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 And, I want to continue to improve the site as an historical reference around things like steel kitchen cabinets, a longtime passion.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
Steve says
Hey Pam and Kate- happy 10th anniversary at RR! I am a newbie to your blog but have been elated to find such excellent, thorough posts on a wide range of MCM fabulousness! You two are the Seductresses of Swank, helping to transform thinking on what “outdated” and “updating” should mean, and how really silly we can be to chase the Hot Trend simply because our eyes and minds have been tricked by a lifetime of marketing to believe “new” has anything to do with quality and functionality. I’ve discovered here, in new ways, that it absolutely does not!
May RR continue to transform a renovator’s thinking- one click at a time!
Pam Kueber says
Thank you, Steve. I’ll take “Seductresses of Swank” anytime! And yes: Pay no attention to those marketeers behind the curtain!
Lisa piekarski says
Help I have a vintage mean cone foreplace with no model # where can I get info on how time install. I am new to mid century Reno and enjoy your sight tho I am still learning to navigate any fireplace help you can give would be great Lisa Pie
Pam Kueber says
Lisa, when it comes to safety issues — as with fireplaces — I recommend you consult with a professional. Malm / PreWay still exists as a company, they might be able to help you. http://www.malmfireplaces.com/
Rick says
Thanks Pam !! – How the heck did I miss all that !!! – I think I may have to go see tat stove in person now – the pics look very good. I’ll let you know what happens
Rick says
Hey Pam, I have a question regarding older stoves, what are your thought putting these into new/retro reno ? ……. I have a chance to grab a push button Viking stove, in near mint shape; but I’m not sure how hard/easy it would be to get the parts, if ever needed .
Pam Kueber says
Rick, I have a vintage stove in my kitchen. See these stories:
https://retrorenovation.com/2011/08/29/parts-service-and-advice-to-fix-old-stoves-and-other-vintage-appliances-a-list-of-9-online-resources/
https://retrorenovation.com/2011/11/04/13-places-to-buy-restored-vintage-stoves/
And: consult with pros on safety issues https://renovate-safe/
James Smith says
Hi, fantastic site! Here is a reply I posted to an older thread, wanted to see if there’s any current visitors who could suggest:
I’ve been searching for anyone who is knowledgeable about office furniture by Maria Bergson (or Maria Bergson Associates). I have two file cabinets that were part of an office set custom built for a mining company executive in Missouri, some time after 1950. Do you have any information about where I could find a dealer or individual interested in buying these pieces?
thank you!
Pam Kueber says
hi James, I don’t have any info about this one…
Al says
I just moved into my childhood home, which has always been in the family. A small ranch built in 1958 and not much has been done to it other than good maintenance. You could call it a time capsule, especially the kitchen. Right now I’m just painting bed rooms and the living room and screening and finishing the hardwood floors. The bathroom will be next, and lastly the kitchen. One of the things I’m considering is putting in a range similar to the Tappan 400, which I had in my first house, another time capsule.
Is there a generic name for this type of range. I know Tappan wasn’t the only one to make them. Below is a link to a picture of one like first house had. I’d like to start searching for ones for sale in a condition that could be rebuilt or already rebuilt.
https://s17-us2.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F21%2F3b%2Fd3%2F213bd3ae47351b82b98aa98238cecc20–ripley-house-wall-ovens.jpg&sp=cf3a736066926880d025141f6debba79
Pam Kueber says
Congrats, Al! What a great story! Another brand was the Frigidaire Flair. It is also very popular with Retro Renovators — and they can be found. Be sure to Renovate Safe! https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/
Erin says
I found a perfect Eichler-esque low slope roof, stained T&G ceilings and exposed beams, 1960 house with minimal updates. Asbestos already removed, and lead dealt with. Perfect, perfect, perfect, and everything I have been hoping for. In my price range with Pink bathroom included. Unfortunately… location, location, location. It is not within reasonable commuting distance for me. I am having a wee bit of trouble walking away.
The best I can find nearby is a 1976 A frame with sunken LR, freestanding stone fireplace, and dusty rose bathroom. The question is how to incorporate as many awesome 1960 designs and furnishings as possible without compromising the integrity of this ’70s gem. I need a resource for what 60s items may have endured long enough to make it into a 70s house. The 70s house has been updated in some less sensitive ways, so I have a little room to play around. I am using the Pinocchio house on here as inspiration, although I don’t know that I can get away with turquoise exterior trim.
Pam Kueber says
Well, “Love the House You’re In” kinda means going with the flow… Can you learn to love the 70s? It’s my favorite decade!
Björn says
Hi from Germany!
Reading this site since 2 years and now want to make my kitchen and living room. Craftsmanship in every kind of way is not a problem for me but design and color is 🙁
Is there a forum where i can get help to give my rooms a retro look.
Pam Kueber says
Hi Bjorn, we don’t have a forum like this. You might take a look at the many reader kitchens shows in Kitchen Help/Readers and their Kitchens subcategory.
Björn says
Thanks Pam.
Yes i know you don’t have a forum. But i thought maybe there is another forum (site) for this kind of stuff.
I know all the kitchens and images here but really have problems with the colors because kitchen and living room is one room. I have a classic Bosch refrigerator in mint green and don’t know what to use for the cabinets/laminate/wallpaper/floor. I’m scared that mint green cabinets is to much.
I just found out that Wilsonart is the company that now owns Resopal. Resopal is the german company who invented the HPL (High Pressure Laminate) in the 30s and i live ~10 miles away from them. They don’t have the designs like boomerang on the german website, but i will ask them if the American designs are also available here.
If somebody says Resopal here everybody knows what it is. Wikipedia says if something is translated from american to german and there is the word “Formica” it is translated with “Resopal”. A little bit history… 🙂
Emily says
I just purchased a home built in 1959 that has had few updates over the years (yes, there are pink bathroom fixtures). We’re looking to renovate it and I’m so happy I found your site! One question: in the kitchen cabinets, there are plenty of built ins: cutting boards, dividers, a metal drawer I assume is for bread, and one thing I cannot identify. In a base cabinet, there is a wooden slab attached with hinges and when you push it, it comes out of the cabinet and rises to counter height. What is this miraculous device for?
Pam Kueber says
It’s to hold a large food prep device, such as a mixer, a meat grinder or a meat cutter…
Carla says
Hi Pam – I so enjoy your blog and have learned a lot from all of your research! Just yesterday I was checking out the interior of my cousin’s shop and there on the wall were four metal kitchen cabinets! They had those ‘arrow’ chrome handles so I was guessing Youngstown and sure enough, first door I opened had the Youngstown label! Another cousin had pulled them out of a pile of ‘junk’ headed to the landfill after hearing they were looking for cheap shop cabinets 🙂 They were in really good shape too, very little rust and not dents or anything.
I just saw that WOOD Magazine has plans for building a mid-century modern credenza and thought it might be something you might be interested in checking out – if you haven’t already seen it!
Pam Kueber says
Good call on the Youngstown spotting!