Scathing Jane spotted this big, pretty set of yellow Geneva steel kitchen cabinets for sale in Pittsburgh on craigslist. $500. Isn’t yellow a delightful color for kitchen cabinets? Thanks, Jane, and 52PostnBeam, too, for all the volunteer work you do posting kitchen cabinets and vintage plumbing items onto the Retro Renovation Forum.

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Every self-respecting ReStore has sinks galore and Charlotte was no disappointment.

A gorgeous classic shelf-back sink from the 40s or 50s. Jane: Crane? I’m guessing that because of the rounded central part of the faucet?

These were another favorite find — four vintage Eljer sinks. They looked never-installed. They were identical. They were weird in that the porcelain sink seemed to sit in another porcelain receptacle. I think they are 70s or 80s because of the color — off white with a brown decorative line around the edge.

You know how much I love matchy-matchy. I can imagine having a house with three bathrooms and buying all of these to install: Two in the master, one each in the other two bathrooms. Oh, it would be SO FUN to decorate around these. I may be have to do a complete post launching right off them. Can anyone explain the design, though? That is, the fact that the round-bowl sink sits in some sort of other container or pan?

Behind the sinks were various other items. I liked the fact that you could buy cabinet shelves for $1.

They had enough of this Wilsonart terrazzo-like laminate-topped snap-in-place flooring to cover $45 s.f. I like the look, and can certainly see it being appropriate (and easy to install) in mid-century renovations.

Here’s the Wilsonart flooring packaging. I don’t think this was very old. I will have to go online and check out the story.

They had a good selection of wood shelf brackets, each for $5. Kinda country, I’d guess you could say… but maybe an application for us.

There was a nice little selection of bedroom headboards.

The whole home design blog world was gaga for make-your-own or buy-it upholstered headboards last year. This was a king-size upholstered headboard. Change out the fabric and you are in business way cheaper even than starting from scratch.

Oooooh, dig the ivory and gold French Provincial princess bed. I wanted one of these so bad when I was growing up. But my evil mother (just kidding, mom) stuck me with practical maple that oh by the way is still in the family.

Oooh la la, a very wonderful modern church chandelier. The shade is some sort of acrylic, and it’s trimmed with wood (birch?) and unlacquered brass. Just $35. I am kicking myself for not buying it, drats. What the heck, my luggage was already overweight due to the vintage Hall-Mack advertising display that Lauren brought me. DH wouldn’t mind a religious relic, too, now, would he?

A little bit of lighting sweetness for a foyer. I love the frosted glass on this style of vintage light fixture.

I noticed on another blog some dumping on old-fashioned interior wood shutters. Hey, I like these!

A cute maple hutch. One of the things I really tend to like about these is their scale — they are usually not too big for our smallish rooms and ceilings. Lots of collection display space, too.

I’ve always liked the look of screens like this, although I am not sure I’d ever put one in my house. I could see buying this, and taking it apart to transform / repurpose / upcycle each panel into something else, though.

Outside, you could get a whole vintage colonial lamp post.

I know this is hard to see – but it appears to be a large acrylic storage or display case of some sort. I was thinking: If I lived in Charlotte, I would buy it to hold all my vintage wallpaper.

This concrete piping (?) had an interesting shape and was about 12″ square. I was thinking, you could wet-saw each piece into a different length then stand the pieces up and make them into mid-mod planters.

Maybe use this turquoise wire containter (?) material as a trellis? Would it get too hot? Perhaps it also could be repurposed as a groovy fencing.

Last but not least: How many homeless piano-organs do you think there are now in shops across America? I know that I saved one — a 1971 Conn. DH was not happy, oh no no no.  This vintage Kimball organ is surely a beauty.

The vintage Lowrey was lovely.

This one, too, is very pretty.

Ta da. Thank you, ReStore Habitat for Humanity Charlotte.

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Honestly, I hardly know where to start, this was such a big place with so much stuff. So, I’ll just go in the order my photo program has the images lined up. First up: A 1960s or 1970s sofa, with lovely original upholstery. Throughout the store, all of the furniture for sale appeared to be in great shape. This was likely originally an expensive sofa.

What do you think – a 1970s or 1980s dining room set? I love the lines, and continue below to see the detail on the chairs.

Cool, right? With a different upholstery, this set was sing. Or, tango.

