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urban outfitters 50′s duvet cover

26 Jul

How’s this for a gorgeous mid-century inspired bedding set?

50's birdcage duvet cover, UO.com

Urban Outfitters surprises me again. I absolutely LOVE the illustration on this duvet cover; the fabric is also available on shams and a shower curtain (which could probably be repurposed as curtains).   It’s only available online, but for $58 (twin) or $68 (full) it’s relatively low risk.

close up

The color palette is pretty fab – you can decorate with the orange-red (shown above) or that beautiful teal blue (at top).  I think it’d look great with a dark wood or maple bed frame.

full size bed by Grand Rapids, Ebay

Check out this modern sleigh bed now for sale on Ebay. It’s $575 plus the cost of freight shipping from Florida.  The birdcage bedding and this bed would make a gorgeous pair.

urban outfitters 50's duvet cover

26 Jul

How’s this for a gorgeous mid-century inspired bedding set?

50's birdcage duvet cover, UO.com

Urban Outfitters surprises me again. I absolutely LOVE the illustration on this duvet cover; the fabric is also available on shams and a shower curtain (which could probably be repurposed as curtains).   It’s only available online, but for $58 (twin) or $68 (full) it’s relatively low risk.

close up

The color palette is pretty fab – you can decorate with the orange-red (shown above) or that beautiful teal blue (at top).  I think it’d look great with a dark wood or maple bed frame.

full size bed by Grand Rapids, Ebay

Check out this modern sleigh bed now for sale on Ebay. It’s $575 plus the cost of freight shipping from Florida.  The birdcage bedding and this bed would make a gorgeous pair.

crazy for broyhill brasilia

19 Jul

Throw me in an antiques showroom and you’ll find me immediately gravitating towards (and salivating over) a few key pieces.  One would be a Paul McCobb wall-divider.  Another, a Hans Wegner Papa Bear chair (featured prominently on Apartment Therapy). But the most iconic to me, and the most emblematic of its time, would probably be a piece of Broyhill Brasilia furniture.  Introduced at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962, the line was created to evoke and celebrate the architecture of Brazil’s new capital, having itself been created during a four-year period in the late 1950′s.

brasilia

dining room piece

bedroom collection from original catalog, BrasiliaConnection.com

I discovered this website, Brasilia Connection, while researching the origins of the line.  Mad collectors themselves, these webmasters and BB experts restore and sell all pieces they find.   Here’s their note on the unique parabolic shape found om the city’s architecture and repeated across the collection:

brasilia

Brasilia

When viewed from above, the city’s shape resembles a plane or bird, which is mimicked on much of Broyhill’s original fabric and tiles. What stands out most about the architecture is the use of hyperboloid structures, as in the cathedral and it’s parabolic columns, which are said to represent two hands moving upwards towards heaven.

What’s so interesting to me is how, fifty years later, these pieces seem to have captured the popular imagination among people my age, and that they’ve started showing up in nurseries and kids rooms across America.

kids brasilia

Candice's son's bedroom

One: An awesome woman and cool mom named Candice has taken photos of her son’s amazing room, and posted them on her blog, Ragamuffin Design.  Here’s a shot of the double dresser, but please check out the entire room – it rocks.

refinished double dresser

Two: A member of the “Vintage Delight” group (part of the CasaSugar site), named Carolyn has written a post about having refinished a double dresser for her daughter’s nursery.   As you can see, it’s the same piece as in Candice’s house, with a very different feel.  Of course, doing something like this to an original BB piece is akin to blasphemy to many collectors out there (I gasped the first time I saw this photo).  But, hell, to each his own, right?  It certainly ‘fits’ the nursery space very well, and as Carolyn mentions, her entire house is full of Brasilia.

There are tons of stories online of folks who bought their BB for a song at a tag sale. In fact, knowing that this is the stuff my parents grew up with, I’m sure they’ve noticed, shrugged, and passed by pieces like this time again over the years while scouring for vintage furniture.   So I’m sure you’ve got a shot there.

