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!
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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:
Jenny A. says
Love, love, love this post!! It’s a lot of fun peeking into everyone’s living rooms and I’m getting some great ideas. They’re all fantastic! Question – Theresa P. RetroGal – where did you get that fabulous print? It’s great!
RetroGal says
Hi Jenny –
The print is of a Detroit-based, but nationally known artist, SLAW. That print inspired the whole look of my condo! I owned that print probably two years before I owned my place! I have two originals that are much smaller in size, but hang in my kitchen and since this was an article about living rooms I didn’t post them. Here is his facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/slaw.art
(Sorry for the delayed response, just got back from a week’s vacation!)
Michael says
Pam–
Just realized the two photos I sent were almost 2MB each. Sorry! [Taking new photos now…]
pam kueber says
Thanks! I used the newer/smaller ones and deleted the larger ones! I’m going to look at all the photos now!
Patti Cannan says
Wendy M..you don’t need a new couch. You need an old couch 🙂
Wendy M. says
Agreed! If only my husband wasn’t so unreasonably tall (6’4″). He’s very uncomfortable sitting on the vintage pieces we’ve seen. Someday we’ll happen upon the perfect piece that we both love and can afford, right?!? 🙂
Patti Cannan says
I’m sprinkling pixie dust all around and wishing for you the perfect vintage couch and a Plycraft Lounger for your tall husband!
BlueJay says
Wendy, I’m 6’5″ and I have found quite a few vintage pieces that work for my height. Aim for late 50’s on; the pieces seem to be scaled better for those of us that are tall! 🙂
Patti Cannan says
I know this isn’t long enough for your husband but maybe he could stretch out a bit while you continue the hunt! http://www.ebay.com/itm/260985490230?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
ChrisH says
@ Wendy M-
I’m not sure you need to hide the TV behind doors. Maybe frame the opening in some way that blends wilth the room, then just leave well enough alone. A door could be a PITA every time you want to watch TV.
Maybe paint the frame of the TV in some color that goes with your decor. Modern flat screens are actually pretty sleek and the simple lines go well with MCM. For me it’s just the black plastic that makes them objectionable. (But at least it’s not beige)
Maybe a pop of color on the wall behind the TV
Lauryn says
Joan in Minneapolis, is that sofa vintage or reproduction? It is GORGEOUS and pretty much just what we are looking for! I suspect it’s probably vintage, but oh how my heart would sing if I thought we could purchase one just like it.
Maryann Roy says
What great photos everyone! So inspiring!
Pam – Any room for 1:6 scale MCM photos? 🙂
Maryann
BungalowBILL says
Rebecca you have a great collection of op art record boxes. Terrific way to display them!
ChrisH says
Bud, that Tiki LR is too cool.
Bud says
Thanks…It in the process of looking much different grass cloth walls and bamboo moldings
Betsy says
Nosoda, your shadow box is so ridiculously fabulous, I had to post a photo of mine. It was a recent flea market acquisition, and Turner Wall Accessory stunner, for $22.
Marty says
There seem to be dozens of variations on those Turner Wall mirrored shadow boxes. I have one in the dining room and they show up on ebay pretty often. You can catch one in the movie American Splendor too.
pam kueber says
Yes… it is clear from all these photos I need to do a standalone story on shadowboxes. I had a great one that I found at Brimfield for $20 about 5 years ago, I just gave it to a friend because I didn’t really have a place for it, and I’m trying to lighten up.
Betsy says
It would be a great story! The Turner Wall pages on ebay are fascinating — as Marty says, there are so many variations on the shadowbox theme. But I am also fascinated by how much mass-produced “art” (Turner being one example) was being made and sold for the post-war living room.
Patti Cannan says
I have one on my sunroom that’s turquoise and orange!
Betsy says
This is great — Hannah just uploaded one that has – um – balls on each corner!
Betsy says
I have posted “work in progress” photos of my beloved living room. It was converted from carport to living room around the year of construction (1955). This winter we have been working to address some structural issues that allowed water to seep into the south window wall, damaging ceiling tiles and wrecking the window casings. The new windows may not be to everyone’s vintage taste, but were necessary and are already doing wonderful things for our utility bills. We are preserving as much of the vintage paneling and trim as we possibly can. The gas insert is also new, and has made this room go from one we avoid during our very cold winters, to a cozy, wonderful space.