I first *met* Jon when he wrote to ask me about removing tile from a laminate countertop. Heck if I knew, but before I could even get around to answering, he emailed me back saying he’d done it already. He and wife Trixi also were onto de-layering the floor. In reality, their renovation so far has meant: Peeling off a circa-2005 update. Oh, and did I mention that Jon is hilarious? And that the pair is admittedly “obsessed”? Read on for more about their wackadoodle adventure to uncover the true blue (avocado green) bones of their 1962 kitchen …
I’ve strung together Jon’s emails — which came to me over the course of about 6 weeks — into this amusing and informative timeline:
Hello, Pam! [Hello, Jon!]
We’re currently doing a Retro Renovation of our kitchen. We’re peeling up the crappy, mid-00s vinyl flooring and restoring the glorious 1962 linoleum, and getting everything back to period specs. We just started, and your site has been an inspiration, a godsend for those of us with midcentury-era homes.
The problem is that our gorgeous vintage Formica countertops have been covered with a layer of granite tile with a “sandwich layer” of drywall that has been GROUTED TO THE FORMICA. I’m wondering if any of your readers have a good method for removing grout from Formica — I’m about ready to start chiseling away the tile, but the grouted drywall scares me — I don’t want to damage the Formica, if possible.
I did a pretty thorough scouring of the site and I don’t see anybody else talking about the same problem, so this might be a “new thing” for your site, but I bet with the popularity of ugly “greige” granite tile, we’re not the first people to run into this problem with their renovations!!
Hopefully you or someone on your site can advise! I will pose the question on the comments section there, and in the meantime I’m going to check out that citrus stripper mentioned. Thank you!!
Precautionary Pam writes back and reminds: Be sure to consult with professionals — you’ll want to know if there is any nasty asbestos or lead or whatever in whatever stuff you disturb. Jon replies:
Oh yes — we did some asking and all of this tiling was done in 2005, along with the vinyl floor we ripped up and all the bathroom “modernizing.” The realtors did it to try to sell the house, which was a foreclosure. All asbestos-containing material was abated at that time as well (some old tiles in the basement and upstairs, etc). So anything hazardous is thankfully all gone!
Good. So I ask, Jon and Trixi, what is “your Retro Renovation story.” Jon ponders and replies:
Well — the story is long and tangled, but to boil it down to essentials, I bought the house — a tiny 1962 ranch bungalow in Robbinsdale, MN — with my ex years ago as a fixer-upper in my old childhood neighborhood. The relationship didn’t last, but the house did — and when Trixi — is her name, is there a more retro name in the universe? — and I got married we kept saying “we’ve got to do SOMETHING with it.”
It’s a great little house in a neighborhood we both love, but we’ve always wished we had one of those mid-century flat-roof dream houses instead of our very modest mid-century modest. One weekend a couple months ago, we visited the home of our friend Jake Rudh. Jake is kind of our local mid-century expert, and he owns one of those gorgeous mid-century dream houses. He gave us the grand tour — it’s a time-capsule home in the best way. Original floors, original countertops, original everything.
The next day, my wife and I were lamenting about our own house, which had NOTHING original after a mid-00s “sell this house” remodel. I pointed out a little spot under the cabinets where the vinyl flooring was peeling. “Check this out,” I said. “Underneath this hideous vinyl flooring is the original laminate. Should I just yank this vinyl up a little?” And so I did, and so it began.
Once we started ripping up the floors, there was no stopping us. We stumbled across your website, and our little hobby became an obsession for both of us. Now we know everything there is to know about NuTone Food Centers and hudee rings and Dishmasters.
We’re about 1/3 into our remodel and we’re having a blast. We’ve gone from wishing we could move — to loving the house we’re in!! There’s a lotta work left — the cabinets need a total rehab, the walls need paper or paint, and we’re dying to find the rest of the avocado vintage appliances. But we’re determined!
Haha, this is my favorite line so far:
Should I just yank this vinyl up a little?” And so I did, and so it began.
Isn’t that ALWAYS how it begins? Before I get a report on the counters… I hear from Jon on the floors, too:
You can see the gorgeous linoleum, there, underneath the vinyl flooring. The ugly white vinyl was put in shortly before I moved there in 2005 by a realtor — he did a really shoddy job (didn’t even go all the way to the edge in places). He (thankfully) removed the previous layer of probably-asbestos-containing 70s vinyl flooring prior to laying this junk down — the linoleum, underneath a layer of flooring glue, is still clean and in great shape… You can see two layers of previous remodels. A horrible 70s remodel where they put in laminate cabinets and dark-orange tiles (there was a corner of one stuck to the formica) and then a newer “let’s sell this dog” remodel in 2005 that gave us those granite countertops and the new, white, plastic appliances. You can also see a roll of the original Formica I found in a closet in the basement — did a check, btw, with the Armstrong FAQ and it’s linoleum from 1962 and contains no asbestos. It’s like a NICE kitchen still exists under the layer of ugly remodel.
Hello, Pam! I sent you an email a month or so ago about our forthcoming kitchen retro-fication. We’re still proceeding apace — just wanted to shoot you an email showing you our FINALLY FINISHED floor! We stripped off all the ’05 vinyl flooring, and the old ’62 linoleum beneath looks magnificent.
Next step: countertops. We’ve been lucky that the realtor who sold us this (and did the remodel in ’05) did such a shoddy job — it’s been much easier to remove their work. The other interesting bit of news is that we noticed our tub was chipping a couple weeks ago. Being the person I am, I chipped away a bit more — and LO AND BEHOLD, underneath our white tub is a PINK TUB! I suspected we had a pink bathroom originally before the same ’05 remodel that got everything else, and I was right — I asked our next door neighbor, who’s been there since the late 60s, and she confirmed it, and was shocked to find all the pink had been removed!! So once we finish our kitchen, it’s onto the pink bathroom.
Yes, it’s coming back. We already found a pink sink at a salvage yard in the right shade, and noted (and you might want to note too somewhere!!) that Kohler *still has* a pink toilet in the correct shade of rose available! So we can get that retro look AND be environmentally conscious. And the paint on the tub from ’05 just comes off with paint stripper (we found a nice safe one with no fumes — no ventilation in there!) Anyway — once it’s all done (it’ll be a bit) we’ll send on photos, but I thought you’d get a kick outta those floors. What a pattern!