But if you’re of the want-it-now variety, there’s always the Brasilia Collection folks and, of course, there’s  Ebay.

five drawer dresser, available on Ebay

As of today (7/19) you can get a great dresser for a song. . .  if you live near Munroe Falls, OH (or are willing to incur shipping costs from there).  LoisLois123 is selling this beauty for $300.  The matching double dresser (like the ones featured above) is $325.   So for the price of an Oeuf crib, you’ve got yourself two vintage dressers and tons of storage.  I’m jealous already.

sid the science kid’s mid-century house

17 Jun

Scene from "Sid's Holiday Adventure"

As much as I hesitate to admit it in public, the Daleys are a television-watching family.  All of us.  But as with most families, it’s becoming increasingly common and convenient for us to ‘time shift’ our shows, which means we record stuff on the DVR to watch later on.  So there’s not a lot of surfing going on, which means we just plain don’t see a lot of things on air everyday.  Case in point: Sid the Science Kid.

I’ve only seen this cute kids’ show once.  But here’s what I know (courtesy Wikipedia).  It’s created by the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, and is based on the US preschool science curriculum (no, I didn’t know there was one, either) and cognitive learning theory.  And Sid’s name was originally going to be Josh, a name I assume was changed for being difficult to rhyme with.

And here’s what I’ve learned on Tuesday.  Sid’s house has some great furniture.  As you can see in the photo above, someone at Henson Studio loves mid-century modern as much as I do!  Sid’s family’s dining room table is classic Heywood-Wakefield, as evidenced by the wheat-colored wood and ‘dogbone’ cutouts in the chairs.

Dogbone chair close up

I suppose mid-century design lends itself well to animation art due to its iconic appearance and stylized nature. Here’s another animated interior that immediately comes to mind:

The Incredibles

You must see this article from The Mid Century Modernist (cached only, sorry) for more images.  I know that Brad Bird is an avowed mid-century nut (e.g. the Iron Giant, for more eye candy), but MCM also recognizes “production designer Lou Romano and art director Ralph Eggleston.”

Interested in a real-life H-W table and chairs? I know I am…

Table and two chairs

Found this gorgeous specimen on Etsy, being sold by a shop called The Paisley Moon.  The great news?  For $400 you can get the table and two chairs, in pretty nice condition (i.e., some watermarks, which are common for a piece this age).  The not so great news?  Are you up for a field trip to Lafayette, Indiana?

So if that doesn’t work out for you, Tri-State Antique center is always a good resource.  And check out my older post to learn more.

sid the science kid's mid-century house

17 Jun

Scene from "Sid's Holiday Adventure"

As much as I hesitate to admit it in public, the Daleys are a television-watching family.  All of us.  But as with most families, it’s becoming increasingly common and convenient for us to ‘time shift’ our shows, which means we record stuff on the DVR to watch later on.  So there’s not a lot of surfing going on, which means we just plain don’t see a lot of things on air everyday.  Case in point: Sid the Science Kid.

I’ve only seen this cute kids’ show once.  But here’s what I know (courtesy Wikipedia).  It’s created by the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, and is based on the US preschool science curriculum (no, I didn’t know there was one, either) and cognitive learning theory.  And Sid’s name was originally going to be Josh, a name I assume was changed for being difficult to rhyme with.

And here’s what I’ve learned on Tuesday.  Sid’s house has some great furniture.  As you can see in the photo above, someone at Henson Studio loves mid-century modern as much as I do!  Sid’s family’s dining room table is classic Heywood-Wakefield, as evidenced by the wheat-colored wood and ‘dogbone’ cutouts in the chairs.

Dogbone chair close up

I suppose mid-century design lends itself well to animation art due to its iconic appearance and stylized nature. Here’s another animated interior that immediately comes to mind:

The Incredibles

You must see this article from The Mid Century Modernist (cached only, sorry) for more images.  I know that Brad Bird is an avowed mid-century nut (e.g. the Iron Giant, for more eye candy), but MCM also recognizes “production designer Lou Romano and art director Ralph Eggleston.”

Interested in a real-life H-W table and chairs? I know I am…

Table and two chairs

Found this gorgeous specimen on Etsy, being sold by a shop called The Paisley Moon.  The great news?  For $400 you can get the table and two chairs, in pretty nice condition (i.e., some watermarks, which are common for a piece this age).  The not so great news?  Are you up for a field trip to Lafayette, Indiana?

So if that doesn’t work out for you, Tri-State Antique center is always a good resource.  And check out my older post to learn more.

the new canopy beds

1 May

My childhood bed was *slightly* cooler than this

I’ve got both a cold and an awesome mom who’s playing with her grandson in the other room.  Lying under the covers earlier this morning to feel the benefit of my Vapo-Rub-smeared body,  I was reminded of the awesome canopy bed I had as a young teenager.   Although the white four-poster with white eyelet fabric didn’t last more than a few seasons (a combination of dust and the changeable tastes of a teenager), I remember it fondly.

