KenFlex Vinyl Tile

I've been trying to research what kind of tile was originally used in the kitchen and laundry room area of my house and I believe it might have have been KenFlex vinyl flooring. Unfortunately KenFlex doesn't manufacture floor tiles anymore and according to some information I found online KenFlex tile might contain unhealthy levels of asbestos which can become problematic if the tile is damaged and in need of repair (which is the case in many areas of my home).

I'm not sure how we're going to deal with the current floors since the kitchen is a real mess and most of the original tile has been covered up or removed and replaced by some rather ugly stuff that was probably manufactured in the '90s. We may be able to save the floor in the laundry room but we won't really know until we can get in there and start working on the place.

In the meantime I thought I'd share some original ads (published 1953-56) for KentFlex flooring. Just click on the images to see larger full size versions of the ads.

Final Walk Through

Yesterday we did the final walk through of our soon to be new home. We only had an hour to check everything and make sure there were no serious issues with the property. They left an old broken hot tub in the backyard so we're making them hall it away next week. The kitchen was added in the '90s and it's utterly falling apart and the bathrooms are just plain scary. The place is in desperate need of a good cleaning, a fresh coat of paint and some serious TLC but it's my home and I love it! Here's some of the pictures I took.

1954 custom built atomic ranch house

Original door (with kick guard added in the '90s that we'll remove asap)

Original clerestory windows

Original fireplace (they've added some insert we plan to remove asap

Dining area (we plan to remove the fan asap)

Pony wall

Kitchen seems to have been haphazardly updated in the late '80s or '90s and it's falling apart

Original tub in bathroom that needs a lot of work

Original kitchen floors
(unfortunately they were not cared for and need to be replaced)

Original wood floors we plan to clean and refinish

Make It! Mid-Century Modern

I've always been a DIY kind of gal but living in a small cramped apartment isn't the ideal place for getting crafty. One of the things I'm most looking forward to when I move into my new home, is finally having the space I need to work on arts and crafts projects.

Recently I came across a great online DIY design community called Curbly where you can share pictures, ideas and information about your own DIY projects. Curbly inspires creativity and encourages people to bring out the best in their own homes and "love where they live."

Curbly is currently devoting the month of January to Mid-Century Modernism and you can find a lot of great information and "how-to" articles at their site focusing on mid-century design. Curbly even has their own Youtube channel where they share inspirational videos such as how to Build Your Own Mid-Century Birdhouse.

Recently Curbly started to publish their own series of eBooks or manuals simply called "Make It!" and the first book in the series is devoted to mid-century modern design.

"Make It! Mid-Century Modern" contains 76 pages of easy to follow step-by-step instructions for mid-century DIY projects that anyone can make at home. Some of the projects include a Mondrian inspired throw pillow, an Alexander Calder style mobile and your very own George Nelson influenced Ball Clock. The book provides background information on all of the designers it covers and the instructions are accompanied by eye-catching full-color photos.

Making things for your home can be an extremely rewarding experience and it also gives you the opportunity to express your individuality. You can customize any of the designs featured in "Make It! Mid-Century Modern" by selecting your own paint colors, fabrics, etc. Your only limitation is your imagination.

This week Curbly is giving away free copies of "Make It! Mid-Century Modern" to five lucky winners. If you'd like to try and win yourself a copy of this terrific book all you have to do is become a fan of Curbly's Facebook Page and RSVP as "attending" to the giveaway event they're currently hosting on Facebook. The contest ends at 11:59pm on Sunday, January 31st and they plan to announce the winners first thing Monday morning. You can find more information about the giveaway at Curbly's Facebook page.

Copies of "Make It! Mid-Century Modern" can also be purchased directly from Curbly. A PDF download of the eBook is available for $9.99 or you can order a printed version of the book for $18.00.

Even though Curbly's Mid-Century Modern Month is coming to an end soon the site continues to be a great resource for seasoned as well as inexperienced do-it-yourself enthusiasts who are looking for inspiration and new ideas. Their blog is updated regularly and if you become a member of the Curbly community you can take full advantage of everything the site has to offer.

- Curbly.com | DIY Design Community

Window Shopping: Klassik by Lynne

Over the weekend my guy and I took a break from all the stress associated with purchasing our first home and we decided to do a little window shopping in the East Bay.

One of our favorite discoveries was a place hidden away in Emeryville called Klassik by Lynne that sells vintage Danish mid-century furniture, art, fixtures and other lovely things imported directly from Denmark. Many of the pieces were reasonably priced and the owner was very friendly and helpful. If you ever find yourself in Emeryville I highly recommend visiting Klassik by Lynne. We definetly plan to revisit the place after we get moved into our new home.



- www.klassikbylynne.com

Inspection Week Complete!

After a trying week of home inspections and lots of negotiations, we're finally moving forward with purchasing our first home. Buying a 56 year old house that hasn't been cared for very well is a challenge and besides needing a new roof, the house also needs a whole host of other repairs that will take us a few years to complete while we renovate.

I'm nervous about the challenges ahead but buying a "fixer-upper" also has its own rewards. I'm really looking forward to giving the place all kinds of personal touches and turning it into a real home. By mid-late February we should have the keys to our first home in our hands!