Here is a link to a Retro Renovation classic post from the early days, Dec. 2007. I found numerous rose red wallpapers from Thibaut that are excellent proxies for the vintage wallpaper that you get a peek of in the photos above. Rose red is a classic 50s color that you don’t really think about much…I’ve even spotted it in kitchens (click on thumbnail) which is quite something. Even better, I think the color — especially in those wallpapers! — would be wonderful for dining rooms — very convivial. Good for dinnertime cheer, although maybe not for your waistline.

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In case you have not figured this out, I derive immense joy at thumbing my nose at reigning mass-market stylistas.  If it’s “out” — I ask, “says who?” — and declare it “in.” Today: I declare that these novelty wallpapers are the cat’s pajamas.

Detail of “Trailways.”

This one is absolutely classic. It gets an exclamation point!

These are all current day wallpapers. They are $40-$50 per double role at the discount online place. The ones that are black and white are from a collection called Designing in Black and White, here is the link to this collection on American Blinds and Wallpaper.

To see the names/collections, just scroll your mouse over them and the name will pop up in “alt text”. The papers here with color are from a collection called ‘Echo A Collectors Home’ – here is the link on American Blinds and Wallpaper.

I think these wallpapers would be perfect for a powder room, in particular…

…In your powder room, your guests would see them and really wonder whether you were insane. They would say to their significant other afterward, “Did you SEE that bathroom wallpaper?,”  squinting confusedly.

This one would be good for the kitchen, of course — or for the basement if you have a retro soda shop going on.

P.S. While I was on my dreadmill today, watching that decorating network, I saw a stylista declare:  “Oh, yes, white appliances are in again. It’s not just about stainless steel anymore.” Is that enough said, or do I need to do more to convince you to choose your own path. Which also means: Take every single thing I say with a honkin’ big grain of salt, too.

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I found these poodle wallpapers at American Blinds Wallpaper & More and the Wallpaper Connection. I guess if you have a pink bathroom…and put up this wallpaper…then you might as well get a poodle…and name her Fifi.

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Bradbury & Bradbury has introduced four new vintage wallpaper reproductions — classic damasks that, as owner Steve Bauer says, “would be appropriate in almost any style of home, with the exception of perhaps the most sterilized of midcentury modern homes, where ‘ornament is crime.’”

The four papers — Berkshire, Hampshire, Warwickshire and Essex — are all taken from 1920-1940s documents in the Bradbury archives. Read on for more from Steve…

Steve writes,

Hi Pam,

Thanks, I’m glad you’re interested in our new papers. All four are from early 1920-1940s documents in our archives. These are always harder to date because many damask patterns originated from even earlier examples, some of which may go as far back as the 16th century. Because of that “timeless” quality and their visual elegance damasks have never really migrated away from popular taste. We wanted to make this new collection adaptable to a wide range of tastes and so chose to be less “period specific” in the colorings, using more neutrals and soft metallics which can blend with either historic or more contemporary styles of decorating.

As far as uses, they are more probably best suited to the main living areas, unless there is a desire to go a little more formal in a master suite, for example. As I mentioned earlier they would be appropriate in almost any style of home, with the exception of perhaps the most sterilized of MCM homes, where “ornament is crime”.

And yes, we will be developing more traditional patterns like these, as long as our customers ask for them!

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DOESN’T THIS MAKE YOU WANT TO BE 10 AGAIN — when no one questions why you would want a bedroom that is sweet sweet sweet?

The wallpaper is Lily of the Valley by Thibaut, and it’s available in 7 colorways – including yellow, light blue, even coral. I love the soft pastels the best, I think…. This is so perfectly vintage.

This post was originally published Dec. 28, 2007

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Lots of treasures awaited my return home yesterday… An ebay find which I’ll show soon… Barkcloth samples from Full Swing Textiles… and the best of all: Two rolls of vintage pink wallpaper from reader NYC Dorothy. She has contributed it to our community – so that it can savored for all. You see, these are the two wallpapers that hung in her mother’s kitchen and bathroom – and she wanted them to go to a good home.  Dorothy, I promise you, they are in the right place – in front of many thousands of readers who treasure these memories of the homes our own families built in postwar America. Many thanks, indeed!

