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Revisions
These Terms of Use were revised on Dec. 6, 2011, Dec. 4, 2012 [we now ask that you request permission to use photos or text originally posted here), and March 9, 2013 [updated Materials You Submit/rights granted...]:
I am looking for new toilet seats for my American Standard “Monaco” style toilet. Does anyone have any ideas where I might find some of these tulip shaped seats?
I’m renovating my old knotty pine bedroom at my Mom’s house. My dad did the room back in the 1950′s.I love knotty pine. My problem is, I have to replace some of the paneling. The house went through six kids. I have tried five different minwax stains and combinations of them, trying to get close to the orange-red color of the existing paneling. Nothing is even close. Do you have any tips or know of any outlets for a stain/varnish or whatever that would approximate the color of the old paneling?
Hi Ken. I don’t know the answer to this for sure. But I tend to think that orange shellac was used a lot. Have you tried that old fashioned stuff? Note, the color mellows over time… not sure how to replicate this.
Some Ace Hardware stores sell individual tubes of paint tint. It will definitely take some experimenting but you could add little bit by little bit into some shellac but be sure to keep track of how much you add so you can replicate it later. There’s also the possibility of getting a color match on the current color, getting a paint mixed with the scanned formula and thinning the paint down to make a stain out of it. Again this will take some experimentation and you should keep track of how much water you add to the paint [assuming it's a water based paint] so you can replicate it later if you need more.
There were two big brand names in old-school wood finishes…sorta three.
1) Target. Think they are no more, they made a bunch of neat stuff including old-time pre-urethane gym floor finish called, duh, Gymseal, which was marvelously tough, self-leveling, and fast to flash off–no brush marks. Horribly noxious, but great!
2) Deft. An alcohol-based varnish (most varnishes as we think of them other than urethane “varnish” products which are not any such thing-are what we would call a gum varnish, turp/linseed type of base. Spirit varnishes are alcohol based. Not particularly water resistant, but Deft is quick and lovely if a bit delicate when dried. Goes off much harder than a gum varnish because the solvent goes completely away. Comes in a can or a spray bomb, but clear only. Brain cells away!
3)—-AND, THIS… is what I think you are looking for, Zinnser(sp.) Bullseye, which is an orange-y tinted shellac product. Comes in more than one tint if I am not mistaken, basically light or dark. Yes, you can blend to match them. Great stuff, and likely what you are after.
Virtually guaranteed that it was one of these three products. As an aside, I have been told that gymseal is available again but have not seen or found it. Sadly, a lot of things like that are not so good once they have been reformulated to make them allowable for sale! I’ll believe that product exists again and is good when I see it, I guess. You know the blonde MC “swedish flooring”? Usually was finished in gymseal. See those floors well maintained and the finish still on them? Great Stuff it was indeed.
As Pam pointed out, all varnishes, which includes shellac (shellac being a resinous bug excretion that comes in chunks or flakes and is dissolved in alcohol) will amber or darken with age and time. This process actually doesn’t stop, so in 30 years your small repairs will really stand out. Depending on UV exposure, Much sooner. If you have a large area to rework it may be best to sand it out and recoat it unless you have a stain to worry about cuttting into.
All this stuff is noxious, and a respirator is well indicated. MOVING AIR, as well, because a respirator only works for you below certain concentrations . Won’t do any good if the room is full of Tolulene, Alcohol, Etc. and no air. Nothing has ever made me sicker and made my head pound as badly as Deft in a still shop, respirator or not. Not true nitrocellulose laquer, not fiberglass resin in a confined space, nothing. Then again, too much moving air equals airborne contaminants in your work and shellacthat goes off too quickly. If it really matters, for the prettiest job, sometimes it’s just as well to eat a big antioxidant vitamin pill and a very bland sandwich, drink a liter or so of water, put on the respirator and go. Your liver loves the tylenol you will be adding even more than the alcohol vapor, but a thing of beauty is never achieved without some sacrifice.
If it helps to know, the healthy-sounding waterborne urethanes are a glycol ether base, which makes alcohol and even zylene seem like health food. Only gotta do the job once, after all.
Good luck,
Dave
Please be careful, all, and know what you are doing when it comes to refinishing anything! I do not generally allow DIY advice but I will permit atomicbowler-dave’s comment because it includes mention of precautions. Please, though, readers – you are responsible for your own decisions when it comes to this kind of experience – do your own research on best environmental and safety practices!!!!!!!
