Retro Delights

Kitchen Before & After

2012-05-25T13:24:00.003+09:30

Light, bright and happy space to work in!

Looking back towards the laundry.

Finally our kitchen reno is complete... and I can't tell you how happy we are with the end result.

It was a challenging project, with us undertaking the design, electrical, plumbing, tiling, plastering, painting, building, installation etc. We did employ the services of our floor sander guy to keep our floors consistent throughout the house.

Definitely a hard room to configure considering there are two doors and two windows to work around. But I am pleased with the layout, and the fact that we managed to preserve one wall of the original wallpaper! My big sparkly new white stove is also a winner!

Incorporating my old meat safe was a brilliant idea. It breaks up the white, but it also adds a bit of character helping the kitchen to not look so modular!

So overall, all I can say is happy happy joy joy. Thank you to my clever husband Denis for all his hard work and long hours to complete this tip top job! Love ya!

Take the photo tour here >

PS: Cupboards, shelving, bench tops, sink, tap and handles all IKEA.

Next Project - "The Den" (TV Room)

2012-05-22T17:22:00.001+09:30

Removing the 1970s wardrobe

Sketch of the proposed floating cabinets and shelving

On the weekend just gone we had the opportunity to finish off all the last niggly jobs still left to do in our kitchen - paint touch ups, some filling, lighting etc. So I am excited to say the kitchen is finally complete! I just have to do those long awaited before and after photos... will get onto it this week, promise!

So what is next on the agenda? Well I have started to design our TV room which was originally a bedroom at the back of the house. We prefer to have the TV away from the main living area so it isn't the main focus, and this room is a cosy space for us to curl up on the couch and watch must see shows like Grand Designs!!

Using the BESTÅ TV & Media Storage Planner on the IKEA website, I have selected some floating wall cabinets from the "BESTÅ" range. Our plan is to wall mount them on the wall behind the door where the old wardrobes were, and then hang book shelves running the full width of the wall (3m) and right up to the ceiling. This will give us some great storage but in a streamlined and unobtrusive way.

The cabinets are waiting patiently in our garage to be assembled and installed, but before we get to that step there is a wee bit of prep to do. This room is situated on the south side of the building so it is lacking natural light. I just want to brighten up this space with lighter walls so the room feels fresher overall. So say good bye to the dark wooden window surrounds and wall paper, and hello to nice clean fresh paint! (Colour TBD) Even though I love the wall paper, I'm sorry but it really has to go...BTW it is not the original wallpaper from when the home was built.

More updates to follow on the "The Den" project!

Vintage Inspired Linocuts

2012-05-15T17:11:00.000+09:30

My Print Featuring Georgia's Living Room

The Original Lino

Artist's Tools

My friend Georgia Cheesman is a wee bit talented in the area of lino printmaking! Her style very much focuses around reproducing interior spaces - a pretty cool subject! Previous works have included private interiors from the Croydon area, as well as a detailed series of the Wheatsheaf Hotel called 'Before the Crowd'. She is currently planning her next exhibition which will feature a collection of creative studios/work spaces.

Georgia shares my love of mid-century furniture design and decorating, so this style is often found in her compositions. I am the proud owner of a piece from her very first exhibition, Georgia's own living room, and I must say it really is the perfect match to my own retro interior.

If you would like to have a try at creating your own Linocut artwork, Georgia runs an evening art class throughout the year at Ruth Tuck Art School in Burnside. See the website for details >

Toodle-pip,

Sleep Tight

2012-05-09T15:37:00.000+09:30

I spy a little Retro Delights mention in the latest SHOP 4 Kids mag! How awesome! Thank you SHOP 4 Kids! The "Sleep Tight" print is part of a trio. View them in the little Retro Delights store or they can also be found at E for Ethel, North Adelaide! Sweet As!

Vladimir Tretchikoff

2012-04-24T13:42:00.001+09:30

Vladimir Tretchikoff is sadly no longer with us but a quick visit to numerous websites via Google will very quickly show support for his ultra kitsch and now vintage artworks. Many of Tretchikoff's most famous works were completed in the 1950s-1960s, so it is understandable why there is a new generation of people now adding these artworks to their mid-century home decor.

Chinese Girl

My first sighting of a Tretchikoff print (Chinese Girl) was in the home of one of my friends in Auckland. At the time I was curious of the art choice, but I have to admit it did look amazing in a room that had touches of glam, and a high quality reproduction gold/mustard modular couch!

Lady from Orient

One of his most famous works, the print above titled 'Lady from Orient'. I have even started to spot this artwork on cushions and coffee mugs of all things! But to be respectful to the artist, if you are looking at purchasing a reproduction for yourself do visit the authentic Tretchikoff website. The website also has an amazing Bio in a timeline format that steps through Tretchikoff's life in great detail.