I finally started the daunting task of pulling up the ugly marble tile countertops. Everybody around me has been so overwhelmingly negative — I heard “Why would you want that ugly stuff?” about the Formica. I heard “there’s NO WAY you’re going to be able to pull that up yourself — you’ll need to call in the pros.” And most importantly and most often, I heard “there is no way you’re going to be able to save that old Formica.” But like lots of people on your site, I’m sure, I hate hearing “no you can’t” or “no you shouldn’t!” Enough people kept telling me it was an impossible task that last night, while waiting for my wife and daughter to get home, I started hacking away at it with the totally wrong tools — I don’t have a pry-bar (yet!!) so I just used a hammer and a Phillips screwdriver. And in ten minutes I managed to pull up half a tile and a bunch of the wonderboard. And apart from a few screw-holes (I’m already planning how to fill them and paint the pattern over the top — I can do it! I’m a designer by day) and a few minor nicks, the Formica underneath is STILL INTACT. And looking hot!
(OH — one last thing — if any of your Minneapolis readers are wanting a pink bathroom after the Pink Bathroom article in the Star Tribune a few weeks ago, point ‘em here: City Salvage. We went there to get our pink sink — and they’ve got like seven more where that came from, AND a pink toilet. It’s all in the basement — which is open, weirdly, despite being kind of creepy and dark. We got our sink for super-cheap — the guy is dying to get rid of that stuff. He also has, somewhere (I couldn’t find it, but he swears its there) old pink enameled METAL TILE — a whole box full. So if anyone’s wondering, point ‘em there!)
You get a good sense of what we still have to do — those laminate cupboards from the 70s were once blonde wood, like the kitchen you showed today. But we have a working vintage Frigidaire fridge — in Avocado!! Goal: all matching avocado appliances. We didn’t have our camera at the salvage yard! We haven’t bought it yet — waiting for this next pay period, but our plan is to head there on Saturday. The guy told me there wasn’t a lot of call for avocado sinks, so there wasn’t much risk of it selling before then. It had a hudee ring!! A little bent up on one corner but I have high hopes I can gently hammer it back.
Hey, Pam! So the first half of our countertop rehab went fine. Pic attached. Small screw holes — otherwise the laminate is in PERFECT condition.
The second half, though — there are TWO HOLES cut into the countertop. My wife and I spent half the day despairing — would we have to re-laminate? I cracked a hunk outta the laminate for one thing (it’s gonna take some gluing and patching), but these holes are daunting and we couldn’t figure out what went in ‘em. The left hole — it was the size of one sink section, but there was no drain attachment under the counter, nor any electrical. I finally figured out it was probably one of these here — a recessed cutting board! [Yes, Jon's tip led to my post - Pam] They make ‘em in EXACTLY the size we need to fill the hole, so even if it wasn’t, I’m getting one. I love the steel edge! Will match the avocado sink with a gloriously intact huddee ring we found at a salvage yard this weekend. The OTHER HOLE though — we knew it was something electrical, ’cause there was a capped-off electric cable underneath it. We agonized and agonized and searched and talked to the neighbor who vaguely remembered something “weird” being there, and realized what it once was — a NUTONE FOOD CENTER! Of course, we’re going to find one and put one back in there. How could we not??
The laminate on the backsplash is covered with a pretty daunting layer of thinset under those tiles — I haven’t found a decent method for removing thinset on the interwebs yet (apart from heavy sanding or chunking it away millimeter by millimeter with a chisel or something), but if I can figure something out, we’re game. Our fallback position is to find some subway tile or 1″ tile in a nice green tone or pattern that matches the rest of the kitchen.
Thanks again so much for your awesome site. If we hadn’t found it, I don’t know if we’d be this determined to do this, and do it right!! My goal is to build a ’63 kitchen SO AWESOME (well, and then a pink bathroom SO AWESOME) that you’ll wanna feature it on your front page. It’s what’s driving us!!! We’ll keep you updated. I do have to say — this is the most fun ever!
Thank you, Jon & Trixi. Yes: It’s all some fun, isn’t it. Hey, I have one question, though: Are you sure the floor and appliances are original to 1962? Reader Patrick did some research, which he shared with me, that indicates that GE did not introduce Avocado as a color until 1966. I am not super expert on dating colors and such, but if I had to guess, I’d say the floor and appliances came in the same time as your 1970s cabinets - although the Formica reads 1960s to me… In any case, I would definitely not change that floor and I love the avocado appliances. Fantastic job all the way around! Keep us apprised of how the Retro Renovation continues — and thank you for all your tips — I’ve been able to milk your emails for, like, five stories (two more yet to come).
I so agree…so many people say ” no you can’t” but we went ahead and did it anyway! Congratulations on having perseverance, it is looking great!
Whenever I hear “no, you can’t”, it just makes me that much more determined!!
Yes, for me, there is a definite “anti-authority” aspect to all of this. Tell me something is popular, and I will do the opposite just because. I repeat: We don’t know “what is beautiful” any better than our parents or grandparents did…
We actually dragged that avocado fridge in there ourselves! It just matched so well. We did find that green floor in your article about the 1962 linoleum catalog. The 70s kitchen had new white Spanish pattern asbestos laden tiles which thankfully were removed before we moved in. We found two of em hiding in a cupboard. All the other appliances are new!
Okay, John. I’d think it’s not linoleum, though, but vinyl sheet.
My last house was a 1967 ranch that had the same flooring in the kitchen, but it was very worn and beyond saving.
I’m confused. Was the laminate showing through on the side? Do remodelers normally put the granite over the existing countertop?
Patty…there were wood beams covering the countertop strata which I yanked off. but yeah, they do!
You guys are awesome, and your hard work is inspirational! Can’t wait to hear more and follow your progress. Keep us posted!
I’ve gotten the same treatment: “Why did you rip off your vinyl siding!”. Because I want the original siding that some nice cedar trees gave up for my home sometime in 1953! THAT’S WHY!
