Urban Outfitters features bedding, shower curtains, cloth curtains and wall art, all based on archival designs by Alexander Girard. I particularly like the shower curtains, and they are now on sale from $20-$25. The quilts — which also have matching shams — are pretty groovy, too. Urban Outfitters – Alexander Girard.

First spotted by SparklyThings.

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I am hearing reports of a Retro Renovation baby boom. Weddings, too. So exciting No question, nothing gets the decorating instinct into overdrive than having a bun in the oven. In fact, we’re all just feathering our nests when it comes right down to it, aren’t we?

Images in this post are from Ethan Allen circa 1974 — ahhh, The Brady Bunch Years. Continuing with our bedroom series for a few more days, I chose them to illustrate another point, which is that there are numerous “traditional” styles that are just fine for mid-century homes. Lots of this stuff is solid wood, and you can buy it really inexpensively.

I have seen a number of the Ethan Allen sets with the modular bookcases, desks and drawer cabinets and my goodness, they are so functional and so well made.

"Growing up room" - phase one

A couple of other thoughts on kids’ bedrooms:

1. Personally, I would buy a new crib out of safety concerns – the image above is shown only for decorative inspiration.  Bunk beds, similarly, scare the heck out of me. Do your homework re child safety when you’re thinking of buying and using anything vintage.
2. When your kid is big enough for a bed, and if you’re going to buy something you plan to have them grow into — I recommend going straight-away for the full-sized bed. By the time they are 13 or 14, they want a bed this big. When they’re littler and have sleepovers, they can double up. When they are older, the friends just sleep on the floor. When the kid is little, and they are sick, you can lay down next to them.  I had a girlfriend who is really smart, studied and networked on such things tell me this early on. I didn’t listen. She was right.
3. Once your kids get old enough to care — let them decorate their own room, of course. It makes for awesome memories and is, I think, super important to establishing a sense of self. We need to do a whole post (hold please!) on our first personally-decorated bedrooms. I remember mine well… a very formative decorating experience.
4. Capel braided rugs — great for kids’ rooms, get a design that includes a variety of colors they can grow into and you are all set.
5. Bedspreads — go look at the corded cottons and other childhood classics (like the one in the first photo today) on Vermont Country Store’s website.
6. Wallpaper? Here’s one room I’d say “no.” That’s because wallpaper is so personal … Your kid will want to change their wall color two-to-three times growing up. Wallpaper is a ton of work and your work will likely not have much of its day in the sun. But if you want to do it for “you” and your baby’s nest, knowing that he/she will likely want it gone within 8-10 years, well, go for it.
7. Changing tables make great laundry centers in the laundry room after they’ve gone out of diaper-changing use.

"Growing up room" - phase two

With that said, decorating a child’s room “in mid-century style” is just as wide open as in an adult bedroom. If you are buying vintage furnishings, there are great deals out there, especially if you have an open mind regarding style. In fact, I like to say that vintage bedroom sets and dining room sets are the best bargains around. That’s because you only have x-number of bedrooms and only one dining room. After that, you are done. So folks don’t generally “collect” them, like Stangl birds or whatever. This means there is less demand, which means lower prices.

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BEDROOMS all this week here at Retro Renovation. Some readers recently asked for more ideas and inspiration for their mid-century bedrooms — so let’s have a look.

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In my experience, designing my mid-century bedroom was not at all stressful. Compared to a kitchen or bathroom there are far fewer decisions. Because you are working within a drywall or plaster “box” — you do not have to think about expensive things like tile and plumbing and electric, etc. Bedrooms are a much more “creative” than “technical” problem solving. To me — and as per feng shui — a bedroom should be a restful place. With that as pretty much the only “rule,” the design possibilities are in fact endless. Here are 11 tips taken from my own experience, to get you started.

