Archive for the 'Reader homes' Category

The first retro renovation kaffee klatsch

Pam (left) and Cindy
Yesterday I had my first live visit with a Retro Renovation reader and it was SO MUCH FUN! Cindy - of the 1963 bathroom including the foldaway scale and TP holder with ashtray - lives in Holyoke, about an hour away. She was on her way to NYC with a planned stop [...]

50s time capsule: Seattle Julie sends us today’s incredible home

Oh my gosh, Seattle Julie is THE woman of the week of the month of the year of infinity, for sending in this fabulous home-for-sale listing from the Alki area of Seattle. A biggie at 3,300 s.f., it was built in 1957 (peak year!) and this is the first time on the market in 47 [...]

Ideas for Catherine’s 1948 retro kitchen

On Thursday we looked at Catherine’s 1948 Ohio kitchen and bathroom. She wants decorating ideas that will bring these firmly into the modern era and to complement her growing collection of Drexel and Heywood Wakefield furniture — along with her young family’s needs. With this post, I will start with the kitchen.
This house was built [...]

Let’s help Catherine retro-renovate her 1948 Ohio ranch

Sweetheart Catherine wrote me a while ago, asking for ideas for her 1948 Ohio ranch. She tells me she is already a daily reader — hurray! — and she’s also the Catherine who scanned and sent us some great Drexel brochures. So she is a Giver not just a Taker!
Catherine is fortunate to have a [...]

Retro house plants - ideas from Troy

Troy - of the Drexel furniture and vintage airplane carry on’s - wants to talk about mid century houseplants. Perhaps some green-thumbed readers have some more thoughts?
Hey Pam,
Here in San Francisco there is a dearth of mid-century residential architecture. This lack, coupled with insane housing prices, is making my goal of finding that perfect little [...]

Should I keep my pink bathroom?

Jeff writes:
Hi Pam,
I am selling my 1959 brick townhouse that comes with a nice pink bathroom. The problem is that not everyone loves pink baths. Do you have a link to any articles explaining that pink baths are coming back into style? I would like to print out some copies for potential [...]

Arian’s 60s contemporary in Gainesville, Fla. — this week’s living vicariously

Arian sends these oh-so-fabulous photos of his Gainesville contemporary. I asked him to tell his retro renovation story. So read on after the photo:

I live in Gainesville Florida, there are several mid century modern houses here. The street I live on was developed in the early to mid fifties mainly by Architects and Architect students [...]

Puttin’ on the Ritts: Courtney’s Asian-inspired furniture and some background on this midcentury phenom

Welcome to Courtney - a longtime reader but new commenter. She has some insight on Stef’s Asian inspired tables, along with some great photos of her own Ritts set - a classic, dusty-basement foraging find:
Hi Pam,
Thought I would comment on the reader question regarding her Asian inspired mid-century furniture pieces…
A few years ago I was [...]