selected, details within the house – from that beautiful Asian-style doorknob — to the porch light – to the can lighting – and on and on. Oh – the “Goldwater in ’64?” It’s a bumper sticker I picked up at an estate sale and brought for Cindy as a little housewarming. For the graphics, we didn’t talk politics! And wouldn’t you know it, it matches her kitchen.

Click through for 28 wonderful photos in all!

I must admit, right up front, that I am a terrible guest when I go to see reader homes. I immediately become the absent-minded professor eagle-eying every feature outside before I can even get up to the doorway to shake hands. I think Cindy understood, because we’d met before. Apologies again, Cindy, I’m working on my interpersonal skills especially when doing retro recon. But oh my goodness: Look at the pole lamp. A real beauty! Likely from Moe or Progress or Thomas Industries.  Fantastic!

And there’s more — a matching outdoor wall sconce. If the tour had stopped right here I’d have been happy.

Walk inside Cindy’s front door and there is delight in every direction. She’s painted her living room walls a lovely butterscotch color. Love the rug, and the modern sofa! Glance at the ceiling, we’ll get a close up of those recessed can lights in a moment.

A fabulous marble brick fireplace separates the kitchen and dining area from the living room. No question, the more I see these gorgeous fireplace structures, the more I want want want. And these white bricks are fantastic. I wonder how much it would cost to replicate this fireplace today.

Cindy added this floor. It is Amtico resilient tile (vinyl, Cindy?), and what I found so cool about it was the flooring contractor used “welds” – some sort of plastic flooring pieces – between each tile – this gives the effect of grout and is an option to butting the tiles up against each other. A really nice look to consider. However, Cindy says that the contractor may have used too much adhesive because it bubbles up and is a bear to clean.

We’ve seen Cindy’s bathroom before, but in this close up, I want to point out the recessed metal cabinets right behind the sinks. The long shiny metal installation includes swirl-around toothbrush holders flanking each side. And in the center, a recessed cabinet with sliding mirrored doors. AWESOME! This kind of installation was made by companies like Miami-Carey. I actually bought one on ebay last year. It arrived broken in a million pieces. And then the seller shafted me on the refund even after I sent it back to him. I bet I might be able to replicate/find this product for readers today; stay tuned, it’s on my list. A wonderful way to add space if you have a countertop run. And note: Cindy has made some really well-done cosmetic updates to this bathroom since August. Look for that post next week!

An original 60s chandelier in Cindy’s kitchen. Simply divine.

I believe this was in the hallway.. I love the modern lines in a colonial lantern arrangement. A truly wonderful fixture.

These recessed eyeball cans were throughout the living room. These can still be found among the companies identified in our Lighting Page.

I gotta show this again. Cindy completely renovated her kitchen. The cabinets are laminate – a totally authentic choice, especially as you enter the 60s … she has a granite countertop and it looks great … and she stenciled the backsplash herself (goes under heading of: Some Therapy). Notice the butterscotch ties to the living room, too.

A simple but just lovely hall light with that little added something: Starbursts in the glass.

Even on the patio – a milk glass-meets-disco globe! The people who built this house know how to live – and had some dough-re-mi at their disposal!

Another wonderful kitchen light!

Cindy added these new pendants (from Lightolier, I think she told me) to her kitchen.0

Yes: Wood panelling (cherry, me thinks) in the living room, and a Nutone speaker system.

You’re looking at wonderful vintage 60s Romany Spartan tile — and a laundry chute! I love laundry chutes. Don’t have one, goshdarnit. There was a really cool one in the St. Louis time capsule house – photo coming soon.

Vintage clock.

A real dream house. Thank you, Cindy, for you wonderful hospitality and for finding this great home such a caring owner!

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In late October I had a kaffee klatsch with reader Clare, who is British and lives in London, but oh so coincidentally also has a second home in Lee, Mass., just one town over!

Actually, we had two klatsches (and drank tea): First Clare came to my house and got the tour. Then I went to visit her – descending with camera in hand practically frothing after some serious retro recon. I apologize again, Clare! What a pushy broad I can be. But… I think we got on quite well, little chatterboxes who never stopped. Her husband ran screaming from the house. Oh, I mean, he went on a run.

