Welcome to Retro Renovation® — your regular dose of mid century and vintage renovation and decorating resources… design inspiration… fun finds… and an archive of stories from an enthusiastic community of people all interested in cherishing their mid century and older homes.
Our focus here, first and foremost, is to help you find the products and sources you need to help remodel, renovate and decorate your house in authentic mid century style. We feature some sources for pre-war and post-modern homes as well. We’re here to help you get the job done — doing the research so you don’t have to.
Note: After 15 years — 3,000 stories! — this site has entered a new stage. Today, my focus is working to keep existing resource stories up to date so the site remains a solid reference. And, I want to continue to improve the site as an historical reference around things like steel kitchen cabinets, a longtime passion. To make time, I don’t blog as much, and comments are closed.
How can you make the most of the blog and its archive of 3,000+ stories about resources & inspiration:
- Dive into all our categories (in the navigation along the top of the page) and you will see, we have lots of research into all the products you might need to remodel and decorate. Along the way, we have lotsa other fun, too — always showing great gratitude and respect for the houses — and their owners — who came before us.
- And, important for anyone taking on an older home:
Renovating, remodeling and living in our midcentury and vintage homes can be gratifying, but please always remember, there can be safety and environmental hazards in the surfaces, layers, materials and products in our homes. Anything old, even New Old Stock, that you buy also may have issues. We all care very much about managing safety and environmental issues properly, so when moving into a home … when undertaking cleaning, repair, remodeling or restoration projects … or when adding old materials (salvaged, used, new old stock, etc.)… be sure to get with your own properly licensed professionals to determine what you are dealing with/working with so that you can make informed decisions how to handle, become familiar with and use recommended best practices, and also learn about the proper disposal of debris, etc. Read more: See our Be Safe / Renovate Safe page … the EPA hosts a website on lead paint in the home and a website on asbestos in the home, etc. Consult professionals regarding these materials, and also about the proper disposal of debris, etc.
<– I’m Pam Kueber. That’s me with my crazy wallpaper office … that’s my kitchen above — and this my blog, oh I luv it so. Doing all the research to find products to backdate my 1951 colonial-ranch house in Lenox, Mass., is what got me into this online escapade. In the course of my endless hunt to find products and design ideas sympathetic to my house’s undeniable mid-century bones, I got…. obsessed… I learned a lot… and I figured, why not share all my finds with other folks undertaking the same journey. And now – you have arrived!
This blog has lots about *modest, mid-century, middle-class* homes — ranches, Capes, Colonials, split-levels, contemporaries, bungalows. I also write about sleek *mid-century modern homes*… I love them all, but admit that I tend to worry more about the modest homes (themselves full of charm) being at more serious risk of being gutted, with regrets to follow later. Interestingly, both mid-century modern and mid-century modest homes shared many of the same technological features and design cues (like pink bathrooms) inside. For further info see my Mid-Century Modest Manifesto and my micro-site SaveThePinkBathrooms.com.
What’s covered here? Well: The design aesthetic of retro interiors, exteriors, culture, people, steel kitchen cabinets, colors, pink kitchens, pink bathrooms, hudee rings, pecky cypress, illustrations with people playing accordians, wallpaper, pinch pleat curtains, mint-in-box items — and readers’ fabulous jewel box houses, too. Get ready to be sucked into the retro vortex.
More info:
Above: As featured in the New York Times — yup, read all about our escapades in this 2,200-word feature story that appeared on p.1 of the Home & Garden section on Aug. 18, 2011.
Fast forward 10 years and another New York Times story called me “…the godmother of midcentury kitchens and baths, steering a new generation of homeowners to the four-inch square tiles that dominated homes for decades.” teehee
Oh, and here’s me showing off one of my office remodel. My friend Denise and I pasted about 200 squares of vintage wallpaper on the four walls, creating a crazy patchwork quilt (note: there is method in this madness) of 18 different designs of wallpaper. We celebrated by getting all Love American Style Gothic with the photo.
Hey, see me talkin’ about Mid Century Modest in this etsy.com video:
Press Coverage
2018 … I kinda stopped keeping track
2017
- Wall Street Journal: Big story on time capsule houses. I am the “subject matter expert.”
- Washington Post: Hey, we got a shout out!
