I finished the punch list (with just two cheats), and am actually back working — and doing my vintage collage — in my remodeled office studio. No “real” furniture or storage is installed yet — we’re having a photo shoot on Saturday with just the bones of the room, then the rest will go in, probably little by little. I am the kind of person who likes to live with a space as I decorate… I know it sounds corny, but over time, the room reveals to me what it wants… what’s next. Anyway, I’m all aflutter getting ready for photos… and hey, I heard it’s a long weekend coming up. Renovate safe, be safe out there on the roads — and don’t poke anyone with that barbecue poker. I’ll be back here Monday morning. xoxo, Pam
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: • May 25, 2012
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 –>
Luna chairs — affordable, authentic, funky 1970 interior design still available today
Posted by: • May 24, 2012
When I was writing all those stores about where to buy 28 affordable midcentury and modern sofas, and then 29 sofa-sectionals and then 11 round sofas, I also discovered these fantabulous chairs: The Luna chair, first spotted at Dania/Plummers, for what looks to be a terrific price, $398 for the low-back Luna chair, $498 for the high-back Luna chair. $198 for the ottoman. In leather! *Yes: Confirmed: Yes, this is the pricing from Dania/Plummers/Scandinavian Design (same company); more info from my call, below. I did more online research and found that this chair is made and marketed by IMG Comfort. They are based in Norway, and their website explains the provenance of this cozy chair:
An instant classic since 1970 when acclaimed Norwegian designer Odd Knutsen introduced his Luna Chair. Knowing IMG’s passionate pursuit of perfection, Knutsen assigned our company the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute his groundbreaking design worldwide. Underlying the Luna Chair’s unobtrusive design is a level of comfort rarely obtained by even the most expensive chairs. This you must experience first-hand to believe.
The Luna chair seems to be available via various retailers within the U.S. Heck yeah there is more →
Retro Renovation in the news: Supersize me!
Posted by: • May 23, 2012
Now and again there’s a newspaper story about the blog. I don’t post them all, because, well, I’m gonna get a big head. But, I had to show this one because, well, could that head-slash-photo get any bigger? What a hoot — that’s Sunday’s story in the Detroit Free Press — reader Jeanne sent me the photo of the front page of the real estate section, which certainly … calls attention to our cause.
Stripping paint from kitchen cabinets and returning to the original 1950s wood — “some therapy” but great results
Posted by: • May 23, 2012
1950s wood kitchen, “Before”:
… Cabinets painted black, “After”:
… But then: 50 hours of stripping later, “After” returns to “Before”… back to the natural wood:
Yes, haven’t we all done it — made a *big* decorating *mistake* that then takes hours to unwind. After he bought his 1950s house, Uncle Atom tried to dial up the retro in his original kitchen by painting the cabinets black, to coordinate with the black-and-white floor he also installed. But, it was just too dark, he said. So, some 50 hours of paint stripping later — he has returned his 1950s Scheirich kitchen cabinets to their original natural wood glory. A lesson here, maybe: Wood is good — especially much of the stuff used for kitchen cabinets back in the 1950s and 1960s…. So think long and hard before painting over it. As an alternative: Maybe a good cleanup and a fresh coat of shellac (or another product — I know readers have different favored methods) and the cabinets will be like new again for another few decades?
Continue on to learn about Uncle Atom’s process for removing the paint and then restoring an original finish to the cabinets… Dental picks, anyone? –>
Amber Shellac: The classic finish for knotty pine — made from bug poop!
Posted by: • May 22, 2012
Got Knotty? Check out my new knotty pine blog
As far as I know, Amber Shellac has been and always will be the classic retro finish for knotty pine. Our grandpas and dads were putting this orange-honey-gold finish on their unfinished knotty pine back in the 1950 and 1960s — and the product is still available today as Bulls Eye Shellac, by Zinsser, which is a Rust-Oleum Company. Shellac is a very interesting product — one of its key ingredients is insect secretions — I think that means, bug poop. (And you know how poop history always interest me.) Read on.
$20 glam: Create a romantic retro bedroom focus wall — using our starburst stencil pattern and metallic paint
Posted by: • May 22, 2012
We have another reader — Patti — who got all fearless and crafty-like and has used our free starburst stencil pattern to add romantic, glamorous retro starbursts to her bedroom wall. Dreamy!
6 ideas to decorate a knotty pine room in classic retro style
Posted by: • May 21, 2012
See my newest microsite: Knotty Is Nice!
How to decorate a knotty pine den, basement, sunporch or living room? Here are six ideas if you want to play up the classic 1950s outdoorsy kitschy look, using new sources available today as well as some vintage if you are up for the hunt.
Become a fan