Also, peeling the kitchen vinyl – I can relate. My bath was remodeled in 1980 and looked like a 1980 hotel bathroom with gold anodized shower doors with thin-thick-thin brown lines to hide your goodies while showering. There was a nasty country-esque wallpaper border in there that had a peeled corner.
The next thing I know, my bath is gutted to the studs and subfloor! LOL! The tile is coming for the tub soon. Coral w/1/2″ black liner tile, and an Armstrong black VCT floor (that will be sealed to combat moisture).
If it lasts, great! If not, it will be easy to get up if and when I can afford a mosaic tile floor!
Good job, man! Keep it up.
Please be sure to RENOVATE SAFE, everyone! Before you go a-peelin’ get you materials checked by an expert for asbestos and lead and any other vintage nastiness!
The photo of your Formica gave me a blast from the past. I’d love to know the name of that pattern as I’ve seen it only once before – in the house my parents built in 1964. The kitchen of that house had the same flooring, but in all beige tones, with coppertone appliances. Memories!
Your place is looking great. Your hard work is paying off in spades.
I’d love to know the name of that pattern too! I really like it. It’s far more “60s Country Kitchen” than space age atomic, but I find myself really liking it.
Honestly, green wasn’t the color I woulda picked to remodel this thing, but the deeper into it I get, the more I really love it. I think we’ve settled on a tomato red for an accent color. I know it sounds odd, but I think it’ll look fantastic!!
The green is wonderful, Jon. Red will be a perfect accent, just wait and see. Many of my vintage decorating books from the mid-’50′s show red and green used together very effectively My personal first choice for an accent color would be orange. I adore orange and would pair it with any color scheme.
Can’t wait to see the photos from your finished job. (Not that anything ever really gets finished!)
I love this article on your progress, and I can attest to the glory of that floor in person! It’s dreamy. I can’t wait for blonde wood on your cabinets and tomato red accents. I’m already searching for the perfect retro breadbox for a kitchen-warming present!
Awesome job, I Love that floor!
Notice also, that this is the first time I’ve ever used the word *ugly* in a headline. I only did it because the remodel was by a real estate agent trying to flip the house in the cheapest way possible. While that gets an *ugly*, I would never use that word if it were *real* homeowners.
Pam, this is why we love you
xoxo right back at ya
This story has finally given me the impetus to chisel up the awful Home Depot Cheap Beige ceramic squares laid down over the lovely old blue and white mosaic tile on our bathroom floor.
I have a question about the (AWESOME) kitchen floor. Jon calls it linoleum, but isn’t it synthetic? Like Armstrong Congoleum or something, from the 70s? I LOVE that stuff and dream of finding a roll for my own kitchen.
Great work has been done here. Long live avocado!
(I like a little hot pink with my avocado, how about you?)
Just a brief note from a retro fan(age-wise). I inherited my childhood home in Memphis. We live here now. I stupidly let my husband redo the kitchen, but that’s a story for another time. When I saw the floor, I had mixed cry/scream and laugh hysterically. Underneath the new solid red commercial tile floor is that exact floor that was a Christmas present to my parents in about 1967. I can’t remember what was down before that. The house was built in 1948. Thank you for loving it still. If my husband wouldn’t leave, I’d see if he could take up the red and we could revert back to the green.
Oh, yes, and the formica we replaced with solid red was the white with gold glitter. I’m mixed on whether I’d like that back. Maybe some nice atomic.
This post makes me happy
LOVE that counter pattern!!
Sadly, that is exactly the floor we had in our kitchen until the floor cleaning company we had come in before we moved in ruined it by stripping ALL of the color off…we now have a paper-like beige floor with just a faint pattern and no color at all. It would have been so pretty, as I can see now in the photos above!
Thanks Jon & Trixi for giving the rest of us the “gee, my remodel isn’t nearly as complicated after all” feeling! Way to go! I’m feeling pretty inspired. Right now the only thing standing between me and a new “old” kitchen is moving all my living room furniture (and collectibles) out of the house since part of my living room will be the new kitchen. At some point, I think I could be found guilty of “over-collecting”. It sure is a pain when you have to pack it all up. On the other hand, once the remodeling is done, it will be like Christmas when I get to finally unpack everything again.
My parents had that Armstrong floor in our kitchen / breakfast nook / utility / rec room (lots and lots of it!), but in the brick red color way. It is sheet vinyl, but the particles that create the color is actually inlaid which gives it lots of depth. You can still buy inlaid vinyl (for a big price), but not in the wonderful patterns that it used to come in, such as this wonderful brick pattern. That stuff will wear like iron, and stay looking great even when it isn’t covered up by tile, LOL.
Congrats – you are well on your way to true authentic retro-ness!
Tami
What a great homeowner! Jon and Trixi- You go for it! My 1948 house’s kitchen has been remodeled, quite horribly, in the mid ’00 too. But I still have the original Red and beige bathroom mosaic tile. I love it! When we finally get the scrilla to re-do the kitchen I plan on trying to bring it back to it 1940′s glory days.
Hi Pam & Jon (and Trixi)! We loved the story and the pics of the kitchen renovation! The green linoleum floor is beautiful! And since it’s linoleum, you know it’s “green” in more than just the color. Thanks for sharing!
Kim with Armstrong Flooring
But Kim, it’s vinyl, isn’t it????
I agree, that floor seems to be vinyl, and not linoleum. We have a floor like that underneath our current floor, but it is covered in awful glue. And, I’m certain it’s sheet vinyl, which isn’t really a green material. Except of course, it is “green” that you are keeping this floor and not replacing it with yet another floor.
yes, keep what you have already = #1 rule of green (barring enviro or safety issues, of course)
Diana- Was that your kitchen that was featured previously with the fab table and new Marmoleum floor? I saw that you are in Mt Lebo and almost fell over. I am from Lebo too. I would love to chat more if you are interested! My e-mail is mjpuzausky@aol.com. I love what you did with your kitchen. I just started a kitchen un-do in my new house. How fun to have a kindred spirit close by!
Julie
Hi Pam!
