Escape from NY: I found this set of 1963 Geneva aquamarine kitchen cabinets at a cooking school once run by nuns in New York City. We removed the cabinets and brought them back to my house in Lenox, Mass. The contractor and DH thought I was nuts -- but it turned out great.
Welcome to Retro Renovation — your daily dose of mid century renovation resources… design inspiration… fun finds… and a growing community of people all interested in cherishing their postwar 40s, 50s 60s and 70s homes.
We have fun here. Photo credit: Erica Berger
I’m Pam Kueber. This is my kitchen — and my blog. Doing all the research to renovate my 1951 colonial-ranch house in Lenox, Mass., is what got me into this online escapade. In the course of my endless hunt to find products and design ideas sympathetic to my house’s undeniable mid-century bones, I got…. obsessed… I learned a lot… and I figured, why not share all my finds with other folks undertaking the same journey. And now – you have arrived!
This blog has lots about *modest, mid-century, middle-class* homes — ranches, Capes, Colonials, split-levels, contemporaries, bungalows. I also write about sleek *mid-century modern homes*… I love them all, but admit that I tend to worry more about the modest homes (themselves full of charm) being at more serious risk of being gutted, with regrets to follow later. Interestingly, both mid-century modern and mid-century modest homes shared many of the same technological features and design cues (like pink bathrooms) inside. For further info see my Mid-Century Modest Manifesto and my micro-site SaveThePinkBathrooms.com.
What do we gab about here? Well: The design aesthetic of retro interiors, exteriors, culture, people, steel kitchen cabinets, colors, pink kitchens, pink bathrooms, hudee rings, pecky cypress, illustrations with people playing accordians, wallpaper, pinch pleat curtains, mint-in-box items — and readers’ fabulous jewel box houses, too. Get ready to be sucked into the retro vortex.
More info:
As featured in the New York Times — yup, read all about our escapades in this 2,200-word feature story that appeared on p.1 of the Home & Garden section on Aug. 18, 2011.
Hey, see me talkin’ about it all on this cool etsy.com video:
And here I am on TV at the Southern Spring Home & Garden Show in Charlotte:
If you need ideas — or just love the era — be sure to check in for daily updates on new products to recreate that retro style…design tips…vintage finds…history…and more. To email me, click here.
Meanwhile, if you want to read more about my kitchen saga:
- I find my cabinets – at a cooking school formerly run by nuns in NYC
- The kitchen reno starts — lots of pics of the old kitchen here
- The kitchen comes together #1
- The kitchen comes together #2
- I sell my leftover cabinets to a man from Milwaukee
- Bo Sullivan of Rejuvenation identifies my light
Important for anyone undertaking a renovation: 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 paint 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.
Press Coverage
2012
- The Daily Mail (London) online: Give your Home the Mad Men Look! How one blogger inspires retro renovating tips.
- Blog Aids in Renovation of ‘Mid-Century Modest’ Homes. Nationally syndicated story appeared in newspapers including:
- Akron Beacon Journal
- Seattle Times
- Miami Herald
- Detroit Free Press (twice!)
- Kansas City Star
- Toledo Blade
- Eau Claire Leader-Telegram
- Ogden (UT) Standard-Examiner
- canada.com
Summer 2011
- New York Times 2,200-word profile about Retro Renovation and its readers: Restoring the Retro House
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Preserve the Pink (bathroom)
- msn.com — New Respect for the Ranch House
- Portland (Oregon) Monthly Magazine Online — Sofa Shopping
- The Oregonian/Oregon Live — The Retro Queen
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Bathrooms Still In the Pink
- Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Name that Home Fad
December 2010
October 2010
- AP interviews Pam for story, Used Building Materials a Hit Among Home Owners, that runs in news outlets nationwide.