Lost Orchid

I have also discovered that Tretchikoff was a very innovative marketeer in his day too. Tretchikoff was the first artist to make and sell lithographic reproductions of his work, making it affordable and accessible to the ordinary person. At the time, art critics objected, saying he was devaluing and commercialising art. To which he responded, "Why should my art only be available to the rich and famous? I want everyone to enjoy my art."

Ballerina

"Express your passion. Do what you love. No matter what."

- Vladimir Tretchikoff

Hello there Ducky...

2012-04-18T11:48:00.000+09:30

This little ducky is one of my original treasures from my childhood! I was lucky I had a mum who saved almost everything from when I was a kid. I still have all my fuzzy felt too! It is great to pull out when I have kids visiting. It keeps them entertained for hours!

Enjoy!

'Good Health' Vintage Posters

2012-04-03T14:58:00.000+09:30

Have you seen our 'Good Health' Vintage Posters in our Retro Delights Store yet? This super cute series date back to the 1960s and are restored copies of original school posters illustrating good health practices!

The series of 3 would look great hanging in your child's bedroom, or there is the option to just purchase one or two prints. Buy all three and save! We particularly like the 'Wash Your Hands' for the bathroom.

Sized to fit perfectly into the IKEA Ribba 30 x 40cm frame. Or they can also fit the bigger Ribba 40 x 50cm frame using the matte board supplied with the frame.

Print Size 30cm x 40cm.

Mailed to you in a rigid cardboard envelope for total protection to arrive in your hands in pristine condition. Please note, the frame is not included. Postage within Australia $7

Enjoy!

Kitchen Tiling Time Lapse

2012-04-02T11:26:00.000+09:30

You have seen so far that our kitchen reno is a complete DIY project, so it would come to no surprise that Denis and I decided to tackle the tiling too. Having never done tiling before, it was a wee bit scarey, but once we got into the groove of it we actually found it to be really enjoyable! I am pleased to say we would be happy to tackle another tiling project again sometime - maybe upstairs bathroom!

It is amazing how much money you can save if you give it a go yourself. The tiles cost about $130 + grout, cement and spacers. It was a tricky job as the wall wasn't so even, plus we had to go around the windows and sills. But overall we are pretty wrapped with the outcome.

First thing I noticed is how the white tiles make the wall colour (Dulux Pale Tendrill Half) simply POP! We did the laundry as well and now both rooms look almost finished.
Final before and after pics are on their way!

Enjoy!

Quirky Terrarium Project

2012-04-02T09:00:00.000+09:30

I found this clock in an op shop and instantly thought,
"Hmmm, I could make a quirky terrarium out of you!"


Step One - Pull the clock apart so you are left with only the base and glass dome.

Step Two - To clean up the base, I used black spray paint.
Depending on your decor choose any colour!

Step Three - Give the base a coat of paint in a well ventilated area and leave to dry.

Step Four - Gather a small amount of artificial moss to cover the base.

Step Five - Once the paint has dried pile the artificial moss on top of the base.

Step Six - Choose a miniature to sit on top of the moss.

Step Seven - Position the miniature in the center of the base.

Step Eight - Wash the glass dome and sit on top of the base.

And there you have it, a Quirky Terrarium! You can buy bases and the glass domes new
but they can be a bit pricey, so keep a look out for some old clocks in your local op shop.

Here's what you will need:
1. Glass dome and base - maybe from an old clock (mine cost $7.99 from an op shop)
2. Artificial moss (I bought mine from ebay for $5 + postage)
3. Spray paint any colour
4. Cute critter to live in your terrarium

Toodle-pip,

(Cute hoop artwork by Gretel Girl)

The Recycle Superstore

2012-03-29T09:39:00.000+10:30

I'm letting you in on a little secret. Well it's not really a secret, but I wanted to share with you my top pick for the BEST SECONDHAND STORE EVER!

"Savers" (www.savers.com.au) is what you would describe as a mega secondhand shopping experience and is located in Noarlunga (SA) with other locations around Vic and NSW (check their website). This shop is so clean and well organised, having said that, do allow at least 3 hours to browse the racks. A fantastic collection of kitchenware, home decor, shoes, furniture, books, and of course clothing. It is truly UNBELIEVABLE. The only fault is I think they should have a cafe so we can have a break in between the frenzy - a bit like IKEA.

I asked Denis recently if we could stop by Savers as we headed away in "Scooby" the campervan for the weekend. To my delight he was kind enough to agree (SQUEEL)... 1 hour and $100 later I came out with a suitcase full of goodies plus an awesome TH Brown Fondue Table for only $25!

So the van was filled up with my treasures, and once at the camping spot I decided to set up house so we could actually get to the bed!

