Why Renovate When You Can Retro-reno?

There's a new trend that is paying homage to homes and styles of the 1940's, 50's and 60's. Homeowners are rediscovering the architectural charms and styling of this era, and instead of eradicating existing structures and styling there's a growing population interested in resurrecting the post-modern flair inherent in these homes.

In America 20 million new homes were built during the baby boom years of 1945-1960 and most of them in the suburbs. The predominant styles of homes built during this period were, the ranch style, the Colonial and Cape styles, and this is also when split levels came into vogue. Homes of this era were typically 1,100-1,700 sq feet and while this may be on the smaller side by today's standards, they are eco-spirited with their compact footprints that take less fuels to heat, fewer chemicals to clean and less material to renovate.

Really the time is now for homes built in these eras. They've become the more affordable houses on the market, and are often filled with hidden treasures- architectural elements that can be highlighted, original wood flooring that can be re-surfaced, or original appliances that can be re-furbished and set as the center pieces to your retro renos.

The great thing about the retro-reno is that you can still do practical modern upgrades that'll improve the functionality of your home, while paying attention to stylistic details and upgrades that'll add that retro spark. More modern features that can be attended to include energy-saving features like soffits, solar energy systems, heat pumps and continuous flow hot water systems.

Because there's such a boom in interest in these sorts of renos, there's actually a lot on the market in terms of retro influenced design elements to help you re-create the original spirit of your home. Of course, you can also search for original retro pieces in good working condition to add even more original flair to your design. Although this process may not prove as speedy as a "modern" renovation, the hunt is part of the fun and the satisfaction in such a reno, and you can work slowly to put it all together.

If you're racking your brain, wondering where to source out your retro reno materials, check out some of these ideas:

-Craigslist

-Ebay

-freecycle.org

-recycle.net

-restorationandbuidlingserices.com

-Your local thrift, Goodwill, Salvation Army and estate sales.

-Local salvage yards, flea markets and swap meets

-Auctions

Another great resource that has sprung up is a new weblog retrorenovation.com. Here you'll find daily updates on retro styling tips for your kitchens and bathrooms, great sources for retro inspired wallpaper, countertop materials, flooring, lighting and furniture, as well as cultural inspiration from books, exhibits and advertising.

If you're a buyer scouting out the perfect mid century home to retro reno, you'll ideally want to find a place that has good indoor-outdoor flow. Preferably you'll want flexible living spaces that'll give you the option of opening them up into larger spaces, or shutting them down into smaller spaces. If you can, find a place that has consistent interior detailing including doors, skirting boards, architraves, moldings and ceilings. These are all gems that can help you bring the retro character of your home to life.


About the Author
Vox Real Estate is a popular source for information about Austin real estate. Visit VoxRealEstate.com to search Clarksville TX real estate listings and find information about local schools and neighborhoods.

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How to Go Retro in Your Home

By: Susan Sturm
Retro is back! You can see it in the cars, the fashion and even in the music today. Throw back styles and fads are making their way back around and no where is this more evident than in the home. Retro chic furniture and décor is becoming more and more popular and many pieces come with an updated or modern twist. Check out these quick and easy ways to add a little retro into your living space.

• Dine in retro style. The kitchen is one of the easiest places to get retro. There are a variety of dining set ups that can bring you right back to the good old days. For example, adding a pair of funky red patent leather bar stools to a counter can give it an instant retro facelift. There are also retro styled tables that beckon days gone by. Add to the table set some funky place settings and retro accoutrements and you’ve got yourself a retro kitchen. Aside from dining, you can add little retro touches to the kitchen such as a retro trashcan, wall art or lighting. All of these simple changes will transform your kitchen into a retro haven.
• Living retro in the living room. Another great space to make retro is the living room. There are incredible selections of retro and modern style sofas that give you the period look. Such furniture pieces as brown leather sofas with squared arms or modular armchairs with smooth corners will transform your living room into a stylish retro den. There are even updated TV stands to house the new flat screen TVs while maintaining a sleek retro look. Going retro in the living room has never been easier.
• Retro decorative touches. If big ticket purchases are not in your budget, it is easy to add smaller decorative touches to get the retro look you crave. Some of these touches can even be do-it-yourself projects that you can be proud to display in your home. For example, go to the local record store and buy some old albums, find frames to fit the covers and you have instant retro wall art. Grouped together or alone, album covers are a great way to show your taste in music and in retro! Another simple touch is switching some electronics to retro style alternatives. There are a multitude of retro styled clocks, radios, lights and lamps and phones. Changing these few pieces can change the feel of your home to be totally retro and fun.
• Light it up retro. One of the major impact areas for going retro in the home is in your lighting. Switching out traditional lighting fixtures for funky retro lighting can change the entire look and feel of a room. There are so many colorful lighting options to get the retro look from track lighting to lamps to chandeliers. It’s easy to get just the look you are going for. There are also great novelty lighting choices that can show your humor and your style at the same time.

With retro back big time, it is easy to change a few little things in the home and get just the retro look you want. There are options for every room and for every budget to add some flair and style to your living space.
About the Author
Susan Sturm is a writer from Long Island, NY. She works for a Long Island web marketing company called Verse. Susan enjoys reading, traveling and shopping for great vintage clothes.

(ArticlesBase SC #558218)

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