My 50′s pink bathroom needs replacement of the drywall due to water seepage and my pink wall hung sink is leaking and I wanted to get a vanity, but it would need to go with my pink toilet and tub, so I wanted some ideas regarding what type and color of vanity to use. The space is small, so I would need a vanity that is 25 in, wide, 19 in deep. I was thinking about getting the white Hope Depot vanity (with the white marble top) for $99 dollars and painting the recessed panels on the front door pink. The floor is the pink and gray basket weave. I am hoping my installer can save the pink shower tiles and I can put them back on the wall, but
after reading this site, I learned I can order my 50′s pink tile from a tile company in Lake Elsinore, Ca. which would be wonderful.
This site is awesome.
Thanks so much for any replies!
Hi Jeena, and welcome to the site. Can we convince you to keep your wall-mount sink? Can I convince you to keep it? I think that in small mid-century bathrooms, wall-mount sinks on chrome legs make the space feel so much bigger.
Storage can go into a cabinet above the toilet. Or, you can build it into the wall — this might be especially useful to consider if you are already having to remove drywall – make use of any deep spaces that may exist in the wall. See this post … http://retrorenovation.com/2008/12/18/adding-storage-to-your-small-bathroom/
Finally, regarding the pink tile – be sure to check with B&W and get samples to make sure you can get a good color match.
I have tried different paint stores and hobbie shops. There has got to be a sorce for touch up paint.
Hi Ed, I found these companies, however, I have no personal experience with them, they just look somewhat promising:
http://www.diybathrepair.com/html/touch_up_stick.html
http://www.repairproducts.co.uk/page33.htm
http://www.homaxproducts.com/products/kitchenbath/08/faqs.html — this one says you can use universal tints to get add color, in pastels only
I am not sure quite where to find it….how much it costs…or whether it works. They have colors though…
I have a few pink tiles. they are the 4X4 type.
get thee one and all over to forum,please, with all buying/selling: http://retrorenovation.com/forums/
If you need paint, and if all else is failing, look up online for House of Kolor. Yep, with a K. Probably lots of choices of type, and always the option of sending a physical specimen for a spectrographic match.
Just dropping a note to say I love the site! I stumbled on it while searching for St. Charles Cabinets. We moved into our house 2 yrs. ago in April and our kitchen cabinets were builder grade pressed wood. We started looking on Craig’s List and found a demolition sale in an upscale neighborhood in our area.. everything had to go. They posted pictures of the cabinets and they looked nice so we went to the sale, saw they were metal with wood front, hesitated, then since they were still in good shape and seemed to be custom decided to bid on them. We purchased our St. Charles cabines – almond metal backs with all wood fronts for a total of $65.00.
Apparently we got a great bargin that we weren’t aware of until I hit this site. We have finally finished installing these in our kitchen and they are beautiful! I currently have some of the pictures listed on you “cabinets wanted site” because we are looking for any more we might be able to locate in the US. I have yet to finish the walls in the kitchen but when it’s completed I will post.
The quality of these cabinets can not be matched and anyone who has an opportunity to purchase for any price could not go wrong. I show them off to everyone who comes into my home and everyone is impressed by the quality, convience, and extra features of these cabinets.
Take it from me if you find some you like grab them! You will never regret it!
T
St. Louis
Welcome, Terri. Wow, you did get a deal! Stay in touch – I’d love to show your kitchen when it’s ready for prime time!
Hey Pam – I just came across your site recently and have become totally fascinated! I spend hours sifting through the articles and looking at the awesome pictures. There is a house here in my town that is for sale that I’m going crazy to get my hands on. It was built in 1957 and is a great little bedford stone ranch with two bedrooms, 1 bath and terrific detached garage. But the best part is the Tappan Fabulous 400 range that is still in the kitchen! It appears to be in perfect condition along with what appears to be orginal white with gold speck formica countertops. I have an entire year to wait before I can apply for a mortgage and it’s driving me crazy. I’ll be devastated the moment I see a ‘sold’ sign in the yard but that’s how the cookie crumbles. Wish me the best of luck and if I am able to grab it I’ll definitely send some pictures your way! Larry
Welcome, WLBrown to our retrowonderland. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that if you are good and humble and patient servant, the retro decorating gods will send you what you need when you need it — a house included. So save your money like a maniac, and be ready for the house they send you in a year. Good luck.
Pam: Left a comment re: Mel Kolstad 1st of “Love the House”.
