May 8 update: 306 photos so far in our gallery — wow, this has been EPIC! Hey, readers: Keep getting out the camera, get artsy fartsy with your angles, and let’s see your living room, too! Uploader enabled —>
I went looking on the blog recently for photos of readers’ living rooms, and I was disappointed that I did not have too many. My bad. Do you have a mid mod or vintage living room that you are super proud of? I invite you to upload your photos and share them with the Retro Renovation tribe. Above: Betty Crafter‘s midcentury modern living room — reflected in 70s mirror tile adjacent to the front door. So pretty!
And above: Jane’s living room. Also dreamy. Have fun with your photos — use natural light (no flash) and have fun with your angles; most cameras today, including those on phones, take great pictures. So experiment to get the best shot — yes, you, too, can be artsy fartsy!
[Uploader now closed.}
[ngg_uploader id = 218]
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
Betty Crafter says
Wendy M. – you have such a great space to work with! I second Stacy – those built ins on either side of your amazing fireplace are begging for some cushions or pillows! It could lend a nice pop of color to the room. I also think you need one or two extra-special vintage lamps – maybe one floor lamp and one table lamp? My last suggestion is to switch out the art over the piano with something more colorful, or paint that wall an accent color so it contrasts with the art more.
I would like to say that I am in love with the placement of your starburst clock on the fireplace – such a fresh alternative to centering it!
Wendy M. says
Thanks for the ideas! I think I’ve been way more conservative with color in this house because the golden-orange carpet seems like more than enough color in the room. Perhaps it isn’t as dominating as I think. We actually have cushions the original owner made for the benches, but they are small-ish and it seemed to visually chop up the space. I’m still debating making long cushions that cover each bench. I like the idea of a darker color behind the piano to make everything pop.
A huge thank you for liking the placement of my clock- my husband still brings up the idea of centering it, but I’m insistent it looks better there. I think I subconsiously got the idea from the WilsonArt home (which I saw thanks to Pam) and their fireplace/clock. It didn’t register until a friend pointed out how similar certain elements in our living room are to the Wilson living room. If only I had those amazing cut-outs on one wall… 🙂
Finally, I’d like to say how much I’ve enjoyed this post- what an amazing variety of “takes” on mid-century. I love it! It makes me so happy that each home has a distinct personality.
cara says
Perfect! We are having a living room rearrangement dilemma so I will be looking forward to getting some ideas from everyone’s fantastically retro decorated living rooms.
TappanTrailerTami says
Oh, I LOVE reader upload pictures! It is so fun to see everyone else’s houses, and I too, want Sylvia for my neighbor!
Unfortunately, my living room is not done….not even close. So you can all see the pieces that will eventually live in my living room, which are currently is storage …..remodeling is going to start really soon though!
Michael says
TappanTrailerTami–
I *love* your rose moderne sectional! I used to have one very similar in green (sold it to a friend before a move years ago). It looks to be in pristine condition too!
TappanTrailerTami says
Thanks Michael – it was a Craigslist find….advertised as a “Hollywood” sofa. And, yeah, it is a little glam compared to earlier MCM offerings. Your green (I just LOVE green) sectional sounds like it was equally wonderful!
Stacy says
Wendy M.,
I think a few plants would make a big difference. Looks like you have lots of natural light. And maybe a few small, retro pillows on your benches for a punch of color. Love you fireplace!
Sue says
Jane, I am *IN LOVE* with that royal blue couch! Like, really. I need a couch like that. Did you get it like that or was it reupholstered?
We recently moved into our mid-century home, and ripped down olive green paneling in our living room. It was just too dark for our tastes. We are sans-furniture in there, so it’s currently a blank slate, waiting for some plaster, a fresh coat of paint, and furniture. I need ideas! Pam, THANK YOU for this post! It will help me tremendously!
Jane / MulchMaid says
Sue, the couch was a fabulous craigslist find, just as you see it. I think it’s mid to late 60s and the velour-ish fabric is amazingly easy to keep nice, even with two cats that shed like mad.
Meredith R. says
Jane, I love that blue couch too! And the whole room really. Can you tell me about your rug? Is it vintage? Shag? What is the material & size and, of course, where did you get it?
Jane / MulchMaid says
Meredith, unfortunately the rug has been a disappointment. It’s not vintage but rather a large cut piece of contemporary wall-to-wall shag carpeting we had backed and edged about four years ago. But it hasn’t worn well at all: the twisted yarns don’t stay twisted, so the individual pieces have become fluffy and indistinct at the ends. Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend it, but we have a certain investment in it so we can’t just replace it. I still love the color and overall look, but up close you can see the problems.
Meredith R. says
Sorry to hear that. If it’s any consolation, it looks great in the photo. I’m stumped on finding a very large rug for my LR.
Jane / MulchMaid says
Meredith, we went that route for exactly that reason – no area rug we liked was large enough. Doing the same could work for you if the yarn twist was guaranteed (we just didn’t know to check.) There’s a lot of old shag carpeting still out there still that’s amazingly new-looking, so someone figured out how to keep the yarns from untwisting even back then. I just offer my response as a caution to research thoroughly. Unfortunately, higher-priced carpet is not necessarily better, at least in that respect.
Voodoo Kitten says
Sylvia, I too think your living room is fabulous!
I’m hoping to move to Seattle soon, I just haven’t decided where I want to live yet.
Sylvia in Seattle says
Aww thanks kids,
I love Retro Renta and I now have Betty Krafter’s blog as one of my daily reads! Love it here in Seattle you should come visit. Most of the City was reimagined in 62′!
Love you all, keep in touch,
Sylv
Chris says
DEAR LORD — Sylvia! Why are you in Seattle and not living next door to me!!!!!??? 🙂
(I am now compiling a list of retrorenovators that I want to live next door to!)
And yes, Betty Crafter — you are on that list too — everything you do is so perfect and tasteful! Just lovely!
Betty Crafter says
I can already tell I want Sylvia O’Stayformore to be my new best friend!
And thanks for the compliment Jane – I’m drooling over your green Eisenhower chair!
Sylvia in Seattle says
It’s actually a Serta Sleeper chair. It holds out to a single bed! Perfect for guests.
Jane / MulchMaid says
How fun to be part of today’s post, Pam! Betty Crafter’s LR is gorgeously colored. Okay, retrorenovators, show us more!
Jane / MulchMaid says
Kevin & Heather Wagner, I am in lurve with your Bob Beharka living room and the built-in seating! My uncle in England did a similar thing when he built his house in the late fifties/early sixties. I always loved it. And the stools are beautiful, too, with that FLW look. Are they original to the house?
Kevin B. Wagner says
Hello Jane, Thanks for the nice comments. Yes, everything is original to the house. Bob apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1950’s, this was his own house he designed and built for he and his family.