1. Rug — Where you start with your bedroom design may depend on how strong you feel about any single element coming into it. But, I think that a rug is a good place to start. A rug provides you with colors to work with as you make further decisions. If you want to save a lot of money, you can watch for a vintage rug. In my bedroom, I have a large danish rug, kind of shaggy, in a mosaic pattern, which I got for free from an office building where I worked — and before I owned this house. I had to pay a bit to get it cleaned. But it’s a fantastic rug. It set the tone for the rest of my bedroom decor.
2. Paint color — My next decision was paint color. I picked up a color in the rug. My wall color is Putnam Ivory from Benjamin Moore. It really reads “gold.” It is very soothing. My bedroom is not very big. The color kind of wraps me in a warm blanket…
3. Accent wall? — I love the idea of wallpapering one wall. This is a good way to use a smaller lot of vintage wallpaper. I haven’t done this yet in my bedroom, but it’s on my list. Another alternative: Use paint to accent one wall or as we saw the other day in the 1954 mid-century modern bedroom, to accent the architecture.
4. Bedding — We’ve talked about bedding this week. I think that, in general, your bedding can take its queue from your wall color. The thing about beds is that they are…large boxes. I think that the reason lots of throw pillows can be so pleasing is that they break up that box. The idea in a bedroom, is to keep your eye moving around the room. You don’t want it to get stuck on that one big box. Note: My bedspread is quilted, with welting separating it into three sections…this is another way to break up this king-sized space.
5. Window treatments — Window treatments are another place where all the colors of your room can come together, and where you can bring in more texture and pattern. You know I love pinch pleats. Just wait, and vintage pinch pleats WILL come your way. In a bedroom, layer them over a pull shade or cellular shade. These can be black-outs or not, depending on how much you’re bothered by light in the morning. You could also layer them over sheers. I can’t emphasize enough how pleasing the layering is.
6. Furniture — I’ve put this pretty far down because there are so many bedroom furniture options out there. I’ll write more this week about furniture styles for postwar bedrooms. Bottom line: It’s not just about mid-century modern. Or Heywood Wakefield. French Provincial is a “traditional” style that can be very pleasing. And some of the Early American furniture out there is solid maple, folks — really high quality stuff. One thing I will throw at you: Wood is good in the feng shui world. Metal, not so much. Metal is “cold”… Beds should be warm.
7. Furniture arrangement — Feng shui tips that I think really are spot on: Don’t put your bed under a window. Don’t put your bed under a beam overhead that dissects the bed in any way. If possible, sleeper(s) should be able to see the door.
8. Lamps — Oh my, you can have SO MUCH FUN with these. Look at “boudoir lamps” “lamps pair” or on ebay or etsy. But only for research (unless you get really stumped, or find something really fabulous. Because, vintage bedroom lamps are incredibly abundant at antique shops and estate sales. I like my bedrooms lamps to have a little glamour. Mine are mid-century crystal (not real crystal, I don’t think.). Not too big, not too small. You want these lamps to be easy to ready by. Functional. Watch the wattage.
   
9. Mirrors — Feng shui says: Don’t hang mirrors opposite windows or doors, they just send the energy right back out. No mirrors pointing at the bed either, this will make for restless sleep. We have a lovely pair mid-century mirrors above the night stands to the right and left of our bed. They are kind of kidney shaped — which is really cool, as again, it creates something that is NOT a BOX to look at. Mirrors are wonderful wonderful things. Don’t “settle”, get something fabulous.
10. Artwork — Feng shui says: No photos of dead people. Move the ancestors into a hall or family room. My second piece of advice, based on what I see people do in their homes: Don’t be dinky with your artwork. If you have small pieces, group them together. Same with collections. Last advice: Hang artwork at eye level.
    
11. Accessories — Yum to: Grandma’s afghan… Mirrored trays with your prettiest vintage jewelry… Pretty alarm clocks (or an alarm clock collection). Ick to: Clutter. (A constant battle for me.)