No doubt, this colonial revival light fixture is brand new *today* — but I swear, I have a circa-1964 ad that shows something very similar paired with mid-century modern but kinda traditional furniture. Mid mods, step back from your first reaction and really look at this: It’s a very graphically interesting fixture, and very practical, too.

Another colonial revival chandelier. This one seems older – 1940s, maybe, and has very sweet lines. The bulbs currently inserted: Strange. I would say this one is meant to have some sort of glass shade on each arm.

There were numerous of these lamp post lights. Clearly, they are *today* new — but goodness, the price is right.

See? Lots.

Nothing wrong with this Early American colonial style sconce, including the $5 price.

A lovely, small scale desk chair. I wonder if there is a way to repair the one issue with the pleather? Does anyone know? Maybe there is a funky solution.

I have 1950s marketing materials for Elkay sinks just like this — these have been around for a long long time because, well, this kind of Lustertone sink never wears out. $75. Very very practical what with that drainboard on the left.

Here’s a closeup — Can you see the little Elkay Lusterton mark to the left of the price tag? That’s the mark we want to see.

Did you see my post the other day about Kohler enameled cast iron shower bases? Well, it was on this ReStore tour that I discovered they even existed. There were several mint-in-box Kohler cast iron shower pans for sale for $210 each. Almond color. Starting price for these retail is $637 and up.

Three of my favorite finds coming up, and this is the first: A vintage Kohler men’s lavatory sink. Well, it could really be the ladies lav, I am not sure. Gorgeous, and look at the faucet, too. These were $20 each — for a sink that is around $600 today, I think.

And in orange! Woah! I was so excited I started discussing the sink with a couple meandering by. I am sure they thought I was insane. Just LOOOK at this beauty. I wonder if these designs, which do not require hudee rings, need clips.

White. Yawn. I am a bit of a hypocrite in writing that, though, because I put all white fixtures in my three bathrooms. But that was 7-8 years ago, before I got sucked into this retro vortex. I would do things differently today. Someday I need to do a post: What I would do in my bathrooms if I were redoing them today. Don’t get me wrong, I have no regrets, and in fact, don’t believe in regrets. Not as long as you are doing the best you can.

The ReStore was calling these stoneware lamps “Arts & Crafts”. But I think they are some sort of 70s concoction. Super fun, big statement.

Here I am trying to be artsy, but I fear I just appear fartsy, I look like I’m squatting in the woods.

This is a better shot, but for the blinding light. Oopsy, I was getting close, but did not take enough frames. The secret to taking good photos is (1) a good camera, (2) lots of practice, and (3) taking a gazillion frames. I took 867 photos in all in Charlotte including about 200 at this ReStore. It is taking me three hours to process them and do this post.

This is the mirror thingie that I am shooting myself in. It is a recessed bathroom mirror cabinet, with a plastic-composite gilded frame. I approve of these.

Here’s a panorama of the front of the ReStore. It is a really impressive structure and operation. Hey, there is even a coffee shop attached. I like this place. But, I am out of steam. I have about 25 more images of great stuff from this ReStore to show you — come back tomorrow for the rest.

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These days, though, it’s all babies and doggies and sassy 50s dames… storybook ranches, snowmen, family polaroids and… what a sentimental mushball I’ve become. Readers — what do your favorites say about you? Put a link to them in your Comment, and we’ll take a look. And remember to contribute your photos to the growing list of Flickr Groups that I have created and administer:

• Retro Renovation (773 members)
• Royal Barry Wills Vintage Homes (3 members)
• Mid-Century Modest Homes (25 members)
• Save the Pink Bathrooms (312 members)
• Mid-century Modern Red Geraniums (32 members)

• Knotty Pine Interiors (34 members)
• Storybook Ranch Houses (37 members)

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Here’s the official portrait of the in-between-talks-meet-up. From the left, that’s: Jane (yes: Scathing Jane from the Forum, she and Michael came all the way from Atlanta!), Michael, Linda and Hugh. (Missing from photo #1 is Audrey, Linda’s friend.) They are in front of Ted Cleary’s mini-Eichler house, built on site at the show to show off his fabulous garden design. (Yes, yes, a post WILL come with mid-century garden design ideas.) Don’t we retro renovators clean up nice? You all are such a handsome group. Who would guess you are retro-maniacs… errr, that is, I mean, leaders in a new and growing national movement to save and preserve our nation’s post-war housing, the first true American Dream Homes that actually maybe have a lot still to teach us today?

