2011 September — Retro Renovation

Beatrice West color-designed Caloric appliances – NOS pink set – for sale

Posted by: pam kueber • September 9, 2011

Reader Nancy has just listed her New Old Stock (NOS) pink Caloric kitchen appliances and sink on ebay. You can snap ‘em up for $9,499 plus shipping, or take your chances and negotiate. If anyone here buys these, I need to hear about it, so’s I can do a follow-up story once they’re installed. Good luck!

Tip to using the ebay carousel: To go to a particular item, click on its photo (NOT on the ebay logo) — then, click on the lime green “View and Bid” box, which will take you to ebay. Disclosure: When you buy anything from these ebay carousels or after you click into ebay here, it nets me a teensy commission.

Comments 7

72 sizes and finishes of globe shades for 1960s and 1970s style globe lights

Posted by: pam kueber • September 9, 2011

1960s style globe lights shades Many moons ago, a readers asked me if I knew of a source for globe light shades with a satin — rather than glossy — finish. At the time, I hunted and pecked but could not find. Now, however, a source of these orbs (get it? moon…orb…globe?) has revealed itself: MyLampParts.com to the rescue again. In fact, they have 72 varieties of globe light shades including: Heck yeah there is more →

Comments 8

Esther Williams swimming pool vintage salesman’s sample kit

Posted by: pam kueber • September 9, 2011

Another blogger somewhere in my online travels was complaining that ebay was a little thin these days. But I think s/he is looking in the wrong places, because every morning I open up my Saved Searches and it’s an explosion of vintage treasures. If I were richer, I would hoard them all — save them up to give to a museum when I go. Today: Two fabulous salesman’s sample kits — my favorite is for the Esther Williams swimming pool — who knew they marketed such a thing! There also is a fabulous New Old Stock (NOS) mailbox that someone here had better snap up!

Comments 3

1950s interior design and decorating style — 7 major trends

Posted by: pam kueber • September 8, 2011

When it comes to studying interior design in the 1950s, the ideas captured in this 1957 Chevy ad certainly are memorable: A rainbow of eye-popping pastels, design that is long and low and angles and flourishes that suggest speed and even, flight. But just like today, there wasn’t just “one” look in the 1950s — there were several. Some looks gained popularity consecutively, as technology, tastes and social mores evolved… while some ran concurrently, recognizing that the U.S. is a diverse, individualistic, creative nation. In this “What’s Your Major?: Retro Renovation” post, I create my own categories out of seven major interior design trends that I have identified from the 1950s. That said, these are big, non-academic buckets. — I’d love to hear your ideas and analysis, too.

Heck yeah there is more →

Comments 47

Orange you glad I love the color orange?

Posted by: pam kueber • September 8, 2011

Orange is the Retro Renovation 2012 Color of the Year. Crikey, can’t everyone use a little to add snap crackle POP to their midcentury interiors?

Comments 8

Joan Rivers on painting a room pink: “A little glow on the puss”

Posted by: pam kueber • September 7, 2011

I could not help but notice that, during Joan Rivers’ 1969 talk show episode on decorating, gabbing with Family Circle’s Sally Pepper Adams and actress June Havoc, the queen of comedy spoke… well, glowingly… about the color pink and its flattering effects when used to paint a room. Discussing kitchen decor, she said:

When I was single, my mother painted the whole kitchen pink. Because when we’d bring the guys in afterward for coffee she figured a pink kitchen … pink… would put a little glow on the puss. We didn’t get married, but four maids ran off with the delivery men.

Affirming my notion that pink for a bathroom is “retro botox.” But in the kitchen, too? For sure! Remember Nora and her pink-painted time capsule kitchen? And this one — talk about glowing! And, check out all my other stories about pink kitchens.

Comments 3

Real porcelain enamel coating to restore your drainboard sink, tub or stove

Posted by: pam kueber • September 6, 2011

After Joe was unsuccessful in his attempt to epoxy-coat his vintage porcelain drainboard sink, he replaced it with a new Elkay Lustertone stainless steel drainboard sink. Even though the metal drainboard sink looks great, Joe says he would have preferred to keep his old porcelain sink top and have had the original enamel restored, refinished or replaced. But he didn’t know of a source — and neither did I. Until now. Thanks to reader TappanTrailerTami, who let us know: Heck yeah there is more →

Comments 23

Drexel Plus One bedroom set circa 1970

Posted by: pam kueber • September 5, 2011

The Drexel Plus One bedroom furniture suite is the most fabulous bedroom set ever made – no doubt about it. And you can Buy It Now, for $485. Based on St. Petersburg, Florida — yay to the sellers, Smugglers Cove Vintage. And:

Be sure to see these other pieces, which I spotted and featured in the past.
See this other blog, which shows pages from a vintage Plus One catalog — cool beyond belief.