From the category archives:
A 73-page mid-century Lightolier catalog — now that is some serious eye-candy for whiling away a few hours on a sleepy Sunday. The awesome Gretchen has scanned this entire catalog and posted it as a set on Flickr. Go take a look, I promise it will blog your mind. Also be sure to check out Gretchen’s Eiclerific blog.
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I‘M FASCINATED by the midcentury midwest furniture companies. I have this suspicion they were more interested in quality than transient styling. Willett was based in Indiana, and they made some really nice stuff. With real wood. My guy Royal Barry Wills also designed a line of furniture for them…. This Willett ad is from 1952…the 40s period was coming to an end…recall, 1953 started The Fifties. Can’t you just imagine how proud a family was when they bought this furniture? The sofa — it’s such a classic. And it was not cheap: $495. That’s $4,014 today!
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I find it fascinating that primitive horse themes were so popular in the 50s and 60s. Why? To be sure, there was a sense of internationalism about modern interiors. Did these horse motifs evolve from Spain…or the prehistoric cave painting in Lascaux, France (at left) – as this 1959 interior (above) seems to clearly reference? Does this all start with Picasso? And, the horses are also very associated with the Danish Modern movement. Wherever the idea came from, they are wonderful.
Additional posts on international influences:
A RetroRenovation re-run: This post originally ran on Feb. 26, 2008
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Here is another interior design study from my 1954 Armstrong flooring ad collection produced by Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc. (insert forefinger backwards into mouth, make popping sound.)
What I really like about this image is that…it is a study in lines and angles and planes… and how their use can keep your eye flowing through and around a room. The blue horizontal wall on the window wall…the windows themselves – running vertically, then horizontally…the strong vertical lines of the wall to the right…the angular fireplace and exhaust fan…the angled kitchen counter…and of course, the Armstrong floor, which itself presumably sweeps up to the next room (at left). This has the vibe of a vacation cottage on the beach – sky blue on a window wall…to merge with the real sea and sky…is perfect in this environment.
Nicely done!
New readers – be sure to check out the two books of Armstrong interiors…my anointed retro renovation “bibles”:
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I feel like I’ve been very focused on kitchens and bathrooms the past several months, so for the next several weeks I will be trying to spotlight a greater selection of 40s 50s and 60s living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms.
Let’s start with this amazing living room dining room from 1952. The color combination is simply mesmerizing – to me, at least. This particular shade of pink (touch of salmon?) is so inviting…its relationship to the paneled wall is brilliant – I would never have thought of trying this…and the ‘peek’ into the aquamarine kitchen is terrific, too.
Notice also how they’ve matched the floor-to-ceiling pinch pleat draperies to at least one chair, a classic designer trick. And last, I think it’s so wonderful how — again — they’ve included colonial details like the gorgeous oil painting and the dining room table (laquered in black to modernize it). This addition of the unexpected…makes this room all the more perfect.
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I am so excited – I have not one… not two…but 39 postwar brochures, magazines, pamphlets and more in hand and will be featuring lots of great new material for the blog in coming weeks.
How’s this for a start? An utterly groovy 1956 basement for lounging all weekend long. The decor is just spectacularly done – the regency blue and gold combination couldn’t be nicer!
The design is by Ken-Tile, one of the major names in vinyl composition tile. To be sure, the use of this tile was very creative in the 50s – and photos like this can teach us a lot about how to use an inexpensive material to great effect. There are some excellent choices in particular still available from Armstrong Imperial Excelon.
Sorry – no accordian. But our two girls really seem to dig the guitar playing guy, don’t ya think?
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be sure to click to enlarge both photos!
When I ran the post including the Simmons hideaway a few weeks ago, I have to admit, I didn’t even notice that the couple was playing musical instruments. Cute 50s ones, too – an accordian and a recorder. Touchee, Maddy123, for pointing it out!
Now, you have inspired a new obsession: Hunting for postwar interiors photos featuring accordians and the like. RetroRenoReaders: Send in any that you spot — we’ll start a flickr group, too!
Isn’t this 1957 kitchen great? You can see how ‘open concept’ was starting to take hold. I love the birch cabinets, the built-in eating area and fiberglass chairs, the barkcloth pinch pleats, the brown VCT floor, and the Monsterosa plant and George Nelson style bench in the foreground. And of course, in addition to Joey on the accordian, we get an indoor barbeque for Billy!
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