Retro Renovation» Mid Mod Madness

Have a great weekend!

pam kueber — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:30:27 +0000

I finished the punch list (with just two cheats), and am actually back working — and doing my vintage collage — in my remodeled office studio. No “real” furniture or storage is installed yet — we’re having a photo shoot on Saturday with just the bones of the room, then the rest will go in, probably little by little. I am the kind of person who likes to live with a space as I decorate… I know it sounds corny, but over time, the room reveals to me what it wants… what’s next. Anyway, I’m all aflutter getting ready for photos… and hey, I heard it’s a long weekend coming up. Renovate safe, be safe out there on the roads — and don’t poke anyone with that barbecue poker. I’ll be back here Monday morning. xoxo, Pam

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Retro Renovation in the news: Supersize me!

pam kueber — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:50:51 +0000

Now and again there’s a newspaper story about the blog. I don’t post them all, because, well, I’m gonna get a big head. But, I had to show this one because, well, could that head-slash-photo get any bigger? What a hoot — that’s Sunday’s story in the Detroit Free Press — reader Jeanne sent me the photo of the front page of the real estate section, which certainly … calls attention to our cause.

Actually, this story — which you can read here online – originated in the Akron Beacon Journal and was published on April 7. Home editor Mary Beth Breckenridge did a fantastic writeup of our phone interview. Lordy, I recall being all strung out on coffee. Seriously, now that I work from home, if you get me on the phone, I talk your ear off. Luckily, she thought it was all quite fun — she is from Youngstown, Ohio, she told me — home of the #1 Youngstown steel kitchen cabinets, so she gets it, of course. I LOVE her story. It was published in Akron — but then, a few weeks later, the story was picked up and syndicated by McClatchy-Tribune. Now: The story has been appearing all over, including Seattle, Miami, Detroit (twice!), Kansas City, Toledo, Wisconsin and Utah.

Mary Beth Breckenridge’s story in the Akron Beacon-Journal also inspired this story about Retro Renovation in the Daily Mail online — England loves the Retro, too!

I usually do post stories like this on Facebook Fan Page when they appear. Lots of readers said this was their favorite line from this story:

She can hardly go to an estate sale without filling her car with midcentury furniture, accessories and other home elements. “I just get all like saving puppies about it,” she said.

But what I’m happiest made it into the story (in addition to getting “Whac-A-Mole” into a legitimate newspaper writeup) is this:

She also loves the community that has grown up around her blog, a group of midcentury-home fans who bond over sunburst mirrors and tension pole lamps. With so much cumulative knowledge, she said, it seems there’s always someone who can answer the questions posed by her readers.

And someone to ooh and aah over that electrified faucet.

xoxo, dear readers. Thank YOU for continuing to make this whole journey a BoOm PoW BLAST! Are we having fun yet?

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Punch List Progress Tracker

pam kueber — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:07:07 +0000

I am super duper close to finishing My Punch List to finish my Office Studio Remodel is Done. I have begun blogging again while I squeeze in time to finish this list. I am Determined. Punch List Progress Tracker:

Punch Item	Status
Caulk ceiling trim to fill gaps.	Done. Became unnecessary because new, darker trim hides gaps.
Repaint ceiling trim another color because first color is not right. Be really careful, because trim is already nailed up there. Oh, and carpet is back in, so be sure to lay tarp etc. in case of spills.	Done. Had to tape ceiling with blue painter’s tape. Huge PITA.
Take 2 Advil. (Wednesday morning)	Done.
Second coat will be necessary.	Done. This is a big one. Heading into the home stretch now!
Final coat of paint around door and window – the flat part, not the decorative part.	Done.
Hit tricky spot where wallpaper is not sticking well with another coat of wall size. (Yes, there is wallpaper involved).	Done.
Finish tricky wallpaper spot.	Done. This is also a huge one. The END of this project is in sight.
Prime wood shelving side 1. Let dry.	Done.
Flip over and prime wood shelving side 2. Let dry.	Done.
Paint wood shelving side 1. Let dry.	Done.
Flip over and paint wood shelving side 2. Let dry.	Done.
Second coat: Flip over and paint wood shelving side 1. Let dry.	Done.
Take 2 Advil. (Thursday morning)	Done.
Second coat: Flip over and paint wood shelving side 2. Let dry.	I am skipping this step, because you can’t see the bottom of the shelves when they are installed, and because my patience with this project is on its last legs. Good enough & Done.
Call Kevin and remind him he needs to come back and (1) add bit of trim to shelf on bathroom wall and (2) put in shelf grommet thingies.	Done.
Figure out the “creative thing” to do with the shelf trim. Do it. Multiple steps, I repeat: Shoot me.	Done.
Install shelves. Easy. This really isn’t even a step, but it gets in because of item above.	Done.
Install new vent cover for ductwork coming out of ceiling. (Hope it really fits cuz you aren’t sure.)	Done. Got to use “The Claw.” Fits.
Go out and buy attachment brackets for vintage shutters. BTW, who has this kind of hardware? I hope it’s easy to find. (Yes, there are vintage shutters involved.)	Ordered online.
Get hardware onto vintage shutters.	Done.
Install vintage shutters into window.	Done.
Clean new/old curtains going into window.	Done.
Sew new/old curtain panels together and re-hang.	Done.
Assemble rug shampooer purchased from Target July 2011. I have a feeling this is not going to be fun. At all.	Deferred to late date.
Shampoo carpet while room still is empty.	Deferred to later date.

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