by pam kueber on May 13, 2009
READERS GARTH AND MARTHA gave me so much information about their renovation project that I’ve split it into two posts. In this first one, Garth tells us about how they were not…no, they were not(!)…going to tackle another fixer upper when they moved from Maryland back to Dallas in November. Of course… they found a fabulous 1950 home and the rest…well, they’re now five months into their new, five-year project. In the second post, below, Garth details the saga to restore vintage Crosley metal kitchen cabinets. Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on May 11, 2009
THE ESTATE SALE ON FRIDAY was a jackpot — the 1964, single-owner split level house was in gorgeous condition. What I really liked about it was that it was a very middle class, unpretentious house – but it had features that were clearly chosen for their high quality and craftsmanship. It was timeless in the true sense that everything about the house can endure. Oh lordy, I hope that the new owners understand what they have in hand! Today, two slide shows: The first of an awesome midcentury mailbox, recessed into the roman marble brick of the exterior. I know lots of readers will be so envious of this feature, I’ve never seen anything like it yet. And second, a fabulous time capsule kitchen — it includes two-tone cabinetry, a great little breakfast counter with original stools, and yellow GE appliances with gorgeous design features. One of my new favorites ever — like this house. 27 photos in all. Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on April 29, 2009
DO YOU HAVE FURNITURE that needs new legs? Or maybe you want to build an off-the-floor TV stand or bookshelf or…?
Well, reader Noah sent in this great find: Tapered legs…and Angled Mounting Plates…that can be found at Lowe’s and then used to update any piece of furniture. Inexpensive – stylish – and fun. You should see the TV stand he built in no time at all – terrific! Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on April 27, 2009
Alison King and I first became acquainted when she was looking for some vintage St. Charles kitchen cabinets. Being a humble, patient and deserving retro renovator, Alison had her request answered almost immediately by the retro design gods, who awarded her with a set via our Forum.
Not only is Alison an avid home renovator, she also is the force behind modernphoenix.net. This site is one of the best around to document a city-region’s midcentury domestic architecture. And, it also is at the epicenter of the region’s growing mid mod community. Fascinated, I asked Alison, who calls herself PixelPixie and a “design dork”, to tell us all about herself and what’s going on down in Phoenix. And of course – she sends us lots of pixures of the house that she and husband Matthew are working on.
Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on March 21, 2009
I find it fascinating that primitive horse themes were so popular in the 50s and 60s. Why? To be sure, there was a sense of internationalism about modern interiors. Did these horse motifs evolve from Spain…or the prehistoric cave painting in Lascaux, France (at left) – as this 1959 interior (above) seems to clearly reference? Does this all start with Picasso? And, the horses are also very associated with the Danish Modern movement. Wherever the idea came from, they are wonderful.
Additional posts on international influences:
A RetroRenovation re-run: This post originally ran on Feb. 26, 2008
by Pam Kueber on March 20, 2009
When I visited Rejuvenation on Monday, I was treated to a sneak peek at their latest products just about to be introduced: The Corona pendant lighting fixture… and a mahogany tri-spoke spreader that can be used to group three pendants for dramatic effect.
The Corona — which emulates an original 1959 fixture — has an aluminum pin-hole cylinder around a glass shade. And, the cylinder can also be enamel painted mix-and-match style in 8 colors including Neptune Blue, Aurora Green, Solar Yellow and even Flare Orange. Very ’60s!
The new tri-spoke also can be used with Rejuvenation’s other midcentury pendants, the Aeros, Orbis or Cerise.
Finally – during my visit I had my first opportunity to see this lighting in person. I loved the scale, and the quality.
The new lights are all now on the Rejuvenation website. And you can click through here for some additional photos –
Heck yeah there is more…
by Pam Kueber on September 14, 2008
A long feature today, for our Sunday reading … hey – just like the New York Times Magazine … introducing one of our Retro Renovation readers, Courtney. Courtney first caught my attention when she corrected a mistake of mine… then alerted me to pecky cypress I’d posted months ago…and then, I learned that she’d sent us the Tiki timeline. She seemed like a very interesting chica, so I’m posting some of our online chats here. A long post – but I promise you, Courtney writes beautifully – and she makes me laugh laugh laugh. She studying journalism in California, and when she is quite famous we can tell everyone that we met her here first.
Hi Pam!
Loving the site, as always, and your new pink bathroom supplemental. I’ve got a 1930 pink bathroom (with sea foam green accent tile), and my mother has one, too, probably 50s.
One of my favorite things about your site is that is goes beyond the mid century basics; that you frequently showcase a variety of styles and design movements, beyond MCM 101: Wright and Eames. On general design sites, Wright and Eames get all the MCM glory. I’m not saying they don’t deserve the blood of my unborn, those guys were great, but I’m sick of every yuppie and their pocket dog coveting the Eames lounge chair for their otherwise sterile, vanilla California Contemporary magazine spread. I don’t know how those things became the holy grail of the upwardly mobile, but it’s really ruining the look for me. Viva la short run designs and lesser known designers! Anyway… so I really appreciate your more broad coverage.
Which brings me to why I am writing this note. I loved the museum video you linked in the side bar about Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, the one that features the still shot of your kitchen (how exciting!). However, instead of Saarinen, your link credits… EAMES!
AGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,
Courtney.
Oopsy. I do have to admit, I get my Saarinen and Eames and Noguchi and Mies all mixed up. I have to be careful when I name drop with my barista. So the conversation continued, as I asked Courtney to tell me more….
Heck yeah there is more…
by Pam Kueber on August 27, 2008
Macy's Corona sofa
Update Aug. 31: I saw this 1950s T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb sofa on ebay. Very similar to the line of Macy's sofa - don't you agree! - Pam
Reader Bob sends in this great find from Macy’s:
Hi Pam,
First, want to say how much I enjoy your site. Okay, now my story! I’ve been looking (for the last 5 years!) for a suitable mid-century couch for my den. I’d been hoping to find a vintage one, but that never worked out. Then, while looking at Design Within Reach, I stumbled across the Bantam Sofa which was exactly what I had been looking for. Unfortunately, their design certainly isn’t within MY reach, so I kept looking. You can imagine my surprise when I came across an almost identical sofa at Macy’s, of all places. It’s called the Corona, and I just got mine about 2 weeks ago. Not only is it stylish and comfortable (great for naps!), it’s well made and someone said it “looked like it was stolen out of Rob and Laura Petrie’s living room!” That’s exactly the look I was going for! The good news about this sofa is the price. The Bantam is $1750.00. I got my Corona on sale for $630.00 (it’s almost always on sale.) It’s available in several colors, most of which I found unappealing. I got mine in “stone” which is basically gray. Thanks for the great site and all the great ideas!
Bob
Thanks, Bob! Great sofa, very nice lines! And I love how your gray sofa looks with those pink curtains. Pink-and-gray is a great color combo! Personally, I also like the Paprika (orange-red) color offered for the sofa, but then, burnt orange is my favorite color.
Bob's grey example. He points out that it's hard to see the button tufting, a great feature, in this photo. And says: "Also in the picture, you can see a bit of my step end tables and what I think may be a Harris Strong lamp. My den is very much a work-in-progress, so please pardon the patched plaster!"