It’s either our home in Phoenix or one is a clone of the other. Would very much like more info from Mel or ?
As stated on this website, the use of MDF for cabinets is fine. The statement that MDF is water resistant is as far from the truth as possible. MDF will soak up water like a sponge and expand to 3 times its size if left unsealed in any spot. They make a water resistant MDF, but it is expensive. Regular MDF should NOT be used where moisture is an issue. This includes bathrooms.
Hi Joe, thanks for your comment. Good guidance, I think, would be to check with the supplier of the wood/MDF relative to its specifications and what further steps you should take to ensure it’s sealed correctly.
I am needing to buy some green (mint, pistachio) tile 4×4 and 2×6 to add a shower to our 60′s style bathroom. The tile we have currently is romany spartan and would like to match it. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Karin, check our tile category for places we’ve found that may have the mid-century colors and styles you are looking for.
Hi, my first time at your site, very NICE! I have a pink bathroom and LOVE it! I live in a vintage European style cottage and LOVE it!!!
I found a old Drexel coffe table, one like I have never ever seen before in my lifetime. It is very long (est 7′), about 3′ wide, it sits very low to the ground. In the center on it is a 2 tier section with a drawer, the left and right sides are reversable either like a biege color with 13 stars in a circle, or you can flip it around and have just a deep brown wood finish. Can anyone tell me what year it is?
Jerry, best to call Drexel customer service on this – they are very helpful. Sounds super cool! If you get a moment, send me a pic at retrorenovation [at] gmail [dot] com.
I thought you would want to see Lucille Armstrong’s kitchen in the Louis Armstrong house museum in Queens:
http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/visiting/overview.htm
1930s or 1950s?? We have a house built in the 30s with original birch, unpainted (miraculous!) cabinets still in place, and a turquoise naugahide dining booth that some previous soul installed. We’re replacing the 1980s wornout vinyl flooring with marmoleum — really like the “scrabble” pattern — but don’t know whether to “honor” the 30s and do a sheet + border look or capitulate to the 50s and do a checkerboard pattern…the rest of house is um er, “eclectic….” Any advice?
i noticed in the photo the sink has the fixtures on the side just like mine. i have looked everywhere to find a replacement. the plumbers hate to mess with them. mine are leaking and old but the porcelain sink and bathtub have been well preserved. they are beautiful. i hate to get rid of them. can you help me. i just need the fixtures
Mr. Blandings – a true classic, and a must-see for anyone in the throes of renovation! Great idea for a housewarming gift too!
Love the wall art in the living room! Where did you get it & who is the artist?
just a print, i think, one is a dumpster dive, the other from a local junque shoppe….
My father retired around 1989, and moved to city of his boyhood in Minnesota for the summers. He bought a lakeside home that was way overdue for updating with indoor/outdoor kitchen floor squares and white steel cabinets just like these. When they went to remodel, the cabinet guy told them to reconsider replacing them with modern cabinets, saying that 2 companies made these cabinets back in the day (50′s?) and one of them was still in business. It was a fairly large kitchen and he estimated that buying these cabinets now would have run him around $40k. He suggested exactly what you are doing, the electrostat paintjob, and that’s what they did. It turned out great, and those 40 year old hinges were like tiny Mercedes Benz door handles all working perfectly. I’d recommend it, if you haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Where can I buy a lower element for my therador wo-16A OVEN?
I thought my family was the only one in the world with the wallpaper seen in the bathroom. I recall as a horse-crazy 9 or 10 year old helping my parents pick out that wallpaper most likely at Sears. Of course my choice for it was because it had horses on it, my brothers because it had a car or train, and my parents because the colors kind of went with our summer cottage paneling. The wallpaper is still on the wall in excellent condition.
I sent this – I think – through the question section, not sure it went through. Arrggh, as you can tell I’m not computer savvy…yet. (o:
Help! I haven’t found the answer to this on your website (although, there is so much wonderful information. I find new stuff there almost everyday!). I bought some vintage wallpaper online and my husband (who is very handy) insists on hanging it himself. Frankly I’m worried, the paper was mucho expensive…do you have any tips about hanging wallpaper that’s probably over 40 years old? It is the non-pasted type and its going on our 8×12 bedroom wall (1950 bungalow)…Thanks Pam! PS I’d love to send you a picture with this message – not sure how to do that though…
Michele: This has come up before. I recommend: You go to a really really good wallpaper store that has been around a long time – and get them to show you what to buy for paste. I am wary of making recommendations online. You know, you also could check with the “Big Three” places that sell vintage wallpaper – I bet they could help. See my post on them — I did it very recently. It’s in the category: Retro Accents/Wallpaper, as I recall.
