Products and ideas to remodel your mid century home in authentic vintage style
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postwar homes – “modern” and “modest” alike.
I'm Pam Kueber, your mid mod mad guide. Read more
Heather and her husband need to install a new stair rail along the stairs to the basement in ther 1970 ranch house. They want a design that they can build themselves and have asked for our ideas to help. I have an immediate idea — but read on — and I welcome reader ideas, too! [...]
Yes: Teal — a color that ruled men’s sweaters and ties back in, what — the 90s? — is getting trended into the collective interior design consciousness again. When I interviewed Emily Morrow, color and design director for Shaw Floors, she mentioned that colors are trending toward jewel tones, which look good as accents with all [...]
Today, a beautiful image, to make a few points about decorating: Find yourself some large pieces of artwork. I see way too many interiors with dinky works of art. You need to “mix it up”. You need some big pieces. Too much little itty bitty = clutter. Of course, you can “mass” your small pieces [...]
Another start-of-year tradition here at Retro Renovation: A big reminder, everyone, to get informed and renovate safely. Renovating and remodeling our vintage and antique homes can be fun galore. But please always remember, there are many known potential hazards in surfaces and materials that you need to take personal responsibility to become knowledgeable about — [...]
My spotlight on the essential mid-century decorator David Hicks continues with: Tablescapes. David Hicks not only did beautiful tablescape, he invented the word. He had a philosophy about tablescapes, and I adore it. Quoted in an interview in The Independent, he said: My passion for arranging masses of things together is part of the way I see [...]
Announcing the Retro Renovation 2012 Color of the Year: Bitossi Rimini Blu. Of course, all colors are wonderful, so this is really just for fun. This also gives me the opportunity to write about a color that is not necessarily on the mainstream design community’s radar, but which I think is classic and fabulous. Yes: [...]
Could these be more lovely? Researching the life and work of ceramicist LaGardo Tackett recently, I learned that 18 of his planter designs — and one amazing garden sculpture — are still in production and available today. In 1998 Vessel USA resurrected the iconic ceramics originally made famous by Max and Rita Lawrence’s Architectural Pottery company beginning in [...]
Wow, here is a fantastic find: EIGHT Charley Harper posters originally produced for the National Park Service in 1986, 1990 and 1994, still available for sale from the Government Printing Office. The posters cost from $12 to $19, and get this: There is no cost for shipping and no tax! The eight, apparently still remaining [...]
Wow, does anyone know about countertops like these? Becky recently bought a time capsule and her french provincial kitchen (I’d call it) includes these countertops. Reminds me of these Fritz floor tiles. Anyone work with this back in the day who knows? Kind of, an early-days version of Silestone or the other composite-quartz countertops sold [...]
So here is a little piece of trim made to fit between the edge of your countertop and the edge of your stove, to prevent all manner of food from dropping down between. Hmmm, a handy dandy that I didn’t even know I needed, but which I am pretty sure would make DH, a neat freak, very happy. [...]
Reader Sarah successfully removed a layer of more modern laminate from her yummy gold-speckled mid-century laminate beneath. She wrote about her experience — and the products she used — on her blog, Sarahs’ Blue Castle. But before you jump over there, take a look at her note to me and my comments here first –>
The most popular laminate design in mid century America? Boomerang Formica? Nope, guess again. According to materials expert Grace Jeffers, the most popular design was actually linen. You know what I’m talking about — that kind of tight-to-medium-weave with nubblies stuff. I had it both my bathrooms with vanities. In pistachio green = absolutely iconic. [...]
When folks move into new/old 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s or 1970s homes, it seems like one of the biggest and most common needs is to update materials in the kitchen that are on their last legs. In general, if you have a laminate countertop that is in good shape, I’d say: Keep it. Or [...]
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