August 2010
- Arizona Daily Star: That 50s Tile with Style
- Home is a Four-Letter Word: Penny Pinching with the Stars
- Home is a Four-Letter Word: Lovin’ the 50s
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
- Knoxville News - Maribeth’s 1970s retro renovation
- Finalist and 4th place winner in Apartment Therapy’s annual contest to name the best home design blog of 2009
June 2009
April 2009
March 2009
- Our tour of the St. Louis 1995 time capsule home covered by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Desert Living Magazine
Dec. 3, 2008
- Pam talks with the National Kitchen & Bath Association about retro kitchen design popularity
Sept. 29, 2008
March 2008
Winter 2008
Fall 2007
November 8, 2007 — News Release, PRWeb
Thanks and Credits: Many thanks to the many folks who have helped, and continue to help, make this blog possible. Including:
- Margaret Roach, for all your support. AwayToGarden.com, Margaret Roach Media.
- Suzy Massey, for design support. PhoenixMassey Studio.
- Brad and all the Webdev team, for keeping the online bogeybots at bay. WebDevStudios.
- Erica Berger, for making me look good. Erica Berger Photography.
- Kit Latham, for helping me get into the dot.com world. KitLatham.com.
- The rockin’ readers who help feed the Forum. RetroRenovation.com/forum
- WordPress, for a great blogging platform that has made it possible for so many new voices to find their communities. wordpress.com
Become a fan
I have white steel geneva cabinets in my 1958 cape house that I want to sell. Anyone interested? Pretty big kitchen – I have pics I can send
Mel – no buying, selling or valuing on the main blog — head on over to the Forum to buy or sell vintage steel kitchen cabinets and other kitchen / bathroom stuff. Good luck.
Would like to know how much he northern bath tissue prints sell for i have the 4 girls..
looking for the model # for the Pink stove as I have one in gold but needs work. Can you help
hi laura, not sure what you are asking for, but regardless, i don’t have model numbers of things shown on the blog, generally. good luck.
I have a stove just like the one you have in the photo. Do you have anybrochures or owners manuals. I love your site. It is my lastest addition.
Sorry, Joyce, I do not have the manual.
Would any reader have more info on the stove. I dont know what year it is. I know it originally came with lots of attachments. Do you have them? Any info from anyone would be wonderful. This site is such a great resource.
Joyce, why don’t you post this question on the Forum rather than the main blog. If someone has something to share with you, there is no uploading here on the main blog but they can do it on the Forum. Good luck.
Thanks Pam for helping me to interact with this site. Keep up the great work.
You’re welcome, Joyce. Another place to watch is ebay – put in all the relevant search terms you can think of. Sometimes these kinds of brochures do come up, and they often go for a song, you may just have to wait a bit…The other thing I meant to tell you is that I tend to think there is a date somewhere on your stove – in the back, maybe not the whole “19xx” just the xx somewhere…
Hi Pam, this is my first time on your site. I am looking for a drainboard double sink. My house is a 1957 ranch. I’ve had this type of sink in another home and love it! Then i thought about my stove, it is the original Hotpoint push button electric. The problem I have is that the rings around the burner openings are black with grime. I’ve tried oven cleaner and other cleaners, with no luck. I can’t get the rings off to replace them as the burners are hardwired in, not the kind you can just unplug. Any suggestions?
Thank you
love your site.
Karin
Anyone interested in two vintage stainless 1954 Thermador wall ovens? I just took them out of our home. Working condition but the broiler coils are broke.
tony: all buying/selling needs to go onto the Forum: http://retrorenovation.com/forum. good luck.
tony- saw your post on thermador wall ovens – but did not see a follow up post in the forums as Pam instructed. (Sorry to drag this on Pam, just found your site while researching kitchen exhaust fans, and found this post on the wall oven – need a replacement there too!)
Thanks!
I just found your blog through the Apartment Therapy Homie Awards, and I have to tell you, I literally FLIPPED OUT when I saw you live in Lenox. My husband and I live in Dalton and I work in Pittsfield. You are the first blog I have found from someone out in our neck of the woods. I love your kitchen and plan to check back often.
Hi PAM!. coool website.. i feel bad now about remodeling my pink bathroom!.. i do have a question.. i am trying to purchase the square tile recessed ceiling lights you mention on your site, but can NOT find where to get them.. can you help?
gina in michigan
Gina, I have a post on these. I updated the post with a link to the Halo product guide where (at least now) you can find these fixtures. They are no longer on the website, as far as I can tell. All lighting resources are archived on the Product Guide Lighting Page.
Hi, glad i found your web site We are across the pond in horsham sussex uk. Still busy bringing back the feel of the 60′s to our 68.
