Category Archives: mid century modern

Architectural Pottery

posted on September 4, 2012

It’s hard for me to envision a modern space without plants. When I think of the designs of famous architects like Neutra or Eichler, or modern day architects like Austin based Lake and Flato, it’s impossible to imagine these spaces without the beauty of architectural pottery. Their simple, modern, clean lines, unspoiled by fluff or distractions make each plant that resides in them a little more spectacular. An ornate or colorful pot just doesn’t seem to fit in a modern home. These fit, these work, and it’s why I am so proud to have not one but three pieces of ….

Lit Up!

posted on August 22, 2012

Just a quick post as I’ve been working … or rather “piddling” around the house… not really accomplishing too much. With school about to start it’s been pretty crazy for Richie as he switches gears from carpenter, painter, bed builder, and all around worker to “teacher”. It’s a bit of whiplash, but he accomplished a lot during the summer!

Work on the bedroom has been slow, as we’ve had to turn our attention to other things. When you’re working on a renovation and focused on getting things done, you tend to ignore things… so I had to address the “other” stuff. ….

King Sized!

posted on August 6, 2012

After lots of work and a failed attempt at making our king sized platform bed for the master bedroom I’m happy to say “roll over and stay on your side”….. IT’S DONE! Well, almost… I still need a mattress (minor detail).

Poor Richie… check out the sweat drip coming off his nose in the 100 degree weather. Wonderful husband!!

Boy does it feel good to say “it’s done”. I know Richie just about had a heart attack when I told him I wasn’t happy with our first attempt at making this bed. If you read a recent post that we ….

Mural Artist: Robert Madden

posted on July 30, 2012

I get asked a lot of questions about our house and the amazing mural that spans almost the entire length of the living/den area. It’s one of those features that is impossible to miss! After my last post I realized that most of my followers did NOT know this was actually a media cabinet that housed books, cds, magazines, the TV and stereo, etc.

The artist who painted this mural is Robert Madden. Robert and his wife Bonnie paid us a visit this past weekend and brought over Frank and Nancy, another lovely couple who wanted to see the ….

Good Finds

posted on July 10, 2012

While taking pictures of some of our recent finds it struck me that this post will be somewhat “arty” without me trying or really thinking about it until now.
It’s no secret that we love to hunt! NO, not with guns… however there were times I thought there might be a “shoot out” between collectors at some of the estate sales we go to… but usually we get in and out really quickly and have yet to get in any fights. (hey, it happens.. people are crazy! Besides, we prefer to find our stuff on the side of the road.)
I’m always ….

Good Find: 20 years in the making

posted on June 20, 2012

I love to share the many things we find each week and I’ve been holding back on this post because I didn’t know how we were going to handle this. It required thought and consideration… and has been the topic of countless dinner conversations at our house. We’ve finally made a decision and so I must share. I’m too damn excited not to.

Teaser picture – via Knoll

Okay… here’s the playback:

Him – “What’s for Dinner”
Me – “I’m tired.. I really don’t want to cook tonight”
Him – “I’ve been craving chips and hot sauce… lets get Mexican”
Me – “YES!, YES, lets get ….

Welcome friends! Please sign in.

posted on June 5, 2012

I believe our mid-century modern home is not only fun but also a little bit fun-ky. Which is one of the reasons we fought so hard to get this place. The Goode’s (previous owners and architect) were definitely a creative and very talented pair and they did some things to this house that made it really special. Some of the wonderful things about this house, for me, are the awesome door bell, the cool mail box, and the autograph doors as you enter the house.

Our mailbox is pretty fun, as it’s built into the fence that surrounds our house and ….

Thrifty Finds – Estate Sale Scores

posted on June 2, 2012

Just a couple of things to share from this weeks estate sale stops. If we’re anything… we’re persistent! We never miss a chance to find something beautiful or useful.

As you may already know we have been collecting Russel Wright dishes for many many years. (See some of our collection >> HERE.) At one point I had so much that it was overflowing into other rooms and bordered on hoarding. The madness had to stop… so we sold lots of it on ebay or to friends. We do use it every day and unless it’s a really special ….

Update: Bedroom Cabinet Refinishing

posted on May 29, 2012

Well there’s nothing like a quick little project to breeze through and spiff up your house is there? ….. unfortunately I know nothing about that idea. Quick… NEVER, Easy… RARELY, Spiffed up… POSSIBLY! Thank goodness for blogging because I had to go back to figure out when the heck I started this refinishing project…. turns out April 23rd! Good grief, I’m slow. Okay so it only took me 6 weeks minus the two I couldn’t work … so 4 weeks! It ain’t love but it ain’t bad!

I have a million pictures so please excuse all the visuals… ….

Instagram inspired ::: photos from the week

posted on May 27, 2012

Yep, still waiting for the iPhone! Until then, I’m crazy about the look so thought I’d continue with “faking it”. Here’s some photos from “life in the last week”. I’m trying to finish up my bedroom cabinets. Hope to share the progress by Tuesday.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

San Jacinto Building and clock tower downtown. The flag seemed appropriate for Memorial Day. Thanks to all the men and women who serve our country both past and present. We appreciate your service! HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Help, I’m stuck!

posted on May 17, 2012

After 3 weekends of doing nothing on my bedroom project because of my job, I finally have a weekend to get back on track. I’m at a point in the refinishing of our built-ins where I need to make a decision and just can’t. I’m having such a hard time and Richie tends to pull that “oh, whatever you choose will be fine”, thing. I appreciate his flexibility but it’s not helping me to actually come up with a FINAL decision that I won’t regret later. (ahhhhhhhh!)

So many of you have incredible homes and amazing design eyes… so I need ….

just gonna insta-fake-it

posted on May 14, 2012

I admit, I’m a lover of the Instagram app available on iPhone. Unfortunately I do not currently own one but I’m working on changing that. I think I would have so much fun having a decent camera at my finger tips. There are so many moments when I’m wondering around town and think “if only”. Picture perfect moments pass me by. DANG!

It also doesn’t help that some of my favorite blogs in the past week have featured their Instagram pictures and I’m so JEALOUS! There’s just something about that filtered /vintage look that turns me on. Really that shouldn’t surprise ….

Thrifty Finds – how’s your memory?

posted on May 9, 2012

My last post was pictures of the moon and to be honest I feel like I’ve been on the moon these past 2 1/2 weeks. I’ve been absent from all the things I love and I’m feeling out of sorts. But things are about to improve, as I am FINALLY off the air and our fundraising is over and now I just have to get through the jazz concert we’re hosting this weekend. I’m sure many of you feel the same when I say “I work to live”… never “live to work”. It is a necessity but I’m ready to ….

digital mags = pretty places

posted on April 29, 2012

WARNING: Dirty Word Alert! There is one… but it’s relevant.

In the past year I have really gotten into the idea of digital magazines. Subscribing to so many paper publications I inevitably end up with way too many… and then feel guilty about throwing them out. I always try to purge and go through all these beautiful magazines and get them to a recycling center. Technology has really helped me with my ongoing battle and guilt of buying and then throwing away. I’m really trying to think more about what gets thrown into a landfill and what I ….

Thrifty Finds

posted on April 27, 2012

It’s been a pretty good week for finds and I thought I’d share a few. We are always on the hunt for things big and small and usually find at least one or two things worth keeping. Sometimes we find stuff that we don’t need but know we can sell. We’re not crazy hoarders or anything but I’ve learned over the years to NOT say “no” and walk away too fast. Sometimes you regret leaving things behind.

There was a silent auction at the University where I work and I’ve bought a few things in the past but usually it’s just ….