2015-2016…
- HGTV.com: In Defense of Pink Bathrooms — A Q&A with me
- Chronicle TV: Big story on my house and my kitchen and the Retro Renovation Revolution!
- Washington Post: The TV-watching public’s long love affair with tray tables
- The Times of London: Something is happening in smart bathrooms — Designers say pink is back after a long absence.
- WFMJ-TV: Effort to Bring Back 1948 Youngstown steel kitchen cabinets
- Ummm: I got out of the habit of updating press coverage of the blog…. I’ll work on it again at some point… maybe.
2014
- New York Times: “When Blogging Becomes a Slog” (but not for me — I am the wise old owl)
- Huffington Post: The 10 Best Renovation Websites for Living out your Dream Home Fantasies.
- Der Standard newspaper profiled the blog. It was in German, so I’m not sure what it said. But I asked on Facebook, and a reader told me it said that, “You are now as loved as David Hasselhof in Germany.”
2013
- Fixing to Die: Retro Renovation® and a reader remodel featured on the blog inspired the setting and story line for Elaine Viets’ “restoration comedy” murder mystery, Fixing to Die. The book debuted #9 on the Barnes & Noble paperback list.
- Yankee Magazine: Six-page story in Sept./Oct. issue — 1.7 million readers! — about the blog and my house. “Fifties and Fabulous.”
- Globe and Mail: Loud and proud 1970s chalet
- Columbus Post-Dispatch: Back to the bones: Restoring ’50s homes
- California Home + Design: Celebrating Midcentury Modest
2012
- Ft. Lauderdale Magazine: Midcentury Modern Architecture Makes a Comeback
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Vintage Vibe
- Hamilton (Ont.) Spectator: Kitchens Cook Down Memory Lane
- msn.com: What we can learn from 1970s homess
- The Daily Mail (London) online: Give your Home the Mad Men Look! How one blogger inspires retro renovating tips.
- Blog Aids in Renovation of ‘Mid-Century Modest’ Homes. Nationally syndicated story appeared in newspapers including:
- Akron Beacon Journal
- Seattle Times
- Miami Herald
- Detroit Free Press (twice!)
- Palm Springs Desert Sun
- San Antonio Express
- Baltimore Sun
- Kansas City Star
- Toledo Blade
- Eau Claire Leader-Telegram
- Ogden (UT) Standard-Examiner
- canada.com
- …and more.
Summer 2011
- New York Times 2,200-word profile about Retro Renovation and its readers: Restoring the Retro House
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Preserve the Pink (bathroom)
- msn.com — New Respect for the Ranch House
- Portland (Oregon) Monthly Magazine Online — Sofa Shopping
- The Oregonian/Oregon Live — The Retro Queen
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Bathrooms Still In the Pink
- Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Name that Home Fad
December 2010
October 2010
- AP interviews Pam for story, Used Building Materials a Hit Among Home Owners, that runs in news outlets nationwide.
August 2010
- Arizona Daily Star: That 50s Tile with Style
- Home is a Four-Letter Word: Penny Pinching with the Stars
- Home is a Four-Letter Word: Lovin’ the 50s
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
- Etsy.com video profile.
January 2010
- Knoxville News – Maribeth’s 1970s retro renovation
- Finalist and 4th place winner in Apartment Therapy’s annual contest to name the best home design blog of 2009
June 2009
April 2009
March 2009
- Eugene, Oregon Register-Guard on retro revival and home show talks
- Our tour of the St. Louis 1995 time capsule home covered by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Desert Living Magazine
Dec. 3, 2008
- Pam talks with the National Kitchen & Bath Association about retro kitchen design popularity
Sept. 29, 2008
March 2008
- Pam’s kitchen on Apartment Therapy
Winter 2008
Fall 2007
November 8, 2007 — News Release, PRWeb
Thanks and Credits: Many thanks to the many folks who have helped, and continue to help, make this blog possible. Including:
- The rockin’ readers who help feed the blog day in and day out with their tips and projects!
- All the advertisers who make doing this work fulltime possible.
- Margaret Roach, for all your support. AwayToGarden.com, Margaret Roach Media.
- Brad and all the Webdev and Maintainn team, for keeping the online bogeybots at bay. WebDevStudios.
- Erica Berger, for making me look good. Erica Berger Photography.
- Kit Latham, for helping me get into the dot.com world. KitLatham.com.
- Suzy Massey, for design support. PhoenixMassey Studio.