Looking for flooring that is easy maintenance a large area to cover.
Hope to speak to you on facebook. Sharon.
I have a Citation Philco wall oven as shown in your picture. The baking oven did go out first then the regular oven. For years I used the broiler; it went out last month. Do you know if there are replacement parts to be had?
Ingrid, I don’t have any detailed info on this blog to answer this question. However, there is some discussion about this subject in a post somewhere about vintage stoves, you’re gonna have to use the Search bar….good luck.
An absolutely stunning kitchen. Must be a pleasure to work in. I’m getting sick of all those sanitized kitchens that look more like a dispensary at a hospital. Well done!!
I lived in an apartment building in Halifax, Nova Scotia about 15 years ago, and all the kitchens had those metal cabinets, but they had been painted beige. Even beige, they were still cool.
Pam, my husband and I just purchaced an early 1950′s home. Most of house is original however it needs work. I am facinated with keeping it vintage, just need to replace the stuff. Funny about your kitchen cab. because our home use to be a nun convent!!! I LOVE your kitchen and had ideas like it I would like to go green not eco green but color green. Any ideas or thoughts would be helpful. We now live in a 900 sq foot home, we are moving to a 5400 sq ft home so I need loads of decorating ideas. love your site!
Hey — I hope this is the appropriate place to ask this question…. I’m new!
Somewhere in the dusty corners of my brain, I remember seeing the most fabulous countertops or flooring. (Brain is so dusty, I don’t remember which it was.)
It was in a relative’s kitchen. This surface was white (I think) but had the most wonderful sparkly little bits of multi-colored confetti type glitter in it! So fun! The little sparkly squares were a little larger than regular craft-store glitter.
Am I totally making this up in my head? Or did such a material exist? Anyone???
Thanks!
yyes, it existed. look under countertops for info
I looked under countertops and just saw the sprinkled gold glitter. This stuff had many colors in one countertop surface — with bigger chunks of the glitter. (And as I said, it may have been a floor.)
I remember being fascinated with it as a kid — I never got tired of looking at it.
Pam, I know you like a good St Charles cabinet story, so here’s one form my neck of the woods.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6415785&id=60139543764
woah. all new? or vintage cabinets + new other stuff?
Hey Pam love your site i thought i had a 1950 ish house but the hardwear looks like the 60 from what i saw no your list of things. all of the cabent doors are from when the house was bulit the people befroe us did some revamping its a ranch style with lots and lots of space. anyway im glad somone else besides me loves the time in history.
Hi Pam,
I have the exact same fan in my kitchen and bathroom in my 1958 home. I have been looking for the original cover plate for it, for the one in the bathroom. Previous owners threw the original away and put a cheap plastic one over the vent. Did you find yours when doing the restoration?
Leslie, my kitchen exhaust fan is actually new. However, Nutone no longer makes the brushed steel cover. Try R&I Distribution, maybe they have one for you. Otherwise, use the navigation on the blog to get to Kitchens/Accessories (I think) for my other posts on kitchen exhaust fans.
Pam, thanks for your site, I love it! Two years ago, I purchased a post-war (1951) traditional home when I relocated to a new city. This is my third home renovation in the past two decades. The first two were a sinch for me, but I’m having the hardest time with this house. First of all, I couldn’t bring myself to “modernize” this house with today’s styles because the house and neighborhood just seem to want to stay true to the period. (I actually found the original bill of sale with a breakdown of costs and the cancelled check from the home’s initial purchase.) Fortunately the original bathroom fixtures are all in pristine condition. The original kitchen cabinets are also still intact., though the doors and counter-tops were updated in the past. My trouble is that I just don’t know this period very well. Unfortunately those “I Love Lucy” re-runs are in black and white, so I don’t have a good sense of the colors of the period. It’s the colors and details that I’m struggling with. I don’t want to be too literal with the design (can’t do big florals), but I definitely want it to have that period feel. Thanks for the information and the more pictures the better.
Hello, we just bought a house and we have the 1959 American Standard sink and vanity. the thing is, my husband wants to “modernize” the bathroom and I really like the sink but it’s cracked (outlined like the size of a quarter). If I were to professionally reglaze it will it lose it’s true beauty? Thank you for your time.
