A look at 1968 – yes, the era of avocado green, harvest gold and other very distinctive designs. I have to say, I really am growing to adore 60s and 70s kitchens, bathrooms and interiors. These people were having a lot of creative fun. Imagine owning a 1971 split level and outfitting it with a red and black rumpus room… bedrooms with multicolored shag carpet…a Nutone intercom throughout, a Drexel Mediterranean dining room set. Hey! That was my house in 1971! A triumph. Cut to the chase: 70s decor is back – big time. Avocado Oak ad: Georgia Pacific.
Isn’t this Moenique bathtub/shower faucet terrific? Those are “persian” tiles behind – very popular in ‘68, as far as I can see. Ad: Moen.
In the kitchen, it’s Andy Warhol pop colors all the way. That’s wallpaper on the fridge. This kitchen is so well done. Ad: Armstrong.
Those panels lining the tub and shower are Formica laminate. I don’t think the stuff turned out to be very waterproof. Pretty, though. And I really like the mirror and framed print arrangement above the sinks. Tip: Look for unusually-shaped mirrors like this – they can work in so many possible spaces. Ad: Formica.
I really have a hard time believing that many women put wallpaper on the front of their appliances. But, it certainly is an idea…. Ad: Frigidaire.
I adore this style of wallpaper. The gold, green, orange colonial motif – just makes me so happy. And this is a wonderful Frigidaire. I am quite partial to side-by-side refrigerators. They are particularly good when space is tight. Note, they are not as energy efficient as fridge-on-top styles, I believe. Ad: Tappan.
How to update these two 1964 bathrooms in Sumac Sue’s Lexington, Kentucky, neighborhood?
When Judi, my sister Jenni and toured last week, owners Amy and Gary were all for “gut jobs” – but then they heard more about the retro renovation crowd and said they would certainly consider our suggestions.
To be sure, Amy and Gary have a lot of love for the home – they are a young family and will make lots of memories here. Amy also shows talent as a decorator and her eyes light up when she talks about feathering her nest.
Readers – what do you recommend? I’m going to let you start before I weigh in.
I think I have finally lost my marbles. Jumping up and down in my office, all excited to find a company that offers 94 different colors of toilet seats… and dying to share it — to stop the presses — to postpone the planned laminate story — get this NEWS on the blog! Heck yeah there is more…
Retroppo is a longtime Retro Renovation reader from Australia. A while back, she sent this photo of … I think, a house she was looking at (?)… and I really liked the way that the pink sink looked, nested into the gray laminate countertop – you can also see a pinch of the pink toilet in the foreground, right. G’day, R!
I am seeing tons of great items on ebay. I guess it's "Back to School" for sellers/hoarders, too! For anyone with an offbeat 60s bathroom - I love love love the first item.
Hi Pam, Since discovering RetroRenovation.com it has become a “must go to site” each morning! Thanks for all the information and enthusiasm you provide.
I am about to update some aspects of my 1960s bathroom and two of your posts this week caught my eye – I never thought much about my shower base and was considering replacing it…not anymore! I have an original terrazzo base.
I was also thinking of removing my toilet-side magazine rack. After reading your post about the Hall Mack fixture I know why there’s a little shelf but fortunately I don’t smoke! Enclosed are some photos, also one of an ashtray conveniently located on the other side of the toilet!!! I sometimes put a little vase of flowers there! Note the privacy panel above the magazine rack and the recessed scale that opens up when needed!
The bathroom project will involve new tiles in shower stall and bathroom floor, laminate refacing on vanity/privacy panel and paint the walls a different color. I was happy with the bathroom the way it is but the moisture in the shower has seeped behind the grout and has been absorbed by the sheetrock……it can’t be regrouted again, so that’s what got me started. Everything else will stay as is. The wall tiles are oatmeal in color and say romany spartan on the back. I doubt I can find the exact ones so will look for something that will coordinate – I will let you know, and can send you some “after” pictures if you’d like. I’m going to try to retain the 1960s look through use of colors and style. If you know of any vendors I should consider please let me know!
I’m also attaching a few kitchen photos. I renovated 2 years ago and although it’s not 100% loyal to 1960s materials, one thing I did was use laminate for my *cabinets*. I highly recommend it for ranch houses of this era….It gives a wonderful European/1960s look and is incredibly easy to care for.
I also stenciled and painted the backsplash with a wallpaper design I saw in a magazine and tried desperately to locate at many wallpaper dealers including Second Hand Rose in NYC. (If you have a resource for someone who can paint or superimpose my design on the tiles it would provide more protection against spills and splashes than the painted sheetrock.)
The original kitchen also has an indoor barbecue grill with its own damper and chimney flue…..it works beautifully with wood chips and is a constant source of conversation!
It would be great to meet you….let me know when you come this way, I could show you some of the 1960s neighborhoods in Holyoke!
Thanks again for your wonderful site!