Little Shop of Retro Delights

2012-03-28T11:48:00.000+10:30

Check it out, I have a new little online shop! I am often out and about and come across some delightful retro finds so you will see the odd treasure making it's way to this little store.

Chair obsessed but can't afford the real deal? Well I have the solution. The Retro Delights store also features a small range of mini designer chairs that are so adorable you will want to collect them all!

Love hand made with a retro twist? My K2 Scarfs are also available and coming into scarf weather, now is the perfect time to spruce up your wardrobe with a simple accessory.

Plus if you are looking for something vintage to adorn your walls then the cute range of Vintage Posters might be your thing!

Have fun,

Decisions decisions....

2012-03-09T21:23:00.000+10:30

We could hang this shelf here with our clock above it.


Currently quite an open space with a print hanging between the two windows.

Or my original plan was to hang the shelf here on the wall paper wall. Now I am not sure which...

I think I have been looking at this kitchen for way too long now and am struggling with this simple decision of where to hang the shelf. I found this retro shelf at Vintage Carousel, and have been waiting for the perfect spot to hang it. Problem is, I now have two options.

At the moment I have the print hanging between the windows, but am starting to think that maybe the shelf might look cool there instead. My original plan was to hang the shelf on the wallpaper wall, but want to make sure I am 100% sure before I do, because we will make holes in the paper!

So what do you think? I know this is a hard question, considering you can only judge this by looking at the pics - physically being in the space makes such a difference too. But hopefully my model Denis has helped a little bit!

I plan to use the shelf to display some of my random retro finds - so it's purely decorative. Look forward to your feedback...

Autumn is here...

2012-03-01T11:12:00.001+10:30

It's the first day of Autumn and I am grateful to have the sun streaming into our lounge room. Summer is my favourite time of the year so I am a little bit sad that our lovely hot days will be less now and daylight saving will be ending soon.

Here are a couple photos I took of our lounge this morning. A few changes since my last post about this room. I ended up removing the skirt from around the bottom of our sage green couch and armchair to reveal the wooden tapered legs. I have also added a floor rug to help anchor and define the seating area. Our replica Eames DSW Chairs are also looking lovely seated at the teak Noblet dining table.

I love this room, it has so much natural light and warmth all year round.

And yes, there is a sneaky peak of the new kitchen through the door! We have had a couple of delays, the floor sanding has had some problems, so we are having it done for the third time next week... and yesterday I decided that there is a slight flaw in my kitchen design. Will explain that one in another post once I have worked out a solution for it! But I am looking forward to sharing the end result with you!

Toodle-pip,

IKEA Feature

2012-02-20T11:44:00.000+10:30

So how did this happen you ask? Well I ended up sharing a before and after pic of our laundry reno and kitchen time-lapse video on the IKEA Facebook page. They loved it so much they asked if they could feature it on their website homepage!! So I am proud to say that our kitchen reno is a wee bit famous now with over 1500 views!! Classic hey!

True Country Style

2012-02-16T14:54:00.000+10:30

Country Style Feb 2012

Cherie & Damien top left. My rustic hard rubbish ladder found a home in their bedroom!

Absolutely adore the custom made kitchen cabinets to match one of the original kitchen cupboards

The warm and welcoming rustic kitchen

I'm so excited to see my dear friends Damien and Cherie featured in this months Country Style Magazine - and what a beautiful spread. The old ladder I once found in hard rubbish, now resides in the bedroom displaying old books.

My favourite room of the home has to be the rustic kitchen. An eclectic mix of furniture from different eras past, mixed with a bit of modern. I have spent many an evening being treated to some of the best food that I've ever eaten from this cute kitchen. Cherie and Damien always put so much love into their cooking, and I believe this is probably their favourite room too!

This country abode is also the home of Scullery Made Tea! If you are not a tea drinker (yet), try Scullery Made and you will definitely be converted! The "Wine and Roses" blend is fantastic chilled and served from a vintage punch bowl. Great idea for when you have friends over for dinner (or lunch) and want to impress or try something a bit different!

Vintage Valentine

2012-02-14T10:38:00.001+10:30

Sharing some Valentine Love found over on Flickr here >

Kitchen Reno Continues...

2012-01-30T22:18:00.001+10:30

A quick time-lapse of our complete kitchen reno. Denis and I have had so much fun putting this together. Although it was hard work during some very hot and sticky days! It has taken us two weeks to get to this point so far.

Tiling still to come and then the floor needs to be re-sanded. Will post official before and after photos very soon!

Toodle-pip,

Kyrie

PS Photos will be uploaded here too!

Kitchen Reno Begins!

2012-01-18T10:23:00.002+10:30

Denis was a busy bee on the weekend. Yay the Kitchen reno has begun! Check out this time-lapse of the old 70s kitchen being removed! If only things would happen this fast in real-time!