You are right! I double-checked with our Customer Service team and got a history lesson: originally the term “linoleum” was used to describe almost all sheet floors, regardless of the actual structure. Our team recognized Jon and Trixi’s floor was, in fact, a vinyl floor. Today, vinyl and linoleum are two different products – and genuine linoleum has more green benefits. Thanks for pointing out that the floor was, in fact, vinyl!
Kim with Armstrong Flooring
Ah ha!! That does explain it. It does have to be that inlaid vinyl, though, cause the color goes all the way through the stuff!! It really came back to life, btw, with a coat of commercial wax. It looks amazing. Thanks, Armstrong!!
Hi Jon!
You’re welcome – and my thanks to Pam for prompting me to dig deeper! Btw, our Customer Service team told me that your floor does appear to be inlaid sheet vinyl. This structure was very popular, and a durable form of residential sheet vinyl.
Kim with Armstrong Flooring
My grandmother’s house was built in 1963 and her original floor (which I saw every few years growing up when she’d replace the vinyl floors) was that exact same pattern. I think hers was pinky, though. She had all pink appliances when they moved in, and she hated them (what was wrong with her!). She replaced them with lovely coppertone appliances that survived into the eighties. I’m kind of digging coppertone stuff right now myself.
Thank you Jon and Pam! Considering the way other “updates” were done to our house I’m convinced the current nasty vinyl flooring in the kitchen is covering the original flooring. I’ve been trying to convince my husband to pull up the floor and find the treasure underneath, but he’s been hesitant. This post convinced him. Yay!
Renovate safe – get stuff tested for vintage nasties like lead and asbestos before messing with it. I’ll stop now on this post.
I love this story!!
Good job! I look forward to pictures when you’re done.
If there’s a will, there’s a way! I’m loving your “stick-to-it-tivity”…and impressed with your results thus far…Go For It!!!
What an inspiring article, from John and Trixi’s growing love and appreciation of their mid-century modest home’s original finishes, to their resourcefulness and pay-as-you-go thriftiness. I just adore reading these real-life home stories and can’t wait to hear more as Pam reveals the material from John she still plans to post!
John, you and Trixie get my vote for retro-renovators of the year!!!!
Awesome how you figured out how to fill up those holes and keep your countertop project on track! WAY!
OK,now I am really getting revved. The house we are buying was built in 1963, and I am positive the kitchen is original. The floor linoleum is shot, unfortunately but the countertops and cupboards are in good shape. The appliances are newish white ones. I am sure the originals were white also. The cupboards are a bluish white with an aqua glazelike coating over it. The countertops are white with a very pale aqua dot-circle pattern. DH HATES the cupboards and countertops, so we shall see what happens. Maybe once I get the decor to pop a bit, he will mellow out. The stainless steel sink is original and awesome, THREE bowls, two nice big square ones and a shallow smaller one in the middle, for the disposal. Back of the stove is silver foil wallpaper with aqua and gray bubble pattern. We do have to replace the flooring. Not only is it sadly discolored and buckled, I hate the cream and blue grid with flowers pattern. I will try and get some good pix when I get in on Friday. Can’t wait to get in on the fun!
congrat, Elain!
So awesome! I love the sheer determination and “Oh yes, we will!” attitude! I love the floor and counter top pattern too….and am super stoked about the avocado appliances! Three cheers for that pink bathroom too! : D
You’re so lucky that the people who installed the granite tile did not do it correctly. Normally the Formica/laminate is sanded to create a gripping surface for adhesive, and that means even if you can get the tile/backer board off, the laminate underneath is ruined. Not sure why they used drywall under the tile–wrong choice for a wet environment. Try a wide putty knife for prying up the tile and drywall. You’ll be more leverage, and you’ll be less likely to damage the Formica underneath. FYI, my parents had this floor pattern in their house, in a brown/copper. House was built in 1964.
Were lucky they didn’t do anything correctly! Their corner cutting is our boon. They were also supposed to rough up the porcelain on the tub before reglazing, and they didn’t! They should have removed the chrome details on the countertop before tiling over it, or the edging on the flooring. But they didn’t! Everything is still intact.
Great job, Jon! Keep up the good work. I love to tell people that I’m planning my kitchen un-do color scheme around my avocado appliances. Oh the looks I get!
What an inspiring story!
I agree with everyone else who says that’s vinyl flooring. I remember it from a house we lived in as a teenager. Ours was orange, but same pattern and it was definitely vinyl not linoleum.
So glad to see someone keeping the avacado green.
I have an avacado green range that I just love and keep because even though it doesn’t go with my kitchen, it works better than the new and it’s just so fun and retro.
I am *green* with envy over the floor!
I had that same style Armstrong floor in red in my last house. I loved that floor. You are lucky to have it. Congratulations on your courage and determination!
I must be getting old from my many years of dealing with vintage and antique brick a brack and homes, but the avocado green kitchen crosses the threshold of retro and into utterly bad taste. That time period was one of the worst in the history of interior design (number one being the late 1960′s-1970′s spanish inquisition look). Dark wood cabinets, avocado green linoleum and matching appliances. It’s excruciatingly hard to sell a home in that condition, hence the realtor making some cheap repairs to make it look more appealing to the sheeplike masses. I would assume you plan to spend the rest of your life in that house, because the next prospective buyer will rip every inch of that stuff out and burn it in a large pile in the backyard.
What makes me ill is that in another 10 years, hipster kids will be restoring homes to their “1980′s” glory, putting in original gold shower doors, sectional mirrors and those wooden couches with the western prints on them.
God help us all….
hey lloyd, the #1 commenting rule (after the legal ones) is “no one can be made to feel bad for their design decisions.” but, I approved your comment because I recognize that this period of the 60s/70s is still hard for lots of us to take. I actually love the era — props to folks who go for Big Style! And I disagree with you that the excesses of this era were necessarily near the top of the worst. In fact, isn’t it “the excess” that always does a design style in? Put a Bird on It.
