Uploader now closed. 300+ reader photos uploaded — check them out! ! Above: Reader Melinda scored this vintage Stanley buffet at her local ReStore.
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read any captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
no images were found
linoleummy says
OMG so glad I looked here after the VOID! Lisa’s cabinets! Jeff’s dog mural! Cool crochet! Who is/are the crochet artist(s)? JD Log’s garage door! Even Barb’s painted gold stuff that used to make me cringe until I met my mother-in-law. She is so wonderful and her house was decorated with a lot of it so how could I not love it?
LuAnn says
Wow, everyone’s finds and projects are so fun! I love, love, love the 1940s kitchen remodel with the Chicago poster and fiesta ware. 🙂
Kristy H. says
That kitchen is amazing! I’ve looked at those pictures many times.
I also love Lisa Arnett’s kitchen with the wood cabinets and turquoise countertops.
Wish we could see more of the kitchen done with the Wilsonart Betty laminate too.
.
Melinda says
So many wonderful things! Clearly I’m going to have to start checking Craig’s List. I usually only go there to search a specific item. Can anyone share any tips for finding the retro goodies?
pam kueber says
Hi Melinda, see this story for a start: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/05/31/vintage-furniture-on-craigslist-4-tips-to-help-your-searc/
Also, I sometimes use SearchTempest if I want to broaden my search.
KennyT123 says
I’m really missing my Frigidaire Flair!!!!! Lost it during a move and still miss it. Even had the rotisserie and Kant-slide griddle. Love the pics everyone.
Lisa says
Kenny, I am a lover of Flairs, too. I have 4 of them, 2 that work well, one for parts and one named “Betty” who has the rotisserie and a mind of her own about temperatures and what she’ll cook nicely for you. Hee hee. She only makes a good pork roast, beef roasts turn out dry and she has her mind set that everything needs 350 degrees. 🙂
Anyway…..the point of my reply is that you can easily find Flairs on Ebay. They seem to go in spurts, a bunch for sale, then none for a couple of months, then they pop up again. Happy Hunting, they come all apart so they are very easy to clean up if you find one.
KennyT123 says
OMG, Lisa, I had the same thing with the temp. It was always a matter of watching and having an oven thermometer inside. I did see a bunch of the rarer 30 inch flairs recently; however, both versions are just too heavy and too far to pick up.
I make do with a GE Artistry and I’ve acquired a couple of NESCO rotisserie ovens with the heavy aluminum grill on top. Lots of shiny chrome and just fun to use. I have a few Roto Broils, Black Angus, and Broil-Quik’s as a consolation. I’ll have to upload those next time.
Carolyn says
Now that you’ve had the uploader a couple of times, I’ve got to remember to take pics of my treasures when they find their way to me so I can post. I’m glad you offer this since I’m not always sure what I have in hand is “anything” (Japanese girl – I have her sister!) or what era it’s from.
I’m currently trying to find my way home to a farmhouse and am glad to see the definition in these photos – “1950s Midwest shortly after the enactment of the REA (Rural Electric Act)” for my future kitchen.
Thank you all for contributing!
Edna says
It’s been a joy to work on the farmhouse, it had been empty for many years and we managed to purchase it ahead of the buyer who was going to tear it down. The batten board had been plastered over and painted peach (we scraped the plaster off by hand) the cabinetry was particle board– it had basically been ‘updated’ with the cheapest possible materials. It’s been a fun labor of love. Hubby is a master carpenter, so even though the result looks ‘shabby’ it will be as solid as the day it was built when done. I told him I wanted a kitchen like my grandmas when I was a child, and that’s what he did.
Sandy says
I’ve been searching for a “how to” video on upholstering chrome and vinyl chairs. Sara’s video from Pink of Perfection, with a link on your blog won’t open.. Suggestions?
pam kueber says
I think she has a temporary problem – no pages are loading. I suggest trying a bit later.
Lisa says
Hi Sandy, when I reupholstered the chrome with red vinyl chairs I just searched youtube for “reupholster diner chairs” and very simple videos came up. They all used fabric but I just did the same thing they did with the vinyl and it worked. Vinyl is a little trickier to work with than cloth fabric but the procedures are the same. It really is a very simple process requiring only the most basic tools (tap hammer, staple gun). You can do it. 🙂
Kristy H. says
I am so jealous of the dogs at the bar mural! So fabulous.