Clare’s house is a little jewel box inside – you open the door, and voila, full of sparkling treasures. What I particularly liked was her amazing “graphic” eye. She has a real knack for using single images or pieces to really stand out to make an artistic statement. Kind of, less is more. And as you can see – very tidy. Normal, she say, even when guests with cameras aren’t coming.

Back to the graphics. This idea (above) is a great example: If you have just one precious role of vintage wallpaper, use it to cover one wall, with the wall color as ‘frame.’ The photo doesn’t do justice to Clare’s idea (my camera is bouncing too much light off the paper) – in reality, the installation reads almost ‘tone on tone’ with the wallpaper making just the right impact.

And you can see Clare’s graphic touch in the kitchen as well – the beige subway tile with red accents – is repeated in the carpet squares… all unified with the vintage avocado appliances. Hurrah for avocado!

Don’t forget to call me when you’re back for Christmas, Clare!

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We start year two of RetroRenovation.com with a perfect time capsule. But this one’s not for sale.

In fact, Russell is closing on it today (if all goes right)! Yoo haah, Russell, congratulations — fantastic house!

Don’t dare tear out the pink bathrooms, or those living room pinch pleats. And – the fish wallpaper – it’s AWESOME!

On the blog every day for four months, you say? We’ll, you are sucked in, for sure — and know that owning such a treasure now binds you to our retro renovator’s code starting with, “Don’t rip ANYTHING out ’til you are 100% positive you won’t regret it later!”   Evil laugh ha ha ha ha.

Will he get to keep the pink bathroom? Or will she win, and rip it out? (Horrors!) Plus – GREAT kitchen — read on!

Dear Pam,

My wife and I are moments away from being able to call this one owner custom time capsule our home. It was love at first sight, and this is coming from someone who at the time had no appreciation at all for mid-century ranches. So of course I had to go straight to the computer and do some homework. It didn’t take long to find your site. You have been a tremendous resource. I now fully understand how lucky I am to come across such a gem. Thank You. More about the house…

The house was built by the owner and his buddies who were all Seabees in WWII. The Seabees are the Construction Battalions of the United States Navy. They were all engineers and builders. The house is really a testament to their skillful hands. Everything about the house is solid and well built. They were obviously also very in tune with the trends in house architecture at the time. Radiant heating (check), coral skylark laminate (check), Nutone food center and hood (check), retractable fixture (check), pink bathroom (check), cedar closet (check). I could go on and on. My absolute favorite detail is the stylized attic vents that mimics the slope of the roof. In addition, according the owners son the wood siding is all original. Not one shake has ever been replaced! Apparently the wife hand dipped each and every one. WOW

…. Yes, I have been to your other site [SaveThePinkBathrooms.com]. I have been going to retrorenovation.com everyday for the last four months.  Some of the things I have noted about the bathroom include: The custom cabinets slope back just like in the kitchen, The wallpaper has a underwater theme with fish swimming around pink treasure chests, the built-in next to the toilet has magazine racks and also gives access to the bath plumbing, the wall tile continues between the closet and the door (what attention to detail), there is a cup/toothbrush/soap holder on both ends. Given the condition of the wallpaper I think it has to go. Saving the pink bathroom is a battle that has already started between my wife and I. Yep, the man wants to keep the pink, she thinks it has got to go. I’m making progress!

One more story…..Also attached a photo of the Nutone food center. When we first saw the house I asked the realtor what it was. He told me it was a built-in blender and that it still worked. When I laughed and said “but what about the parts” he opened a kitchen cabinet, and there were all the original parts and attachments including the manual/cookbook. All in perfect condition.

We are glad you like the house. Thank you again for your wonderful site and I will keep you updated on some of the renovations we plan to do in the coming months.

Russell

Thank you, Russell. You are so fortunate to have this home – and it sounds so fortunate to have you. I am for sure going to come visit soon!

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