Look who is in the New York Times today — it’s a story all about intrepid Retro Renovators. Yes, a story on the front page of the Thursday Home & Garden section all about the blog also quoting Cindy, Stephan and Helen (pictured in my montage, right) as well as Judi, Jason — and yes, Chippy of World of Tile, too. My gosh. Thanks to EVERYONE on the blog who helps make this the wonderful community it is! xoxo I have to run out the door to buy some copies of the paper from Loeb’s right now. Meanwhile — check The New York Times story, “Restoring the Retro House”, out online!
We’re in the New York Times today!
Posted by: • August 18, 2011
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I’m so proud – congratulations!! And as the article says you really have built a community for us and thank you for that!
Yes, the REAL story is the COMMUNITY! Keep it coming! xoxo
Congrats to everyone!!!
Thank you, Deb!
Sweet! Great article.
Thanks, Lee!
Loved the article and so timely. I have a tulip table and the top and one inch border around the top needs replacing. What do you suggest? Also, I like the seat covers. Where did Pam get them? If she had them made I really would appreciate the dimensions.
Hi Barbara, and welcome. Hmmm. I think for the edge of the table you should consult a furniture refinisher or countertop fabricator. If it’s laminate, they should be able to make the repair/replacement. If it’s rubber, same. The seats on my chairs are sort of “designed in.” There is a curved piece of plywood that sort of forms the base of the seat. It actually screws into the chair set. Shaun Guinan of Reworks Vintage in Pittsfield, Mass., did the refurbishing of all the metal on the table for me. He also then replaced the padding on the seats and then covered them in candy apple red leather that he had left over from another project. Here is the complete story, I hope it helps, let me know how it turns out! http://retrorenovation.com/2011/01/25/how-to-restore-avintage-tulip-tables-and-shell-chairs/
Hi Pam. I could not find my initial question so I rewrote it. Just found it. Many thanks. Question, what do you mean the seat cover is screwed in?
I will contact the name you provided for covers. I’m quite excited about showing off.
Barbara
barbara, i don’t remember exactly how – the seat bases were PART OF THE DESIGN. there were LOTS of knockoffs – many designs out there.
Wow! Congrats, Pam.
Thank you!
Awesome and well-deserved recognition! Now if we can leverage this into a Retro Renovation TV show…
Thank you! Hey, you can watch my videos meanwhile! I’m kinda rough around the edges, but I try to have fun!
Congratulations! The article is great and your kitchen looks spectacular!
Thank you, Katie! I just got my hard copy. Well, shucks, 4 hard copies and one to mail to my mom, and I like the photo of the kitchen inside the paper even better. Great angle from photographer — and new friend from Northampton — Nancy Palmieri!
Very proud of you folks – and a big shout out to Pam for such an informative, well researched resource of a site! You are truly an inspiration for Retro Roadmap!
Thank you, Mod Betty! We’ll meet up at the Luau Hale in Lenox one of these days, for sure!
WOW! what a surprise! I always look at the Times first then RR later. Nice seeing you get recognition for your hard work. Your site sure brightens up the day.
Thank you, Jay!!
OMG!
I have the 1956 General Electric kitchen in my mid century house. (I think it was designed by George Nelson) It has those rolled steel cabinets. I desperately need hinges for 4 doors. (that’s 8 hinges) Can you, or anyone help?
Sorry, Pegi. There are so many brands we don’t have this kind of information wrestled to the ground. Ummm, you gotta jimmie a solution. Good luck!
Congratulations on the NY Times article. It’s how I found out about your wonderful website. It’s great!
Thank you, and welcome, Mary-Ellen! We do have some fun here!
A great article in the Times today! As a realtor, I often show & list homes with mid century features. Your web site is an inspiration for those homeowners who are not entirely convinced that they want a pink & blue tile bathroom(!) as well a valuable resource for fans!
Yay, Elizabeth! Yes — realtors are really on the front lines of this effort. It is SO great to see so many helping potential homeowners see the value in not just fancy midcentury moderns — but the millions of midcentury modest homes out there, too. That original tile was often done with great craftsmanship. Homes with quality, original features will only grow in value, I think! Thank you for spreading the word! Keep in touch – let me know if you get the listings for any great time capsules, we LOVE to show those — so inspirational!
great article!
reminds me of home. ( igrew up in LI, NY in the 1950′s-60′s.
dark tiles, a navy blue sink in the kitchen and an upstairs bathroom.
BTW:
i have a real 1950′s herman miller rare 8ft ebony bench for sale at EBAY!
in NYC.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Herman-Miller-bench-8-ft-George-Nelson-/250874804253?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item3a694db81d
Thank you, and welcome, Dan. Pritty bench.
