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Whether you own a mid century home or simply love the retro look, you’ve found your place for: New product recommendations for your home renovation projects … inspirational vintage images … stories of other readers’ homes … quirky info about the 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s design ethic… and a community of homeowners dedicated to cherishing their postwar ranch, cape, colonial, contemporary, split-level and bungalow homes. Welcome — and here’s a roadmap to help you get started.

For inspirational design ideas for a kitchen or bathroom update:

  • Take a look at the Galleries
  • Play with the Categories (center column) – there are 1,200+ posts… one reader called this place a “mini museum”
  • Best idea: Come back every day — you never know what fun I’ll serve up

For products available today see these Pages for recommendations:

FAQs are under the header but here’s a link to take you straight to them.

Looking for something else? Seriously, the Search box – center column – works really well.

This site also has:

And please, take care when renovating!
We all care very much about managing environmental and safety issues properly, so when undertaking your restoration project, be sure to familiarize yourself with and use recommended best practices. For example, the EPA hosts a website on lead in the home and a website on asbestos in the home. Consult professionals regarding these materials, and also about the proper disposal of debris, etc.


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{ 79 comments }

C L May 21, 2009 at 2:18 pm

I have a few retro items that I want to sell, being that we are renovating our kitchen. Basically, we have Geneva metals cabinets and a working roper stove from the 50s. I would hate to have to recycle this stuff, as it still works and has value to some retro-philes.
What forums, etc. are out there with buyers looking for stuff like this, without having to go through that annoying eBay experiance?
Thanks
C L

pam kueber May 21, 2009 at 3:32 pm

C L, See this post with my thoughts on selling vintage metal cabinets: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/04/09/how-and-where-to-sell-your-vintage-metal-kitchen-cabinets/

This post on my experience re pricing them: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/04/03/how-much-are-my-metal-kitchen-cabinets-worth/

…I am thinking of adding a Buying/Selling tab — I am getting overwhelmed with emails and comments on this issue even though it’s addressed in the FAQs.

Charles May 28, 2009 at 10:00 pm

The Gerber Aqua Flush seems to have the lines and features of the Ultra Flush, but without to “power assist”.

I discovered your website earlier this year. I have a 1951 Post-War Wartime Tract home in the San Francisco [northwest] East Bay. We purchased it in 2003 from the original owner. They did a remodel in 1964 so little detail is left from 1951. Though the modest pink with blue trim and white fixture bath room is largely intact. We have done our own improvements and about a year ago I got the mid-Century bug, so I have tried to invoke some of the original 1951 era through mostly color.

Thanks for this site!

Chuck

Franci June 2, 2009 at 7:54 am

Help! Since I bought my 1951 ranch six years ago, I have been searching for replacement crank operators for the original metal-frame casement windows. The ones sold at the big-box stores are two thick to fit through the slot on the window frame. Any suggestions? Many of windows do not function, and I can’t afford to replace them entirely….

pam kueber June 2, 2009 at 12:24 pm

Franci, this I do not know. Maybe a reader will chime in….

Femme1 June 2, 2009 at 12:38 pm

Pam, I’m not sure where else to ask, but how do you get a photo to appear on our comments?

Deb

pam kueber June 2, 2009 at 12:56 pm

Hi, Deb. Wordpress sites do not allow for photos to be uploaded with comments for security reasons. The easiest thing to do is to put your photo online in flickr, picasa or another similar application and then link to it from comments.

Donna June 16, 2009 at 12:59 am

Hi,
I was looking for ideas on how to change my 1980 pop up camper into a blast from the 50s! I LOVE vintage as i have been a collector and restorer of vintage clothing! I have been trying to find retro laminate to cover my table and my floor with the boomerang look but for 1 sheet or 4×10 they want $300-600. I was wondering if you knew of any places to look for such thing!
LOVE your site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!
Donna

pam kueber June 16, 2009 at 1:30 am

Welcome Donna. I am told you can get sheets of the Formica boomerang laminate — it’s called “Skylark” — from a big box store like Home Depot or Lowe’s for a very reasonable price. See them on this page, scroll to the bottom: http://retrorenovation.com/retro-laminates/

amandam June 19, 2009 at 1:37 pm

Pam,

Ran into a daughter of the original owner 1955 home we purchased recently. She said there were cork floors in part of the home, (now has carpeting over it). Anyone heard of this? Can’t find anything on it…

pam kueber June 19, 2009 at 1:46 pm

amadam, cork floors were used quite widely, i believe. i have them in my foyer and two bedrooms in 9″ squares.

