960s Bass sofa It seems like there are a lot of new...
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent job, Pam! I like the “fast & easy” links on the sidebar. I’ve used them a few times. Keep up the good work and congrats on doubling readership. I plan to be here for a while and this blog is one of my daily must-reads.
Pam, I can’t thank you enough for all of your dedication and hard work in creating this website. I live in a neighborhood that is entirely of mid-century built ranch homes, but apparently I’m the only one on my street that’s interested in preserving these homes. My friends that own these style homes are only interested in junking the old and putting in the new. Makes me want to cry a river of tears.
Whenever I send you “finds”, no worries about getting back to me. If you can use it, great; if not, no sweat!
I do wish more of the readers would use the forum area, so that we could exchange ideas more readily. Sometimes I need to ask a reader a question about a find or their home, whatever, and using the forum would help greatly.
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you, Pam!!!!!!!!!
Been meaning to comment since this weekend…your dedication and organization genes are showing, Pam! I’m a big fan of the blog, and you just keep making it better. Kudos to you for your hard work and your sense of fun!
And I agree with sablemable, we should take our discussions to the forum. Could it be featured more prominently to help that trend?