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Retro flooring — great reference samples

Posted by: • April 14, 2008

These 50s Kentile flooring samples were recently on ebay. I bid on them all, but won just one set. Alas, I have been trying to cut back on building the “Museum of Pittsfield” collection, as my oh-so-patient husband calls it. I’ll tell you, I already have quite an exhibit ready to send cross-country.

Aren’t these incredible? It is so sad that pickin’s are so thin in terms of replicating them today. But — possibilities ARE out there, so if you are in the market, be sure to click here to check out the Flooring category for the variety of choices still available. Please also note: Old flooring can contain asbestos – consult with a professional if you have this in your house so that you can make informed decisions about how to handle it.




Retro flooring: Some new choices, courtesy Portland Laura

Posted by: • April 7, 2008

50s style flooring from Congoleum cx_series

50s style flooring from Congoleum cx_series_cx47Reader Portland Laura alerted me to these great, new flooring choices. Streaky 12″x12″ vinyl tile from Congoleum.

Here is the link to the Congoleum Commercial section, where these tiles are shown. They are in the “CX” section. But all sections are worth looking at: http://congoleum.com/com-tile.html

Hurray! More, true streaky choices to supplement my previous only favorite, Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze. Thank you, Laura!
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50s style flooring from Congoleum cx_series_cx9150s style flooring from Congoleum cx_series_cx1450s style flooring from Congoleum cx_series_cx12

Retro flooring in a “colonial brick” style – a wonderful choice from Armstrong

Posted by: • February 20, 2008

Retro colonial brick vinyl sheet flooring

“Retro flooring” is one of the top search terms for people coming to this blog. So, a couple of weeks ago I went hunting at the tile and floor shop — and found a few new flooring alternatives to share. This is my #1 favorite among them — a vinyl sheet flooring from Armstrong that suits a retro kitchen perfectly, is affordable, easy to clean and easy to get installed.

Retro colonial brick vinyl sheet flooring

The style name is Saguaro – the ‘bricks’ are a nice modest size – and I like the colors, especially the Desert White (shown) and the more classic red Canyon Clay. Note, there is a larger brick style, Mesita. I think it is too big!

When I look at the floor in the photo, I think it would have been 100% appropriate for my kitchen — a very nice alternative to the Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze #423 that I’m so crazy about. You can see that for the room shot, Armstrong even paired this floor with retro elements – like the Saarinen tulip table in the foreground.

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This floor style reaches all the way back to the 50s. And there is no doubt – vinyl flooring is easiest to maintain. So if you’re looking for a less-hassle lifestyle — and great retro style — this is a great choice.

Finally, if you’re looking for retro flooring choices – I implore you to check out the Flooring Category. Categories are to the right, and at the TOP of posts. (What’s below are Tags, basically there to help search engines connect people.)

Retro flooring: Awesome vintage designs from Armstrong circa 1963

Posted by: • January 3, 2008

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embossed-vinyl-1963_2.jpgembossed-vinyl-1963.jpg

As I see and learn more about home design in the postwar period, I seem to be getting more liberal in my views. That is, stuff that used to disgust me, I find, well….actually pleasing.

Take vinyl sheet flooring. In all the houses I remember living in, from 1971 on, we absolutely had vinyl flooring. I am the oldest of 5 children. And I must say – from sweeping then scrubbing the kitchen floor every Saturday morning for about 10 years – it cleans like a dream. The best, hands down. It also lasts – way longer than you want it to, if your choice was trendy.

girl.jpgWell surprise surprise, I pulled the advertising above from an Armstrong flooring brochure came from 1963. Although they call the product shown “embossed inlaid linoleum,” I am sure they are what we would call vinyl sheet. Click on the thumbnails to see the designs – some of them are absolutely awesome, with starbursts and gold flecks and such. If only these were still available today.

armstrong-sutherland-beige.jpgMeanwhile, I searched Armstrong’s present day line, and also looked at some other manufacturers, and could only come up with one current design that I thought could work in a retro renovation.

I’ll keep a lookout for more. As I said – I kind of like this stuff!