Bathroom tile in a patchwork quilt design, original to 1956 Portland General Electric Show Home
pam kueber - Updated: December 9, 2012
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
The inspiration for the patchwork quilt design of 18 different wallpapers in my office remodel was a similar idea I’d seen done with ceramic tile in tub/shower surround about 10 years ago. When I mentioned the patchwork tile idea recently, Teddi noted my mention of the patchwork tile — and wouldn’t you know it, she delivered photos from her 1956 bathroom showing just the kind of tile design that inspired me. Equally interesting, this idea seems to have been au courant ala 1956 — as her house was a 1956 Portland General Electric Show Home. Teddi’s home has a bunch of other great details worth of a show house, so read on, dear readers, read on …
Teddi writes:
Hi Pam, here’s our story: We were living in north bay San Francisco. Job-related issues led us to look for a new, less expensive place to live, and Salem, OR seemed to fit the bill. We’ve always lived in older, “character” homes — me in a Victorian, DH in a Tudor, the two of us in a bungalow — so that’s the type of property we looked at.
I saw this house first when I had come north for a job interview. Our realtor and I were looking at MLS listings in the desired neighborhoods. The ad for this home read, “3 BR, 2 baths, new storm windows,” but I thought I saw an A-frame-shaped front wall that was 1/2 window and 1/2 sandstone — decidedly mid-century modern — so we hit the road to take a look. The realtor and I both fell in love — he said if I didn’t buy it, he’d have to find a way to. A few weeks later, DH, DD and I came back up to Salem and looked at several properties I’d seen, plus some new listings.
the vanity in the bathroom with the amazing showerthe funky tile in the other bathroomthe whole-house intercomthe master control panel for the lighting system in our house, which is in the master BR (The button that says “All” controls all the lights in the house)
This house, with it’s family-friendly lay-out, custom features, and cheery condition stood out as THE ONE. (The home also has a sweet history — the original owners met during WWII when she was his nurse after he lost both his legs. They married, moved here in 1956, and raised 3 daughters in this home.) We put in an offer, went back to CA and sold our house in two days, and started packing. Living here has been amazing — definitely a whole lifestyle change!
You mentioned that your fabulous office remodel was in part inspired by a desire to do a crazy quilt tile surround somewhere sometime. This shower is original to my 1956 mid-mod. We were told that our home was a PGE (Portland General Electric) show home, billed as the “home of the future.” We have a funky electrical system and all of our cabinetry and woodwork is amazing, so I tend to believe the realtor’s story. We are only the 2nd owners of this jewel, and the original lady-of-the-house must have been June Cleaver because everything in the house was pristine. We feel really blessed.
Thank you, Teddi! I love your shower, and your house. It is so lucky to have found you, and I LOVE the story of its original owners — and that you are keeping the story going.
Readers, if you have an interest in recreating a tub/shower or shower surround like this, it would not be *hard* to do — and could likely be done very inexpensively, if you have the time and patience to collect the tile, little by little, over time, at the Re-Store. Be sure to collect only same-sized tiles — remember, all 4″ tiles are not 4″, they are often 4-1/8 or 4-1/4 or 4-3/8 — you could mix and match as long as you keep like-sized tiles aligned by row, though; the whole thing would be so busy no one would likely see the difference. I will caution, though, that to make this look “right” you still have to bring a design sensibility to the project — you want like values, probably, with an occasional contrast. One of these days, maybe I’ll be able to do this in a bathroom. One of the other things I’d like to do is also add art nouveau and Victorian design tiles. Really busy. It’ll be a further exploration of my Hippy House Ideal.
My friend who lived in Riverside, CA, had a shower very similar. She hated it, and she had an artistic appreciation. Might have helped if it were in a ’50s house, not a Craftsman! I thought it was super cool!
judy h.says
OMG…I just read all of the other comments and it appears almost everyone has commented about the loveliness of the kitchen wood. Before you send the mid-century modern cops after me, let me say that I have lovingly restored my knotty wood den and built-ins, my living room built-ins, The counters and cabinets on my canning porch and my original pink and sky blue bathrooms. Have I gotten into better favor with you?
pam kuebersays
You sound like you are a wonderful caretaker of a wonderful house! You are for sure in our favor! 🙂
judy h.says
My kitchen cabinets are identical to those in the picture. (no sound of sucking air, now) But just suppose I was thinking of painting them. Does anyone know how to prepare the wood for paint. I had some extra cabinets in my basement leftover from when the house was built in 1950. I tried taking it down to the grain to try a different stain on it, but the grain is so intense in this wood, every color of stain I tried looked wrong. Can or would anyone indulge me?
I read this and thought “boy she is in for it” (not from me of course), then read the below. I laughed out loud.
Katiesays
I love your cabinets! They are the same color as the original cabinets in my house, and have exactly the same pulls! I am totally jealous. When we started redoing the kitchen, I searched high and low for pulls, and came close, but never managed to match them exactly. I don’t mind the stainless steel I settled on, but I’d love flying wings.
I absolutely love all of your tile, painted tile always makes me smile,and the patchwork shower is a real gem.
hannahsays
Every single one of those pictures is an adventure and a gem. I am in love with your house, and your great fortune is a dream come true. The condition is AMAZING!
The kitchen wood-work is fantastic, and yes, she did keep that house pristine. What a great story behind the house and the fact that you are the second occupants EVER, is a real gift, IMHO.
hannah
Chuttisays
Love your house! That patchwork shower is really cool. And I love your super friendly and functional kitchen. I too, need to be “cooking with gas”. We had a gas cooktop in our last Mid Century home, but that didn’t stop us from putting up the “medallion home” plaque we found in an antique store.
