Products and ideas to remodel your mid century home in authentic vintage style
Your daily dose of midcentury remodeling resources…
home design inspiration… thrifty finds… and a generous
community of people passionate about their vintage and
postwar homes – “modern” and “modest” alike.
I'm Pam Kueber, your mid mod mad guide. Read more
Suzy is my graphic designer. She helps with things on the blog, like making Hallowe’en headers. This is her favorite salt and pepper shaker. It’s a MIB “Tiny T-V.” I don’t quite understand where the salt, or pepper, comes out. Suzy likes retro stuff and has other wacky habits. I like her a lot.
Wow, does anyone know about countertops like these? Becky recently bought a time capsule and her french provincial kitchen (I’d call it) includes these countertops. Reminds me of these Fritz floor tiles. Anyone work with this back in the day who knows? Kind of, an early-days version of Silestone or the other composite-quartz countertops sold [...]
For either kitchen or, especially, bathroom countertops, I believe that Carrara marble laminates are an authentic vintage choice. I blinded myself searching for them among the 8 retailers of laminate in the U.S. today. The number-one choice, I think, is going to be from Wilsonart — their White Carrara, shown above. Read on for some [...]
When folks move into new/old 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s or 1970s homes, it seems like one of the biggest and most common needs is to update materials in the kitchen that are on their last legs. In general, if you have a laminate countertop that is in good shape, I’d say: Keep it. Or [...]
UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate. Here is a third selection of boomerang laminates to consider for your retro kitchen renovation. Wilsonart has informed me that residential buyers can buy from this “Indie” line …. it is just a special order placed [...]
These are new from Formica. Both look like they could swing either “warm” or “cool” – that is, work across the spectrum from reds (and pinks) to blues. I really like the Linen – a very typical look for the 50s — Hey, Formica, can we have it in green, blue, pink and yellow?!: And, [...]
© 2012 Retro Renovation · Theme design: Phoenix Massey Studio · Powered by WordPress, Genesis, and WDS
Christine’s salt-n-pepper pink bathroom 
Open Thread: What makes for a good “niche” blog and a blog “community”? Salt Lake City, Jan. 20-21 
1937 Derby Lady’s Leg cocktail shaker by Shelton Silver Co. – Aly scores big at the Goodwill 
Become a fan
I have this salt and pepper shaker set. You turn the big “tuner” knob at the bottom of the set and the salt and pepper shakers rise up out of the television so that you can remove them and use them.
OMG! Is this Barbie size?!! I GOT to get one!!
Maryann
I saw the header, love the kitty, so cute! And even the spider for halloween even though I hate them, haha.
Adorable s&p!
I thought it was cute just by looking at it, but Missouri Michael’s description of the mechanics nearly made me faint from pure excitement! Man, that is sooooo cool!
“Wacky habits” are fun! : )
I love the Halloween cat header.
Glad you all are noticing the header. Hallowe’en is my favorite holiday. Surprise surprise: You get to dress up.
I second Missouri Michael. My grandmother had one of these and that’s exactly how it works. (And, hey, I’m also in Missouri!)
Wish I had a real TV like that one.
Thanks for explaining the technical aspects of that wonderful shaker, Michael. Perfect shaker to set out with your TV dinner! I love people with wacky habits.
I have one of these in my (um, overfurnished) midcentury dollhouse. The salt & pepper containers are tiny, hard to believe anyone ever used it for that purpose.
These are very common shakers…..WOWIE …..if you saw what other ones are out there you would be amazed!
Just got one of these from Ebay! I wasn’t sure what to do with it so I put it in a glass dome display thingy and placed it on my bookcase.
I agree–The cat and spider are a nice touch.