My husband and I have come across a vintage Fridgidair Flair double oven stove. It has been stored in a basement for 30 years and appears to be in perfect condition. Upon trying to remove the stove, two good sized men couldn’t budge it. Does anyone know how heavy this is and if the top comes off? Has anyone else had the same problem? My husband insists that it is heavier then a Volkswagon!
For anyone traveling out to Las Vegas over the holidays, they may want to stop by the Clark County Museum (on the way to Boulder Dam) to see our current exhibit, DomesticTechnology: making housework easier. There are gadgets, innovations and inventions spanning the last 150 years, but the best part are the vintage TV commercials and magazine ads from the 50′s and 60′s. Admission is $1.00-$1.50, and we are open daily from 9-4:30pm, except Thanksgiving, Xmas, and New year’s day!
Incredible kitchen, I am so jealous!!!!!!
I am looking for a how to paint without removing Lyon metal cabinets. they have been in my kitchen for the 20 years that we have owned our home and really need a face lift.
Ruth, this is not a DIY site, but check out my category Kitchens/Steel Kitchen Cabinets — there are several examples of readers sharing their experiences. Before messing with your cabinets – be sure to consult with pro’s regarding environmental and safety issues; for example, there may be lead in the old paint…. Good luck.
We are starting a bungalow kitchen remodel (not full RESTORATION) on a 1926 Craftsman- possible Sears kit home. Going with creamy, yellow painted cabinets and green countertops. Looking for inspirational pictures that are not all BROWN- or ginko leaf curtains!!!- Sandy and Will
Hi Sandy, I’ve been trying to beef up my prewar research. You can start here: http://retrorenovation.com/category/by-decade/1920s-1930s/ and here: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/02/27/create-a-sweet-pre-war-bungalow-kitchen/ and even here: http://retrorenovation.com/galleries/1940s-kitchens/ and maybe here:http://retrorenovation.com/2009/03/02/where-to-find-vintage-style-barkcloth-full-swing-textiles-is-a-new-player-in-retail/
Hello! My family and I just moved into a wonderful 1955 Colonial. It is pretty much a time capsule although the kitchen is not original. While searching your fantastic site for kitchen un-do ideas I came across a Sherwin-Williams ad from 1969 with the paint scheme (and technique) of our kitchen cabinets so I assume the update was done around 69-70. Anyway, I have become a retro-renovation addict as I sort through looking for kitchen ideas. I could really use the readers and your input. I would love to share some photos if you are interested. Thank you for your time and effort providing this priceless resource! Oh, I have noticed that there are several readers in the Pittsburgh area. Diana from Diana’s Kitchen, you are in my neighborhood! Great to know some of our beautiful houses will stay true to their original style!
Julie
Did you have to have your VCT floor rolled with the 100LB roller that the installation guide references?
Puzzy, this is not a DIY site, you need to consult with the manufacturer/retailer on this issue….
Wasn’t planning on doing it myself. My contractor and I were going over the game plan and I asked him about it. I have noticed that many of the readers have put these floors in and were inquiring if they needed waxed and stripped, etc. There has also been mention about the direction in which the tiles were laid. I was just curious if anyone noticed during the install if their tiles were rolled as recommended on the Azrock website or if that was just for commercial installs and not necessary in a residential kitchen. I will contact the manufacturer.
during the install of my azrock, i think they did indeed use a roller. another tip: the subfloor underneath needs to be super smooth with no bumps, or else the bumps may kind of pucker up the tile. we had to have the installer come in and do some rework because they went right over some little bumps in the subfloor without preparing it properly.
Pam,
I was searching for some old advertising or decorating books and came across a real treasure that I wanted to share. This is probably redundant; I am sure you have it referenced somewhere on this fantastic site but I haven’t come across it. It is the Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book published in 1956. It is 432 pages with 300 full color illustrations. I found it on Amazon. There were 7 used copies…6 now. It arrived today and I am giddy with every page turn!
yup, very popular.
Hey Pam,
I was thinking maybe you could help me. I recently purchased a drexel counterpoint table with the #8000-4 7/56 stamped underneath. I searched high and low to find out more about this table and the 4 matching chairs stamped 8001-5. I have found the same exact table on ebay but so far no word from the seller as to more info. I even emailed drexel with no reply. Can you help?
