KUEBER COMMUNICATIONS LLC TERMS OF SERVICE
1. Introduction
Welcome to Retrorenovation.com (collectively the “Site”), created by Kueber Communications, LLC. This document constitutes a legally-binding agreement (this “Agreement”) governing the terms of providing you with services (“Service”) related to the Site.
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Throughout this Agreement, “Kueber,” “us,” “we,” and “our” refer to us, Kueber Communications, LLC, or our Site, Retrorenovation.com, as is appropriate in the use of the words. Likewise, the words “you” and “your” refer to you, the person who is bound by this Agreement as a condition of using the Site, as defined herein.
What we are about – and what we’re not:
The Site spotlights products available for home updates and feature inspiration images and stories from and about homes in the postwar era. We don’t endorse any particular manufacturer or business per se and may not have personal experience with the products discussed. The driving force behind the Site is a writer and homeowner turned avid researcher, not an interior designer or contractor.
You should do your own research before making any decisions about whether to buy the products or work with a particular business.
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Renovating, remodeling and living in our midcentury and vintage homes can be gratifying, but please always remember, there can be safety and environmental hazards in the surfaces, layers, materials and products in our homes. Anything old, even New Old Stock, that you buy also may have issues. We all care very much about managing safety and environmental issues properly, so when moving into a home … when undertaking cleaning, repair, remodeling or restoration projects … or when adding old materials (salvaged, used, new old stock, etc.)… be sure to get with your own properly licensed professionals to determine what you are dealing with/working with so that you can make informed decisions how to handle, become familiar with and use recommended best practices, and also learn about the proper disposal of debris, etc. For more info, see our Be Safe / Renovate Safe page … and the EPA hosts a website on lead in the home and a website on asbestos in the home … etc.
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Pam Kueber, Copyright Agent
Kueber Communications, LLC
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Lenox, MA 01240
Telephone: 413-464-6410
e-mail: retrorenovation@gmail.com
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Updated: Dec. 14, 2019
Joe Stevens says
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.
Reed W. King says
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 ?
WLBrown1966 says
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
pam kueber says
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.
Terri says
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
pam kueber says
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!
atomicbowler-dave says
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.
Special Ed says
I have tried different paint stores and hobbie shops. There has got to be a sorce for touch up paint.
pam kueber says
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…
donna says
I have a few pink tiles. they are the 4X4 type.
pam kueber says
get thee one and all over to forum,please, with all buying/selling: https://retrorenovation.com/forums/
jeena says
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!
pam kueber says
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 … https://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.
Brenda J. Martin says
You’re so lucky to have a matching pink toilet, tub, and sink. Unless the sink has a big, bad noticeable crack in it or a crack that makes it a danger to keep because the sink might break in half, I’d do everything possible if I where you to try to get the leak repaired. You would have the hardest time matching the tub and toilet with another pink one because there are so many shades of pink out there. You’d never get the same great look and I personally don’t think a white sink of any kind would compliment how lucky you are to have the floor and everything else you have in there.
atomicbowler-dave says
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
pam kueber says
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!!!!!!!
Ken VanEtten says
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?
pam kueber says
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.
Ryan says
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.
Brenda J. Martin says
You didn’t mention if you already replaced the missing paneling with new wood. Often walls like this have darkened from age. A lot of them have been subject to years and years of tobacco stains. I don’t know how deeply you’ve tried to clean the panels that were already on the walls. Since I didn’t try to clean the ones in a house I owned, I don’t know what to recommend but someone who reads this, HomeDepot, Lowes, or a paint store, would probably be able to help. Maybe white vinegar would work great. You can try googling ‘removal of tobacco stains’.
You can also call some salvage and construction companies. People who want to modernize houses, sometimes have panels torn out that might match yours. Good Luck!!
Shelly Albertson says
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?
Brenda J. Martin says
Get on ebay and type in the following different titles under ‘saved searches’
*American Standard tulip toilet seat
*American Standard toilet seat
*(Whatever color you’re looking for) tulip toilet seat
* Vintage toilet seat
* Retro toilet seat
Whenever anyone puts one up for auction you’ll be notified by email from eBay. This will save you a lot of time from searching on your own. Good Luck!!