Yea Pam! Yea RR! Maybe the article will help designers trend away from the greige and toward the butter yellow, the tomato red, the fabolicious aqua, the seafoam green.
RESIST THE GREIGE NATION.
Thanks, Kate!
My daughter, Satellite Sal says, “Hot damn, Pam!”
Well, to gal pal Sal — you are a doll!
The story makes me very happy for you and the RetroRenovation community.
Sincere congratulations and a thank you for all your hard work.
Gavin, your classy comment makes me think of the post on your beautiful living room. Isn’t it about time for you and Pam to collaborate on a post about another room in your home?
Thank you, Gavin! Yes, as Judi says, we need to do more together. I have some ideas, but I’m hosed right now. After back to school…
You go, Pam! Great story. You deserve the coverage and recognition!
Thank you, Nancy!
I think Steven Kurutz really understood what retrorenovation.com is all about. It’s a very upbeat, engaging story. I’m so happy for Pam, and the rest of us too!
Yup, JKaye, I think you are right — I think he did! Tons of boatloads of credit to the readers who took time to speak with him…. to the readers who send in photos and tips… and to the readers who leave so many comments. That’s what Community is all about — and that’s the reason this story came about, I think. xoxo
Congratulations on the NYT article.
Thank you, early!
Yay, Pam!! Great article, really captures the enthusiasm (and knowledge) you pass on to all of us (thank you!). And being in the NY Times means maybe more people will rethink the gutting and destruction of all of the vintage beauty out there. Big Congrats to you.
Thank you, Lauryn — yes, it’s exciting to think that even more people will become aware that postwar construction is very often, worth saving!
Pam – You’ve hit the big time! The New York Times has acknowledged the value of this blog. Congratualtions!
Thank you, Ranger — I’ll try not to let it go to my head!
Terrific article! Congrats, Pam!
Thank you, Michael!
Pam, congratulations on getting this well-deserved recognition. It has been a lot of fun watching this site grow and bringing others who are interested in preserving this era into the fold. Keep up the great work.
Thank you, Lawrence Bill! You keep up all your good work in KS, too!
Congratulations Pam! I’m glad your Site is getting so much recognition! Now more people learn about and can appreciate older homes like you and your readers do. A lot of people do not understand and now if more people have greater access to resources it will make it easier for people to get into it. People can appreciate older homes more and bring them back to their former glory! That’s what I’ve been doing with my home as well! Especially with the down-turned economy people are downsizing and fixing what they have. I think it is a great shift away from McMansions and with less new homes being built we can concentrate and preserve the classics out there
Keep it up Pam… Thanks for all your work!
Yup, John, you hit the nail on the head. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without = is a new reality today.
Congratulations Pam! You’ve done a great job and deserve all the accolades. You’re always supportive, accepting of everyone’s quirks, and keep all in line reminding them that no one should be made to feel bad about their decorating choices. You keep the site, and us positive and happy. I hope we all have many more years together. Thank you!
xoxo, bill!
Pam – It was the New York Times article that brought me to your website. I live in a Sears kit house circa 1956 – also in Lenox! I am new to that era in design and am in the middle of renovations but I have the steel cabinets in my kitchen, crazy bathroom fixtures ..etc.
Just wanted to say hi neighbor and congratulations!
I’ve sent an email, Kelly — need to see!!
Wonderful article about an amazing site run by a very talented woman.
A show on HG TV would not only be fab it would be meeting a need. Don’t worry about rough, they shoot until the have it right and then edit it. You’d be amazing and, as Lauren said, you’d hopefully be saving a lot of wonderful homes from being turned into the same ol’. When I read the article last night it was one of the first things I thought of, people just don’t know and now many more do.
Thank you, Pam!
Thank you, fellow Pam!
Fantastic Read! Congratulations!!
Maryann
Thank you, Maryann!
I have access to about 25-30 turquoise stoves (new in about 1960 and put into an apartment property.) if there is any interest please contact me.
Janet – you can post them on our forum — http://retrorenovation.com/forum. I also strongly recommend craigslist – as this kind of sale is typically highly localized
Groovy, Pam! So where’s that “time-warp Home Depot” the article mentions?
Hi, Pam…
Great profile in the Times. Even though I don’t share the 1950s love, I do love your site…and it inspired me to write about my own 1950s bathroom and what to do with it..
Great site and article, Jill!
Terrific story, Pam, and so great to see so many faces to put to some of these names floating around this site! Congrats!
Yes — so fantastic so many readers were able to be featured. You all have great stories!!!
