Retro Renovation

Remodel & decorate in Mid Century Style

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Open thread: What would you like to see at Retro Renovation this year?

pam kueber - Updated: April 13, 2020

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

Do you have ideas… questions… suggestions… wants… and needs… that you’d like me to research and write about  this year?

Add your Comment — and I’ll work on it.

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77 comments

Comments

  2. PugFreek says

    Mid Mod Pam 01.02.09 at 2:30 pm
    PugFreek, Can you help me out with scouring for retro-Australia posts? Send me recommendations and I’ll be happy to do more. Did I ever say: I think I was meant to be born an Australian!

    I dont think you did say that!Retroppo, and I will look out for
    Australain stuff!And I would also like to see more Kitch, unusal stuff!Oh i forgot the Australain count is now 3!

  3. tailfin says

    I would like to echo Super Kawaii Mama’s request to see what kind of art choices people have made to complement their mid-century furnishings & homes. I am lucky in that my dad is an abstract painter (and a damn talented one, if I may brag on him!), and I have quite a few of his pieces in my home.

    Some are actually authentic mid-century paintings in that he created them in the 1950s and 1960s; others are representative of his later and current work.

    I also enjoy using every day items as art, but I would love to find additional sources for paintings, prints and drawings from the mid-20th Century. Obviously, I tend to lean toward the abstract, but I have an appreciation for all styles.

  4. Femme1 says

    Pam, I know your web real estate is limited, but I think the “Join the Fun” section showing the latest reader comments could be expanded. With the site getting so many new people commenting, we often miss new comments.

  5. super kawaii mama says

    Hi Pam! I’m always progressively retro – fitting my place here in Australia, and I am up to a point where I am seeking ideas on mid century art work. Rather than using advertising prints of the time, which seems to be popular, I’d like to create a more authentic feel in my art work choice. Can you give some guidance on piece that would be appropriate for a family/sunroom and a kitchen area? One of the problems I have encountered with mid century pieces is that the scale of the works are too small for the size of my walls, given that the room dimensions now days seem much larger.
    Thanks for the opportunity to chime in.
    Xxx Super Kawaii Mama xxX

    • Mid Mod Pam says

      super kawaii mama, welcome to our retro renovation community, it’s great to hear from another australian reader! i have noted your question – and will noodle it and plan a post. i am very interested in this issue, actually!

  7. Carleton Heights Girl says

    I’ve just stumbled across this site and I’m absolutely delighted to see other like-minded people. Thank you, Pam!!

    I plan to renovate my parents’ postwar (circa 1947) Victory home later this year, mainly to increase its energy efficiency. I feel that these houses haven’t gotten a lot of respect, and that’s a shame because I think they represent an important part of our history.

    Due to some extensive 1970s renovations, not a lot of the original fixtures remain in the kitchen and main floor bathroom. However, I see some great ideas here to bring back the home’s original spirit. I’d like to see more examples of late 1940’s decor on your blog. Keep up the great work!

    • Mid Mod Pam says

      Welcome, Carleton Heights Girl. I’m definitely focused on ensuring that I keep covering the 40s. In fact: Come back tomorrow for some good stuff (if I say so myself.)

  8. astrosonical says

    Thanks Pam! This is the River Park section of Port St. Lucie Florida. My section, as well as the later ones, were built for retirees, early on, a few of them had children, as did my family. I have always loved this house, it has quite a way to go before it can touch some of the eye-popping homes the other folks have shown, but the basic framework is here. I love period furnishings mostly of the ’50s and ’60s, also kitchens and baths with their original fittings. I have few really neat ’50s things, and also have a great love of ultra modern table lamps. I inherited one with a matchstick shade, that complements my Stromberg Carlson console with a matchstick grill. Please, add lamps and light fixtures to my open thread requests.

  9. astrosonical says

    I’m living in a very small home built in 1961 for my family. It is a work in progress, it’s full of this and that collection. The only renovation of any kind that altered the look was wall to wall carpet in the late ’70s, and Armstrong vinyl over the kitchen and bath floors. The three bedrooms and laundry room have the original brown over white speckled terrazzo. I’m going to have a $3.50 period appropriate hanging saucer fixture put in the dining area, and an upgrade wall light fixture in the green fixture/white tile bath. Our builder was Mackle Brothers of General Developement. A lot of homes here have been “improved” (destroyed beyond recognition) and about ten have been leveled. From about 1958 to 1962, the largest two homes of the model series were slightly larger than 1100 square feet. All later models became larger and more deluxe.

    Ok, what I’d like to see added are console stereos and sound systems of the mid century period, as this makes up a large part of my collection. Also wall treatment, I like knotty pine and that neat looking grooved wall board some of these little houses had. Also built in ovens, cooktops, and Frigidaire, GE products of the ’50s. Love this site!