I have to wonder if your home has a similar designation?
I’m sure there were regional variants on the “medallion home” concept.
Oh- and I think it’s super swell you’re keeping the original owners charming story alive. My dear friend’s mom was her Dad’s nurse after he was wounded in Korea. Lots of sweet stories like that don’t stay told.
Sarahsays
My home is a GE show house from 1964. Do you have any information on this? Maybe something to research for the blog? I’d love to share my home’s story with you.
Blondie7says
Beautiful, simply beautiful! What a blessing to behold! I love patch work….I have a vintage patchwork leather handbag that I truly love. Anyway, Teddi and DH have a remarkable and gorgeous home. Love it!
Johnsays
Hi, love the house, especially the kitchen cabinets and woodwork. So nice that it was never painted. My cabinets are original wood that was never painted but shellacked. I am in the process of cleaning and reshellacking the cabinets with Amber Shellack.
Lindsaysays
Thank you for sharing the lovely details & history of your amazing home.
The inspiration for the patchwork quilt design of 18 different wallpapers in my office remodel was a similar idea I’d seen done with ceramic tile in tub/shower surround about 10 years ago. When I mentioned the patchwork tile idea recently, Teddi noted my mention of the patchwork tile — and wouldn’t you know it, she delivered photos from her 1956 bathroom showing just the kind of tile design that inspired me. Equally interesting, this idea seems to have been au courant ala 1956 — as her house was a 1956 Portland General Electric Show Home. Teddi’s home has a bunch of other great details worth of a show house, so read on, dear readers, read on …
Teddi writes:This house, with it’s family-friendly lay-out, custom features, and cheery condition stood out as THE ONE. (The home also has a sweet history — the original owners met during WWII when she was his nurse after he lost both his legs. They married, moved here in 1956, and raised 3 daughters in this home.) We put in an offer, went back to CA and sold our house in two days, and started packing. Living here has been amazing — definitely a whole lifestyle change!
You mentioned that your fabulous office remodel was in part inspired by a desire to do a crazy quilt tile surround somewhere sometime. This shower is original to my 1956 mid-mod. We were told that our home was a PGE (Portland General Electric) show home, billed as the “home of the future.” We have a funky electrical system and all of our cabinetry and woodwork is amazing, so I tend to believe the realtor’s story. We are only the 2nd owners of this jewel, and the original lady-of-the-house must have been June Cleaver because everything in the house was pristine. We feel really blessed.
Cindy Friday says
My friend who lived in Riverside, CA, had a shower very similar. She hated it, and she had an artistic appreciation. Might have helped if it were in a ’50s house, not a Craftsman! I thought it was super cool!
judy h. says
OMG…I just read all of the other comments and it appears almost everyone has commented about the loveliness of the kitchen wood. Before you send the mid-century modern cops after me, let me say that I have lovingly restored my knotty wood den and built-ins, my living room built-ins, The counters and cabinets on my canning porch and my original pink and sky blue bathrooms. Have I gotten into better favor with you?
pam kueber says
You sound like you are a wonderful caretaker of a wonderful house! You are for sure in our favor! 🙂
judy h. says
My kitchen cabinets are identical to those in the picture. (no sound of sucking air, now) But just suppose I was thinking of painting them. Does anyone know how to prepare the wood for paint. I had some extra cabinets in my basement leftover from when the house was built in 1950. I tried taking it down to the grain to try a different stain on it, but the grain is so intense in this wood, every color of stain I tried looked wrong. Can or would anyone indulge me?
Rebecca says
I read this and thought “boy she is in for it” (not from me of course), then read the below. I laughed out loud.
Katie says
I love your cabinets! They are the same color as the original cabinets in my house, and have exactly the same pulls! I am totally jealous. When we started redoing the kitchen, I searched high and low for pulls, and came close, but never managed to match them exactly. I don’t mind the stainless steel I settled on, but I’d love flying wings.
I absolutely love all of your tile, painted tile always makes me smile,and the patchwork shower is a real gem.
hannah says
Every single one of those pictures is an adventure and a gem. I am in love with your house, and your great fortune is a dream come true. The condition is AMAZING!
The kitchen wood-work is fantastic, and yes, she did keep that house pristine. What a great story behind the house and the fact that you are the second occupants EVER, is a real gift, IMHO.
hannah
Chutti says
Love your house! That patchwork shower is really cool. And I love your super friendly and functional kitchen. I too, need to be “cooking with gas”. We had a gas cooktop in our last Mid Century home, but that didn’t stop us from putting up the “medallion home” plaque we found in an antique store.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93018283@N00/2491922476/in/set-72157605072678202
I have to wonder if your home has a similar designation?
I’m sure there were regional variants on the “medallion home” concept.
Oh- and I think it’s super swell you’re keeping the original owners charming story alive. My dear friend’s mom was her Dad’s nurse after he was wounded in Korea. Lots of sweet stories like that don’t stay told.
Sarah says
My home is a GE show house from 1964. Do you have any information on this? Maybe something to research for the blog? I’d love to share my home’s story with you.
Blondie7 says
Beautiful, simply beautiful! What a blessing to behold! I love patch work….I have a vintage patchwork leather handbag that I truly love. Anyway, Teddi and DH have a remarkable and gorgeous home. Love it!
John says
Hi, love the house, especially the kitchen cabinets and woodwork. So nice that it was never painted. My cabinets are original wood that was never painted but shellacked. I am in the process of cleaning and reshellacking the cabinets with Amber Shellack.
Lindsay says
Thank you for sharing the lovely details & history of your amazing home.