- WordPress, for a great blogging platform that has made it possible for so many new voices to find their communities. wordpress.com
Greg says
Hi Pam-
I’m beginning my journey to a vintage St. Charles kitchen and will need to repaint the cabinets I bought. The paint on my cabinets is original and looks like a “semi-gloss” finish. My question to you is: When I repaint my cabinets with a local autobody shop here in Los Angeles (a really good one) should I have a glossy clear coat put on them so they are “shiny?” Would that be how they originally came? Or is there another clearcoat or finish that give less of a luster that is more appropriate?
Thanks, Greg
pam kueber says
I don’t know the answer to this one.
paula gremley says
Hi Pam,
I have a 1953 Crane Kitchen Queen kitchen. I just noticed there is a lot of cold air coming from my cabinets and think/surmise they did not insulate the wall where the sink and three cabinets are installed. I wonder if anyone else has come across this problem and if they found a way to insulate the wall without moving the cabinets.
Paula
Karen says
Oh my gosh I have to share this house with you! Amazing!
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2114-S-90th-St-Omaha-NE-68124/75858347_zpid/
pam kueber says
Thanks! It’s wonderful — we’ll see if we can get permission to feature!
Karen says
Good luck! I saw that listing and immediately thought of your site. I absolutely adore these old time capsule houses.
Taryn Rae says
We have bought a house built in 1960 that has an avocado porcelain gas range top (Kenmore brand). It has a hole in it and we would like to replace it with a similar one since the oven is also avocado. We figure both are from the late 60’s or early 70’s. We are also willing to fix the whole but our contractor said it can’t be done. Can you help us with how to fix it or purchase a “new” one?
pam kueber says
Hmmmm, this is a tough one. How about buying a white one, and taking it to an auto body shop or industrial painting company to have repainted. It would need to withstand heat. Alternatively, see our story on where to get real re-porcelaining done. Finally, you could start stalking your local Re-Store and ebay and put an ad on craigslist to try and get a vintage model … that may take some time, though. Good luck !
Taryn Rae says
We never considered buying a white one and painting it. Thank you for the great idea!
Mari augustine says
We have a pink and stainless steel GE wonder kitchen that has been removed for a kitchen make over in Albany NY. What would be the best way to sell something like this?
pam kueber says
Craigslist. Good luck.
Julie Muschi says
I have the 1941 Montgomery Ward cabinets in pristine condition. Where would I find the value of these? Enjoy looking at your website.
pam kueber says
We have two stories on this. Check the FAQs for Steel Kitchen Cabinets.
suz bap says
Hi Pam, Kate and Leo,
I LOVE this site! I check it at least once a day and without, I don’t think I could have embarked on my kitchen project. Demolition started yesterday. My St Charles cabinets are at the powder coaters. I’d like to thank you and the community who loves retro and MCM.
And, on my search for chrome cabinets pulls for my St Charles cabinets, I just spoke with a woman in the NYC St Charles office (sorry I already forgot her name) but she said she’s been working for St Charles for 30 years and I thought she might be a great person to interview- if you haven’t done so already.
I’d like to help your site by sending brochures/ booklets from two of the kitchens I”ve purchased. Whatta slice of history one is! (Basically you need a St Charles Kitchen to help your husband make his way up the company ladder and stay ahead of the Jones’!) Please let me know if you want me to attempt to send them to you digitally, (they are oversized and won’t fit on an 8 x 11 scanner) of I could make hard copies and send them to you.
Thanks for everything,
Suz
Matt says
Pam how do I send you a pic. I want to ask your thought for house color.
beatrice jarrett says
Hi Pam, I owe you more thanks than I could ever give! I don’t know how I would ever have completed my 1950’s kitchen make-over without this wonderful site. You’ve answered scores of questions & pointed me in the right direction as far as finding resources for the materials I needed. This is the BEST retro renovation site on the internet! Thank you so, so much for being here!
Lindsey says
Hi Pam,
Love the pics and your ideas. I am just moving into a classic 1950s house that has all working original ge appliances and metal cabinets. The refrigerator looks like cabinets, 3 side by side, 2 doors open and are the refrigerator and the third is the freezer. They are in great condition and canary yellow. We are going to redo the kitchen but wanted to know if there is a place to sell these retro pieces.
Thanks,
Lindsey