From the category archives:
So what are you doing this weekend? Mick most likely is entertaining friends at his Flamingo Drive-In, the amazing backyard theater that he created behind his 1943 cabin. Ain’t got no plasma, ain’t got no hot tub — just good old-fashioned lawn chairs, a projector and click on through to see a little classic Hollywood glamour, too… Heck yeah there is more…
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Longtime readers may recognize this photo, it’s one of my favorite images of idealized 50s family life ever. And ooooh, I like that colonial-modern kitchen, too! But look, it also includes pots of red geraniums on the window sill. In my detail-focused time travels back into retroworld, I have most definitively noticed a trend to include red geraniums in postwar kitchen designs. I have a few theories why: 1) Geraniums are big and bold – in synch with the times. 2) They are middle class… egalitarian. 3) They need sun, and we were California-livin’. 4) They look really good with cool colors like aqua and robin’s egg blue. 5) They also play into the patriotic sensibilities of the time. I run a flickr group called Midcentury Modern Red Geraniums - take a look at about 50 images in all. The majority of them come from flickr friend American Vintage Home, who has quite an online archive of vintage photography. Thank, you American Vintage!
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Kristin has been doing some retro renovation – of her garden. She has uncovered lots of shrubs and perennials under years of scrub. She has planted her built-in brick planter with retro style plants. And her neighbor Lee — another RR reader — nabbed this patio set for her off another neighbor’s curb. Dumpster divers unite! Hey, Kristin. You mention that your neighborhood is “newly popular.” Were you being serious? Tell us more…. Heck yeah there is more…
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Vince recently wrote in with a link to this great looking, vintage-style patio set. “I thought you might be interested in seeing the nice vintage patio set that is being offered by Crate & Barrel in their outlet site. You can purchase pieces separately or an entire 5 piece set.” I believe that these are very classic style of what’s called “motel chairs” because, you got it, they sat in front of motels and motor court inns. Heck yeah there is more…
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NO DISCUSSION OF MIDCENTURY LANDSCAPING IS COMPLETE without including the famous pink flamingo lawn ornaments designed by Don Featherstone. According to my online research, Featherstone is an artist who sculpted 750 products for Union Products, Inc., in Leominster, Mass., starting in 1956. He sculpted the iconic pink flamingos in 1957. They were based on National Geographic images, and they went on the market in 1958. The taller one is 30″ tall when staked into the ground. Read on for more history — and how to still buy these today! Heck yeah there is more…
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Elizabeth lives not too far from me. I was invited to come down and see her house – and her gorgeous magnolia. But, I was out of town the week it bloomed so I haven’t made it down yet. I am nutso for my garden this year! In a week or two we have our favorite landscape guy – who knows what grows well here, low maintenance, really well — coming to put in a new crabapple tree and some more shrubs, and a second tree that I forget the name of. Our 1951 colonial-ranch house is pretty much “done” in terms of renovation expense, so now our spare cash is going to landscaping. I’m looking forward to sittin’ on the front patio in my rockin’ chair and watching my new trees and shrubs grow, year after year after year. How is your garden growing this year? What are you putting in?
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MARY-FRANCES of Meanwhile Back At The Ranch recently featured an excellent story from the National Trust for History Preservation that seeks to address that age-old question: Should I buy replacement windows? The NTHP’s answer, modified by me: Go slow in making this decision, and have a bias toward trying to work with what you have. Best solution may be to tighten up your existing windows, add storms, and for improved energy conservation look at adding attic insulation, a new furnace, a programmable thermostat — even just window treatments! These are likely far “greener” solutions than sending (likely better quality) old wood windows to the dump and causing the energy-intensive manufacturer of all-new windows. Bottom line, with windows: The ‘easy’ answer — to work with what you have — might not only be the ‘cheapest’ but also the ‘greenest.’ Click here to go to the NTHP article. And note: We’re talking wood windows here. I haven’t seen advice on steel or aluminum windows … sorry… as I know that’s another question for some readers. A safety issue with aluminum/steel windows seems to be: If there is a fire, can you open them easily?
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In this RetroRenovation classic re-run from April 2008, Madison Sarah writes to express her concern about midcentury homes lacking curb appeal. She is looking to buy a new/old home. I share my advice on what to look for when shopping for a home, and also how we handled starting out with a house whose curb appeal had most definitely faded. Heck yeah there is more…
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Reader Tiki Lisa did major retro reconnaissance in her neighborhood — and photographed these 57 midcentury exteriors. She’s sharing via this slide show linked to her flickr photostream. Great exterior details here — wood trim, shutters, brick work, roof slopes, paint colors, window boxes, and more. And, I’m particularly in love with all the Cinderella ranch homes, also known as Storybook ranch homes. You live in a retro-wonderland, TL! Many thanks!
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Midcentury homes come in all styles and sizes – generally with either “ranch style” or “colonial style” elements. The house above: A real mix of the two, and the exterior touches really give it…stature, even despite its small size – just 1,000 s.f. There is so much you can do to add great curb appeal to your postwar ranch, cape, colonial, bungalow, or split. Read on for 17 illustrated ideas… Heck yeah there is more…
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