aussie chicken June 26, 2009 at 1:27 pm

Hi Pam

I stumbled across your website while researching 60s interior colours. Having viewed your site I am glad to have found like interests and will continue renovating my 1967 house with increased vigour. The kitchen, wallpaper, linoleum, pink bath/tiles and varnished wood will be kept. I have started with the light fitting and sourced some 60s flying saucer light fittings from ebay and the local salvage yard. Some pics are on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28370405@N04/
When removing a fluorescent from kitchen I noticed the ceiling underneath was a pale mint green, would the wall and ceiling have been the same color?

pam kueber June 26, 2009 at 2:13 pm

Yowz, aussie chicken, the lights on your flickr photostream and fantastic! I also love love love the wallpaper in your living room – promise us you’ll never change it! Readers: Wallpaper! Regarding your mint green ceiling, I think this color may have been extremely common around the period you describe, 1967. I had tons of it in my house, too, on trim. Hard to say whether it was also on the walls of your kitchen, but if you make me guess one way or another, I’d say: Yes. The other possibility: There was wallpaper in the kitchen and the ceiling color was chosen to coordinate in a relatively neutral fashion. Actually, I really like the idea of colors on the ceilings. White can be so harsh. In my basement, which is finished with cherry paneling, etc. (very very livable, we spend most all our time there), I painted all the ceilings Sherwin Williams Beige 2859, from the Suburban Modern Exterior Palette. It almost “reads” white – very neutral – but warm. That’s also important in my basement, which can get quite chilly in the winter. I need to do a whole series on this topic – hot colors/cold colors – and how to use them. Increasingly, this interests me greatly. And in the postwar period you read tons about it, as all housewives were being “taught” how to decorate. My, aren’t I chatty this morning? The coffee is just kickin’ in…

Jane July 2, 2009 at 4:43 am

I have a 1956 home with a south facing kitchen in California. Still has original wood cabinets, and the most strange stove. It is brushed metal, four burners that fold open like a Murphey bed. They are side by side, and it is made by General Motors/Fridgidaire. The controls are vertical, and have a lighted background that reminds me of the dash on my long gone 1960 Ford Falcon. Very small kitchen, so it saves on counter space, as you can flip the electric burners down as needed. One burner is not working. Any idea where I can get parts or hepl for it?

natalie July 14, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Hi Pam!

I love your website and have been just soaking up all the information you have provided.

We recently bought a 1960 ranch style home in a Dallas Suburb. I love it! We have original tiles in both bathrooms (for the most part) and original hardwood floors in the living areas. Anyway, my question is – where can I find slim handled toothbrushes for my built-in toothbrush holder? I think my husband is going to go crazy looking for some, because he really wants to use the built in one.

If you go to my blog, you can scroll down a few entries and see pictures of the house before we moved in. We are working on changing so many things with the house because the previous owner did “some” updating in the 80’s – so we have that 80’s vibe in a 60’s home. It will be beautiful when we’re done. =)

I also just found your entry on Cindy’s kitchen and I love it!

Thanks for providing such wonderful information!

pam kueber July 14, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Thank you for the nice note, Natalie. You and Graham are too cute. Your house, and your cats, too! This is a good question – retro toothbrushes…I will have to work on this. I know what you mean. All the current mainstream toothbrushes are built to look like running shoes or SUVs… on steroids. Hmmm.

natalie July 14, 2009 at 4:44 pm

You got that right. Let me know if you find anything. We found some at trader joes online, but they cost more than what you want to spend on a tooth brush. And apparently ones with skinny handles, mean you are cheap and you don’t really wanna clean your teeth. Ha.