This is an interesting discussion. To me, buildings themselves have very strong personalities (needs?). I can happily imagine the future young hipsters restoring an 80s bath as described by Lloyd into a house that was designed and built in the 1980s. (And I confess that I admire avocado appliances mightily in their native habitat.) What I have a little trouble with is the occasional story about a house like the “1980 Tudor…sadly neglected,” whose owners gleefully installed a 1950s kitchen. The 87 comments uniformly praised this admittedly beautiful kitchen. I sensed that no one else’s heart was bleeding. (Maybe it’s just that 1980 does not yet have gravitas…)
Please: No one can be made to feel bad for their design decisions. Everyone here is doing this out of great love for their homes. Carrie’s 1980s Tudor was a total wreck. She had a vision that fit her and her family and went after it — in a very affordable and environmentally friendly way, too. Good for her. Now with that, I will never ever say a word about greige again, okay?
My Tudor started it’s life as a cabin in the 50′s or 60′s according to my neighbors. It was added on to over and over in a completely random way. They finally pulled a building permit in 1980, thus the “official” birthday of my house. Two of the outside walls are “tudor” with broken brick and stucco. The other outside wall is T1-11 and concrete block. The other outside wall is T1-11, concrete block, purple rock, orange brick, grey stucco and shingles. It looks horrendous. The roof had so many holes that it was raining in several rooms when we bought it. The township was sure that we should just tear it down. There is only one room in the house that was even made to look Tudor. The “80′s” kitchen had black mold, the tile floor was cracked everywhere because there was no proper subfloor, the ceiling had fallen in the one end because of the leaky roof, and the windows were broke out and it lacked plumbing due to someone breaking in and stealing it. Sorry, this “80′s kitchen” could not be saved. The problem was there was nothing to save! There was NO quality workmanship, no quality materials in the kitchen. I have restored several houses to period authentic accuracy, but I sold those. This is MY house, and I plan on staying here a long time. I grew up next door, and I know most everyone in my neighborhood. I guess I could have gone with a new “80′s kitchen” but I instead chose what I love, because I live here.
Yes, I am SO sorry to imply that you made a questionable choice–bad choice of words on my part and of course you should have exactly the house you want. (I should not try to compose a comment after four hours of shoveling…) And your kitchen is fantastically beautiful and looks really FUNCTIONAL as well (which is kind of the real triumph for kitchens). I was just trying to say that I hoped a house of the 80s would have its say as well. But it doesn’t sound like your house IS that house–it doesn’t really sound like it was a house of any particular personality or design theme underneath, unless going back to its original mid-century origins. In fact it sounds like you were very sensitive to the building in your choices–which makes your beautiful kitchen even more impressive.
Thanks for your note and clarification, Theresa. We didn’t want to seem to dump on you either!
xoxo
I also meant to say: Yes: “Avocado appliances … in their natural habitat.” Tee hee.
No problem, Teresa. I spent a lot of time figuring what to do with the house, it was such a mess. Not really a Tudor, not modern, not a farmhouse, not Victorian, it just felt sad and neglected, but as we have worked on it, the house feels cheerful. I agree, houses really do have a personality. This one felt like a stray mixed breed dog, and we adopted it, fed it, play with it, and lavish love and attention on it. Now it feels hopeful and happy!
HA! Love the Portlandia reference!
Lloyd, you cracked me up with the gold shower doors and sectional mirrors. Ha! Ha!
Personally, I have a real soft spot for this great 60′s floor; I would DIE to have one. We had it when I was a kid, it was gleamy and indescribably microtextural in person. It was a glorious florious floor.
There are plenty of us who have always loved 60s and 70s style, but you know, I don’t know ANYONE who loved the 80s. So hopefully it will just get skipped.
I can’t really remember much about what was popular in the 80s — as I like to say, I was “man hunting” that decade. But whatever “the best of” there was — will be back. It just ALWAYS HAPPENS.
Yeah! I mean, the main thrust of this site has always been “love the home you’re in.” Not just “love the home you’re in if it’s from a cool decade that’s currently en vogue.” Personally, I’ve always loved 60s design as much as I’ve loved mid-century, and our design philosophy has been to take everything from that decade as fair game. I love how that decade took the modernity of the late 50s and mixed in faux-regency and country elements — it was more eclectic but still modern in its own way, and ultra-hip.
That said: no hipster kids are we, we’re both old enough to have grown up in the 70s, so we have fondness for the colors and feels of THAT decade, too. I mean — are avocado, harvest gold or burnt orange BAD COLORS? Or is the loathing for these colors just due to association with a decade considered bad taste? Frankly, having grown up in a harvest gold kitchen, I’ve always loved all three colors.
And yeah, I bet Pam’s right — everything comes around, and fondness for 80s design will come again. Just wait for those Miami Vice colors to be hip!
The more I do this blog the more I just want a “hippie house” that is a huge mashup of it all! ALL OF IT!
Have you read “Interior Desecrations” by James Lileks? If not, I recommend it highly!! It’s a whole book poking fun at 70s design…but it also works as a style manual!! It’s hilarious. You’d love it.
That’s what we always try to have, a hippie mashup. We have gotten a lot more conservative in our later years, but we have mixed 30s, 60s and 70s furniture that has been in the family all along with newer things. I have always hankered after that wooden framed furniture upholstered in western themed fabrics, and still have never gotten any of it. Could there be some in my future? Hanker hanker hanker…
My new house has mid-60s upholstered furniture in avocado stripe that I am going to slipcover in a tie-dye surfer theme, as western isn’t right for that house near the beach. Surf’s up!
Same here, Pamorama. I’m going for the “Googie-Eames-Partridge Family” look, myself.
I grew up in a Spanish Inquisition style house. I still have the giant plastic fake wood portrait of a Spanish conquistador. We had swords, dark red and black interior, with lots of wrought iron on everything, including the windows. LOL no wonder I am crazy!
My friend Marc’s folks had a time-capsule Conquistador living room until just a few years ago. I was always so jealous — I actually love that stuff. It’s the next thing after Tiki to become hip, I promise you.
Wow! I am amazed the previous owner just went right over the top! Even more amazing is that you can get off the ugly layer without ruining the treasure beneath! Oh, how I’d love to find something this cool when we tear up the vinyl flooring in our kitchen! I’ve tried to peek a little under the refrigerator area, but I saw plywood. I’m guessing my chances of finding cool floor under the plywood is minimal, right? Have fun! It’s off to a GREAT start!