Hi Alicia, sorry, but I am not any kind of expert on this. I suggest you CALL Drexel. I did this a few years ago to get info on another line — and they were very helpful. Good luck!
I need a part for one of my Johnstown metal kitchen cabinet doors.
There is a square metal piece about 3/4 inch on each side with two prongs that fits into a hole on the inside of the door and into which a metal peg on the body of the cabinet inserts when to door is closed and holds the door closed.
This pronged part is missing from my cabinet door. Anyone know where I can get one?
Gordon, no easy solutions. You are gonna have to improvise… Good luck.
Gordon,
I’d try a good hardware store – it sounds like what you are talking about will be available there (I can’t think of the name, unfortunately).
Pam- Sorry to keep bothering you. I will be ordering more books today and was wondering if you get a small cut if I access them through the site like you do with Ebay? One of them you have under your Pamazon recommended books. Also, I’m still struggling with my countertop decision but I did find some that I think might be good cracked ice type in the Wilsonart HD line and then Formica has two that remind me of the Textolite. They are the Greytone and Beigetone (#101 & 102). Perviously you have not responded to my plea for you opinion but I really would value it. I feel that we are almost ready to order the Pionite in Gateway to the Future but I want the SS trim and I’m not sure how often the SS was trimmed on the more matte countertops. The ones I remember seeing with the SS trim when showing and listing homes seem to be the more glossy laminate. Do you have an opinion on this and are you familiar with the above mentioned laminates and if so do you think they are period appropriate for 1955? The Wilsonart HD that I would be interested in are the Luna Winter or Luna Night. Again, thank you for all your hard work and research. I know your time is valuable.
honestly, puzzy, i am very overloaded, as this is not my fulltime job … put all your samples in a sunny place … stare at them for a while … go for a walk … sleep on it … you’re gonna have to sort out what is right for you … oh, and torture the DH endlessly, too. Yes, disclosure: If you click to Amazon from my Pamazon page and buy a book (or anything) I get a small commission, as I belong to their affiliate program. Good luck!
Thank you, I will order through the site. As for the laminate, Formica doesn’t have samples of the Beigetone or Greytone so I was hoping that maybe you were familiar with them. To me they really look like the Textolite but it is so hard to tell from the website. Do you have any thoughts on the more matte laminate with the SS edging? I guess that is the only thing holding me back from ordering the Pionite. The Gateway color is so fantastic! That’s it, sorry again for all the questions.
Puzzy,
If they don’t have a sample of the two colors you are torn between, what is their minimum order? It might be a good idea to get a little bit bigger piece of each to help you decide rather than committing to your whole order sight -unseen. Besides, then if you do go with one of them, you’ll just have to order that much less. It might be worth the investment, rather than getting the wrong thing for yourself that you’ll have to live with for the next decade or longer.
Just an update on the discontinued Formica Aqua Boomerang. I ordered a 4′ x 8′ sheet yesterday from Formica through Home Depot. If you want some there are about 70 sheets left in assorted sizes. I am going to use it to recover the outdoor sink in my workshop which was original with my house; a 1958 Palm Springs style home in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Cheers,
Terry
we have a pink and ruby ceramic tile bathroom. everything is pink, shower, tub, toilet, sink , toothbrush holder, cup holder, some strange holder and all is original, except for the toilet lid of which i purchased through vintage supplier. i could never justify “undoing” such a work of art. presently i am looking for vinatage wallpaper to complete the look. any suggestions or outlets?
marg, sounds fabulous. check my Category: Retro Accents/Wallpaper for lots of wallpaper stories and suppliers. Good luck!
is that strange holder by chance an ash tray holder, just wondering back in the day they had ash trays in every room……. Thanks Paula
Hi Pam,
I was browsing you site and happen to see our vintage NuTone items that are listed on ebay. Seller: kepler56101
Just wanted to thank you and give you some background on how we came across all the vintage hidden treasures we have uncovered.
