Decorating ideas

“The hard way”: Our new year’s tradition

pink-bathroom-fixtures.jpgWelcoming 2010, here’s the story that now has become our Retro Renovation new year’s tradition…kind of summing up the bumpy journey so many of us share:

We know about taking the road less traveled. To me, doing things the hard way has the same allure. The hunt for the perfect estate sale light fixture, the set of vintage cabinets that are just right, the document wallpaper that pulls things all together.

Honestly, the reason this blog even exists is that after completing big projects, I had so much info in my mental hard drive about the retro renovation alternatives available — all obsessively and endlessly researched — that it seemed a shame to simply be done with it when my projects were completed.

But the dangers of the hard way came into focus this week, when I pulled Palm Springs Stephan into the vortex.

Heck yeah there is more →

Chrome over-the-door hanger holder

neu-home-328b-chrome-over-the-door-hanger-holderI swear, this is one of those little bits of this and that that has been around for 50s years. What do you think?  When I go to estate sales, I see them. I buy them. I must have three just like this, and another three of a derivative style.  If you can’t find your own authentic retro-treasure, these are $3.95 plus shipping online here, or I bet they have them at Bed, Bath & Beyond, maybe even your local hardware store.

Birgitta’s vintage low voltage lighting system

vintage-switch-plateBirgitta writes: “I am wondering if this was a common feature in the 1950′s?  It turns on/off nine lights and there is another one in the back of the house.”

Well, this a new one to me. I have never seen this feature in person, or in a magazine. What do you think, retro renovators?

Weiserlock door sets – a good midcentury choice

If you want to upgrade your door set, these choices from Weiserlock are beautiful and very classic — they definitely have a retro feel to me. When you are out at estate sales and inside mid century houses, make sure to notice little details like this. I remember one sale about two years ago just down the street from me… the modern house had the most gorgeous door sets… identical throughout the house – quite similar to the Weiserlock Troy above, although smaller. I remember that the slightly smaller scale, the repetition throughout the house, and the great “hand feel” made them so special. I am sure I looked nutso, pausing among the frenzy to adore them. Heck yeah there is more →

More photos from Alice – a Retro Renovation re-run

Remember Alice and her yellow Geneva kitchen in Richmond, Virginia? We’ve stayed in touch, and she sent some additional photos of her time capsule house. Heck yeah there is more →

10 reasons I’m glad I don’t live in the 50s: A Retro Renovation re-run

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WHEN YOU DO A BLOG LIKE THIS, people can jump to the conclusion that you want to actually live back in those “good ole days”. This couldn’t be farther from the truth in my case. I just like the design and believe in understanding and working with a house’s original design before you arbitrarily gut it…don’t read any more into it. In fact, here are my top-10 reasons that I’m very happy, thank you very much, to be living in 2009. Heck yeah there is more →

Sumac Sue and her Gardenside way of life – a Retro Renovation re-run

My house. Hattie, my cat, is jumping out of the flowerbed, by the way.

The post about Madison Sarah and her hunt for a 50s or 60s home drew lots of comments, including a lovely note from Sumac Sue, aka Judi, of Lexington, Kentucky. Her comments were really moving, so I asked her if I could make a post out of them – and asked if she could send pictures to go with. She kindly did, and even added some more info at my request. A long post – but well worth the time to read and think about. Sumac Sue is a former newspaper reporter – so the girl can turn a phrase! Maybe other readers have similar stories about their neighborhoods that they would like to share? Send in your stories and your “walking tour” photos and I’d be happy to make this a regular feature. Thank you, Judi (Sumac Sue), for getting this started! Heck yeah there is more →

Let’s be serious


1961-formica-kitchen.jpg

Sunday is the day I reflect on the goals of the blog blah blah blah. When I studied journalism in college, I learned about being a columnist and immediately thought, “How horrible — to have to have an opinion all the time.”

Heck yeah there is more →