Tinselmania: 73 vintage aluminum Christmas trees

aluminum christmas treeWell, I’m just having a party analyzing all the retro Christmas decorations that readers have uploaded.  How about this one: A special slide show of all 62 73 aluminum Christmas trees. Mini, small, medium, large… Found at the Goodwill, in Aunt Bertha’s attic, or on ebay… Decorated with vintage ornaments, elves, Barbies — even pickles. Above: Steve Conley says his aluminum tree is in the kitchen. Of course, that fireplace, yum, too. Nice photo, Steve, got ya on the homepage. :)

Pom Pom aluminum Christmas treePom Pom seems to have been the big-name manufacturer of aluminum Christmas trees back in the day. Above: Steve got his Pom Pom from his aunt. I own a Pom Pom, too — a Pom Pom for Pam, tee hee — found at an estate sale in Pittsfield a few years back.  I remember the Bingo! moment well. Other names in aluminum trees, which I spotted in your uploads seem to have been Peco, Revlis, Evergleam, Spiral Lit, Raco (Australia). And don’t forget the color wheels — although working vintage models seem to be more elusive finds. Click on through to see all 62 73 –> Heck yeah there is more →

1955 Kelvinator Food-a-Rama refrigerator: Oh beautiful for spacious side-by-side

1955 sears kelvinator refrigeratorA vintage 1955 Kelvinator “Fabulous Food-A-Rama” Made in Detroit by American Motors Corp. side-by-side refrigerator: Could there ever be a refrigerator made that was more beautiful? I don’t think so. $500 on craigslist in Colorado Springs.

12 daze of Kitschmas — favorite photos and ideas from readers

Midcentury modern Christmas Not only are Retro Renovation readers inventive and inspirational decorators, but quite a few of you are darn good photographers, too. From our recent spree uploading photos of our vintage holiday decorations, I curated some delightful photos. Above: No name contributor for Northern California — fabulous photo! You may identify yourself and receive your applause, dear reader. Click on through for 11 more twinkly happy holiday photos from around our retro wonderland. –> Heck yeah there is more →

On PBS Monday night: Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter


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Thanks to reader Shelly for this tip — Here’s a two-minute preview of the PBS documentary, Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter. The full-length, hour-and-half story appears Monday night, Dec. 19, 10 p.m. most places. Sure to be fascinating — I’m DVRing this one, too:  Heck yeah there is more →

NOS Sunbeam kitchen appliance Automatic Control Panel + 4 other designs I’ve spotted

Sunbeam Control PanelJust spotted for sale today on ebay: This Sunbeam Automatic Control Panel — New Old Stock. I see these in-wall appliance centers very rarely on ebay — this might be only the third in five years. These control panels were typically recessed into the kitchen backsplash — with multiple plugs for plugging in small kitchen appliances. This one also has a clock — cool!

Sunbeam Appliance Center Control PanelWhat a treasure to find this New Old Stock woddity. This is the fifth vintage Appliance Center design I’ve seen and featured on the blog. In all, I’ve now seen three Sunbeams and two Westinghouses. Here are the four others — and click on through to see the ebay listing, if you are in the market:  Heck yeah there is more →

Photos of your retro holiday decor — 400+ images already here!

retro christmas decorationsWow, in the past two holiday seasons, more than 400 readers submitted photos of their decorations — sparkling and twinkling and otherwise happifying your home this year. For the slide show, I’m starting with the 2010 submissions already in place. Goodness, we have quite a library of vintage holiday decor. Photo submissions are now closed for this year — but we’ll do it again in 2012, so take lots of photos! Above: A photo submitted this week from Betty Crafter‘s happy and colorful Kitschmas. Heck yeah there is more →

1957 St. Charles kitchen cabinets — steel boxes and drawers, wood fronts

vintage st charles wood cabinetsHere is something we do not see too often: Vintage St. Charles steel kitchen cabinets — with doors and drawer fronts in wood. I would call the doorstyle ‘French Provincial.’ These cabinets popped up for sale on our Forum. Looks like a big set — according to the ad, they were installed in 1957 an 18′ x 13′ kitchen in Wheaton, Illinois. Price is $1,500. If you’re interested, also ask about the appliances. Do I spy a Thermador cooktop, too??  Heck yeah there is more →

12 rolls of 1940s vintage wallpaper — 2 color ways

vintage wallpaper 1940s 1950svintage wallpaperPretty pretty vintage wallpaper — six rolls each of two different color ways. Perfect for a 1920s, 1930s, 1940s or early 1950s-style kitchen — and I bet if you were very careful, you could get the job done with six rolls.


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.