Mid Century Culture Archives

Category: Mid Century Culture

Inside the world of vintage radios with Allen Chiang of Retro Radio Farm

“Many people already realize the iconic status of mid-century cars, art, and furniture, but vintage radios have yet to be discovered as valuable collectibles.” —..

Inside the 1947 Florida State Fair — new kitchen appliances for everyone!

It’s 1947 and time to redeem the war bonds for — kitchen appliances of course! Lots of big makers — Kelvinator, Westinghouse, Philco, Roper, Magic..

Win a Barbie Dream House, courtesy the Retro Renovation-inspired “Lover Come Hack”

Here’s something fun: Author Diane Vallere, has written a new book, Lover Come Hack, that includes major inspiration from Retro Renovation. To help launch the..

Nutone Concealed Bathroom Scale — this New Old Stock beauty recesses right into your wall

We love New Old Stock. We love woddities. We love vintage Nutone. We love things that are recessed into the bathroom walls. Voila: Get all four..

Glorious 1970 time capsule house interior design — in a house barely lived in for almost 50 years!

Here’s a time capsule house of a different color: Not only is it designer-decorated, with every little detail carefully considered, color-coordinated, and matchy-matchy… but this..

June 25, 1962 grand opening of McDuff Appliances, Tallahassee, Florida

It was a big day in Tallahassee — June 25, 1962 — and McDuff Appliances was having its big Grand Opening on North Monroe. Ooooooh,..

Meet Sisters on the Fly

I am suddenly feeling the intense need to buy and renovate a little vintage camper and to take to the road with Sisters on the..

Tropical decorating inspiration from 12 vintage Florida postcards

All things tropical are hot in decorating right now — just like they were in midcentury America. For some vintage inspiration, how about these old..

Hazel Dell Brown kitchen, 1941, with built-in space for a nap

Here’s some more whimsy-doodle — and gorgeous patterned linoleum, too — from Hazel Dell Brown circa 1941. I’m not sure that painted (fun ideas with..

Vintage revolving concealed toilet paper holder — with ash tray inside!

New Old Stock revolving, concealed toilet paper holder — with Ferris wheel design ashtray inside — found at the late great World of Tile liquidation..

When new houses could legally have only one bathroom

Back in the day, you were lucky if you had one bathroom in your house. Prior to, and after World War II, there were actually..

Retro Las Vegas, here I come: A Celebration of Vegas Cool, April 27-29

Las Vegas is the new Palm Springs. I’m declaring it. I’m gonna buy me a leetle place. I’m heading back to Las Vegas. I bought..

Mattel reintroduces Barbie’s 1962 Dream House® including a Barbie to go with — mine is on the way!

Barbie’s 1962 Dream House® — is back. I just found out. And I just ordered mine, via Amazon. Hey: It ALSO includes the Barbie! Note: Links in..

Rejuvenaire Electronic Odor Control for the Home — vintage woddity

Just when I get to thinking that, now in my 11th year of blogging about the retro, there can’t be many more woddities out there..

Kohler Habitat Masterbath Environmental Enclosure: $20,000 bathroom luxury c. 1978

Kohler’s Habitat Masterbath Environmental Enclosure introduced in the late 1970s was an indoor sauna-meets-sunning bed with three cycles: Sun, Steam and Rain. According to reader..

7,000 square feet of PARTY time fun in this 1979 Michigan time capsule house

Grrrrrowl…. It’s time for some serious partying in this 7,000 s.f., 1979 time capsule house in Sturgis, Michigan. The decor is haught-1970s funk on the..

1968 genius interior decoration inside this lovely Houston time capsule (ish) house

Oh beautiful for spacious 1968 time capsule house! Okay, it was built in 1956, and then the second owner redecorated in ’68, so it’s not..

Is it a range or a dishwasher? Yes, it’s both: the 1954 Universal range + James dishwasher

That’s not any ordinary vintage range. It’s a Universal range — with a built-in portable James dishwasher. Those American industrial designers — they tried everything..

Better Homes and Gardens’ 1961 Decorating Book — 432 pages — reissued !

Howdy, hudee, here’s a great gift idea: A reissue of the 1961 classic, Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book: How to Plan Colors and Furnishings That..

Schwinn Grey Ghost bike — limited edition reproduction

Just out: Limited Edition Schwinn Grey Ghost Bicycle, available at Dick’s Sporting Goods. My quick search on the google puts these at 1971, and very..

7 reasons why Time Capsule houses fascinate us

In my 10 years of blogging here on Retro Renovation, the stories 100% guaranteed to grab folks’ eyeballs are: Time Capsule Houses. I now have..

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.