Thanks to reader Diane for this tip: An amazing vintage midcentury modern dollhouse — in serious decay. It is for sale on craigslist for $40 in Columbus. Diane rightly points out that it might fit my “wonderful oddities” category. But I’d take it a step further and say that this is one of those artifacts that transcends to become “found art”, if it catches you just in the right mood… ashes to ashes and dust to dust and all that. Yes, there is even a dead body in the living room. –> Heck yeah there is more →
Midcentury modern dollhouse: Decay as Art, dead body included
Posted by: • December 9, 2011
Melissa DIY refinishes and reupholsters her 1950s dinette and Cosco high chair: Fabulous!
Posted by: • December 8, 2011
"Before"
Remember this recent story about how to reupholster vintage dinette chairs affordably? Well, reader Melissa used the video shown to tackle doing the upholstery herself — both on the dinette chairs and a vintage Cosco high chair she found for $3.12. Melissa also used steel wool to polish the chrome, and achieved what looks to be perfect results. Oh my goodness — her DIY project turned out beautifully — you go, girl! Read on for Melissa’s story of triumph… Heck yeah there is more →
Coppertone exhaust fan NOS and more
Posted by: • December 7, 2011
I continue to see a stunning number of wonderful vintage items in pristine shape on the ‘bay each day. How about: A NOS coppertone kitchen exhaust fan from Air King… 47 vintage flash cards made with felt — exquisite graphics!!!… recessed stainless steel paper towel holders for the kitchen. Oh my. Tip to using the ebay carousel: To go to a particular item, click on its photo (NOT on the ebay logo) — then, click on the lime green “View and Bid” box, which will take you to ebay. Disclosure: When you buy anything from these ebay carousels or after you click into ebay herePatterned 1970s style vinyl flooring from Armstrong – cork and linoleum looks, too
Posted by: • December 7, 2011
I am guessing that Armstrong wasn’t intending it, but to my eye this 18″ square Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring in their Natural Expressions line has a decidedly 1970s design flair. Indeed, it’s called “Casablanca”, and we all know how essential Middle Eastern influences were in the 1970s. E.g.: Persian and Arabesque shapes and colors. Relatedly, the 1970s were all about tile flooring — and as we’ve seen in posts I have done about vinyl and vinyl composite flooring from that period, the arabesque influence was huge.
NOS vinyl sheet flooring spotted in 2010.
What’s old is new again. Again. Click on through to also see cork and linoleum looks –>
8,418 Made in America Products — Holiday Gift Guide
Posted by: • December 6, 2011
Once I started my little Made in America Holiday Gift Guide series, I quickly got connected to that piece of the blogosphere really into the subject — uncovering a motherlode of ways to tap into Made in USA products. Up first, though, is that perennial favorite and mid mod essential that I cover every year: Don Featherstone flamingos lawn ornaments. Made in the USA since they went on sale in 1958, the Featherstone flamingos (accept no substitute) may be found at local retailers, or you can buy them easily from Amazon:
Bitossi Rimini Blu: 2012 Color of the Year
Posted by: • December 5, 2011
Announcing the Retro Renovation 2012 Color of the Year: Bitossi Rimini Blu. Of course, all colors are wonderful, so this is really just for fun. This also gives me the opportunity to write about a color that is not necessarily on the mainstream design community’s radar, but which I think is classic and fabulous. Yes: Rimini Blu. The color — made famous in a line of Bitossi pottery designed by Aldo Londi and officially introduced in 1959 — is a rich royal blue apparently achieved with a proprietary glaze. Lapis lazuli is a synonym, I’d say. So is Cobalt. And Bitossi says the precedent was actually a 1955 Londi vase in a color originally called “Persiano Blu” — Persian Blue.
How classic is this color? When I was at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota this summer, I took this photograph of Carlo Dolci’s “Blue Madonna” — blue being the color typically associated with the Virgin Mary in Western art. Dolci was a Florentine painter patronized by the Medicis, and he painted this exquisite portrait sometime before he died in 1687. A classic “midcentury modern” color, indeed — in either the 17th century or 20th century.
Midcentury modern meets French Provincial in this PERFECT 1960 time capsule house — 16 photos
Posted by: • December 4, 2011
These days I am being very particular about the time capsule houses that I show on the blog. Pretty much, I want to see near-perfection. Really stunning. Really special. Oh my — do we have it ever, in this 1960 time capsule midcentury modern house for sale in Scarsdale, New York. Listing agent is Iris Kalt of Prudential Centennial Realty, and she has graciously given me permission to feature the photos of the house. Mega thanks, also, to reader Jennifer, who found this house and sent me the tip. xoxo Jennifer, keep ‘em coming!
What a win-win, if we can find a grateful buyer of this house while archiving the photos of these exceptional, preserved interiors. Oh, please, new buyer: Don’t change a thing! Click on through for 14 more photos — this is one of the most beautiful time capsule homes I have ever seen –>
Gladding McBean tile mural – Pony Express
Posted by: • December 3, 2011
Since I wrote recently about Gladding McBean tile from the Leo Carrillo Ranch, I now know to watch for it. So do others — this salvaged mural for sale on ebay is pretty spendy. Fantastic, though. Lots of other Really Good Stuff here, too. Seriously. I could showcase about 250 fabuloso items each week, but ebay’s carousel is limited to 10 items, so that slows me down. Alas. Tip to using the ebay carousel: To go to a particular item, click on its photo (NOT on the ebay logo) — then, click on the lime green “View and Bid” box, which will take you to ebay. Disclosure: When you buy anything from these ebay carousels or after you click into ebay here
Become a fan