Thrilled to learn of your site through The NY Times. The timing couldn’t be better: For 20 years I’ve struggled with my railroad kitchen–pretty much unchanged since 1950, with original, though heavily painted-over, post-war steel cabinets and double porcelain sink. I’ve never been able to come up with a reasonably-priced redesign that maximizes space while respecting the integrity of the original design. Just last week, it occurred to me: Why not keep the original stainless steel cabinets–or replace with something similar from the era? Then I saw the Times article. Can’t wait to explore your site–especially sections on stainless steel cabinetry and, hopefully, info on refurbishing them.
Welcome, Lorraine, and good luck. As I just wrote in another response, note that is not a DIY site, but I do share some stories of readers and the various approaches that they have taken to refurbishing their vintage steel cabinets. BE AWARE: There may be lead in that old paint. Consult with a professional so that you take the proper environmental and safety precautions.
Wonderful article for a wonderful blog!!
Thank you, Kathy!
Congrats Pam!! Great article!
Thank you, Hayley!
Oh, my stars! Opened up my virtual New York Times, and there was RetroRenovation in all its glory! Congratulations!
Yup. OMStars! Thank you, jennifer!
Pam, Congratulations! Excellent article, and really captures the essence of RR. One of my favorite things about RR is the “escape” factor. Living in the Bay Area, we are bombarded with not-so-good-news constantly, in print, online, tv, and radio. Not only is RR a great resource for all things vintage and an excellent community, it is the BEST feel good way to escape the serious troubles of the day, and I am ever thankful for that!
Thanks for the all the fun here, great ideas, wonderful blog posts, and happiness!
Tami
Thank you, Tami. Yes, I try to keep it focused on the upbeat. To be sure, there’s lots wrong with the world today that we can continue to work on. But within the four walls of our homes — beauty, peace and “enough”, perhaps?
We moved from an old old house – built before electricity etc, to our 60′s cape cod and having grown up in an old old farmhouse, the 60′s were not my favorite years..but I have grown to love our little cape – and your blog has helped immensly! I grew up in the 60′s – the 4th of 5 girls, it’s not that i don’t think it was an awesome time in my life and our country’s history, I just did not appreciate it as much as I do now – and a lot of that is because of your great RR blog. thanks for opening up my eyes!
Congratulations on a great article!
Thank you, Kathy — and glad you’re lovin’ the house you’re in!!! I think 60s Cape Cods are — about perfect!
You so deserve this great article, Pam! Congrats!
Thank you, Jane!
I’m new to your site and have been wowed for weeks! So glad you’re getting this attention. Keep it up!
Thank you, Maggie, and welcome!!!
Congratulations BIG TIME!! LoVe this blog – you so deserve this great attention!!
Thank you, Holley! It has been so much fun — and so much of the thanks really goes to all you readers, who not only keep me energized, but also contribute so many great tips! As the article says, “My house is done” (boo hoo) so I’m depending on you all to keep the projects and ideas coming!
This makes me smile. Thanks, Pam!
Thank you, JMo!
Congrats, Pam! Every victory for Retro Renovation is a victory for the whole Vintage community!
Thank you, Ruth — I totally agree — we are all in this together!
Found your site today via NYT. I love it, have already spent hours diving into it today and have already recommended it to friends. Wow. Fasten your seat belt, Pam. I have a feeling this ride is about to go warp-speed for you!! Congrats…
Welcome, Sandi, and thanks for helping to spread the word!
Congratulations Pam! It’s a wonderful write up, I am so happy for you! As a long time reader, it’s great to see the Retro Renovation word get out there to the masses.
Thank you, monogirl!!
A wonderful article. It was such a fun experience to be looking at NYT and all of the sudden going “I know her!”. Thanks for being a part of my everyday. You’ve taught me so much. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Marc!
Great to see the article about you and your work. If you ever need the right toaster, I refurbish and sell great old toasters and waffle irons and other stuff.
Thanks, Michael!
Hi Pam, great article in the New York Times. That should get some great exposure for retro renovating.
John
Thank you, John!!
OMG, you must have wondered what was wrong with me when you got my email about the Dan Kiley landscape on the same day this article was posted — and nothing from me about it. I don’t know how, but I must have missed your blog that day. So, I am late to the game, so to speak, but no less impressed and happy for you than all those who have commented before me. This is GREAT! Congratulations. This couldn’t have happened for a better person and blog.
Not to worry one bit, Elizabeth Mary! xoxo
Wonderful piece! Hopefully the article will be an education to many — and may reduce the gutting/trashing of cool vintage touches in an older homes. Thanks for acting as the Pied Piper for us retro lovers, spreading the word!
Thank you, Amy!
Very nice article. Well said-
Thank you, Nina462, glad to have you with us all this time!
Wonderful, well deserved recognition for you and the cause, Pam.
Thanks for all you do and for being my paragon, as always.
Thank you, Annie B. You, too, a longtimer!
Congratulations Pam well deserved recognition for the cause, group, website and of course your efforts.
Thank you, JD!