Jon and Trixi, I love what you’re doing! The fact that so many here have fond memories of your floor (we had the red version in our first house) guarantees you will too. Your countertops are cool, and I’m hoping the retro decorating gods smile kindly on you in your search for the remaining appliances!
The more I live in my mid-century home with its cabinets, tiles, and other fixtures, the more I appreciate the era for its trades people and their craftsmanship.
Keep up the great work peeling back the true history of the house. The real estate agent who owned my house ripped out the original kitchen replaced it with granite plastic and chipwood. Which I am slowly gutting out nothing original left there. But luckily he was to lazy and cheap to do a proper effort on the bathroom and loungeroom this made restoring them a lot easier.
In regards to Lloyd’s comments you have to remember that my father’s generation generally considers the 50′s and 60′s junk instead they prefer either totally modern or art deco from their younger days. Those who grew up in the 80-90′s will have a fond spot for that era.
As I am also interested in fixing up old 50-60′s cars as well I see the same thing happening in this hobby the model T restorers are dying off and some 80′s cars are know getting restored by my younger friends.
To each their own I say. I think it is in the back of all our minds when eventually we sell or die that things will get destroyed. For example my house is on a huge block with views 96% chance it will get bulldozed subdivided and Macmansions built on it until then it is my little slice of paradise.
Jon and Trixi,
If you can’t find appliances that match, you might want to talk to someone at a hot rod shop. They will often do custom painting. We had a rockabilly hot rod guy repaint our 1956 refrigerator. He picked it up, dropped it off, and did fixed a rusted spot and a dent/scratch for about $400. It looks like it is brand new now.
I love this post! I heard someone say the other day that maybe pastel pink or blue bathrooms are fun but that she was pretty sure that “no one wants avocado green!”. LOL!!! If I felt like stirring up a little trouble, I ought to send a link back to this post.
Stir stir stir, Gabbie. Send this one, too: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/12/03/mitchell-and-webb-avocado-bathroom/
MORE PIX from Jon & Trixi as you go! Yay!!!!
I’m late to the party, but that counter laminate was (is) in my parents home built in 1968. I remember wiping off the Formica inked label when we moved in ( the house was built on the empty lot next to our 1920′s house). We had bronze Hotpoint appliances and maple cabinets in a medium finish with bronze hammered handles. Forgot what the original vinyl floor was. AND a few posts above, there was a mural on one wall.
Hey there Pam!
I have a bit of a “rant” that has been festering for quite some time. Possibly you won’t want this comment posted.
Been lurking for years. I really commend you on all the work you do to come up with these resources and keep things updated, etc. It’s got to be a tremendous committment.
Now for my festering rant: I noticed that this post got an unusually large amount of responses – I’m wondering if it is because of the avocado. It’s been my experience that avocado tends to be one of the first things people mention when they make fun of or shudder at 1970s design. I’ve never understood why – it’s just another color.
I also wonder why it appears to be okay to talk about bad/ugly/hideous remodels from anywhere in the 1980s through now. Isn’t that just as disrespectful as using those same negative terms for 1950s and 1960s design? Really, are the burgundy/hunter green or navy/cream combos any better or worse than green/gold or aqua/pink? They are just something that decorators and merchants came up with to get people to feel as if whatever they already had was outdated and no longer stylish. We see it happen every 7 to 10 years, right?
Also, why are some things considered classier than others? For instance, almost everyone denigrates shiny or polished brass. Because of course antique or brushed is better taste, right?. Also, Lloyd said avocado is considered “bad taste”. Why? Who makes these decisions?
I guess I just have an issue with the opinion that some things are considered classier and more acceptable than others simply because a lot of “design experts” say so. Why does most of society let these “experts” tell them what they should like instead of just admitting what they truly like? I think for me this kind of follows what was echoed in a few of the comments above in that I tend to rebel against what I SHOULD or MUST like.
There are things I don’t like about almost any era of design, but I don’t automatically consider them ugly or tacky – they just aren’t what I like. For example, there is nothing wrong with black or black glass appliances, I just wouldn’t want to have them in my kitchen simply because I don’t like the color black in such large amounts. But I’m not going to look down my nose or sneer at people who have them. If it’s what they like, good for them.
I applaud your edict about not making people feel bad for their design choices, but I think it still happens is a sneaky way. The people who post here aren’t made to feel bad, but a lot of these very same posters make plenty of snarky comments about the design choices of previous owners. This is considered OK? Unless they were decorating simply to be able to sell the home (which happens, I know), the chances are these previous owners liked what they did to the home and considered it attractive. Their taste is not any better or worse than ours, just different.
I could go on and on (and on and on and on….) but this post has gotten to sound as if I don’t like a lot of the people who post here, and that simply isn’t true. It just bothers me that some eras gett A LOT MORE respect than others and it is apparantly okay to be disdainful of anything from the last 30 years.
In case any of you are wondering, no I don’t have a special affinity for the 80s, 90s or 2000s. As you can tell by name screen name, I live in a mobile home, which is a whole other dimension of design choices, let me tell you. I simply feel that ALL eras should get the same respect.
By the way, I DO have a sense of humor. I am rarely this serious, but I had to get this out.
Thanks for reading my rant. It’s 1:49 a.m. and way past my bed time.
hi mobile home dud, i really appreciate your taking the time to comment. it’s funny, but i actually woke up with a though along these same lines only from a different direction (i’ll post/explain later)…. anyway….i have a bunch of meetings this morning so can’t write a long response right now. i will come back late today. suffice to say: i think you make very, very valid points. this will be a fun and gratifying topic to explore. thank you.
Interesting. I have also had a rant building inside me (which I will not share here) based around a friend’s assertion that every person is beautiful, This, while technically true from a cosmic standpoint, does not mean that every person’s arm should be modelling jewelry on EBay in an extreme close-up.
The idea that everything is equally awesome is, I think, false. I don’t need a designer to tell me what I think is elegant, or beautiful, and frankly some color combinations are more exciting to us because of how our eyes see colour.