We have the exact same Nutone system in our house that was working until just recently- I just ordered a part to fix it. We love being able to listen to music throughout the house!
So many great things – I love the uploaders!
Kristy H. says
That wire cow has to be my very favorite thing of all!
Nancy Burton says
Isn’t is so cool! If you notice it also has a chicken & fish!
Kristy H. says
I did see that! It is super fabulous! Where did you get it?
Nancy B says
PA.
David in Marietta says
To Kristy H or anyone with a house intercom system: I just removed a Rangeaire system from a home to be demolished and would eventually like to install. Any one had luck converting the radio over to an updated one but keeping the old face?
Kristy H. says
Our Nutone system has a phono jack on it that I have used to connect a laptop or mp3 player to play music from there which was updated enough for us!
It seems like if you want to get a newer system you lose the vintage look. I had thought that if we weren’t able to fix ours that it might be possible to put the face plate on hinges so then you could flip it up to have a more modern system underneath but hopefully we won’t have to do that, but I would try if it came to that!
Good luck with your system!
Peter says
I’m very jealous over the Japanese export cabinet, the fountain, Weinberg sculpture and Nancy’s outdoor art collection! Back in the 1980’s my mother found at a thrift shop a framed ‘Christmas Tree’ made of bits of costume jewelry, each piece being a pair, having a left and right. I display it every year.
Marguerite says
I just love this up loading feature, it is rare to find retro in my area and I so love seeing all the wonderful Retro things across the country.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to post.
Betsy says
To the Lane Acclaim step-table refinisher, I’d love to know what your mom used to achieve such a great finish! (I have the two coffee tables shown here as well as a step table that I picked up earlier this year…) – Betsy
Stephanie says
I’m not the one who posted that pic, but to me it looks like it was simply sanded and poly-coated, or maybe sanded, oiled, and waxed. Some people like the contrasting oak and walnut look of the refinished pieces. If you want them to not look so contrasted, you will most likely need to stain them. There are some tutorials out there, here is an example:
http://modernwoodworking.blogspot.com/2012/10/refinishing-classic-lane-acclaim-coffee.html
I have a lane acclaim desk that I got for a song that I need to refinish that I don’t want to have the contrasting look, and am worried about staining them, so I am trying to find a cheap side table to test it on.
I hope to hear from the original poster out there to hear how her mom did it and if she stained or not.
Stephanie says
And I know I’m replying to myself here, but I forgot to add that for things that need just a light refinish, I’ve followed this for a 60s mahogany desk top, and it came out great:
http://www.the-brick-house.com/2010/09/refreshing-vintage-wood/
Betsy says
Thanks for the info. My mom always swore by Watco when she refinished wood. I agree with you about the heavier contrast finishes. But I do want the dovetail detail to be noticeable. However it turns out, it should be a fun project. 🙂
Sara says
That’s my little Lane table 🙂 We really debated on what to do about the stain. After it was sanded, I was torn about whether or not to darken it up, or the leave the high contrast with the dovetails. I know it was originally darker, but I really like the look of the contrast, so we settled on a lighter stain, which we used up and I can’t remember what it was! I think it was something like a light oak color. When it was freshly sanded, the lighter part was actually almost white, so I did want to put some color on it. Then we put several coats of clear poly over the top. One word of caution though…don’t be tempted to try and sand out every imperfection. I am thrilled with how it turned out, but my mom is very disappointed in herself for sanding through the veneer in one area on the top section. I don’t think it’s too noticeable, but we didn’t realize just how thin the veneer was until it was too late. I just love it. Even moreso since it was only $6!
Sara says
Oops, I posted my reply before I finished it. I wanted to say good luck with your Lane Acclaim pieces! And that I’m jealous because I really want to find more pieces to go with my little table 🙂
Stephanie says
Thanks for replying! And keep looking. I find them on Craigslist easily. Sometimes just typing in “Lane Dovetail” because the name is on the bottom and people don’t do the research to see they are Acclaim. Good luck with your search!