So here goes once there was A man named Phil, In our small MN town Phil
was a hero. You see Phil and his workers built a large portion of the housing
in town (affordable housing) we even have streets in our little town named after his family members like (Winnie and Verona Ave’s) anyway, Phils also had a couple of warehouses of bulding materials for sale to the public. The only problem was Phil had a bit of hoarding problem and to even see what was for sale was nearly impossible, (This was one man’s 60 plus years treasures).
Sadly Phil passed away last year and his family chose to sell the buisness.
Thats when one of our other town’s great business man Tom bought out everything the land warehouses and everything in them. Tom didn’t want to keep
Phils business going he needed the space for his own business. so everything was opened up cleared out a bit (so we could really see) what was there. Some things had not seen the light of day in 50 plus years. Well there it all was “TREASURE” not regular treasure, VINTAGE NEW UNOPENED treasure.
so we picked and picked and got the whole family invoved and picked some more treasure that is, Vintage gold there was Progress lighting, Nutone, Weiser, to name a few. Vintage doors, knobs, Escutcheons, 50′s Plasic tiles (by the way we bought every vintage tile in the place) I just love my new found hobby but now our houses. garages, sheds are full and we can’t live like this so Ebay it is with a huge part of our treasure we want to share it with others. The funny thing is My house isn’t even Mid century Modern by any means it was built in 1863 (A big country style 2 1/2 story. it was updated and a basement added in the 80′s. and I was born in 1972 so I am not sure why I love the style so much it really grows on you HaHa. So after all this remember Tom the man who bought the whole thing? His buisness is a Sanitation Garbage removal company, so what ever was left, you guessed it. Has since been desposed of……………………. we saved what we could between us and my sister we will have much to offer people looking for that Vinage look. I just wanted to tell this hidden treasure story RIP Phil…. Paula and Russ Kepler
Love this story, except the waste management aspect. Sad to think of all that great stuff gone to waste. RIP Phil. He would have been so happy you saved some of it.
Oh ya sorry about any spelling errors my bad…… you all know what I mean
Paula
I LOVE IT!
Hi Pam,
We have a double wall oven with a pop-out hood ventilator that’s built in to our cabinet. The ventilator is made by Nutone and is probably the vintage of the house (1960s). No model number or serial number. Is there any place where I can look for a replacement?
Thanks in advance.
-robert
Sorry, Robert, I don’t know the answer to this one…
My not quite there pink bathroom needs a shower curtain. I am thinking about a “bubble pattern”..It was time to “girl up”.
Hi Pam- I can’t find as many pictures of your kitchen? But, from what I see, it looks like your only oven exhaust is that in the ceiling? I am going to have an old range like yours (not exactly but that style) & I was wondering if you thought I would need a range hood for exhaust?
Also, did you receive my question about bead board wallpaper in a bathroom instead of tile? Is that 50′s? What do you think?
Hi Nancy, In answer to your questions:
(1) Yes, my exhaust fan is in the ceiling. I believe the key is to ensure whatever solution you use offers the proper level of CFMs — that is, the exhaust moves the air fast enough for a kitchen application and your particular stove. This may even be a building code issue (I think it is where I live) — consult with a professional.
(2) Regarding beadboard wallpaper in a bathroom: Hmmm, not my cup of tea, I think. In one of my bathrooms, where I wanted to save money by not putting tile halfway up the wall all the way around the room, I just used wallpaper. Pretty flamingo wallpaper – it makes my DH very happy. Only tiled the shower area. That said, today if I had it to do over, I’d have spent the money and done the tile. Back to the beadboard idea — I kind of think, why “fake” beadboard with wallpaper? Beadboard paneling isn’t that expensive, now that I’m thinking about it…. Finally, I don’t think that beadboard is a typical mid-century wall treatment… but if you like it, go for it. Make the space your own.
Thanks for the help! I didn’t like the bead board idea- it was just cheaper.
Pam- I have a question about gloss- I am getting ready to work on my metal cabinets & tulip table & chairs. Since I have never seen these when they were freshly done, I don’t know how much gloss they have?
