I have mentioned a few times that I am a creative sort. Life does not appeal to me unless I am creating something and it seems in hindsight that what I created in the past few years was a lot of fear. There was reason for this too. After 9/11 life seemed more fearful to me. Fear was on the news each night and with a son serving in the military it seemed closer than ever before. I turned my fear into a creative outlet called " I Surrender This", which on top being something I "created", it also helped me with my fear. Win-win. I still feel overjoyed and thankful for the opportunity to help others manage fear in their lives. I love talking about "letting go", and "living in the moment". I love the feeling of "not feeling" that I need to accomplish anything other than to just "be who I am". It is freeing and peaceful and true for me.
This leads me to the reason for this post. The new creative outlet I have found in all things vintage. Whether it be sewing, collecting sewing patterns, knitting or my newest passion for creating a mid-century home. That's right, a home. Not a house with the purpose to resell it, but a home. Our home. My home. A home.
Last night while cruising the internet looking for kitchen laminate (no granite for me) for a 1946 home, I found Retro Renovation on facebook. Which then led me to Pam's website www.RetroRenovation.com. I almost fell off my chair with excitement. There it was all on one page. This is what I wrote to Pam in an email:
I've just got to tell you that I am OVER the TOP with your website. OMG...it is all I have been looking for. I could spend days here, and wish a gigantic snow storm with internet intact would befall us so I could cuddle in bed with my laptop and go through EVERY page of this and all the links. LOVE it. I will do a mention on my "little" blog in the next few days. We have a cute little pantry that I want to keep totally retro. Been looking for shelf liner and now I know where to get it. Thanks for the most amazing retro website EVER.
Sassy Lassie
Now today she posts this. As much as I love this laminate, hubby is really dead-set against it. I read that it is eco-friendly. That helped. I read that it stands the test of time. Helped. I read that it is coming back in vogue. Are you kidding he said? Well maybe stretching the truth a bit I said coyly.
This is a picture of our kitchen on the day we purchased the house-minus the clock on the wall. The family decided they wanted it. It does not get any simpler than this. We have moved the table to the center of the room and added a lovely vintage kitchen tablecloth. That is it for the moment.
I spent the first day doing a little clean-up in the kitchen. This unit is like new. No scratches or dents. Mr. Rooney had put heavy duty linoleum over each shelf and it preserved it beautifully.
The sun streaming in!
The gas stove is a Montgomery Ward "Magic Menu". I would like to replace it with something older. As I would the fridge. But a small battle goes on with hubby over efficiency with these old appliances. Ugh!
This is the stove I would like to replace it with. It about takes my breath away with its beauty.
It may well be out of my price range though.
This may be more practical. These are both old stoves that have been refurbished by http://www.antiquegasstoves.com
Some may look at these and say, "ewwww. I want a nice stainless Viking with all the newest gadgits. But let me tell you I have always had Champagne taste and with these stoves I continue. These start at well over $3000.00 and go up to $15,000. I bet the first one I chose would go for about $10,000 if not more.
Yup Champagne taste with a Boone's Farm budget. That's me.
The Pantry
These were all left in the house.
So my amazing turn has taken me all over the decades of the 1940's and 1950's and it has made me happier than ever. I love the simple task of making something out of nothing and I am so happy to be making this home (Mr. Rooney's) into our home.
