Rebecca found this Christmas video…no sound, but the images are classic. And, as she says: “The color is terrific. The barkcloth! The red leather chair!” Source: Kodachrome Christmas from Jeff Altman on Vimeo.
1950s Christmas video
Posted by: • December 19, 2009
Aluminum Christmas trees: An important caution
Posted by: • December 18, 2009
Many thanks to readers who spotted the caution — Do not hang electric lights on aluminum Christmas trees — on the website about vintage Christmas lights. With some additional research, I uncovered a news release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, dated 1978, that also warned of the potential for electrical hazards when you combine metallic Christmas trees with electric lights: Heck yeah there is more →
Barkcloth and custom sewing from Tonic Fabrics
Posted by: • December 17, 2009
Christine spots a new resource for barkcloth and custom sewing — Tonic Fabrics, based in Toronto. She writes: “Hi, I … found this website while searching for a good fabric for curtains for my grey and maroon bathroom, they have amazing fabrics and offer custom sewing.” — Christine. Thanks, Christine. I notice that Tonic Fabrics also offers a big selection of mod futon covers, most about $95 — a quick and easy idea to spice up a home office that also must double as a guest room. And… how is your bathroom coming along?
The history of Christmas lights
Posted by: • December 16, 2009
When you buy a mid-century home and start getting into the aesthetic, it’s almost inevitable that you will be attracted to vintage holiday decorations, too. Post-war Christmas decorations are (generally) cheap, cheerful, and plentiful. If you want to know more about them, my husband found a wonderful website that chronicles the history of vintage Christmas lights and features identifications guides, too. Heck yeah there is more →
Scandinavian modern candleholders by Timo Sarpeneva – still available today
Posted by: • December 15, 2009
Timo Sarpeneva designed these Festivo glass candlesticks for iittala in 1966 — and they are, arguably, his most famous creation. You can still get these beautiful Scandinavian modern designs from a variety of online retailers, including Amazon. They would look incredible on any mid-century modern dining room table, accenting a Marimekko tablecloth — perfection.
Man gift alert: Timo Sharpeneva pen and card case
Posted by: • December 15, 2009
Finishing up my Timo Sharpeneva miniseries, Unica Home says that, “The Shaman rollerball pen & business card case was designed by Timo Sarpaneva for Acme Studios. This was a packaged set that never received extensive distribution. Sarpaneva died on October 6, 2006, and Unica Home has acquired the very last of these card cases and pens. You’d best snap one of fast because once they’re gone, there won’t be any more.”
Mid-century modern flooring from Amtico
Posted by: • December 14, 2009
Cindy’s new kitchen and dining room floor is perfect for her mid-century modern home — and is a great solution for other renovators to consider. Cindy reports that her floor is Amtico Limestone Cotswold with Concrete Pale stripping (I will call them “weld rods.”) Amtico: That’s resilient floor tile — man-made stuff — and very versatile and functional. Cindy’s Cotswold pattern is now gone from the Amtico website, but have no fear, the company offers a good selection of other floor tiles with limestone or marble designs. Heck yeah there is more →
Timo Sarpeneva cookware – mint-in-box
Posted by: • December 14, 2009
Snaps to magnarama for spotting this amazing ebay listing — a big stash of Timo Sarpeneva cookware, unused and in original boxes. I am certainly in love. But, gulp, it’s $3,000 in starting bids to pick up the entire set. According to this biography, Timo Sarpeneva was a Finnish industrial designer most well known for his candlesticks and other glass for the company iittala. But, he also worked with metal, porcelain, wood and textiles. This cookware was designed in 1960 — and you can still get the Sarpeneva cast iron pot, in black, for $265.
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