Nancy, as far as I am aware, vintage steel kitchen cabinets had a high-gloss finish. See my recent post about how I renovated my vintage tulip chairs — you’ll be pointed to a site where there’s lots of info on what happens when you use Penetrol. In short: the chair got pretty glossy but I think it will dull down over time. I think that when we repainted the legs and table base, we used a satin finish. I wasn’t using any historical precedent, though — just kinda thought that would look best. Good luck. Link: http://retrorenovation.com/2011/01/25/how-to-restore-avintage-tulip-tables-and-shell-chairs/
Hi Pam, I have a question about an odd piece of cookware that I found at a sale–I am not quite sure where I am supposed to post this on your site. Could you help me out? Thanks!
Hi Pam,
I, like the above poster am not certain where to post this. So, Pam or anybody. I have a 1950 kitchen with the light natural wood trim, the medium natural wood panel cabinets, white appliances, a light green and tan swirly laminate countertop and a newer white and green vinyl floor (yuck).
The paint on the walls is is the original minty, hospital green color that has been re-painted that same color for probably the last 45 years. I want to paint! But, I don’t want anymore minty hospital green! Can someone, anyone, help me??!!?!?
Judy H.
How about painting the walls a soft peach or salmon color. Those kinds of colors would go nice with wood grain. Take a kitchen cabinet door to your paint store, and slowly pass it by all the peach/salmon colors, until you see one that looks good with your cabinets. Take 4 to 6 samples of that color home with you. Tape the samples of the color together, to make a bigger sample, put it in different spots in your kitchen, and study how it looks in different lights.
Then go out and find kitchen curtains that have YOUR green, tan and the peach or salmon in it. Get some canisters, place mats for your table, art work for walls, etc. in those three colors to move those colors around the space more.
If peach or salmon are not attractive to you, take samples of your green and tan elements to a fabric, or wallpaper store. Look at things that have the two colors, you already have in them, and NOTICE what other colors they added to the mix, to make an interesting fabric, or wall paper. Those colors will be what you will add to your kitchen to make it GREAT!
Pam,
I have a 1954 split level house, with a kitchen filled with Coppes Napanee natural colored birch cabinets, that look a lot like yours. I did not think much about them (i basically like them), until I was on a house tour, years ago at Jackie Kennedy’s mothers house, Hammersmith Farm, in Newport, Ri. She had about three times as many cabinets as I do, With the money she had, and the ability to buy anything she wanted, she bought the Coppes Napanee, at that moment LIKE turned to LOVE.
Wow, great blog! I’m actually renovating a 1964 Franklin camper…your flooring section is fantastic! I wish there were laminate reproductions of some of those great lino/marmoleum designs… anyone know of any?
nope, no known reproductions
Finally learned to use the computer, and I discovered your site. I am all Retro, so I am glad to find like peope – I am totally hook.
Questions:
1) My contractor accidentally gashed my new aqua boomerang countertop with
his electric saw; any ideas to camorflague the area. My thought is to build a
kitchen utensil drawer to cover the area.
2) I will be painting my cabinets in the line yellow; with the walls a lighter yellow
that the cabinets with hints of aqua thrughout my kitchen. Am I keeping with
the retro theme.
Any plans on being in New York City soon? If so, where?
Cool project. I am still trying to decide how to renovate my original kitchen filled with original Coppes Napanee cabinetry. I love the original cabinets, but they need some refinishing and I am not sure how to proceed. I don’t know what kind of wood or finish it is.
See pictures at the kitchen link on: http://born2trump.home.comcast.net/~born2trump/
Of here: http://born2trump.home.comcast.net/~born2trump/Kitchen.html
I should mention the home is a 1957 Bedford stone ranch.
I have been able to acquire a GE 1958 wall hanging refrigerator (salmon/pink) that was in the home I grew up in. It is by total accident that I can now get this same unit 40 years since I last saw it.. It is in like new condition and hanging on a wall in a church basement. I’m not sure just how this comes off the wall and I don’t want to risk damaging it. I’ve heard it’s rather heavy, so I’m sure I’ll need to find a few more stong bodies to help. Any ideas on how to safely take this down? I’m anxious to show my children and grandchildren what a unique piece this is. When I showed a picture of this to our local appliance dealers, they didn’t know what it even was.
Bob,
I thought I saw installation diagrams somewhere on the web. There should be a bracket mounted on the wall which you will have to lift the fridge off of and then remove it if you plan on reinstalling it somewhere. Congrats on your cool piece of kitchen equipment.