Oh my goodness, how did I not know about this show, “Great Depression Cooking” hosted by Clara, a 93-year-old cook and grandmother who grew up in Melrose Park, Ill., and now lives in Upstate New York. I love how quiet this show is. Clara also has her own blog. Thanks, Behind the Curtain, for helping me to discover Clara.
Kohler Cimarron toilet gets retro renovation nod of approval
Posted by: • April 30, 2009
Drum roll, please. I’m adding a second toilet recommendation for 40s and 50s houses to the Bathroom list: The Kohler Cimarron two-piece, round-front. This model joins the Kohler Wellworth on the list of toilets that get my nod for having some modicum of a retro look. Or, damning with faint praise: They are at least not “Victorian on steroids.”
Midcentury furniture legs and angled mounting brackets from Lowe’s
Posted by: • April 29, 2009
DO YOU HAVE FURNITURE that needs new legs? Or maybe you want to build an off-the-floor TV stand or bookshelf or…?
Well, reader Noah sent in this great find: Tapered legs…and Angled Mounting Plates…that can be found at Lowe’s and then used to update any piece of furniture. Inexpensive – stylish – and fun. You should see the TV stand he built in no time at all – terrific! Heck yeah there is more →
Mother’s Day poll
Posted by: • April 29, 2009
Mother’s Day is May 10. Which would you choose – polished body or polished house? Note that in our last poll, asymmetry beat symmetry – but not by much, 54% to 46%.
Flower power 1960s Drexel bedroom set
Posted by: • April 28, 2009
Thanks to Puddletown aka Cheryl for spotting this 60s flower-power Peter Max-style Drexel bedroom set on Craigslist. It’s in Minneapolis, and it’s not cheap, but oh my goodness, this is the greatest bedroom set in the world! And, thanks to seller Molly for the photos — [link expired]– and click through to the next page for 5 more photos.
Jan 2010 update:
A flickr friend has identifed this AWESOME bedroom furniture as Drexel Heritage ‘Plus One’ circa 1970. She has a catalog, which said that Drexel interviewed girls via SEVENTEEN magazine to design the line.
Click first image to launch slide show:
Meet Alison King of Modern Phoenix
Posted by: • April 27, 2009
Alison King and I first became acquainted when she was looking for some vintage St. Charles kitchen cabinets. Being a humble, patient and deserving retro renovator, Alison had her request answered almost immediately by the retro design gods, who awarded her with a set via our Forum.
Not only is Alison an avid home renovator, she also is the force behind modernphoenix.net. This site is one of the best around to document a city-region’s midcentury domestic architecture. And, it also is at the epicenter of the region’s growing mid mod community. Fascinated, I asked Alison, who calls herself PixelPixie and a “design dork”, to tell us all about herself and what’s going on down in Phoenix. And of course – she sends us lots of pixures of the house that she and husband Matthew are working on.
Incredible WPA posters – thanks to Kay’s sleuthing!
Posted by: • April 25, 2009
Reader Kay sent in this fabulous resource: Ranger Doug, who reproduces these gorgeous WPA-era travel posters.
Stangl birds are a great 50s collectible
Posted by: • April 24, 2009
Stangl art pottery is totally near and dear to my heart, as it was the first kind of collectible that my new husband David and I started hunting. We’ve been going strong for 15+ years now – marriage and Stangl, both!
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