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When it comes to bedroom rugs, I’m a big fan of Capel braided rugs. I have two braided rugs from Capel, which I originally purchased about 15 years ago. I’ve been in three houses…and was always able to find a perfect spot for them. You can get them on sale for great prices, in all sizes, in a gazillion colorways, they last forever, and because they are multicolored they can fit with many different color schemes — they give you flexibility…these things have legs, you will be handing them down to your kids. You can get them in all-wool, in chenille, and in blends that would work well in a basement where it may be damp. They are also totally authentic retro, and it seems, made in America. These things are nearly perfect. One thing I will add is that, even with all the color, they read kind of “neutral” once you get them onto the floor. Once they are loaded up with furniture, lamps and all, they kind of blend right into the floor. They also hide dirt exceedingly well.  See all the Capel braided rugs here.

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52PostnBeam spotted this gorgeous, nine-piece, 1930s bedroom ensemble on craigslist, and posted it over on the Forum. Gorgeous – and seems like a steal at $60. Thanks, 52pnb, the retro decorating gods will surely send you set of vintage steel kitchen cabinets soon!

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WOW. Now this is something I’ve never seen. Thanks to 52PostnBeam for spotting this steel bedroom set on craiglist and posting it on the Forum. So deco. All metal. $175 in Arizona – great deal. As 53pnb says:

Take your love of metal cabinets to the next level…or at least to the next room.

Reminds me, many readers have send me notes over the past two years asking me to do stories on Lustron homes…I actually know about these, have been in a few…I’ll get around to the topic some day! Meanwhile: A metal bedroom set — so cool.

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I think that our readers in Eichler homes and other mid-century modern homes will like this bedroom. This design is from 1954. The slate blue and orange color combination is stunning, and the “simplicity” of the design is so elegant and yet, comfortable.

Notice all the Asian touches…there’s a mid-century modern horse…George Nelson bubble lamps…and even a monsterosa deliciosa.This room also shows how judicious use of paint can make for an interesting design — by that I mean, notice where they use the blue, then the white, then the blue again, to accentuate the different wall spaces.

And, look closely, and you will see the bed is actually set against a panel wall. Like: There’s a desk — and a bar! — on the other side of that wall!

This is another in my treasured collection of vintage Armstrong flooring ads from Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. advertising comps.

If you just can’t get ENOUGH this blog,  you will love our anointed “bibles” — compilations of Armstrong ads from the 50s and 60s. See ‘em the link below, or they are always there in my Pamazon store of favorite books:

• Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong 1950s and
• Interior Solutions from Armstrong the 1960s.

And, here’s the ad text from today’s bedroom, for those studying for their Retro Renovation Ph.D’s along with me:

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Maggie recommended this ebay seller for new-old-stock bedspreads — I like this one a lot. It’s for a full-sized bed, originally made for Sears, and never used. Thanks, Maggie.

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Yes, it is possible that this 1954 bedroom from the interior design team at Armstrong went a little too far with the cork. On the closet doors? Well, maybe for a teen — you could thumbtack your Tab Hunter posters there…. Look beyond this cork excess, however, and this mid-century bedroom has some lovely design going on..

The accent colors — the rich peacock blue, flamingo pink, and black – are wonderful. Look: A robin’s egg blue-green ceiling, nice! The dressing table spanning the two closets certainly looks appealing, even if the use of space is kind of impractical. I have Exactly this same master bedroom set up — the closets like this with a (smaller) window in between. You can bet I have a nice low long dresser there for my loads of Stuff. And of course, those black lacquer cone pendants are fantastic. “Homey comfort blended with modern simplicity” — that’s what the copywriter tells us.

This is another in my treasured collection from Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. advertising comps. Oh, how I love my Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. advertising comps.

New Retro Renovators, have you bought your our anointed “bibles” yet? Use the link below, or they are always there in my Pamazon store of favorite books:

• Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong 1950s and
• Interior Solutions from Armstrong the 1960s.

And, here’s the ad text, for those who want to soak in more of 1954’s allure:

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