Retro Renovation » Armstrong floors

Vintage linoleum in Kitty Mommy’s pink bathroom

pam kueber — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:59:48 +0000

Kitty Mommy saw Mr. Bartlett’s vintage Armstrong linoleum floor yesterday – and sent in the very same pink version that’s in place in her master bathroom. You can also see a bit of her pink American Standard toilet. Those of you with vintage inlaid linoleum in good shape – are so very lucky!

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Let’s start another movement to: Bring back the basement shuffleboard!

pam kueber — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:15 +0000

With all the recent talk of shuffleboards, I did a little nosing around, and it turns out that you can still get a vinyl tile shuffleboard from Armstrong:

This definitely goes on my dream list! The back half of our basement is concrete… my husband David has been opposed to vinyl tiles even retro-sized ones… but when I show him this, it just might turn him around. He likes shuffleboard! … I think it would be pretty easy to work this very primary red-white-blue design into any number of color combos. I really particularly like the Armstrong Excelon black – it looks like it hasn’t changed forever.

Thanks also to reader Kitschy Kimberly who just happened to see a house with a vintage basement shuffleboard and sent this image in. Man, was life simpler then, or what. Thank you Kitschy Kim!

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A 1950s basement ‘village green’ – from Armstrong flooring

pam kueber — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:00:43 +0000

It was a wondrous alchemy of industry, technology, peace and prosperity that inspired mid-century homeowners to create fantastic basements like this one.

This is yet another design study from my delicious collection of 1954 Armstrong flooring ads produced by Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. Click the Tag below that says ‘Armstrong floors’ to see the series.

Book pitch…If you like these images, which are chock full of design ideas, there are many more in the anointed retro renovation “bibles”…hours of fun for the whole family, I’m serious!:

Vintage 1954 yellow kitchen designed by Armstrong IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER INSTALLMENT of a vintage Armstrong interior...
Got cork? Yes, it is possible that this 1954 bedroom from the...
Mid-century modern bedroom — lovely I think that our readers in Eichler homes and other...

A luscious 1954 vintage bathroom from Armstrong floors

pam kueber — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:00:02 +0000

I was recently introduced to the concept of “bathroom porn.” No, not girlie magazines in the recessed chrome Hallmack magazine rack…rather, mouth-watering photos of vintage bathrooms. If this one does not qualify, I don’t know what does.

This interior design study is from my personal collection of 1954 Armstrong flooring ads produced by Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. To see more — click thru the Tag below that says ‘Armstrong floors.’

Book pitch…If you like these images, which are chock full of design ideas, there are many more in the anointed retro renovation “bibles”…hours of fun for the whole family, I’m serious!:

Vintage 1954 yellow kitchen designed by Armstrong IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER INSTALLMENT of a vintage Armstrong interior...
Mid-century modern bedroom — lovely I think that our readers in Eichler homes and other...
Got cork? Yes, it is possible that this 1954 bedroom from the...

A study in angles in this 1954 beach cottage

pam kueber — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:00:24 +0000

Here is another interior design study from my 1954 Armstrong flooring ad collection produced by Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. (insert forefinger backwards into mouth, make popping sound.)

What I really like about this image is that…it is a study in lines and angles and planes… and how their use can keep your eye flowing through and around a room. The blue horizontal wall on the window wall…the windows themselves – running vertically, then horizontally…the strong vertical lines of the wall to the right…the angular fireplace and exhaust fan…the angled kitchen counter…and of course, the Armstrong floor, which itself presumably sweeps up to the next room (at left). This has the vibe of a vacation cottage on the beach – sky blue on a window wall…to merge with the real sea and sky…is perfect in this environment.

Nicely done!

New readers – be sure to check out the two books of Armstrong interiors…my anointed retro renovation “bibles”:

Vintage 1954 yellow kitchen designed by Armstrong IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER INSTALLMENT of a vintage Armstrong interior...
Supersized midcentury sofas: In Elvis & Priscilla’s honeymoon cottage & more WHY DID SOFAS GET SO BIG? I do not...
20 interiors from 1952: The end of the 1940s Welcome to 1952. A few years ago I read the...

Retro mudlark mudroom: A study in the daring – and stunning – use of contrast

Pam Kueber — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:00:06 +0000

My very first post about a mudroom – albeit one that is in essence another bathroom. Notice the sink next to the door, and the hand held shower to the left. This is another fabulous design from Armstrong Floors, circa 1954, from my private stash from Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. (insert forefinger into mouth, make popping sound.) Look at the text of ad, and it talks about the “family of mudlarks.” How cute.

These colors are fabulous, don’t you agree? Come on retro renovators, saturate that house with color! Daltile now has aqua tile. The floor, we can find something close, the laminate – aqua boomerang. You can replicate this room in a breeze, and everytime you walk in the back door – you will be in retro heaven.

New readers – be sure to check out the two books of Armstrong interiors — Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong 1950s and Interior Solutions from Armstrong the 1960s.

Meanwhile, I’ll feature more from my proprietary Armstrong stash (different from what’s in the books) over time.

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50s living room: Soothing, modern color ideas from a 1954 Armstrong ad

Pam Kueber — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:00:55 +0000

I am now the proud owner of a binder of large, vintage 1954 Armstrong advertising comps — created by Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc., and signed off by Max Banzhaf in Floor Division National Advertisements. Pretty cool, huh?

Meanwhile – readers had been asking for more living room ideas — and I found some great ones in here.

In this modern-yet-classic interior, the designer begins with a very neutral brown/wood backdrop, adding medium blue, chartreuse and smalled punch of red to the mix. Overall – a delightful yet easy-to-live with look.

Click to enlarge and there are some fun things to notice:

Horses here and there
Pinch pleats that don’t take themselves too seriously
A peak into the kitchen, with the chartreuse carrying into that space
Look at the floor as it also transitions into the kitchen; there’s a change in the tile color to redefine the new spaces.

Check out the two books of Armstrong interiors — Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong 1950s and Interior Solutions from Armstrong the 1960s.

Meanwhile, I’ll feature more from my proprietary stash (different from what’s in the books) over time.

Vintage 1954 yellow kitchen designed by Armstrong IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER INSTALLMENT of a vintage Armstrong interior...
Mid-century modern bedroom — lovely I think that our readers in Eichler homes and other...
15 cafe curtain designs and ideas I have two large brochures of mid-century window treatment...