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
THE PARTY is only getting started here at Retro Renovation. I have a feeling that American design in 2010 is going to be even more retrograde-retrocrazed, than ever. Looking ahead to year #3 for the blog, I’d love to hear from you. What do you want to see more of… less of…? What are your favorite features? What are your biggest needs? How can the blog help you out with your projects, even more?
A few years ago I saw my first bathtub and shower surround tiled in with a “crazy quilt” of all different tiles, and it was love at first site. If you love color and pattern, heck, going crazy quilt means can have it all. Designer Amy Mescia — with her new company Oscar & Izzy – now [...]
My local Re-Store was offering some maple flooring from bowling alley – and some handy homeowner re-purposed it into the most excellent countertop. Isn’t it great?! …Right up there with the Teacups Chandelier we looked at a while ago. Related Posts Basement bowling alley in 1962 Michigan time capsule house for sale — heaven! What [...]
If you are looking for retro-style laminate for a kitchen or bathroom countertop, you have some blinding research ahead of you. Unless there is a home-run-out-of-the-park solution — like the boomerangs, crackle ice or dogbone still available — it’s going to be a hunt-peck-and-forage to find something that’s “close enough” to original laminates from the [...]
UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate. If you are planning Formica Boomerang countertop in aqua for your kitchen renovation, you’d better order now. Alas, if you were planning the skylark (light blue) or coral, it’s already too late. Following up on [...]
Reader Sarah successfully removed a layer of more modern laminate from her yummy gold-speckled mid-century laminate beneath. She wrote about her experience — and the products she used — on her blog, Sarahs’ Blue Castle. But before you jump over there, take a look at her note to me and my comments here first –> [...]
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I love your website! I would love to know more about how to bring worn objects back to life. I dont like the idea of replacing things that have a few scratches, but how can I mask the imperfections?
Honestly Pam, I really like the blog the way it is. You have such a variety of posts so we as readers never know what to expect, which I think is great! Of course, I always love to see you highlight readers’ homes and vintage finds — that’s probably my favorite type of post — and the more photos and details, the better.
I also like when you focus on one item (or type of item, manufacturer, designer, etc.) and provide all the information you’ve managed to find. I enjoy seeing items that you’ve found during your estate sale/thrift store/antique malls excursions too.
I look at many different blogs daily, most of which focus on mid-century modern. Your site, by far, is the most inclusive and has the largest number of followers, which leads to more and better information.
I’ve said it before, but I again want to emphasize, I appreciate the effort you and the other readers put into the information that is provided, and I also value the respect and manners that everyone adheres to on this blog. Thanks again, Pam!
I don’t know how you could improve on your blog, Pam. It is the most complete site for retro research I have yet to find. So, no complaints/corrections/additions from me!
Merry Christmas!
My biggest need is to find a house I can afford that has a tiki bar in the basement (or a wet bar I can turn into a tiki bar). Can you help with that? Otherwise, loving everything about the blog, keep doing what you’re doing.
I’m really hoping the mad men fever continues to push fashion along. I make a lot of my own clothing, but it would be nice to stock up on some professional wear during the craze. I think (and hope) re-issued or retro inspired small appliances are going to continue to be a big deal. I love my vornado and would purchase more products like that.
Stuff I’d like to see. The information monopoly on vintage stoves is frustrating. The internet which normally provides me with ample expertise for free has only turned up advice-for-hire sites on that topic.
I think this site is invaluable and Pam’s researching skills are so impressive. I tell friends about this site all the time. Maybe a safe “disclaimer-ed” space for readers to share advice or information. I understand the legal issues for Pam, but when DIY stuff sneaks through it’s consistently been some of the most valuable information on the site for me.
