Old playgrounds were risky, thrilling and full of sharp edges — see how kids from the past played hard and (mostly) survived.
outdoors
If you were a mid-century suburban kid you likely had a tubular metal swing set like one of these! Check out this nostalgia trip back to the backyards of your childhood.
These 60+ vintage patio furniture sets – charming tables, chairs, chaises and more – were as popular in the 1940s through the 1970s as they are now.
Adapted from an article that ran in Better Homes & Gardens print magazine back in December 1970, this cute craft how-to for “colossal Christmas balls”
See how gazebos became one of America’s favorite outdoor retreats with a look back at some vintage styles and backyard designs!
Sometimes the basics are all one needs for memorable adventures. Take a look at some vintage tents that were available in the last century!
Backyard decks have become a staple of American architecture for relaxation and socializing. See dozens of different deck designs from the second half of the 20th century here.
This curated collection of vintage photographs invites you to explore the classic charm of screened-in porches, patios, lanais, and pool enclosures from bygone decades.
As charmingly retro as they seem, small striped outdoor tents (also called palmetto or lawn tents) were nothing new in the 1960s and 1970s — in fact, they have been used for centuries.
From the richly ornamental to the whimsical, old-fashioned wood porch bracket designs have enriched the faces of American houses for over a century.
If you love the mid-century style, or want to re-create that beautiful vintage backyard feel, get 47 of the best old-fashioned patio, deck & porch ideas here for a little retro inspo.
Practical ideas to help you plan small gardens of your own – a quiet, refreshing area close to your house where you can enjoy the plants and flowers you love!
Come take a stroll through these gated gardens, and lose yourself in another era. These photos show how the walled gardens at Gray Gardens in East Hampton, New York looked in the year 1916.
This flip-over chair – in the original Hudson Valley version of the 1870s or a colorful adaptation – offers the fun of choosing between two seats with a quick flip of a finger.
A Victorian garden party may extend from afternoon into evening, or it may be entirely an evening affair — and here were the best ways to set everything up.
If your family never stays home because there’s nothing to do, check out these ways to pep up your yard or garden. Sometimes the simplest things, as in the play castle here, yields the most imaginative results.
Move out of doors in style during the summer . . . yet provide year-round storage for your boat, motor and outdoor equipment with this boat shelter and convertible patio.
