Retro Renovation » avocado

You can sleep when you’re old

pam kueber — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:55:18 +0000

The difficulty with vintage is finding King size spreads, I think that Queen is difficult, too. This full-sized flower power spread has a wonderful satin finish… great avocado colors… This kind of quilting — when you actually quilt around the flowers and tuft them up, is really wonderful… it gives great dimension to what is otherwise a big, flat, box taking up most of your room. You also see this kind of detail quilting done with flowered chintzes sometimes. Nice. From seller aubiejeanvintage. Watch my etsy favorites – over in the right-hand column — I’ll be adding bedroom this ‘n that all week.

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Flower power 1960s Drexel bedroom set

pam kueber — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:00:01 +0000

Thanks to Puddletown aka Cheryl for spotting this 60s flower-power Peter Max-style Drexel bedroom set on Craigslist. It’s in Minneapolis, and it’s not cheap, but oh my goodness, this is the greatest bedroom set in the world! And, thanks to seller Molly for the photos — [link expired]– and click through to the next page for 5 more photos.

Jan 2010 update:
A flickr friend has identifed this AWESOME bedroom furniture as Drexel Heritage ‘Plus One’ circa 1970. She has a catalog, which said that Drexel interviewed girls via SEVENTEEN magazine to design the line.

Click first image to launch slide show:

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Antiques in the Berkshires – midcentury treasure hunt

pam kueber — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:00:46 +0000

If you are looking for antiques in the Berkshires… and want to find some great midcentury stuff… be sure to stop at Berkshire County Used Furniture on 4th Street in Pittsfield. My friend Ron — who helped me get the kitchen cabinets out of Gotham — runs this treasure trove. Ron empties out houses ’round the clock, it seems. He takes everything — so you never know what you will find at his store. I swear, if I were doing another kitchen, I would for sure buy up these avocado green GE appliances — they were in fantastic shape. Read on for 13 photos in all… including an 40s Kenmore washing machine… and a Witco tiki throne.

Click the photos twice to get to their largest size.

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The Eljer Ellis toilet … great 50s style for the bathroom

pam kueber — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:59 +0000

There’s nothing I like better than a pretty, midcentury toilet. This 1959 Ellis model from Eljer has wonderful lines, and came in 7 “decorator colors” including this great shade of pistachio green that is heading in a straight line toward avocado.

The text says that the toilet, along with coordinating bathtub and wallhung sink on chrome legs, were designed by the Dave Chapman firm. Chapman was a well-known industrial designer and seems to have had a long career with Montgomery Ward, in particular. See his IDSA bio here. Eljer has existed since 1904 and along with Crane, is today part of the American Standard brand. I keep an eye on Eljer’s product line … As far as retro renovation choices, they have one wall-hung sink (Murray II) and several simple toilets (with some of my favorite names: Titan…Diplomat…Patroit!) worth a look.

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Should this avocado bathroom be saved?

pam kueber — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:57:26 +0000

Reader Jennifer spotted this avocado bathroom over on Apartment Therapy. The reader is asking what she should do with it. I sense…revulsion. What do you think, Retro Renovation readers? Should this avocado bathroom be saved? Leave your comment here – or over on the post at Apartment Therapy. P.S. I bet you know what I think!

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6 interiors with great ideas from the late 1960s

pam kueber — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:00:07 +0000

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.

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Decorating ideas from a retro 60s avocado and orange time capsule basement

pam kueber — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:00:43 +0000

How to add light to your basement? This wonderful 60s room spotted by reader Tom B., ready with the camera for retro recon, provides a great example.

Tom writes:

“Pam, My wife and I hit up an estate sale late yesterday and stumbled across a “time capsule” room I just HAD to share with you: Get a load of the green stained walls, built in seating nook and orange tweed carpet!!! and look at those windows!

Tom continues:

“a closer view-

“get a load of the sweet little handprints in the stain on the right-And a closer look at the windows-

“did i mention that this room is in THE BASEMENT!!!! there is about a 10″ gap between the walls with lighting along he ceiling:

“and here’s the next room over, similar windows and a false fireplace. (i loved this basement!!!!):

“The rest of the house was pretty unremarkable, just a normal, late 60’s ranch home. The kitchen had a wierd combo- the original wood cabinets/appliances with new beige/white corian countertops/backsplash. it was an, er, interesting look… (sorry no pics of that)

“I also picked up a new in box, ceramic doorknob escutcheon with gold fleur de lis printed on it along with a grocery bag full of other stuff for a whopping DOLLAR (like i said it was late) Anyway, i hope you enjoy the pics, feel free to use them however you want.
your faithful reader,
TomB”

Thanks, Tom — great green paneling, wonderful carpet! And just to be super clear, readers — those are fake windows in the basement. Built out from the wall, with lights behind them, to simulate daylight at the touch of a button. Pretty nifty!

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