And as with many mid-80s trends, the traditional canopy bed (seen above) seems to gone the way of the e.g. smith scrunchie sock.  Inspired by a photo in a previous post (the perfect 4-poster with tie-on-drapes), I decided to check out what’s taken its place.

1. Cabana tents

White monogrammed scallop canopy, Pottery Barn Kids, $150

Although not a full canopy per se, I love the feeling of this tent-like covering.  Plus, your children will be adequately prepared for seeing and being seen at the Westwood W Hotel swimming pool:

Poolside room service is nice.

It appears that the cabanas are mounted to the ceiling by a string, then held up with a frame (sold separately for another $30).  If you’re feeling adventurous, the canopy also comes in pink stripes (more circus than swimming pool) and khaki for a safari feel (and would have gone perfectly in my jungle themed room!)

Lots of pink (top) and safari-ready fabrics (bottom)

2.  Decorative mosquito nets

Mombasa feather net canopy, Overstock.com, $18.69

I really love the look of this feather-adorned netting, although after having once spent a week in Southern India (where mosquito nets are more functional than decorative), the whole idea of them kind of skeeves me out.  Personally, I’d half expect to find bugs staring at me when I awaken, and that’s not a recipe for sweet dreams.

3. Curtain-rod faux canopies

Liz Lange’s Westchester home, decorated by Jonathan Adler, House Beautiful

What a fantastic idea.  Jonathan Adler hung curtain rods from the ceiling, then used ordinary drapery/curtain panels to create the surrounding canopy.  I probably wouldn’t advise using this technique for young children’s rooms (you don’t want anyone hanging from ceiling-mounted curtain rods) but it’s just such a creative and fantastic idea for an older child.   The entire house is incredible – there are more photos on the House Beautiful link above.

4. DIY board-mounted canopy curtains

Girl’s Room, About.com Interior Decorating

Are you handy with a sewing machine and staple gun? If so, the folks at About.com suggest the following: “You can make this dramatic canopy by stapling fabric to a board mounted on the ceiling. The tie back curtain panels can be lined with plain white lining or you might choose a coordinating print that peeks out for contrast.”  What’s great about this version is that you can coordinate your sheets/bedding with your canopy and create a true centerpiece to any bedroom. 

Lastly, after nearly finishing this post, I found an article on Apartment Therapy (of course) with some additional options.  They are almost all four-poster frame beds; one commenter suggested that the mere suggestion of a canopy is enough.  But I’d still prefer the curtains.

old skateboards, new furniture

28 Apr

Baby Deck chair by Boardgames, Etsy, sold out.

Saw this chair featured on Ohdeedoh today and had to investigate further.  Jason Greene, creator and founderof Boardgames, uses old skateboards and refashions them into gorgeous toys and furniture.  The idea of upcycling skateboards isn’t new (just scroll down) but I’m especially impressed with the way these are fashioned, tongue-in-groove, clean and smooth.

It seems as though Greene makes these pieces by hand, one at a time.  So if you’re quick, you may be able to pick up this stool, below:

 Blank stool by Boardgames, Etsy, $65

And lest you think this reworked/upcycled/recycled skateboard trend is just for the boys… 

Recycled yellow bangle by alldekdout, Etsy, $22

My skateboard bangle is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry – it’s super lightweight, fun, virtually indestructable, and one-of-a-kind.  The folks at alldekdout also sell earrings and other pieces of jewelry – check out their shop here.

Found some more examples of ‘deck furniture’ – many of which are no longer available for sale.  I especially like this shelving unit, apparently once having been sold by Walmart, at Toxel.com.

Skateboard shelf

Then there’s the Skate Study House, a clever take on the mid-century Case Study House style… 

 Eames-inspired chair

Noguci-inspired coffee table

Nelson-inspired skate wheel clock

Read more on their website ee them on their website – I think they also create their items to order, but have the clock and some lamps available for immediate purchase (at around $200 a pop).

Then, of course, there’s Pottery Barn, below. These shelves are from PBTeen.

Skateboard shelves, PBTeen, $75 for two

Yes, you can get an old deck and some brackets and drill the holes yourself.  Or you can go the easy way.  For this price, I might just buy them ready-to-go.

