Several readers have pointed out that Melinamade’s website seems to have gone away… But just in time, I recently heard from Suzanne at Full Swing Textiles about their product line. The company has been making barkcloth for some time, she says, but it was only offered to “the trades” – professional designers. In October, the company launched online, retail sales. They have an absolutely wonderful selection of barkcloth and lighter weight “birchbark” designs. The material is not inexpensive…so I asked Suzanne to explain their process and their story. Here it is…. Heck yeah there is more →
Nathan approves of the retro style Gerber 4″ bathroom faucet
Posted by: • February 26, 2009
Reader Nathan ordered three of these Gerber 4″ lavatory faucets, which I spotted for their simple retro style. He has installed them – and says they are great with quality that is “superb….better than most.” Thanks, Nathan, for the report from the front lines of retro renovation!
1954 vintage stove from Hardwick – with a beautiful gold color scheme
Posted by: • February 18, 2009
This is a beautiful, classic mid-50s vintage stove, a 1954 Hardwick used in an advertising for gas appliances. I also adore the color scheme in this image: Gold, black and white – with a punch of red. The image also hints at how effective it can be to use just one color as your predominant color – especially if it is strong (in this case, gold) and then rationing the accents. My kitchen also uses this technique – the aqua is so bold, so strong, that if I had used a second color in near-equal measure, the whole thing would have been too loud, too hard on your eyeballs. One more thing: When you are buying/restoring vintage ranges, please do your homework relative to wiring, gas, etc.: I recommend you talk to the folks at AntiqueAppliances.com, who seem to have a history in this area.
Vintage stoves to love: 1957 Philco Citation range
Posted by: • February 16, 2009
Vintage stoves were my first true love, so it’s ironic that it’s taken me this long to launch coverage of them. We’re off! Everyone seems to love Bewitched’s Samantha Stephens and her Frigidaire Flair. So I think I’ll start with some quirky pretenders to that famous model. How about this 1957 Philco Citation? Interestingly, in stainless steel, which I don’t see all that much featured in advertising. Note also – laminate cabinets, and stainless steel edging on the countertops just like we still get today at New York Metals!
Below: The refrigerator that went with this lineup in ’57. Looks like you could cover it with any laminate you like. Hmmm. I think today that this use-a-laminate-panel also should work with a number of dishwashers and a refrigerator like the Sub-Zero. In particular, with so many people wanting to blend their modern-day dishwasher into a retro style kitchen, I think this might be a brilliant question to delve into further. Stay tuned.
Get Dishmasters at dishmaster-faucet.com
Posted by: • January 11, 2009
Wanna buy a Dishmaster? Go straight to the manufacturer at dishmaster-faucet.com. They also list other retailers on their site. Heck yeah there is more →
Four, 4″ faucets for your retro bathroom sink
Posted by: • January 8, 2009
Do you need a new faucet for your vintage bathroom sink? TodayI happily add a third alternative to my short list of recommendations. It’s this simple Gerber 4″ lav. Nice lines, nice faucet handles. Also a nice one here with fluted handles. Hurray.
Update: Nathan went looking for this and Gerber eliminated the image from their catalog. However, it IS still available. Here is what Nathan reports – MANY THANKS, Nathan!
Hey Pam,
I was able to track down that particular faucet that you had on your site. I contacted Gerber, and they gave me the part number. I then tried to find it locally here in Abq, but that was a dead end. So, I then resorted to shopping on the internets (d’oh), and found it here: [link now gone - search for model number online, folks - Pam]
I ordered 3 of them
Thanks again, and I’ve bookmarked your site
Hasta,
Nathan
Other faucet choices:
One of my very favorites - great deco style
Bathtubs fit for a 50s style bathroom
Posted by: • October 25, 2007
After what see
ms like a couple of days of more lighthearted posts, I turn to that most serious of subjects: Bathtubs! Every house needs at least one bathtub and to be honest, I’ve not seen a lot of classic mid century homes that have built-in showers rather than baths. On occasion, yes, and then they are quite small.
I did tons of searching when we retro reno’d our three baths, and I settled on Kohler cast iron, even though the tubs I replaced were steel. I like th
e solidity. I used a 5’ Dynametric (blue tub, below), and am completely happy, it’s very nice. You can also get this one 6” longer, which is great to consider if you’ve got the room – and the height!
I also think that the smaller Seaforth 54” is sweet; the Villager, their value model is just fine, and I would LOVE to see someone install the corner-model Mayflower. I think this would be SO 50s and great, for example, in a girl’s bathroom!
Kohler also has some good colors to consider, I’ve shown them in some of the photos. Honestly, I don’t think they are perfect matches for 50s hues, but they are directionally correct if you’ve got the inclination. Personally – I used all white fixtures in all three baths – and tiled my wall in Olympia Maple Leaf tile, which had the 50s shades that I wanted. See previous posts.
Tomorrow: Toilets! Don’t get too excited, now.
This url starts on page 11…scroll to the bottom…then onto page 12 to see the models I talk about:
50s style bathroom towel bars – Hyde Park series by Delta
Posted by: • October 20, 2007
When I renovated our three bathrooms, every single detail became an obsession. At one point, I wanted to re-chrome the original, rusty towel bars. But it was ungodly expensive, and they weren’t expensive to begin with, just very typical for the 50s.
After a lot of online exploration and poking around stores, I ultimately bought the Hyde Park series from Delta, available through my Home Depot. Fortunately, I’d seen it there during my research and had taken notes, because when I finally went back to buy them, they were no longer on display. But – Home Depot can order them for you.The reason in particular that I liked them – was the 6-sided kind of reverse-lug wrench look of their base. (I am sure there is a technical term for this: Help!) This lug wrench styling was exactly what is on my vintage faucet. They also have a nice hefty feel. Go for the chrome – of course (!) (even though one photo in brass finish)
The problem with so many towel bars today – as with toilets and sinks – is that they are so fussy, designed “on victorian steroids”. 50s styling came out of the streamline and deco eras…very clean, industrial looks to reflect the new modern, non-fussy viewpoints.
One last thing – if you end up going with a wall-mount sink and Franklin Brass legs, simly add the Hyde Park towel ring to the right or left. A fine solution.
No url today. Go to Home Depot.
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