The vintage pink and maroon tile in Naomi’s pink bathroom sure was beautiful, but my eyes really got to poppin’ when I spied those decorative bird tiles dotting the tub surround. I knew right away to ask Bungalow Bill if he could identify them, and fast as a whip, he did.
Franklin Tile Company and American Olean decorative tile sets
Posted by: • October 25, 2012
A color scheme for a pink, maroon and white bathroom
Posted by: • October 25, 2012
Reader Naomi’s new-to-her house came fully equipped with a retro pink and maroon bathroom — which she loves. However, there are a few problems — the toilet is broken and must be replaced, and there is also a non-repairable crack in the sink. Naomi is okay with replacing the broken maroon fixtures with white, but she doesn’t want to replace the still-perfect maroon tub. Her dilemma — she’s not sure how it will look to have two white fixtures and one maroon tub.
1938 time capsule Tudor — 17 photos — original owners lived here at least 72 years!
Posted by: • September 20, 2012
Yes, some fab updating! But lots of circa-1940 original, too.
Oh my glorious time capsule. An absolute charmer of a house: a 1938 Romantic Revival Tudor… in Portland, Oregon… a Hansel and Gretel time capsule house… for sale… from the first owner… who moved in 1939 or 1940. That’s, like, when we first met Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Yes, a house holding the memories of just one family for more than 70 years. And, as we often see with these time capsule houses — this one is in impeccable-looking shape. The floors are gorgeous. The woodwork, plaster, fireplaces, lighting, bathroom — all preserved. 
Yes, there was some redecorating in the late 1960s or early 1970s, and maybe those kitchen cabinets aren’t original, but oh my, flower power wallpaper included, this is a sweetheart of a house. Over-the-rainbow super thanks to listing agent Thomas Cale of John L. Scott Real Estate, and to photographer Seth at 360PDX.com for sending me these photos and giving me permission to show and archive photos of this beautiful house here. Photos? There are 15 more, so start scrolling!
16 best cookbooks and recipe cards from readers’ vintage collections
Posted by: • September 18, 2012
I had so much fun looking through the 133 vintage recipe cards, cookbooks and finished treats from the Labor Day weekend uploader. The recipe box above belonged to reader Tut‘s mother, who used it for decades — and took mighty fine care of it I might add — it looks to be in pristine condition. The lively illustrations, fanciful type and sentimental value make this a family treasure for sure.
Heck yeah there is more →
25 details from my office craft room remodel
Posted by: • June 21, 2012
“It’s kind of an acid trip-in the basement! Or maybe an episode of ‘Lucy and Ethel decide to wallpaper’!” — Lynne
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“It’s like the ’60s and ’70s threw up in there. I love it.” — Lauri V.
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“The patchwork effect works as a tongue-in-cheek homage to the Early American style that was all the rage when we were kids. — Kathleen
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“You led me astray with all the posts on Scandinavian wall systems… I was expecting some very pared down, sleek Danish modern-type space.” — Lynn-O-Matic
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“…Alice in Wallpaper Wonderland…” — Annie B.
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I’ve had not the best day so far today – it just got better! — Jason
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My mother always used to say, “Well I better do something, even if it’s wrong.” — Lauri V., back again with wisdom for our times.
It’s been fun all week to show off my office craft room remodel — and to read your comments. Maybe I’d best get back to the rest of retro world, so my special series is coming to an end (although I will have its and bits more within the next few weeks spotlighting various resources etc.) To wrap things up: I did a big camera download, and here are 25 photos of some of the details — each one of them sweated and second-guessed, of course, right up until the minute the credit card was slapped down on a counter.
4 vintage modern tiles — pretty as a peacock
Posted by: • May 24, 2012
I love midcentury modern decorative wall tiles — so tactile, so rich in their colors and fanciful in their design. These are great collectibles and “mix it up” in terms of adding texture and visual interest to your walls or tabletops. I went poking around Bungalow Bill’s website to see what new/old eye candy he had to entertain and delight (or buy) and found a flock of peacocks that made me very happy indeed. If you got it, flaunt it. If you don’t got it, get it. Above: “A large mid century modern tile by Ruscha. It has all the colors popular in the early 60′s decor; red, persian blue and emerald green,” Bill says. Three more birds of a feather follow –>