Oh, and readers… just to ensure you are triply amazed: Did I mention that both of these wallpapers are on a totally high-quality (not brittle) vinyl…. and that they have gold flecks and streaks throughout? Totally swoonable.

Click through for more delightful images of these two great vintage wallpapers….

Want to see more vintage wallpaper? Try these posts:

• My vintage wallpaper collection on flickr.
• 33 vintage-style wallpapers new
• Vintage wallpaper – reader favorites
• Bradbury & Bradbury ’40s and ’50s wallpaper reproductions

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Ifinally got around to scanning and then posting my vintage wallpaper collection on flickr. My love affair continues as strong as ever. I think that I now have about 125 rolls. I figure these are a better investment than the stock market. There is no way that I will stop proselytizing the importance of wallpaper to your retro renovation any time soon! And remember, if you are concerned about resale – you can always do “the basics” – like tile, flooring, cabinetry, countertops in a neutral, conservative, traditional style. Then, add your retro zing with with wallpaper and other accessories. If you use a liner paper underneath the vintage wallpaper, you can conceptually remove the vintage paper and reuse it (at least, this is what one expert once told me, it’s worth checking into). If your fixed basics are neutral…timeless… a new owner can work with them to create their own look..

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I continue to be on the hunt for readers who are looking for less expensive wallpaper for their mid century ranch, cape, colonial, bungalow and split level homes. This means: Wallpapers from the sweet cheerful 40s…to the atomic 50s…to the mod generation 60s…and all the stylistic tangents in between. For example, the more I’m into all of this the more I realize: We are a traditional nation. Small tone-on-tone prints are very suitable for your retro renovation, too!

Today: 33 choices with a little of everything described above from Seabrook’s Carey Lind Mahogany Collection. These are “today” wallpapers but I like a number of them for several reasons. One of my most exciting finds is the paper above. See the ’slubs’? And those dogwood blooms? A very typical barkcloth look! I can definitely see this paper in a pink bathroom — for those of you who want to ‘tone down’ the pink… it would also look great in a in a foyer, bedroom or office. Click through for additional selections and a complete gallery of other nice choices.

This tone-on-tone small print, available in several colorways, could look really great in a foyer, including one that has paneled wainscoting along the bottom (like my foyer.) This is very traditional – very Charlie Brown… Leave It To Beaver… Happy Days. I think it would look great!

This tone-on-tone stripe pattern featuring coral is available in a number of soft colorways and would be very suitable for a bathroom — ocean motifs are good in bathrooms, especially if you live along the cost. I normally don’t like stripes in a bathroom which includes 4×4 tiles up the walls – but this one could work because it is to soft. When I say “tone-on-tone” that’s what I mean – the design is so soft, so similar in color to the background color that the paper has an effect of texture rather than in-your-face design. Tone-on-tone papers are good in spots where you might want to add a design to the wall, but not have the paper ‘overtake’ the room. It’s easy, for example, to layer art work on tone-on-tone paper without the paper competing the art.

And click here for the entire Seabrook Carey Lind Collection with lots more colorways.

 

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I have been on the hunt for affordable, vintage style wallpaper – a major reader want. In my first expedition I found this selection of Raymond Waites wallpaper that I think would be good for 40s or early 50s bedrooms, family rooms, offices, dens and kitchens — and which cost just over $20 a roll.

The roses-on-stripes to me are very classic in a 40s or 50s girls’ bedroom – pretty in pink to be sure. The plaids and other designs all have a tea-towel feel that puts them in to the vintage design camp. These are each about $22/roll via americanblinds.com.

 

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Hey Emily,

No question, I see the Bradbury Mod Generation wallpaper “Daisy” in “Sunshine” fitting right into your mid-mod 60s 70s kitchen. Maybe…wainscoting along the bottom of the wall painted in a creamy white…chair rail…then this wallpaper. Oh my goodness, we’d get your kitchen in a magazine for sure! Where do you live? I want to come over and help!

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