Cindy
Holyoke, MA (30 minutes from Lenox!)
Thank you, Cindy, for all these great photos and your retro renovation story. Suffice to say I am quite jealous of all these great built-in features – especially that foldaway bathroom scale and the barbeque! Some responses to your questions:
You know, I’ve actually seen vintage ads for Romany Spartan tile, I’ll keep an eye out next time I’m going through my 60s ephemera. Regarding tile suppliers: Try S.J. Masters, it’s based in Connecticut, they have some 60s style designs. Here’s some tile of theirs that I have shown before, they have it different colorways. My other reco is always to go to the biggest tile store you can find – and talk to them. My experience has been that there are regional players in the tile business that may have unique stuff.)
Regarding replicating your ‘vintage wallpaper’ – which is FABULOUS – onto tile – that sounds like a great idea, but I’m not sure how to get it done. There must be sources. Readers?
Your kitchen looks awesome – and you know what, laminate cabinets ARE retro-authentic. I need to research the exact date I start seeing Formica cabinets appear in magazines – but I’m pretty sure it’s by the late 50s.
And finally…a tour of vintage Holyoke? I am in!! I am due a trip soon over to a secret retro junk location…to that big garden store in Hadley…and to the Trader Joe’s. I’ll email to set a date, I’m serious!
These terrazzo shower bases from Crane look like the real deal. The website says that they truly are marble chips embedded in concrete, then polished to a high gloss. I have shower bases in two of my three bathrooms, and when I renovated about 5 years ago, I went with simple white Swanstone solid surface. While the Swanstone has worked out fine, I definitely would have checked out these Crane bases, if I’d known about them. Terrazzo is a most noble, retro material! These bases come in several colors (hint: go neutral) and sizes (hint: go minimum 36″x42″). Here’s the link to the Crane page.
Hey, if you have a Swanstone or fiberglass base, the only thing I can get to really keep it clean it Lysol Basin Tub & Tile Cleaner. The liquid spray is best – my husband actually orders it online. Using this cleaner, I really can keep the white base looking like new – although it may take several soaking applications. Suzie Homemaker (a real joke, you can bet), over and out.
Today, some haute haute haute Italian bathroom accessories. My google search says that Fontanta Arte is a ‘legendary’ designer of mid century lighting. These 1960 bathroom pieces certainly would make a statement in any of our postwar jewel boxes $$. Tempting, anyone?
Since we’ve been on a bathroom roll, I thought that spotlighting these 1959 Kohler sinks – “lavatory sinks” with chrome legs and towel bars — would be fun. Aren’t the colors and designs just beautiful?
Here’s an entire suite (below). For those of you trepidatious about going too colorful with the fixtures and tile, this photo exemplifies how combining a two neutrals — in this case, white and gray — along with snazzy (low risk $) wallpaper and shower curtain can deliver a very stylish retro effect. If you want to buy new fixtures today – the grays tend to be lighter, but the idea still holds. As reader Laurie of 1951 Ranch Redo pointed out in the post about Sebastian’s Montreal bathroom recently, choosing towels with the dark accent trim also is a really nice touch.
Today’s ebay pick is particularly yummy. This excellent vanity was spotted by regular reader Retroppo — who is from Australia. Our Australian correspondent! …Who also teaches all us non-Aussies a new word: “the tip”! Read on:
Hi Pam,
I happened to find the exact vanity unity that I grieve
over, on ebay! (the one we pulled out when we renovated our bathroom
& regrettably sent to the tip) I had to share the photos. It has
been pulled out of a local house & I’m so tempted to buy this one
for any future reno at the price of $19.95AU (approx. $17-$18US) What
a steal! & you’ve gotta love those handles! What do you think?
I quizzed Retroppo a little more. She adds,
Yes I live in Melbourne, Australia, so unfortunately the shipping would be horrendous to the US. I don’t mind if you post it, I know you have a few Australian readers like myself & the chances of someone starting a bidding war I’m guessing would be very slim. Our vanity unit was exactly the same except it was white laminate, blue basin & our handles I think were chevron ones, but at least you can be thankful that they’ve saved this one to offer to other retronites like ourselves instead of sending to the tip like one *stupid* person did, moi! We are in two minds whether to move or to extend, so in the case of extending, we would use it in our ensuite! I really love your website, it gives us a little look into the past. Thanks for keeping us informed, I thought for years I was the only one that appreciated 1950’s design, it devastates me too when you see alot of houses being totally transformed to look contemporary, which like all trends eventually date. We’ve always been working against the grain with keeping our house in it’s period (with some modern touches) so many friends & family over the years have tried to talk us into “modernising” but we stayed firm, & I’m glad we did! cheers, Michelle x (retroppo)
Thanks, Retroppo — and let us know how this turns out!
Your house has all kinds of features that were state-of-the-art ... and beloved ... when it was first built. Learn about them, and you may just decide to keep them.