Lastly, my favorite piece of furniture, but still in prototype-mode, unfortunately.

Shredbed by Chad Knight

Skater Chad Knight seems to have invested in furniture design.  I’ve read about it on a few websites, but haven’t seen anything more since 2008 about its saleability.  Could be a great inspiration piece for the handy parent, however.  Just take a basic Ikea Malm bed and attach some skateboards to the head and foot of the frame.  Or just create your own headboard.  Just itching for some graffiti, isn’t it?

little castle gliders, all price points

1 Apr

Whenever I tell expectant moms that I write a blog about nursery design, the first question I inevitably get is, “Where can I get a cool glider at a good price?”  There’s something challenging about the glider/rocker purchase; baby websites seem to perpetuate this odd fear that somehow the wrong chair can make or break a nursery.   I know I felt that way.  (And yes, I know it’s silly, NOW.)

But to save anyone reading this from the confusion I faced, I’ve done a roundup of my favorite gliders by a very well-reviewed company named Little Castle.  What I’ve learned (through my experience with BabyMod/Walmart, AKA Million Dollar Baby) is that it’s now common practice for manufacturers to sell incredibly similar products under different names across different price points.  (It’s similar to Converse One Stars being sold exclusively through Target).   Interestingly, when the more expensive lines go on sale, they all become very comparable.

So rather than organizing the following gliders by price, I’ve listed them by dimensions, from narrowest to widest.  In my personal experience, making sure the chair actually fit in my room was the most important consideration!  But what you’ll find is that price actually correlates more with chair depth than chair width (the deeper the chair, the more cushy it is, I suppose).  But please take these prices with a grain of salt — when you customize fabrics, the prices will go up.  (I’d also normally offer a broader range of retailers as well, but this time I found the best deals on the Posh Tots site).  But if you’re in the market, I’d always double-check Rosenberry Rooms , CSN Sofas and Just Nursery Gliders (it’s a real site) to be sure.  

UPDATE: The prices originally listed below were only available during a March promotion at PoshTots.  I received a lovely letter from Lesley at PT, who wrote:

PoshTots typically offers a 20% off glider sale twice a year, so your readers can look forward to another sale in the fall. Until then, there are several PoshTots coupons that can be found online, including CJ750, the most popular ($100 off orders of $750 or more) that could be used on a glider order or with a more affordable glider and ottoman.   
And just so you know, “as PoshTot celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, we’re offering a 20/10 sale every month. The sale items change from month to month. We link to the 20/10 sale page from banners on our home page and category pages. You can find it via this direct link: http://www.poshtots.com/promotions/10_year_promotion.aspx“
 

1.  Venice glider, JC Penney, $559 (was $699)
Measuring 31W x 35D x 37H, the Venice is on the short end (chair backs range from 37″ to 40″ high).  If you’re on the taller side, you want to be sure that you’ll be able to fall asleep sitting up (when nursing at 3AM, for instance).  But the depth is such that I’d bet you’d be really comfortable, regardless.  Color selection is very limited, but I love the white piping available on the brown chair (and ottoman) as shown.

2.Rage glider, Posh Tots, $635
The Rage measures at 31W x 33.5D x 37H.  It’s smallish, but incredibly streamlined, without the back cushion like the Venice.  If you’re looking for an unassuming, basic glider, this is it.

3. Riviera glider, Posh Tots, $599
At 32W x 36D x 38H, this chair is deeper than the Venice (at top).  But these measurements are slightly misleading, as both feature a cushion back.  It’s listed as Verdi Jou Jou on Posh Tots but is clearly marked on the Little Castle website as Riviera.

4. Chateau glider, Posh Tots, $678
The Chateau is 33W x 33D x 40H.  The rounded arms take up much of the width.  I don’t know if it’s because of the fabric shown above, but I love this chair.  It’s much more traditional than I’m used to but I think it could serve as a beautiful contrast in a modern room.

5. Enchanted Embassy glider, WalMart, $364.88
At 33W x 31D x 39H, this is the deal of the day.  I’m not wildly crazy about the rounded back cushion but at nearly $200 less, I think I’d grow to like it.  This chair is exactly what I was talking about.  I have read nothing to suggest that the quality of fabric or manufacturing here is any lower than the Little Castle-branded items elsewhere.

6. Heritage (certain colors), Posh Tots, $599
The Heritage measures at 34W x 30D x 39H, which means it’s pretty big.  And the prices are all over the place for this piece — they’re highly dependent on fabric selection.  So if you’re flexible, you can get a great deal.  And please shop around for the best price.