There were even more readers at the various talks. Here’s Lauren — she brought me this treasure, nabbed, as I recall her story, from a flea market where a guy had a bunch of mint-in-box Hall-Mack. This is an advertising display, and Lauren said she thought of me and grabbed it, too. It’s still in my luggage. I need to get it out, photograph it for a larger post, then hide it from Mr. Retro Renovation. He will not be amused by yet another museum piece bigger-than-a-breadbox entering the house. Lauren, you rock! Send me photos of your place!

Elaine was at both my 12:30 and 3:30 talks on Friday and would have stayed for 6:30, too, but I forewarned her it was kind of similar. She is a romance novelist! Retro Renovators are such interesting people! Gosh, I am using lots of exclamation points. Readers who drive long distances to hear me opine get exclamation points.

That’s Edwin. He is from Charlotte and said that he saw the video that I posted from the Charlotte Today TV interview and ran down to the show. Edwin, I didn’t get your house story. What’s your house story? Hey, I didn’t get Elaine’s story either. My head was spinning. I need to know!

Here’s me and Hugh (who also is featured in the first two photos). We actually met on Wednesday, when I came down to hear Suzy Coehlo, then Ted Cleary speak. He lives about 75 miles away and has sent me some photos of his house — a real beauty — to post in the future.

Taylor gets on the blog again, because she made and wore a Save The Pink Bathrooms tee shirt!

And my #1 reader: My mom, Fran, who came down from Kentucky to hang out with me in Charlotte. She also saved my behind and the big finale ending of the Save The Pink Bathrooms talk by diving for my last page of notes, which I’d left in my travel case, and running them up to me talk-in-progress. After five talks in two days, you can bet that, as promised, we headed straight for Margaritaville on Friday night. That, and some good ole North Carolina barbeque.

Did I say – margarita? Life is good.

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Mattel news release:

STYLE ICONS “MAD MEN” AND BARBIE® JOIN FORCES  AS LIONSGATE, AMC AND MATTEL LAUNCH  EXCLUSIVE BARBIE DOLL COLLECTION

Season 3 DVD Hits Stores March 23; Will Include Collectible Sketch Drawings of “Mad Men” Barbie dolls

Mattel, Inc., Lionsgate® and AMC announced today the launch of four Barbie® Collector “Mad Men” dolls available to consumers July 2010. Designed by Barbie designer Robert Best, the “Mad Men” Barbie doll line features key players from the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency: creative director and leading man Don Draper; his wife Betty Draper; Sterling Cooper partner Roger Sterling; and bombshell office manager Joan Holloway. Today’s announcement marks the first licensed doll line in the Barbie Fashion Model Collection, a signature silkstone collection within the Barbie brand known for featuring couture quality fashions and accessories.

The “Mad Men” Barbie Collector doll collection embodies the “Mad Men” series’ couture fashions and accessories, and its iconic 1960s style and aesthetic. The series, which is produced by Lionsgate and airs on AMC, has made history with its multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Awards by chronicling the lives of the men and women of Madison Avenue advertising in the 1960s.  Season four of “Mad Men” premieres this summer.

Gracefully molded of Silkstone®, a material that resembles the look and weight of porcelain, each doll is stylized in iconic costumes from the series, and comes with accessories true to their show counterparts.  Don Draper wears his classic, polished red-lined suit and comes accessorized with a hat, overcoat and brief case; Betty Draper’s classic look is captured with unparalleled detail, from her faux pearl necklace to her pumps; Joan Holloway looks chic in a purple skirt suit and perfectly styled coif with her staple accessory – a pen necklace; and Roger Sterling is looking dapper in his monogrammed shirt.

Fans can get exclusive collectible sketch drawings of the “Mad Men” Barbie Collector dolls when the Season Three DVD hits stores on March 23, 2010 as each DVD set will include one of the four character sketches. The Mad Men: Season Three DVD contains all 13 episodes of the season and is also loaded with hours of special features including extensive commentaries and innovative featurettes that examine the historical events that shaped 1963.

The Barbie® Fashion Model Collection “Mad Men” Barbie® dolls will be available for a suggested retail price of $74.95. Available at BarbieCollector.com, amctv.com and select retailers.

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