NishiKM July 16, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Thank you, Pam!!! I love your site. My husband and I just bought a 1964 split level and although there’s been some “updates” over the years, it’s got a lot of its original character. We’re both vintage lovers and decided that bringing it back to it’s former glory is the way to go. Your site has been both inspiring and informative. I hope to send in some pics very soon. Our neighborhood is full of late 50’s/early 60’s gems. Also would love to see any posts you might have about medallion home (we have a little round plaque below our doorbell) and those very cool fixed windows in amber glass so common in 60’s homes.

Graham July 31, 2009 at 5:03 am

Woohoo! I found some regular old toothbrushes! (See comment above the comment before mine)

http://www.toothbrushexpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TE&Product_Code=CG11&Category_Code=colgate

Just thought I’d update you on this. Never thought I’d be so excited about finding a toothbrush website…

pam kueber July 31, 2009 at 1:22 pm

Hi Graham, those Colgate Classics still might be a bit too wide? These Butler Gum Microtips look like they might fit, too: http://www.toothbrushexpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TE&Product_Code=BG07&Category_Code=butlergum … and the Super Tips, too. http://www.toothbrushexpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TE&Product_Code=BG08&Category_Code=butlergum

Also, I meant to tell you: You really should be using an electric toothbrush. Seriously.

Christine August 12, 2009 at 10:55 pm

Pam -
Our 1949 Los Angeles suburb home was remodeled in the early 60’s. We had a new “built in” kitchen that opened into the new family room. We put in the aqua range, aqua double wall oven, aqua fridge AND the aqua Formica low bar with gold and white flecks!!! When we sold the house in 2006, we had the same aqua Formica bar – Mom and Dad had replaced all the appliances by then.
Aw, I wish I had all that in the home I have now. There is nothing like those old kitchens, bathrooms and built-in alcoves.
I remember going to the local Sears & Roebuck and just loving all the colorful kitchens and bathrooms they had set up in their different departments. I wanted the red bathroom. Of course, no way!
Thanks for your site!!
Christine

pam kueber August 12, 2009 at 11:48 pm

Welcome, Christine. Ahhh, but for the kitchens, bathrooms and alcoves of our past. What is your story now, C?

Mrs. Sweet Pea August 16, 2009 at 4:31 pm

Hello! I just stumbled across your blog and I think I’m in love. I’m new to the retro/mid century/vintage living and I am constantly looking for new inspiration! I can’t wait to read more…

S.J. August 25, 2009 at 2:53 pm

I have a 1935 Tudor Cottage and we are uncovering the carpeted floors. For the most part we have old wooden floors that we believe are restore-able. We have run across some old brick-look vinyl flooring in the dining room that we plan to cover with new wood floors, but it extends too far into the living room and we need to cut it out. Why it’s like that, we don’t know. It’s weird that they extended it so far. It curves out into the living room and up to the front door…like an entry way that sent you into the dining area. The vinyl flooring is attached to some kind of backing that we can’t identify on top of plywood. We can pull it up, but are concerned that it may be an asbestos product. If we knew what year it was put down we might feel better about cutting it up and getting it out of here. I would sure feel better if I thought it was laid in the 80s. Any advice?

pam kueber August 25, 2009 at 3:05 pm

S.J., Consult with a pro.

joyce's jane September 2, 2009 at 1:05 pm

not sure where to ask this but does anyone have plans to build a boomerang shaped coffee table?

so glad that my aunt joyce has joined in. She knows so much about a lot of this kind of stuff.

we seem to have a lot of janes so i will call myself
joyce’s jane.

maureen barnet September 9, 2009 at 1:50 am

came upon your website by accident I happen to be looking for 2 3/4 ” pulls for my St.Charles cabinets your site was quite helpful. I am also looking for a source for the wheels on my draws and the nipple and spring closures for my cabinet doors. I would appreciate and help or direction that I can get. Thanks mightymojo

pam kueber September 9, 2009 at 7:35 am

hi maureen, this question is addressed in the FAQs: http://retrorenovation.com/tag/faq/

pam kueber September 9, 2009 at 7:26 pm

Readers – Want to leave a question? Go to the FAQ tab.

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