7. Buckingham glider, Posh Tots, $754
34W x 38D (removable cushion) x 38H.  Huge.  But somehow fitting.  I love this toile fabric.  If you have room, and want to make a statement, this is the chair to buy.

I’ll do a similar roundup of other favorite rocker/gliders, and I can’t wait to feature Monte Designs (home of Fionn’s orange chair – see it here).

urban outfitters + mid-century modern = perfect!

15 Mar

Sometimes I feel way too old to be shopping at Urban Outfitters, even though it’s a stroller’s throw from my apartment.  But OMG you guys, they’ve just introduced a line of furniture – much of it available exclusively online – that seriously makes me want to redecorate. 

This is the Lulu chair in lime. It costs $425.

Not cheap, but compared to similar chairs at Room & Board (Cole chair, $749) it’s a steal. Personally, I like it better.  And what’s great about the Lulu is its scale.  At 31″ wide, it’ll fit beautifully in smaller rooms. 

 Front view, aqua fabric.

Semi-profile, black fabric.

Free fabric swatches are also available by calling UO customer service.  I wouldn’t normally recommend a black chair, but the tweedy fabric (above) lends the chair a vintage feel and would easily mask stains.

Lulu would also be a great alternative to a traditional rocker.  But as a nursery design lover, I’m always on the lookout for a stylish and affordable rocker.  Think I’ve found my new favorite:

Mid century rocker chair, $288.

Check out the lines at the back.  Not only does this rocker beg central placement in a nursery – it’s definitely not a stick-me-in-the-corner kind of piece – it’s narrow enough to fit anywhere.  Nursery rockers usually resemble overstuffed pillows (even the nicest gliders at Serena & Lily lean a bit too far into shabby-chic territory), resulting in double-door widths and large footprints.   This is only 25″ wide.  At $288, it almost sounds too good to be true.  I really hope it’s made well, because I want to recommend it to everyone I meet.

There are so many more pieces that’d work perfectly in a kid’s room.  Just check out the Jet Set storage bench or the Night and Day convertible sofa.

UPDATE: My friend Farrah has just ordered the Lulu chair (actually, two of them).  Per recent comments, we’ll field test the chairs for comfort and report back. 

heywood-wakefield: a vintage bargain

9 Mar
There’s an antique shop near my house, in what’s called the Columbia Waterfront district, by the name of General Nightmare.  And as with many secondhand furniture shops, they refinish much of the pieces they buy.
I was chatting with the proprietor about a fantastic desk he had in the front of the shop.  He mentioned to me that he’d refinished it in a dark stain because “no one wants the blonde wood anymore.” But to me, that’s what makes Heywood-Wakefield furniture so beautiful.  Whether in maple, champagne, or wheat finish, I find that the streamlined birch wood designs complement both modern and vintage furnishings.  
My husband’s prized possession
What’s even better is that this stuff lasts.  Of course, as with all old furniture, many H-W pieces often need polishing or refinishing for surface scratches.  On the positive side, due to its durability (and having been mass-produced between 1936 and 1966), H-W furniture on a whole isn’t as expensive as it probably should be.
 Kohinoor dresser/breakfront, Springdale Furnishings

Chest of drawers, Ebay, $250

We have three pieces of H-W in our house, mixed in amidst the Ikea, West Elm and random flea-market finds.   My husband’s dresser is definitely my favorite.  But the blue ‘pouf,’ featured below, is a recent Ebay bargain.  Originally a complementary piece to a vanity set, we use it as a footrest/stool in the living room.  It’s due for reupholstery, but for less than $100, the price really couldn’t be beat.  Imagine a pair or three of these in a girls room – all  upholstered in the same fabric.

My blue ‘pouf’

Twin utility headboard, Strictly HeyWake, $550

And before you buy a new toddler bed, consider a H-W headboard.  This one – with room for storage – is more expensive because it’s already been refinished.  But if you’re handy, find a piece that hasn’t been reworked and buy a refinishing stain kit like the kind sold here.

H-W desk, Boomerang Modern

The desks are pretty incredible, in that unique ‘boomerang’ shape.

Final tip: Ebay sellers will give you a great deal if you can pick up the items yourself.  As with much of mid-century wood furniture, these pieces are HEAVY and often not worth your while to have shipped.

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