Group Therapy: Is your significant other into retro renovation and all things vintage as much as you are — or is your life a retro battleground? Has this interest strengthened bonds — or do you have to compromise (or finagle) to make it work? (Example: Like the couple in this 1948 GE advertisement, David and I juggle pretty well, but I admit, I have the estate-sale bug very bad and the number of things I constantly squirrel into the house is a source of conflict, to say it nicely…) Share your stories and tactics! This should be fun!
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90 comments
Mary Hutka says
Yes, my DH certainly does. We were featured in the RR blog in “Mary and John Remodel Their 1980s Kitchen”. We had a lot of orange in the kitchen. However, I have been able to add more MCM accents around the house if I use avocado green. DH’s mother loved the green, so as long as it is green he’s happy for me to buy it! Green vintage suitcases, green vintage glassware, and Franciscan Madeira dinnerware which is green and brown. Avocado green takes him back to his childhood. It makes us both happy.
Neil says
Oh yes!
But maybe there can be too much of a good thing. Or not.
This estate-saling guy’s just sayin’.
Before I met my husband, I’d been living alone and shopping and collecting for years and years, to my solo taste, with vintage/charming/eclectric being the by-phrase. I had a busy eye, and loved to bring home some new/old treasure and introduce it into the homey mix, and enjoy it’s bracing eccentricity for a while….but then send it off to a new adventure when some other pretty caught my attention to replace it. Fun! And all with a delighted eye and easy grins. Again…such fun! Always cycling – in and out – fresh; light-fingered and -hearted.
Actually I was talking about vintage home furnishings, there.
But I guess, truth be told, that style got expressed in other areas too…..
.
Then I settled down for keeps with this super fella, and soon found out I have to make more judicious acquisitions. He’s SO into the ensemble that fills our house just the way it is (bless ‘im; no empty spots left for any additions)….that he won’t let a single thing go. Ever.
I know now that I have to keep me money in me pocket since….. if I bring home a new object it’ll Never Go Out the front door again. So I’ve settled down to appreciating home just the way it is. Truly. Now I love to look at handsome, patinaed objects, but don’t feel the need to purchase and possess. No more presto-chango. And I’m liking it. Funny how you can find your groove.
Pay attention to what you’re bringing home. Choose for style, quality, and comfort; it could be around a long time.
If you’re lucky.
V. says
My hubby was a pretty laid-back bachelor when we got married–didn’t really have a “style” and didn’t notice or fuss over decor much to begin with. Then we both fell for a 1972 house and I proceeded to fill it with 60s-70s pieces I had collected since my teens. Luckily he decided he loved the clean lines, dark woods and funky shapes of the Danish modern stuff I had gotten and proceeded to make suggestions– like a lime green shag rug under our coffee table and an abstract metal wall hanging. He regularly crashes on a lemon-yellow bean bag chair in the living room and is concerned I might move it. Thankful we ended up sharing tastes!
Amy says
“Art” is right! I sat next to a young architect on the train to work one day and we talked the whole way about my love for MCM & 1960’s stuff. He confirmed that it indeed WAS “an era of high design.” I think of what the world was like then – exciting, changing. The space race, technology, modern lines & new styles (not “xxx-revival”) originality – imagination that knew no bounds. It was all manifested in the art/arts. Art is a reflection of culture.
Lenore says
Amy,
Yes, exactly!! It’s why I embrace MCM so much!! I hope to find a guy who embrace it as well. 🙂
Laura Ainsworth says
Wow, Amy, you nailed it! Fabulous point, well stated.
Lenore says
My boyfriend broke up with me because he absolutely hated my mid century/atomic home decorations. My graduate degree is in art history and he did not understand the ‘Arts’ that I have the passion of. Good riddance anyway! I am single and enjoy my mid century home!!
Amy says
Oops above – scrap that. Anyway, my husband was into MCM for many years and even collected a few off things he’d put away. We’re both feathering our 1960’s nest presently and it has brought us closer together. This was the era of both our childhoods, and of our siblings. Our parents are taken back to their youths when they bought & furnished their first homes and started their families (us!) Our project has been a nostalgic journey for us and our families. Plus, my husband has MCM radar – he finds the treasures! We hunt and research together – it’s been wonderful! I realize I don’t need “country” or colonial-looking “heirlooms” that never existed in my family. We didn’t come over on the Mayflower and I’m not a country girl. I HAVE my own authentic “heirlooms” that are lo longer packed away, but used & enjoyed: my mother’s MCM atomic starburst dishes, percolator, tv stand, etc – and I’m discovering what great taste my parents had!
jivesnake says
My husband divorced me because of my love for mid century stuff and my changes to our 1961 house. Said he thought I “loved my furniture more than him”. Which is probably true since, unlike him, my furniture always SUPPORTED and INSPIRED me. Good riddance.
pam kueber says
Yikes!
Sarah C says
I hope it’s ok that this made me laugh!
jivesnake says
Yes, Sara C, it’s okay to laugh. Now I’ve just got more room for all my cool stuff. I made sure to hang all my spaghetti lamps in HIS old office! Oh, Snap!
Laura Ainsworth says
I’ll say!!!!
Wow, this story makes me appreciate what I have: a husband who shares my philosophy to preserve and build on the best of the past. (I’m also a retro jazz singer, and we work together to preserve old songs! He has a huge collection of vinyl.) We watch those home-reno shows together and cringe simultaneously when buyers talk about taking down all the walls and gutting vintage (“dated”) kitchens and bathrooms to make their homes “amazing.” And, it’s funny — the longer we’re together, the more he sounds like me about this.
Our agreement on basic philosophy doesn’t always translate to the specifics, though. He’d like me to focus less on finding just the right midcentury sofa, for example, when we have an okay-sofa from Pier 1 that’s “comfortable.” I’d like him to “edit” his stuff to keep our 1955 space looking more authentic and clutter-free. But at the heart of it, we’re of like mind!
Sarah C says
I am so fortunate. After renting for years we finally owned a home and then… nothing. I would suggest a project or some sort of decor theme and my DH would say, “Sure that would be great.” and then leave it to me to kick things off and it would go nowhere. That’s how it was until the day that the angels sang and a UFO shined a light on my head and I stood in the back of the church and said, “The Band! The Band!…” Wait, no. Wrong movie. Rewind.
OK That was the case until the day that I suggested a mid C mod Atomic scheme. He lit up! He got out of his chair! He started waving his arms around and throwing out ideas! He extracted a credit card from his wallet! And. Stuff. Happened!
We both love what we have done, and doing it together was/is a real labor of love… almost all of the time.
mariegamalski@icloud.com says
Hi again… My comment didn’t seem to post. Anyhow your chair resembles a design by Hans Wagner… Might want to google for further info
Christy says
I’m very lucky! My farm-boy honeypie is enlightened.
In fact, it was HIS idea to buy one of the 1961 Shasta Airflyte reproductions! WE LOVE IT!
He also bought me an old-school aluminum canoe for Valentine’s day so we can camp in mid-century style 🙂
pam kueber says
oooooooh, you have the new Shasta! LUCKY YOU! My honeypie said no — our garage is not big enough and we already have too much stuff. But I still adore him.