Tag Archives: mid century modern

Secret Doors: letting the outside in

posted on April 20, 2012

I think we can all agree that getting some fresh air is good for the soul… and mind, and body for that matter. I also know that many mid-century modern architects loved to design homes in a way that allowed nature and the outdoors to become part of your indoor living space. Many felt it was important to blend the two. Frank Lloyd Wright referred to it as open-plan living, to bring the outside in. Architect Richard Neutra was another who said, “Place man in relationship to nature; that’s where he developed and where he feels most at home!”

Their intent ….

Let There Be Light

posted on April 16, 2012

We’re getting closer and closer to finishing our bedroom and I’m starting to gather some of the things I’ll need to pull it all together. I got the rug delivered and now it was time to do my part for the economy and spend a little cash on some bedroom reading lamps. Richie calls me the queen of tight wads and…. well, I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you! I admit, I hold on tight to my money and I’m NOT a frivolous spender. HOWEVER, saving your money and buying things that will bring you years of enjoyment ….

Designer: Jens Risom

posted on April 12, 2012

Renovation is S-L-O-W. At least it is at my house. My father-in-law told me over the Easter weekend that I could have built a new house by now. (sigh) Of course he was joking and he loves to tease me because I’m a perfectionist. I enjoy his teasing… it’s love in the most fun way! Here’s the thing, though…. slow is not really a good thing in the blogging world. But who cares, right! So lets just say screw the renovation talk for now and lets talk about a designer we love – Jens Risom.

Jens Risom, who designed the first ….

DIY: silkscreen

posted on April 8, 2012

It’s been a busy week at my day job, and I found myself brain dead by the end of each day. Hours and hours of starting at a computer screen writing code for an upcoming event that required online ticket sales and tons of graphics just about drained all my creative juices. I was determined to take advantage of this 3-day weekend and not only relax but try something I’ve been dying to try… silkscreening. I really want to silkscreen some fabric for our bedroom project… maybe some pillows, curtains, anything. Something that is mine, not bought, and made by ….

Sunshine on my shoulders….

posted on April 1, 2012

… makes me happy! Yes, that’s a John Denver song. Sorry, my mom loved John Denver and those records and songs are embedded in my brain. But it does make me happy. (not necessarily the song, but definitely the sunshine) So I decided to skip out on the master bedroom reno for a while and take some time to work in the yard. The temp got up to 88 degrees this weekend so I figured I better do some work before those 108 days get here. It seems WAY TO EARLY for an 88 day.

That’s not to say that I ….

Art Find: Emil Bisttram

posted on March 14, 2012

Yes, I’m still working like crazy on the master bedroom and making great progress… but lets face it taking pictures of paint drying is not so fantastic. For you or me. HA!HA!
It has always been my intention to share more than just renovation work on this blog as we are hunters and collectors of many cool and funky finds and love to share. Ten years ago it was much easier to find something FANTASTIC but it’s getting more and more difficult. I think blogs, television, ebay, and the internet in general has made people think twice about the things they ….

Ding dong goes the cowbell

posted on March 1, 2012

Hello, hello, is anybody home? I’m sure that’s how most people feel when the come to our house. It’s like Fort Knox thanks to all the fences and courtyards that surround our house of glass. Sometimes I love it and sometimes it worries me that people might need to “get to us” but can’t. When the gates are open it’s still a mystery to some because this house is so unique and special they can’t figure out that this….. is the door bell.

It’s a small piece of wood (carved by my husband) and attached to a string that runs through ….

Master Bedroom Inspiration

posted on January 29, 2012

While working on the master bedroom this weekend my thoughts repeatedly drift from what I’m working on to how the heck this project is going to come together. I’m bad about getting ahead of myself …. but when I’m finally done, I want to have everything I need.

I’ve known for over a year now that I wanted to use black and green in the room and gray is always a given because of the beams and woodwork. The stained concrete floors are a dark chocolate brown, which I have no intention of changing. The floors were stained during the original ….

Estate Sale Finds – Part I

posted on January 23, 2012

I’ll spare you another boring post about how slow things are going in the Master Bedroom. Yes Stacey, we get it… things are moving SLOW! We really are working like crazy but even renovation slaves need a break for estate sale treasure hunts. You never know what you’ll find. It’s always a fun mix of things…..

Richie found this great Organic Structure Set.

We had fun putting a few together. I found them so colorful and decorative that I think I’ll keep a couple around the house. They really remind me of the Eames Hang-It-All racks.

We love old black and ….

Feels like Monday

posted on January 17, 2012

… and it certainly looks like a Monday back at work. YIKES! My desk is exploding with papers. (thank goodness it’s Tuesday… that gives me a short week!)

Sometimes I feel like I can’t escape the messes. Mess at home… mess at work… and my poor little car hasn’t been washed in months. I know, I know, it’s just a time in life that you “get through”. Change is certain and I always tell myself when I feel overwhelmed, “Will this matter in 5 years”. NO! I’m just whining today. ….

Design: Russel Wright

posted on January 5, 2012

Living in this house is such a joy but I sometimes take for granted what a wonderful collection of many things modern that have flowed in and out of our lives and homes. We buy, sell and trade, we make our lists and often find what’s on them, we reupholster and refinish, we sometimes spend the night on strangers porches to be the first in line at estate sales…. and with much luck and persistence we have a pretty wonderful collection that is not only beautiful but functions perfectly in our every day lives.

We have collected Russel Wright dishes ….

master bedroom update

posted on January 3, 2012

Now that the kitchen is done we moved back into the master bedroom. We actually stopped all the work in this room when the kitchen project started to move so fast. Once we found a carpenter everything took off and the bedroom was abandoned. I’m definitely ready to get back to it. So here we go….

We’ll start with a quick “update” and reminder of where we were and what we’ve done.
The dark wood tongue and groove ceilings got cleaned and stained. The nice opaque stain really brightened the space. You may remember this post. >>>> Click Here.

shades with a view

posted on December 22, 2011

Almost two years after we bought the first set of shades for our living room/kitchen area we decided to order more for the top portions of the windows. This entire side of the house is glass and although we love the light and the openness it can create problems. The sun is now BEAMING on the south side which is great, as it heats the concrete floors and keeps the house toasty when it’s cold but nobody wants the long-term effects that UV light has on your rugs, paint, upholstery, artwork and cabinetry. Solar shades really are the perfect answer, ….