Orange and green together will always provoke more of a neuroresponse than beige carpet with brown chairs, because of how we are hardwired. The use of contrasting colours actually wakes up our brain, chemically. And a handforged iron bed will always be intrinsically more awesome in every way than a cheap, screwed-together shiny brass bed from China.
It is certainly more Zen and more politically correct to say that every arm is lovely, and every colour combination is equally delightful, but in actual point of fact, that is not true.
I can accept what you say about taste, but politeness, and an allowance for different personal aesthetics, does not in fact extrapolate to the idea that everything is ACTUALLY as good as every other thing.
I adore mobile homes, if they are vintage. Because part of the beauty of earlier eras lies in how well made things are. And my personal revulsion to the 80s and 90s stuff goes far beyond dull colours that do not engage all of my neurons, and into the decline of crafsmanship.
Older stuff is simply… better. On the whole, everything was well made and crafted with an eye to line; is it wrong to prefer this overall aesthetic of quality over the tickytack crap that we have been inundated with since the early 80s?
Personally, I always get annoyed when I get the “Everything is equally awesome and beautiful” lecture, but I know that society has agreed that we have to say it to each other every fifteen minutes.
Everything is not made of equal amounts of awesome, no matter how many times we say it is.
I really think it is all relative. Maybe some people want “calm” not “exciting” – but that is not “beauty” or “better” or “worse.” That said: I tend also to believe what Malcolm Gladwell said about 10,000 hours of “hard work experience” making you better at something. When I took my collage class last year, the women who I would consider true artists made little pieces of crap look gorgeous in about 15 minutes. I worked an hour and my artwork was a mess. This is my own critique; they were very kind and encouraging; it was a very positive joyful experience. Oh: My artwork was still “art” btw, because that is what I was aiming for. Anyway: My main point is that here on this blog: I don’t want to have a place where we criticize or even “critique” others for where they “went wrong.” Especially email-type environments, that immediately goes bad — words come out wrong. This is probably coming out *wrong*. I believe the Buddha said, essentially: Stop focusing on what others are doing *wrong*. Work on our own self. He also said, essentially: Everyone is doing their best, given where they are at their point in life. Be the change you want to see in the world — we will never get anywhere “ranting” at people. I want to do it all the time, I assure you, and I “slip” — e.g: Greige. But it onlly makes me feel … self-righteous, I think. I doesn’t change the mind of anyone who likes the look. It only makes them turn off to me.
I believe Trailer Dude was right in that we should not call things from the past 30 years “hideous.” What kind of word is that? That’s a fighting word. Can we be more specific, please, and dispense with the judgment. She says, being judgmental.
Haha, here we go!
And I greatly apologize for the lengthy comment. I’ll just keep quiet, and gaze out the window, at my neighbor’s white plastic fence, sagging and shiny, relic of the ’00s.
ha! I long commented back! I have to go to work-work now, though!
I guess my simple question to you is this:
Is my neighbor’s white plastic saggy cheap fence really just as awesome as the nice, straight, mellow, solid, well-made wood fence right next to it? Is it really just a matter of taste?
The white vinyl fence was chosen because it offered a benefit that was valued by the homeowner: Likely: No required maintenance, at a price they considered affordable. I can understand that. I may or may not have other values that are different, but I understand their choice.
I agree with you Pam, I did the same thing, made choices in my kitchen remodel based on whether I could afford it, rather that lasting quality.
Your comment about liking vintage mobile homes made me smile.
A few years back, my brother bought a 1974 mobile home. It had not been remodeled.
I fell in love with it! It is a 70s modern.
I wish I could get some pictures, but I’m not nearby. I am posting to reassert the notion that, just because it’s a mobile home, doesn’t mean it can’t be as charming as a bug’s ear.
I think it is a matter of quality and durability.. The plastic fence is not lasting well right now, and won’t last very long. Just like my “80′s” kitchen…it was such bad quality to start with, and abused, that even 30 short years later it had to be gutted. I am sure out in some millionaire’s house somewhere, that another “80′s” kitchen is gorgeous and high quality, and will look good even years from now because it is being taken care of. Color combinations are subjective to opinion, just as physical beauty or lack of is.
In every generation there is truly high quality workmanship in say, furniture. These items will last, and 50 years from now people will think that was representative of the era, when really it just is that it was good quality to start with. All the bad quality stuff will have fallen apart and no longer exists. The durability of the material is important too. Even wood and metal can deteriorate over time, but glass sure lasts well, as long as it does not get broken. My cheap particle board end table will have disintegrated by the time I am 90, and my really nice Stickley solid wood end table with the leaded glass will probably still look gorgeous. My great grandkids will say…wow, look how they made it in the old days. When really there is cheap junk in every generation, ha ha, but time erases most of what the masses owned, and the higher end stuff endures. Castles may be crumbling, but are still seen. The houses of the peasants are long gone. I really doubt my stick built house will hold up a few hundred years either.
I can respect the fact that even a house, or a pencil! can outlive me. It is sobering to reflect that an inanimate object can outlast a human being. That is why when a person does leave something behind, like a great work of art, or literature, or a cathedral, that we can almost universally appreciate its beauty and skill that went into it, because it endured…even if we don’t agree with it, or like the color!
Perhaps choices stem from who you are, where you are (personally and geographically), and what you’re able to do about it.
Also, perhaps, how thick your skin is……..in the world of granite and greige (no disrespect intended), I can’t expect everyone to love my huge, turquoise, bowling pin-shaped lamps. No, these lamps are not in any way beautiful or finely crafted, but they do give me much joy.
Personally, I think that’s what it’s all about.
I have to thank Mobile Home Dude for reminding me of a mobile home my family owned as a vacation home when I was little. We bought it in 1964. It was a blond wood, white-with-gold-flecks-laminate, atomic dream home furnished with the original furniture.
Thanks.
awesome awesome awesome!!!
Jon, Trixi, save this pink bathroom in nordeast! As a fellow metro dweller and lover of all things vintage, save this bathoom!
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/zip/2253045795.html
I tried!! But someone beat me to it!!
