All things tropical are hot in decorating right now — just like they were in midcentury America. For some vintage inspiration, how about these old Florida postcards. The colors are what we call high-chroma, meaning, wow, the colors! Color is good! Above: Pink + Red + Aqua + Mossy Green colors combined in “Flamingos and nests.” All postcards from from the State Archives of Florida.
Orange + Green + White in “Florida orange blossom time”; State Archives of Florida.
Tropical rainbow in “Parrot Jungle”; State Archives of Florida.
Grass green + sky blue + white in “Tower View Tourist Court”; State Archives of Florida.
Primary colors. Air view of Sarasota Lido; State Archives of Florida.
Deco + old signs. Ocklawaha Ave. in Ocala; State Archives of Florida.
Periwinkle, almost, here. Florida Cypress Gardens– America’s Tropical Wonderland; State Archives of Florida
Beautiful azaleas – Florida Cypress Gardens; State Archives of Florida
The Chinese Red is important in this one. Oriental Gardens – Jacksonville; State Archives of Florida.
Blue and more blue. Guests using the swimming pool at the Saxony Motel, Miami Beach; State Archives of Florida.
Hazy. Dolphins being fed at the “Theater of the Sea”; State Archives of Florida.
Oh my, so calming. Swimming pool at the Thomas A. Edison winter home in Fort Myers; State Archives of Florida.
This summer, I’m feeling a hazy 1940s coral paired with chartreuse — how about you?
Cathleen says
I turned my collection of these Florida postcards into a business in 2010 when I wanted these images on my walls…
https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageBeach
My other business was born from my vintage map collection:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageBeachMaps
Kathryn Nowosielski says
Ooohhh!!! I especially like the one of the Saxony Motel! The starbursts on the bottom of the pool! Yes, those are linen postcards. I have a collection of 11K postcards (most are over 100 years old) and I love reading them.
As far as flamingos… the first plastic ones were invented here in Leominster, MA by Mr. Featherstone who passed away a couple years ago. Leominster was the “Plastics Capital of the World” Foster Grant originated here! Anyway, yay to plastic pink flamingos!!!! And the real ones of course!!!
Pam Kueber says
Yes, for more on the Don Featherstone flamingos see this story: https://retrorenovation.com/2009/06/15/where-to-buy-authentic-pink-flamingo-lawn-ornaments-designed-by-don-featherstone/
And woot, see this one too: https://retrorenovation.com/2013/09/13/featherstone-flamingos/
SANDY MCCLAY says
Thank you for sharing these with us!
Maria says
Now in Technicolor!