A mother-of-two lives her life in a 1950s time capsule after growing up loving the post-war era and spending $25,000 transforming her home into a retro ‘fantasy bubble’.
Roo Bee, 41, from Illinois, has spent years collecting 1950s memorabilia including 70-year-old sofas, a huge vintage refrigerator and old TV sets.
And now the history-mad writer also loves to dress as a 50s starlet while cooking old school recipes from antique cookbooks.
Roo said: ‘Everything in my house is vintage. Our house is a big old house so there is plenty for me to style.
Roo Bee, from Illinois, has spent years collecting 1950s memorabilia as well as dressing as a 50s starlet while cooking old school recipes from antique cookbooks
Bee’s old 1950s TV set which is currently being rewired so the family can watch modern TV shows
Some of Roo’s 1950s memorabilia including a 70-year-old sofa, vintage beauty products, music players and baby items
‘My parents used to take me to antique markets when I was younger and I fell in love with the items from the 1930s through to the 1960s.
‘When I was little I imagined I could do whatever I wanted when I grew up and decorate how I want to decorate so I did just that.
‘I have so many individual vintage collections including books, kitchen ware, music players and even baby items – I even have a vintage baby scale which I love. My collection is huge, I have things both big and small.’
Despite dressing as a 50s starlet and loving the style, Roo says she is happy she never had to actually live through the era.
‘I’m not one of those ‘I was born in the wrong decade’ kind of people,’ she adds. ‘I’m happy to be living in 2022 with the social progress and I can just enjoy the whimsical bubble fantasy in my house without the negative parts.
She has spent $25,000 doing up her house so far and has no intention of stopping and says: ‘Our house is a big old house so there is plenty for me to style.’ Pictured: the kitchen with vintage baking equipment, retro green tiles and a vintage stool
Roo has tried cooking typical 50s recipes in her 50s kitchen but says the taste doesn’t really match the modern palate
Inside her huge 1950s fridge with some of her elegant 50s food creations. She says: ‘My collection is huge, I have things both big and small’
Roo has her array of 1950s kitchen equipment on show and loves going through second hand stores and estate sales for vintage pieces
‘Every week I shop for antiques and I’m always on the look out for the best deals. I love the craftsmanship that goes into each item because they were built to last back then.
‘Thrift shops and estate sales are great, however I also get gifted a lot of things because people always think of me and my style when they’re clearing out their home or even their grandparent’s home!’
Roo, who is a part-time writer with two children’s books coming out in May 2022, owns vintage board games, books and even silver wear.
She has an old 50s TV set which she and her husband, Kevin, 40, a school district operations manager, are currently rewiring to watch modern shows.
Roo has two children, Bunni, 14 and son Fox, 12, and loves her retro wardrobe of utility dresses and bell-bottoms jeans.
‘I tried the jeans and t-shirt thing but I just felt so uncomfortable – it made me feel plain and invisible when I went out.
The part-time writer loves the 50s look and says people always complement her when she’s out and about walking
Roo says she tried the jeans and t-shirt look but felt invisible so now she’s always in a dress and loves how the clothes make her feel
Her husband Kevin also likes the 1950s era and chooses vintage clothes himself with Roo claiming ‘Vintage is for everyone!’
‘I love to be in a dress. A lot of women see me on the street and tell me they wish they could do the same so I encourage them to do so – vintage is for everyone.
When Roo and Kevin have visitors they’re always desperate for a house tour. She said: ‘There’s always a positive reaction to our house when people come over – everybody loves our style.
‘My husband is really into the vintage thing too and even my daughter loves to dress the 50s way too.
Even though Roo, who is also a part-time TV host of a show called Housewife of Horror on a channel called Suburban Screams, has attempted the odd 50s recipe for dinner or parties she says some of the food of the time definitely doesn’t accommodate the modern palate.
‘I collect old cookbooks too,’ she added. ‘I’ve had a go at using the gelatin molds which were common in that time, however I’ve had to adapt the ingredients for the modern palette.’
Roo has now set her eyes on a new vintage item which will transform their weekend getaways. ‘Our summer goal is to get a vintage car to really match the lifestyle.’
Vintage toys and games on display in Roo’s home. Some people even gift her things from their grandparents’ house because they appreciate her love for the style
Roo’s 1950s dining room where she’s acquired a typical table and chair set from the era sitting within the pink-themed walls
Some more of Roo’s collectable items which include many baby items, including a rocking horse and cot, that she wishes she had when her own children were babies
Pineapple cocktail rings: While Roo has tried cooking many 50s themed meals, many she says don’t match the modern palate
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