Gee… I would love to explore the various styles of furniture that were so popular, and truly mid-century modest (love that one, Pam!). There were all kinds of “revivals” of one kind or another. We could, I hope, talk a little about the many reliable manufacturers; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sheboygan, Wiss., various places in North Carolina, all (at that time) creating lovely, sturdy stuff. Paul Stuart’s designs for various furniture companies, and, my new favorite company called RWay, created contemporary, as well as frou-frou French, and are still relatively affordable now. But as the Scandinavian becomes less available and more expensive, people will start sniffing out quality furniture closer to home, so bargain hunters beware!. Now that our digital camera is back on the job, I can send along a couple of pics of my new (to me) RWay French Regency solid walnut dressers. This is the stuff I’d love to see more off. Oh yeah, and maybe a closer look at some of the other mid-century modest style houses. The Cape, Colonial, Spanish colonial, etc., etc. Whaddyah think?
I agree with Tailfin, Pam: the variety you provide on the site is one of its most engaging and useful aspects.
That said, MY favorite articles are those that focus on your readers’ own homes, both original and retro-remodeled. I also enjoy your articles on retro-styled currently available products of all kinds. And I like your educational articles: fabrics, style, architects, homestyles, lighting.
Thanks for these two fabulous years and keep up the great work!
Dear Pam,
I want to say what a wonderful find your website has been for me. It has been such an excellent resource for those hard to find items (the atomic starburst door knob back plate), rejuvenation ideas & historic data which helped make my projects much easier & the end results more satisfying.
My wish would be to educate more of the population on the retro treasures they may have under their own noses or own backyards before they head off to their nearest home inprovement store to “update” their homes.
I have always had a passion for “things of yesteryear” since I can remember before I even knew what “retro” meant. Your website has given credence to this love & great interest of mine. Keep up the great work & Happy Holidays!
Rob
Hi Pam,
I would love to see more photo’s of time capsule homes! I love seeing original tile work, wallpaper and architecture that hasn’t been touched. I know they are harder and harder to come by, but the images are so inspiring. Also, I love the 40′s…can more of that be inlcuded in the mix? Thanks so much for all your hard work!
Hi Pam, My husband and I just bought a 20′s home that we’re remodeling with retro/modern tastes. Bathroom with classic white hexagon tiles, clawfoot tub, and one of the lighting fixtures that you mentioned from Lowes. For our kitchen we found an amazing 60′s wedgewood stove and are doing the farmhouse(?) sink and the black with white speckles armstrong vinyl tile floor. We have the house gutted and even found an old 20′s milk bottle! How neat! Anyway, I’d love to see more pictures of rooms, including retro color combos and also decent places to buy vintage stuff. It’s so hard to find what you’re looking for most of the time. Anyway, thanks for your blog, it is incredibly helpful.
Pam, I love your website and the research you put into threads. I also love the photo’s that others share about their homes. It makes me feel like I’m in great company! We should all live on the same block..what fun we’d have! An idea I have would be to review homes on past tv shows. For example, I have discovered My Three Sons on a cable channel – I love watching the reruns, and now that I’m older I appreciate the style of the house more. I know there is a book about the tv show homes that had blueprints listed (I have that book somewhere in my house-must look it up for you).
We have looked at the retro detail of the Mad Men home-so we could just expand on that. (but please only MCM–no Designing
Women, Seinfield or Friends).
Like I said previously, I love your website – you make us all feel at home. Please stop by for coffee some morning, or a cocktail some evening
Pam,
I love this site, and I really appreciate all of the effort you put into it. I have it bookmarked, and I read it every day (sometimes several times a day). I really like most stuff the way it is, but I echo Jessica’s request to see some more stuff from the 1940s. It was such an interesting decade from a stylistic point of view, in that there was a lot going on. Art Deco was transitioning into Art Moderne and Modernism, but there was also a lot of interest in American Colonial architecture and furniture, thanks to the HABS work under the New Deal and the patriotism surrounding WWII.
To help contribute to this end, I have a large book on interior design published in the 1940s. It is full of great photographs (most in B+W, but some are in color), and I am sure many readers would get a kick out of it. The book covers everything you can imagine – all interior rooms, renovating furniture, remodeling ideas for kitchens, etc. I would be happy to scan some chapters out of it. Just let me know which topics you would like.
Thanks again.
