daltile-terrazzo-tile-19-colorsDaltile snuck these in on me: Authentic terrazzo tiles. Terrazzo is a wonderful authentic retro product for mid-century renovations — and this is the first product of its kind that I have seen.  To be sure, buying terrazzo tiles is gonna be a lot easier than trying to find someone to lay a complete (albeit seamless) terrazzo floor. These terrazzo tiles  are available in 19 color ways, as either 12″-, 16″-, or 24″-squares. The 24″ squares are almost an inch thick. Heck yeah there is more…

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Happy Smiling Pumpkin Day!

by pam kueber on October 31, 2009

evaxebraHappy Hallowe’en from me and flickr friend Evaxebra — my favorite! Remember the spooky pink bathroom photos of her last year? Thanks, Ewa, for permission to use this photo.

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The Kueber Five do The Monster Mash

by pam kueber on October 30, 2009

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You know I’m excited about the big day. Here are me and my brothers and sisters, all babies, I’m the oldest. I like the part where I get to jolt them with electricity. Wuuuhaaahaaaa. Today is Ricky’s birthday — he’s the werewolf here, while in real life he has transformed into a marathon runner this year. Happy birthday, Ricky!

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peek-o-marketingMissouri Michael over at Cul-de-sac Shack is now entered into our reader of the year contest for this fantastic find: The Peek-O Revolving Home Viewer — also known as a “peep hole” or more formally as a “door viewer.” What a wonderful story about determined sleuthing: peek-o peekholeMichael showed his cool front door on his blog. Folks asked about the peep hole. He disassembled the whole thing (the “hole thing” get it? tee hee). He found a Patent Number. Went online to the government’s patent website and found the “Peek-O Revolving Home Viewer,” which was patented on Dec. 20, 1949. Then, he did the google thing and found the manufacturer, who still makes Peek-O’s today, 60 years later. Is this a great country or what. Heck yeah there is more…

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hallmack-towel-ringBob wrote yesterday to ask for a “No. 622 Soap Holder with Crystal Tray…Over the years the Crystal Tray got broken and the plating in the soap dish is pitted and in bad shape….” This question comes up a lot. Here are some ideas. Heck yeah there is more…

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Rose red wallpaper

by pam kueber on October 28, 2009

rose-red-sofa-and-wallpaperrose-red-steel-kitchenHere 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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1974-ethan-allen-boys-bedroomI am hearing reports of a Retro Renovation baby boom. Weddings, too. So exciting :) No question, nothing gets the decorating instinct into overdrive than having a bun in the oven. In fact, we’re all just feathering our nests when it comes right down to it, aren’t we? Heck yeah there is more…

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Merry Mint-in-Box Madness

by pam kueber on October 27, 2009


Oh my, this is one of the best MIB madness carousels yet. MIB Club Aluminum, in 70s avocado green. A Virtue dining set – gorgeous – in Bolivar, Missouri. MIB Melmac (ends today!) Parisian Prints linen towels with kitties and Santas.Bathroom chenille, GE Telechron, and a Jet-O-Matic that’s Dine-O-Mite. Are you ready yet for Santa’s big day?

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Introducing: “Mid-Century Modest”

by pam kueber on October 26, 2009

vintage-birthday cardToday 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…

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Let’s talk about bedrooms

by pam kueber on October 25, 2009

mid-century-bedroomBEDROOMS all this week here at Retro Renovation. Some readers recently asked for more ideas and inspiration for their mid-century bedrooms — so let’s have a look.

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