Finishing up my Youngstown Kitchens 1957 mini-series, here is their Monterey line. The unique selling proposition of this line: Sandalwood-colored steel base cabinets and doors…. with wall cabinets with Sandalwood-stained wooden doors on steel bases. Reading through this marketing material I see: Industry concern about color fatigue, oh no! “Give us a color we can live with for years” and “that goes with everything,” consumers asked, Youngstown explained. Again…as we’ve discussed before…the move away from enamel-painted steel, which was difficult to repaint (and likely getting more expensive), to wood cabinetry (which was easier to re-paint and also had the “furniture look” of adjoining spaces”, was under way. Heck yeah there is more →
Youngstown Kitchens Monterey cabinets
Posted by: • August 28, 2009
Toothbrushes to fit vintage porcelain ceramic toothbrush holders
Posted by: • August 26, 2009
Third up in 3-for-Wednesday Reader Shout-Out: Kristin hunts down toothbrushes to fit old-time porcelain toothbrush holders. Heck yeah there is more →
Vintage seagulls
Posted by: • August 18, 2009
It’s a small world — I literally bumped into reader Cindy (center) as I headed to shop in Northamptom this weekend. This is really kind of freaky, because that’s a half hour from her house and an hour from my house, and there are 6,497,967 people in the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Cindy had been going to tag sales with friends. She picked up this trio of vintage seagull wall art for $5. I think you’d call them “in the danish modern style” – although it might be more true to say “popular 70s.” I think these are great for patios… I have a brassy seagull wall hanging, also a steal $, above our barbecue in the U-shaped patio at the front of our house. Well done, Cindy. See you at the James Taylor concert at Tanglewood in two weeks!
Vintage thank you card
Posted by: • August 18, 2009
A big “thank you” to Elizabeth Mary for hosting me at her house on Friday. She lives just 35 miles away, so I took a little road trip to visit her and see her 1946 house. More to come on the visit soon. Meanwhile, many thanks, Elizabeth, for your kind hospitality. Your house is gorgeous, so full of love. P.S. Yes, I collect vintage greeting cards, too. Basically, there is nothing mid-century I don’t collect, much to Mr. Retro Renovation’s consternation.
Vintage curtain pulls — I’m sweet on the small stuff
Posted by: • August 16, 2009
HAPPY SUMMER SUNDAY, everyone. Here’s a little reminder to take a moment today and celebrate the teeny tiniest little details in your home. These vintage plastic bellflower curtain pulls must have been pulled up and down a million times since they were first installed. You can see how the oils on the Mrs.’ fingertips have left their mark. I find them amazingly beautiful. Maybe it’s the small stuff that is the most important of all. Thanks to flickr friend fancymefoxy for seeing this detail, and capturing it to share. You can see her entire photostream by clicking directly on the photo.
Vintage style drinking glasses
Posted by: • August 4, 2009
We all love our vintage glassware, I know that. But for everyday family use, especially tall drinking glasses, I use glassware that is less precious. Next time around, I think I am goint to buy this Anchor Hocking “Central Park” glassware in this ivy color – almost an avocado. It has a nice retro feel, and Anchor Hocking is pretty affordable, as I recall. Link here.
Who are the original owners of your home? Averyl’s story.
Posted by: • July 30, 2009
Reader Averyl is a new owner of a mid-century home. She recently wrote to share how she had researched — then met – the home’s original owners. I asked her to tell us more… Read on for Averyl’s wonderful story. Heck yeah there is more →
18 rare vintage Hall-Mack bathroom accessories
Posted by: • July 26, 2009
This week’s vintage Hall-Mack miniseries concludes with 18 special accessories found in my 1962 catalog. Above: The Tow’lescope (I have two MIB) and the even more rare Extendo-Bar, which I have never seen in real life. Heck yeah there is more →
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