Psease help me. I have the old metal sink and cabinets made by youngstown in my kitchen.
I need the metal porcelin drain board that fits over the sink. it is made to slide from one side to the other and is removable.
thanks
Thanks to you, I have a better way to sell my house! Everyone calls it a
ranch, but I told the realtor I wanted to call it mid-century modern, so they
listed it that way. Check out the awesome kitchen! http://bit.ly/gUKorj
Have to sell because I just got married and am moving to Chicago. I will
miss my house horribly : (
Love your website, I will use it for tips to furnish my new house in Chicago.
Thanks again, bonnie larner, richmond, VA
We had that kitchen! I can feel the cool metal, I can hear the doors click shut. Where was THAT picture in my brain all these years?! My daughter said recently, “oh, Mom, you HAVE to see this sink!” I looked at it and said, “Yea, whats your issue?” It had separate sigots for the hot and cold water (bathroom sink). It occurred to me that she had never seen a sink like this—–and to think her mum washed her little hands in a sink like that for 18 years…….
OMG for you turquoise kitchen lovers on EYSY has a wonderful retro 1950′s turquoise sink dish drainer set with a sink saver and a utensil holder plus a flatware drainer. Near mint condition. Rubbermaid brand. Gotta love it!!!!!!!!!
My wife and I purchased a 1957 ranch home in Yorba Linda, CA 23 years ago after living in a new 2 story jack-in-the box for 8 years. We have redone the interior and exterior of the home and love the large yard that came with property. We enjoyed the article today on MSN. Early ranch homes should be preserved as they are in short supply especially in new housing tracts today as property has become scarce. Randy
I have a double sink /drainboard white with three (3) doors and five (5) drawers with the name Murray on the front. Is there anyplace where i can find out if they (the company) are still in existants ???
see our Forum http://retrorenovation.com/forum — all about Murray
That’s not surprising; builders hate overhead lights. They highlight any defects the ceiling might have, making customers more likely to complain. If they just wire up a switched outlet, the lamps controller by it will likely be away from the walls and ceiling. By the time an owner adds light fixtures, the builder is long gone from the picture. I’ve noticed lately that when builders do include lights, they tend to use chandeliers, ceiling fans or those ugly hole-in-the-ceiling can fixtures, non of which shine directly at the ceiling.
Pam, We have not figured out how to attach photos of our kitchen cabinets which are for sale. Could you provide some guidance? Thank you, Mark
go to the forum: http://retrorenovation.com/forums complete instructions there….
Can you help me find someone willing to work on a 1961 Frigidaire Custom Imperial electric range in South Florida?
Repair people laugh at the idea of fixing a 50 year old range.
Thank you,
Tom Klash
Looking for an avacodo toilet
I’ve owned this modern couch for twenty years and have been trying
to find out who built it.I saw this chair on Ebay with this fabric that grabbed me.It lead me to Mr. Pearsall.My father has 8 of his armchairs
in his waiting room.We’re traveling to Penn.from Scottsdale az.to
visit the kaufman house in may.Is there a collection of his of this
furniture anywhere in Pa.?
I love the site. We have a kitchen with Geneva cabinets. We love them. They were originally pink. We painted them white, just on the outside. The inside is still pink. Our problem is, somehow we lost one of the hinges. Does anyone know where these hinges can be found? I so far have found it impossible. Thanks
hinges must be scrounged or jury-rigged
I am looking for a single pull American Kitchens faucet. We have an American Kitchens sink cabinet and the faucet broke and needs to be replaced…….any thoughts or ideas on where we can find one?
See my category Kitchens/Sinks & Faucets http://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/faucets/ is this what you are looking for: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/02/24/a-special-faucet-for-vintage-american-brand-kitchen-drainboard-sinks-still-available/
hi there im looking for a tappen 400 electric stove anyone out there know of any. THANK YOU LARRY
Hi Larry, I have several stories on this, including one on places to buy vintage stoves. Please see my category Kitchens/Appliances & Accessories. Good luck.
Hi Larry, where is this wesite to sell appliances? I have a gas range, 1950″s & 1954 beautiful Phillco frige. Both one owners in great condition & they both work great??
