David asked the other day: “We’re planning our basement finishing project and looking at VCT tiling options in the basement. Does anyone know where to find design ideas for Vinyl tiles? I’m seeing a lot for ceramic, but not many for VCT.” You ask, I deliver: Here are scans from 1950s Armstrong and Kentile catalogs. Heck yeah there is more →
How to add light to your basement? This wonderful 60s room spotted by reader Tom B., ready with the camera for retro recon, provides a great example. Heck yeah there is more →
With all the recent talk of shuffleboards, I did a little nosing around, and it turns out that you can still get a vinyl tile shuffleboard from Armstrong:
This definitely goes on my dream list! The back half of our basement is concrete… my husband David has been opposed to vinyl tiles even retro-sized ones… but when I show him this, it just might turn him around. He likes shuffleboard! … I think it would be pretty easy to work this very primary red-white-blue design into any number of color combos. I really particularly like the Armstrong Excelon black – it looks like it hasn’t changed forever.
Thanks also to reader Kitschy Kimberly who just happened to see a house with a vintage basement shuffleboard and sent this image in. Man, was life simpler then, or what. Thank you Kitschy Kim!
It was a wondrous alchemy of industry, technology, peace and prosperity that inspired mid-century homeowners to create fantastic basements like this one.
This is yet another design study from my delicious collection of 1954 Armstrong flooring ads produced by Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. Click the Tag below that says ‘Armstrong floors’ to see the series.
Book pitch…If you like these images, which are chock full of design ideas, there are many more in the anointed retro renovation “bibles”…hours of fun for the whole family, I’m serious!:
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It always seems that the most outrageously creative places in postwar homes are the basements. It seems that upstairs everyone wanted everything to be “nice.” But downstairs — all heck break lose, it was party time. These 1949 images from Armstrong Flooring’s squad of interior designers are, as usual, over-the-top, and chock full of great ideas:
This second one, from Sloane Linoleum shows the same creativity: 
You’ll notice that I recently began spotlighting two Armstrong books in the sidebar:
The 50s version has long been my “bible,” it is the single best reference I’ve ever found for all the little details. When I did the kitchen, I returned to this book over and over again — so I don’t recommend it lightly.
Poking around this weekend, I see that there’s also now a 60s version — woo hoo! Guess what my hubby is getting for Father’s Day!