Dear Photograph

2012-01-06T19:27:00.000+10:30

I recently stumbled across the brilliant website "Dear Photograph". A beautiful collection of photos of a photo from the past in the present. The captions on each image also pull on the heart strings!!

Enjoy looking over the website. I totally understand why this site has over 65,000 followers on Facebook!

Laundry Movie

2012-01-05T18:25:00.000+10:30

Denis's little movie creation of our Laundry renovation (almost) complete! Yes we are strange creative types. Who else would do a movie masterpiece of their Laundry!

Dreams Turn into Rubble

2012-01-05T18:00:00.000+10:30

It Begins

The jaws go straight in...

No mercy...

Dreams turned to rubble.

The sun was shinning, but there seemed to be a grey cloud hovering over my street today. Sadly the house 2 doors down from us was demolished. I walked past a couple of times to take the photos above, and felt an overwhelming sense of sadness coming from the remains of this home.

It is amazing to think that this lovely home was once someone's life dream, would have probably taken months to build, and yet within a few short hours the only thing remaining is a pile of rubble.

I was disappointed to know that the owners and demo company in charge did not salvage anything from the building. I don't understand why, there were beautiful floor boards, windows, solid wood internal doors, and the original 1950s bathroom with pink tiles and blue bath! Oh yeah, did I mention all of the original hardwood and stone that would have been useful for other building projects. WHAT A WASTE!

On the weekend I went through the house. The blinds and light fittings were still all in place and there was a cute little sewing room with 1950s cupboards and laminate bench. I was imagining the previous owner sitting at the little bench sewing up a storm.

Sorry, no inside photos as it was getting dark when I was sneaking through. The house was crying out to me for help and I felt absolutely helpless - after all, I was kind of trespassing and there was little I could do. I did manage to salvage a couple of things but will talk more about that in a future post.

This land is now the future dream of a new couple with plans to build a brand new home.

Hidden Surprise

2012-01-04T18:02:00.000+10:30

I bought this West German vase from a seller on eBay this week and it was delivered via post today. When I opened the box, to my surprise the box was cushioned out with retro wall paper! Plus inside was another box containing the vase wrapped in some old pages from the Australian Motor Manual from 1970! I think I might have to contact this seller to see if she has anymore groovy wallpaper before she throws it out!

Happy New Year people!

Xmas Blessings

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000+10:30

This year has been one fast and crazy ride. It's that time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012.

Looking forward to bringing you more Retro Delights in the new year. Our kitchen and bathroom projects are still on the go, and there is of course a never ending supply of Retro Delights to share with you.

Thanks for your interest and for following along. Best wishes, Kyrie K.

Retro Sewing Machine

2011-12-20T11:11:00.000+10:30

I'm loving my sewing projects at the moment, but it just hasn't felt right using a newish plastic sewing machine. So I have been on the hunt for a reliable retro model.

After hunting on e-bay for weeks I found this beautiful vintage green "Singer". It is made of metal, and is very strong and robust. Certainly not like my other plastic model! I will keep the plastic one as a back up machine, but somehow I don't think I will need it. This is definitely a case of "they just don't make them like they used to!"

I feel much happier now making my retro inspired creations (K2 Scarf) on my retro sewing machine!

Laundry Before and After

2011-12-18T18:34:00.002+10:30

Finally our laundry reno is complete apart from a couple minor changes (tiles). I am so pleased with how it has come together and it is exactly how I visualised it to be. We have set up the laundry as a mini kitchenette while we work on the kitchen. It is handy to have the sink and storage... the fridge will live in the lounge for a while, and we can work around the oven still connected when pulling the kitchen apart!

We had a "Reverse Osmosis" filter system fitted by Filter King. It is the tastiest and cleanest water which means I will now drink more (a good thing) and also our tea and coffee will taste the best.

Cupboards, shelving, bench tops, sink, tap and handles all IKEA. Once the kitchen is together I plan to paint the kick boards charcoal, just to give it that little extra lift.

We decided to paint the back of the door in chalkboard paint so we can keep lists and write messages to each other. I sent Denis down to the hardware store to grab the paint, and without looking he accidentally grabbed "Green" chalkboard paint! We decided to go for it anyway. We can always paint over it with the black version later... but it is growing on me. Lucky it is a nice green, plus we do have a bit of a green theme going on throughout the house!

I think the floor tiles look great, I am glad we left them original. They just bring another texture to the room. We now just need to tile around the skirting and behind the sink - will probably go for a plain square white tile.

Everytime I walk through the laundry now I feel like I am in a different house. Everything so sparkly and new! View more photos here. More will be added once this room is an actual laundry not temporary kitchen!