I agree that the site is pretty perfect as is … I do enjoy reading stories of how others came to own and decorate their own homes and what new (retro) products can be used in older homes when updates to lighting, cabinetry, flooring, etc are needed. I get a lot of inspiration from your site Pam … and I also find myself looking at the decor in old sitcoms – your Bewitched link was a lot of fun in that respect .. so maybe a “what can we learn from the (xyz) sitcom set(s)”
I’d like to see a DIY section with tips and tricks for the do it yourselfer. Some of the tips on here have been really useful but are not located all in one place so they are hard to find.
Hmm, well it already is the best blog/site I think! This is my home page! I agree, I like the variety too, I love all the different styles.
I love seeing readers homes and old ads/pics of homes from the midcentury from mags and books, really gives me a sense of how they really did it.
And if I didn’t say this before, thank you for this site, and for telling us about the macy’s corona sofa, I got one in August and I am so happy with it, and would have never thought to look there, I wanted vintage so bad but was hard to find, and this sofa is perfect and as close as you can get!
I love your blog! I love hearing about shops or website where there are good finds for reproductions or originals. I also enjoying seeing time capsules. They are so inspirational!
This is a great website..I look at it every day. My problem is I keep clicking on all the interesting links..next thing I know an hour has passed! I enjoy discovering the name for the original countertop in my family home I bought (gold dust by GE), and wallpaper that used to be in the hallway, my square recessed lights in the ads, I keep turning corners and finding something new (or old depending on your point of view!). Like other readers, I like looking at what others have done with their houses. Keep up the good work Pam.
I’ll echo all the love, too! I especially like all the links to other retro blogs. Such a wide variety!
I found you too late to help me with my interior (except for fun accessories and such), but I’m struggling to decide what to do with my exterior now. You’ve had lots of sources for exterior products, so keep that up. Maybe something about mid-century landscaping would be fun.
If nothing changes, it’ll still be great!
This is my favorite website, I look at it everyday! When I bought my little ranch house I bought it because it was affordable. I was feeling kinda down cause I thought of it as a little box with no character. I was wrong! Thank-you for helping me see it through new eyes. I’m having fun decorating and don’t miss all the square feet I used to have to keep clean! Keep up the great work Pam!
I agree with all the other commentors…this is one of the best mid century resource blog/website that is out there. Thanks Pam!! One thing I would like to see highlighted in the new year is information/designs for mid century patios and landscaping. That is the next big item on our list of things to do and I want to do my ’56 house justice!!
Pam,
I, like everyone else, love your website and even though I personally would like to see more topics about how we can incorporate ACTUAL vintage appliances and electronics into our vintage style homes today on this site (I am a hard core retro hound) I must admit that you do an excellent job on this blog seeing as you have such a wide variety of vintage tastes to cater to, not to mention how much of your time this blog must consume. So I must agree with everyone else and say this is as near a perfect retro website as you will find on the net and it gets a 9.5 out of 10 from Pat’s Vintage-O-Tron Vintage Meter.
yes, more on the 40′s houses. 40′s – early 50′s is my fav. although I own a 65 ranch.
Great Site! I just purchased a 1955 GE hanging refrigerator for my mid century modest home.
This blog has been such a great help to me. It kept me company for the two months we spent in a teeny apartment waiting for the closing on our 1952 ranch. We are accidental mid-century modest living in a small town where many of the houses are 200+ years old. Munching on RetroRenovation has helped me learn to love a style and time period I previously new nothing about. I love how well organized the info is. It would be nice to see more on wood kitchens since that is what I have. I also find floorplans to be really helpful. I’d love to see more about landscaping (zone 4/5) and DIY anything.
Congratulations on your new (old) house, Cindy. You kinda sound like me when I bought my house. I had wanted a classic New England farmhouse (gasp! yes! I admit it!) But, the gods sent me this house instead — and it’s been a blast ever since! I look forward to seeing more of your house, and have noted your requests. I think I have several posts on wood kitchens, I think… I’ll have to group them up for you and others to ogle.