by pam kueber on March 11, 2009
Remember the fabulous 1955 bungalow time capsule in St. Louis? Well, a few weeks ago I was able to arrange a special tour for some St. Louis readers and other mid century enthusiasts in town. Readers Shelly (left) and Lisa, pictured above, were able to attend and see the pristine living room, dining room, bedrooms, Republic kitchen and yes – pink bathroom – in person. Lisa reported: “The house is indeed perfectly preserved…It’s quite a place. It was quite an afternoon. And everyone was glad the new buyer is planning on keeping it as is.”
Many thanks to Shelly – whose brother took this great photo. Thanks, too, to Christopher Thiemet, the real estate agent who saw the potential in the house and knew it should be preserved. And thanks, finally, to the brothers who grew up in the house and allowed this very special visit.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch also covered the story. One of the reporter’s points, as she reflected on why the interior was saved-for-sale rather than remodeled – and then successfully sold immediately:
Perhaps in reaction to the current consumption culture, there is a growing desire for the workmanship and sustainability of the past. Retro is the new green living.
Update Aug. 2009: Complete story no longer available on the newspaper website.
by pam kueber on February 28, 2009
Group Therapy: Is your significant other into retro renovation and all things vintage as much as you are — or is your life a retro battleground? Has this interest strengthened bonds — or do you have to compromise (or finagle) to make it work? (Example: Like the couple in this 1948 GE advertisement, David and I juggle pretty well, but I admit, I have the estate-sale bug very bad and the number of things I constantly squirrel into the house is a source of conflict, to say it nicely…) Share your stories and tactics! This should be fun!
by pam kueber on August 18, 2008
- You can recreate this kitchen – easily. Image copyright AMC
And if you’re not into scouting for vintage items – don’t worry, you can do it with all-new products and materials available today.
Yes – if you love Betty’s knotty pine, 50s kitchen – you can recreate one for your own home.
The keys to this kitchen are the knotty pine cabinets, of course…the laminate countertop with metal edging…the cabinet hardware…and the wallpaper. Pull them together with new or vintage appliances – and a goodly number of knick knacks — and you’re in business. Supply your own lechery, heartache, intrigue and backstabbing. Here is the checklist:
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Betty surely had a Dishmaster in her kitchen! You can still buy one! Click here
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Betty surely had a Dishmaster in her kitchen! You can still buy one! Click here
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Cabico is a major maker that offers knotty pine in a number of door styles – this one is NOT particularly retro. A “planked door” is very 50s/colonial, a slab with radius edge (like Betty’s) is more 60s/modern
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The wrought iron-style cabinet hardware, in a burnished gold finish, is key. Amerock seems to have all the pieces you need.
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I like this Nevamar laminate for a green 50s countertop – plus it has some texture going on. Betty’s counter appears to be a bluish grey. No good alternatives with texture for that, that I know of.
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This Formica Atomic Turf in green also appears to be a great alternative for the countertops. You can see how we’re heading straight for: 60s avocado green!
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Arborite Palermo Cielo countertop lamimate – I added this one recently – a great choice and in a nice, faux linoleum pattern
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One place left in the USA to find the three pieces of stainless steel edging you will need to complete your countertops. The prop guy at MM chose another style, which is okay, but this New York Metal stuff is my surefire favorite for a retro renovation kitchen.
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Waverly wallpaper – there are lots of plaids to choose from. Of course, if you use blue laminate – you will use wallpaper that picks up blue rather than green
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In the long shot of Don and Betty’s kitchen, they appear to have sheet lineoleum. But for 50s flooring replicated today, my top choices is Azrock Cortina in Autumn Haze – it has the perfect streaky 50s look. Polish it up.
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To get yellow appliances – you’re going to have to search for vintage. If you don’t have the patience, white is perfectly acceptable for 50s retro renovations. So is stainless. This Northstar fridge would look right at home in Betty’s kitchen reborn.
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Get the sink vintage — or Kohler has one just like this including with the Hootie ring.
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GE cooktop
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This Frigidaire wall oven actually has quite a retro feel
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Betty has lots of tchotchkes, like this spice rack — now the decorating really starts getting fun!
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You can recreate this kitchen – easily! Image copyright AMC
Here are links to previous posts with more detailed information about a number of these resources:
by pam kueber on February 15, 2008
Several readers have sent me notes explaining how sad it was to catch a TV makeover show that ripped out a perfectly beautiful vintage bathroom. Surfing around, I found these examples of perfectly excellent 50s or 60s bathrooms that were disparaged and discarded.
HGTV editors went so far as to call the bathroom, above, a “pink plague.” How ridiculous. While I agree that the wallpaper may not be just right (the whole square theme is taken too far…although you must admit: it has style!), the core of the bathroom is delightful. And the blue bathroom that replaced it (in thumbnail) is fine but an unnecessary expense. Prediction: River rock walls and floors will be out as quick as they were in. Alas.
Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this 60s provincial bathroom. It would be so fun to decorate – and it looks quite high quality. The replacement bathroom is fine…it’s great they kept that floor and awesome mirror… sad sad sad they took out the pink tile…. and overall, again, just…unnecessary.
Update: Another example from HGTV from Brian at Atomic Addiction. Many thanks, B! Super cool blue sink, ROP:
Seems like a bunch of the rest of the world — well behind our curve — actually dislikes vintage pink bathrooms. They will regret what they have done.
Finally, with this post, I declare an all-new category: Pink bathrooms! And, I’ve gone back through all my posts to fill the category up. Have fun reveling in pink pink pink!
UPDATE: This post led to the creation of my Save The Pink Bathrooms micro-site. Be sure to see it here – it is pretty amazing, if I say so myself!
