by pam kueber on October 26, 2009
Today is RetroRenovation.com’s second birthday. And on this occasion I would like to introduce something I’ve been noodling for the better part of the year — an all-new term that I have invented: “Mid-century Modest.” I first used the term at my home show talks in Eugene in March…and then again when I met with the wonderful Portland MCM League group for dinner right after. I believe that author Cara Greenberg is credited with coining “mid-century modern,” in 1985, with her book of the same name. A mere 24 years later, let me introduce “Mid-century Modest” and along with it, the Mid-Century Modest Manifesto. Heck yeah there is more…
by Pam Kueber on May 16, 2009
The post about Madison Sarah and her hunt for a 50s or 60s home drew lots of comments, including a lovely note from Sumac Sue, aka Judi, of Lexington, Kentucky. Her comments were really moving, so I asked her if I could make a post out of them – and asked if she could send pictures to go with. She kindly did, and even added some more info at my request. A long post – but well worth the time to read and think about. Sumac Sue is a former newspaper reporter – so the girl can turn a phrase! Maybe other readers have similar stories about their neighborhoods that they would like to share? Send in your stories and your “walking tour” photos and I’d be happy to make this a regular feature. Thank you, Judi (Sumac Sue), for getting this started! Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on February 16, 2009
Kevin in North Carolina — one of our readers — has amazed the retroblogospher by solving the “Sister Mystery” within 24 hours. I asked him how he did it, and here is his story – which is now a part of Maureen and Noreene Everett’s story:
Hi, Pam, it’s nice to finally meet you firsthand.
I’m just thankful I could help find out who the sisters were. Like most of the other people who saw Maurine and Noreene’s pictures, their obvious love for each other and for life struck a chord in me, and the mystery of the whole collection and how the photographs ended up on eBay intrigued me. History, genealogy, and preservation are some of my passions, and it saddens me to see once valuable possessions being sold off or destroyed and losing their original meaning. Fortunately, Roz gave the photos a new meaning to be shared by so many who never even knew the sisters.
Heck yeah there is more…
by Pam Kueber on February 1, 2009
This rerun is for Sara, who is looking for a ranch house design to build. I originally ran this post back in spring 2008. Source for this design is the Small House Planning Bureau, St. Cloud, Minn. Year: No info.
“Not another one! Yes, another thing that I’m becoming obsessed with – collecting and then for hours, scrutinizing, vintage 50s house plans. It’s sort of like — the quest for Eldorado. The quest for the perfect little jewel box. Not that my house isn’t great. But I am intrigued to see if I can discover the perfect 50s house in the most compact footprint. I have these criteria, the house must have: Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on January 20, 2009
A vintage Magic Chef range used only 28 times since 1955… a pristine pink bathroom… and more “frozen in time” features in this amazing time capsule house in St. Louis…The owners only ever lived downstairs! Thanks to Meredith and her connections for spotting it and sending it right in. Real estate agent Christopher Thiemet reports that the original listing agent interviewed had advised the sellers to gut-and-renovate-ala-2009 before selling the house. He saw the gem this was and advised otherwise. Thank heavens they listened. Christopher sold the house faster than the speed of light and before it was officially listed – to a buyer who bought the whole thing kit, kaboodle, furniture – and clothes hanging in the closets. Hurray.
Read on for the story – and be sure to see even more photos at Christopher’s excellent website here.
I am also reminded of this post – another family whose virtually unused kitchen was put in a museum. Heck yeah there is more…
by Pam Kueber on January 4, 2009
Starting out a new year, it’s a retro renovation re-run that I think, kind of sums up what this blog-journey is all about:
We know about taking the road less traveled. To me, doing things the hard way has the same allure. The hunt for the perfect estate sale light fixture, the set of vintage cabinets that are just right, the document wallpaper that pulls things all together.
Honestly, the reason this blog even exists is that I had so much info in my mental hard drive about the retro renovation alternatives available — all obsessively and endlessly researched — that it seemed a shame to simply be done with it when my projects were completed.
But the dangers of the hard way came into focus this week, when I pulled Palm Springs Stephan into the vortex.
Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on December 5, 2008
by pam kueber on November 9, 2008
10. Camp sees everything in quotation marks. It’s not a lamp, but a “lamp”; not a woman, but a “woman.” To perceive Camp in objects and persons is to understand Being-as-Playing-a-Role. It is the farthest extension, in sensibility, of the metaphor of life as theater.
- Susan Sontag, Notes on “Camp”, 1964
Dan the Man at the Houston Architecture Info Forum recently linked to RetroRenovation.com with the following comment:
Here’s a neat blog on mid-century residential design. It tends towards the kitsch, but it recommends many resources and materials for appropriate renovations…
While I am truly grateful for the reco, I found myself reacting harshly at being called “kitsch” and the disparaging connotation. Hmmm. So what is kitsch…and should I care at being lumped in? I went over to Wikipedia to study etymology…
Heck yeah there is more…
by Pam Kueber on September 14, 2008
A long feature today, for our Sunday reading … hey – just like the New York Times Magazine … introducing one of our Retro Renovation readers, Courtney. Courtney first caught my attention when she corrected a mistake of mine… then alerted me to pecky cypress I’d posted months ago…and then, I learned that she’d sent us the Tiki timeline. She seemed like a very interesting chica, so I’m posting some of our online chats here. A long post – but I promise you, Courtney writes beautifully – and she makes me laugh laugh laugh. She studying journalism in California, and when she is quite famous we can tell everyone that we met her here first.
Hi Pam!
Loving the site, as always, and your new pink bathroom supplemental. I’ve got a 1930 pink bathroom (with sea foam green accent tile), and my mother has one, too, probably 50s.
One of my favorite things about your site is that is goes beyond the mid century basics; that you frequently showcase a variety of styles and design movements, beyond MCM 101: Wright and Eames. On general design sites, Wright and Eames get all the MCM glory. I’m not saying they don’t deserve the blood of my unborn, those guys were great, but I’m sick of every yuppie and their pocket dog coveting the Eames lounge chair for their otherwise sterile, vanilla California Contemporary magazine spread. I don’t know how those things became the holy grail of the upwardly mobile, but it’s really ruining the look for me. Viva la short run designs and lesser known designers! Anyway… so I really appreciate your more broad coverage.
Which brings me to why I am writing this note. I loved the museum video you linked in the side bar about Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, the one that features the still shot of your kitchen (how exciting!). However, instead of Saarinen, your link credits… EAMES!
AGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,
Courtney.
Oopsy. I do have to admit, I get my Saarinen and Eames and Noguchi and Mies all mixed up. I have to be careful when I name drop with my barista. So the conversation continued, as I asked Courtney to tell me more….
Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on August 13, 2008
You know they gotta have some good stuff in Harrisburgh, PA. Case in point: A complete 50s home beauty salon! I want I want I want SO BAD! Lousville Cynthia sent me this a long time ago. Are you still with us, Cindy? Thank you!
Hi Pam!! I am now joining your site – I love mid century modern furnishings.. wanted to forward this link to you: atomicwarehouse.com – that is my friend’s shop, I believe he still has a yellow metal kitchen…
cynthia