Larry, if you are still looking for a Tappan 400, there is a link to one for sale on craigslist in the comments of the main post in the blog today:
http://ames.craigslist.org/app/3286402960.html
Hi, I thought you might enjoy this article. Click on pictures for larger versions.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/03/mad-men-don-drapers-apartment.html
Hello,
I’m looking for Avco American Crosley cabinets uppers and lowers in the los Angeles area.
Thank you,
Jeff Petersen
I forgot to click the notify box.
head to our forum, jeff, it’s all about buying/selling vintage steel cabinets: http://retrorenovation.com/forums/
HI all I have tons of vintage NOS Retro plastic bathroom tiles, in pink, orange, burgandy, and others, please let me know if you are interested.
Tom, this needs to go on to our buy/sell Forum: http://retrorenovation.com/forums/
Looking for some replacement tile for my 1930s Kohler bathroom.
Tile is mostly shades of brown/beige. Style is unglazed random beige. Small tiles.Can send pics.
See my Bathroom / Tiles category. Probably World of Tile is your answer.
Pam can you please tell me how to get on the forum to sell something??
Hello can you please tell me how to get on the forum page to sell something??
the link is in the center column: http://retrorenovation.com/forums/
I’m seriously hearting this wreath. It’s crazy good!
Love Retro!
i love the wreaths & would make a great christmas gift for my mom! we have an antiquie store but never have time for such great projects!we both adore the vintage bulbs but seem to always end up selling to keep paying the bills………we only get to own the things we enjoy for a short time!
I’d like to think that I’m not a jealous person, but I see these applicances and feel a bit green…But then I’m happy that these applicances are in homes where they are appriciated and well-loved!
Thanks for putting up pictures; they are SO much fun!
Love the vintage look of the ornaments. The wreath brings back such wonderful childhood memories. Thank you for sharing your creative ideas.
Hope you know how appreciated you are for keeping history and it’s replacement sources alive! You have a great website and e-newsletter. And thanks for offering this wreath as a prize – it is so creative and festive!
Love this wreath and this website!
Love this web site!
The olive green with black shade is a stand-out! Love it and would love to see it in my MCM living room…
As I am working on the remodel of my 1954 house, this website has been sooooooooooooooo helpful. THANKS
It would add the right pop to my beginning collection of mid-century furnishings in my home. It would make a great focal point in my den.
I want one! My house was built in 1964 and in our improvements we have tried to keep the integrity of the house – including a blue tile bathroom! I LOVE the lamps and would probably pick the olive green, but all three are beautiful.
Furnishing my little beach shack with homemade and restore, and my husband made us some turquoise shutters. That blue lamp would bring a little bit of that color inside and would absolutely thrill me!
Where can I get that retractable light fixture?
Norma, these can be found on ebay. Note, however, I am told that they are no longer to code: Please consult with a properly licensed professional.
looking to buy some retro cabinets!
Head to our buy/sell Forum — http://retrorenovation.com/forums/
having a hard time finding anything for sale near me in reading pennsylvania 19602 looking for old metal cabinets for my kitchen! its gutted right now and desperate for something asap! thanks!
see our forum — http://retrorenovation.com/forums
I have a double bowl, double drainer, three dor (double under bowl and single under left drainer) with four drawers on the right side ..made by MURRAY … The bowls need reporcelained .. The rest is in good shape .. Any idea where I can get in done ???
Get to know the navigation, Ken. See the sink category: http://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/faucets/, where you will find this story: http://retrorenovation.com/2011/09/06/real-porcelain-enamel-coating-to-restore-your-drainboard-sink-tub-or-stove/
Good luck.
We are trying to update our 1955 bathroom. We have the original mint green tub, green and cream wall tile with black bull nose trim, and built in soap cup and paperholder in chrome. We need to replace the black vainly flooring, the sink and toilet. Any ideas…very small room…need a wall hung or pedestal sink.
We will also be taking down our yellow and black bull nose kitchen tile…an entire wall.
Any interest for them if we manage to salvage any?
lara, I have extensive research answering all these questions. See the various Categories each with Subcategories in the navigation along the top. Good luck.
Fabulous coasters! Fabulous website for MCM owners and lovers.
Just be careful – mother in laws tongue is toxic to pets.
I own a BLUE CRANE TOILET that needs replacing. I have the matching sink (a little chipped) and bathtub. Would you know of any places in Quebec that would have these?
Thank you so much for sharing this information.