Congratulations Jon & Trixi on your retro renovation job & great determination! I am going to send Pam an email & include some photos of my kitchen which has the same exact Formica counter top that you discovered in your kitchen.
What I know about this Formica is that it was installed in our home with a remodel job in 1965. Wish we had a neat floor like you do but maybe down the road we will tackle that job. We also have a small drop table with a matching formica top which we use in the basement for a laundry table. It has held up extremely well both in the kitchen & on the table top. I found your story fascinating & will enjoy your follow-up news on the progression of your work.
Have fun!!!
FOUND!!!! Matching table for your countertops!
I posted this on the “Great Stuff in St. Louis” forum, and Pam suggested I put it here, so below is a copy of my post.
http://retrorenovation.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=6569
WOAH! Fantastic find, weed30!
Hey all. SO sorry to be late to the game here.
I just want to say a giant ‘THANK YOU’ to Pam for sharing our story (thus far), and another BIG UN’ to the Retro-ites here for your enthusiasm & support.
We’ve slowed down a bit over the last two weekends. We’re waiting on our new cutting board as well as some sink clips so we can get that avocado gem of a double sink w/hudee installed. Also – ‘Operation Backsplash’ is heavy in it’s tedium. Jonny has taken to chipping at the greige tile, and scraping away the mess underneath during every pause in our usual routine. He has managed to uncover about 1/6 of the original laminate backsplash with only a minor ding or swear word peppered in here and there (even as I type, I hear a surly grumble coming from the kitchen). Today, I’m finishing the stripping the bathtub of it’s horrific reglazing job circa 2005 (pink shall live again!). Our retro-reno marriage survival skills sometimes requires working in separate rooms (*as yet another grumble issues forth from the kitchen*).
We’ll keep you posted
xo
Trixi
tee hee, trixi, your comment reminds me of this reader open thread from a ways back: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/02/28/open-thread-does-your-significant-other-share-your-retro-pursuits/
Just don’ get in a hurry, The green will show up. I snaged a refrigator from Habatac store one Saturday afternoon about three weeks ago. It had just came in that very day.
love the Formica counter!
I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get the linoleum shown in the photos. We had the same pattern but brown in my kitchen when I was a kid and I would love to get my hands on some. Anyone know who makes it or where it can be found?
Hi Jonathan, that style is not sold anymore. Your only hope is to find New Old Stock somewhere. See my Kitchens: Flooring category for retro style flooring alternatives on the market today. Good luck.
i have a whole bathroom of the pink metal tile i am trying to sell does anyone know of someone who is looking for it
Put it on craigslist, dustin.
Hi All,
Really excited to read this entire thread – very encouraging. I’m restoring a 1958 Ranch in Midtown Tulsa – 1 owner who did “zero” remodeling, so we feel like we found a jewel. The kitchen, breakfast, utility room has the same green/tan “brick” pattern flooring, but it’s in rough shape (amazed that it lasted 50+ years!!). I would be ecstatic if we could find this same stuff … any ideas out there??
Thank you so much,
Steve in MidTown Tulsa
Steve, see my category Kitchens/Flooring for all flooring finds. I know of beige bricks, but not green/tan… Also, be sure to consult with a professional to find out if there is any vintage nastiness such as asbestos in your floors (and other surfaces), so that you know what you are dealing with — consult with a professional!
Hello…
I find this story very sweet and quite inspiring. My story is similar in that I am trying to undo a 2000′s redo of my original 1930′s bathroom (I’m a 30′s girl!) Unfortunately, months before we bought our house the previous owners did a quick, cheap redo of one of the bathrooms. I would like to start my project by removing the basic ceramic tile floor they installed directly on top of the original ceramic tile floor. My dream is to remove the ugly tile without destroying the original tile. The original tile is a pretty blue and was set in cement, I’m told. The floors in my other bathrooms are original and still look amazing – one is even pink! They are all unglazed tile (as a note to another story on this website I love the unglazed tile and have no problem keeping it clean.) Does anyone have any suggests or comments for me? Many Thanks!!
Hi Nadine, and welcome. I don’t have any specific suggestions for you but an important general one: Be sure to consult with licensed professionals regarding what’s in the materials in your house, in all the layers, before starting any projects. Vintage homes can have materials with lead and asbestos, and there are numerous other safety issues we’ve mentioned here in various stories and posting. Consult with experts and get informed… Good luck!
We have original avacado green dishwasher and stove. I don’t have the refrigerator. I either need to sell mine or buy a fridge.
Stuff was sure made to last back then. Really enjoyed seeing what you are doing to redo your home!
Oh the green brick flooring…we are still finishing up a 2 year long (I am married to a carpenter) of a house that was listed as 1955, but in fact was probably from the 40′s. Three stages of the house, with the back room being the last. As we ripped up the bland cream vinyl we too found the green brick linoleum. My husband laughed as his parents house still has the brown brick in their kitchen. I think this tile is from the 70′s as we guess this is when the last addition was placed on our house (that is when my in-laws house was built). I do love vintage, but the brick green was more than we could take…as it turns out, we ended up completely gutting the place and going down to dirt floors. Love the avocado fridge though!
Amazing “un-redo” Feels cozy like home when growing up.
I have the same AWESOME floor in my 1970 kitchen in my condo. I love it. It wears like iron. My father, a chemist, also said that the linoleum has linseed oil in it which gives it anti microbial properties. It’s the floor that keeps on giving.
I love that you are resurrecting this great kitchen! When I was a kid my dad owned a gas station that had the same brick pattern linoleum in brown.
I live in Minneapolis & recently purchased a house that was completely remodeled in (I think) the early 70s. My kitchen has harvest gold appliances, awesome blonde wood cabinets, and beautiful light green linoleum. However, the linoleum has some deep scratches, and some dark yellow stains (which apparently are fish oil stains, long & interesting story). I am curious Jon & Trixi, if you had to do any restoration to the linoleum once it was uncovered, and if you might have any tips?
Amanda, congrats on your house — I do want to remind, however, that vintage flooring can contain vintage nastiness such as asbestos — consult with a properly licensed professional to know what you are working with so that you can make informed decisions.