The Adopted Mid Century Daybed Sofa.

Happy Sunday!  Hope your weekend is going well.

I thought I would follow up on the adopted daybed sofa and let you guys see what it looks like in Darren's house. I think it's a perfect fit.  It's amazing how one piece can change the feel of a room.

What do you think?.....

Mid Century Kitchens

Unfortunately our 1950's home had a hideous kitchen....like the rest of the house.  We ended up gutting the entire house and renovating.  I WISH it looked like this aqua kitchen.  If this had been the kitchen I would not have touched a thing:

Pictures of original 1950's Geneva cabinets for sale via Craigslist Los Angeles from a 50's home in the Pasadena, CA. area:

From the color, to the sizes and variation of cabinets, to the knobs and the yellow accent tile - I'd keep it all! Check out the built in planter by the window.  I'm in love!   See more pics from seller here. 

Other mid century kitchens to drool over...

Alluminare check out their fabulous post on mid century kitchens!

An original Eichler kitchen

Bohemian Vintage

Mid Century Living and more fantastic images at her Flickr page.

Mimi and Meg

Retro Renovation

Um, yes please!  On Home Design

Attic Mag

And our kitchen now and before.  Its an L shape that goes into the dining room on the sink side and the den/living room on the breakfast bar side:

Not exactly mid century modern but I think it goes great with our vintage/danish/modern vibe.

and this is the "before" picture, after we gut the hideous original. It was more gross 70's style and not a cool 50's-60's style.  I don't even have the before shots with the original kitchen because it was so bad.

What does your kitchen look like?

Vintage Royal Holland Pewter Tea Set.

I went to an estate sale this morning with a plan to buy 2 things I saw in the pictures posted online:  A Franciscan Starburst 3 tier dessert dish and a Danish Modern looking teapot duo.

I got to the sale at 8 am exactly this morning.  I know, what do I expect when I show up on time; the pieces to be waiting for me and calling my name?  I even got up at 6:30 with the plan to leave my house at 7 and be there super early but yeah, that didn't happen.

So, I got there at 8 and as I walked up people were already walking away.  Bad sign?  The garage was full and quite tempting but no, I head into the house with the original plan screaming in my head!  "Franciscan"! and "Danish Tea Set"!  Well, needless to say the Franciscan piece was already on the HOLD table.  They were asking $45 for it.  Ok, on to the next!  "Where is my tea set"!?  Bam, there it was gleaming in the 1960's poor kitchen lighting.  Not really, but there it was, prettier than I imagined and still for sale. I scooped it up!   Turns out it's Royal Holland Pewter.

Here it is not yet polished but still beautiful! 

Unfortunately the smaller pot has a pretty deep scratch (you can see it in the picture).  I think I might keep the tall pot and sell the small one and the set of S & P's. It that a hot set of salt and pepper shakers or what? 

Here are the pics I saw online: 

The sale was OK, not great.  There was an amazing tall industrial looking yellow lamp that I would have bought in a heart beat but it was sold. There was also a cool mid century cabinet with sliding doors - sold.  Whatever!  I don't get down because I hit so many sales I'm bound to find cool stuff that makes me forget about the things I missed out on.

Have a great weekend! I'm laying low because it's rainy and cold. It's a great weekend to stay in and watch movies.  

50's RCA Victor Deluxe TV Cabinet and Gondola Sofa.

I found this cool 1950's RCA Victor Deluxe television cabinet on Saturday.  It would be perfect for a plasma stand, a storage cabinet, entry table or a bar.

Pretty cool huh? I love the details and the metal peg legs.

Last week I picked up this 60's gondola sofa with attached table.  I wanted to use it in my den but it's not really working.  Big sad face! I would need to find a new lounge chair and another sofa to complete the room.  I was hoping it would work with one piece of my current set, but no, it does not.  I'd also need a new console table for the electronics because this tiny stature makes everything in the room look huge.  Ugh! What a pain.  I really need a low profile mid century modular set with 2-3 pieces.  So, I think this sofa is destined for my shop.  Again, big sad face. I love this sofa.

Saturday Morning. Retro Space Age Chair Table Thing.

Good morning. I've been up since 6:30 am.  I'm off to Long Beach today (should be about a 30 minute drive with no traffic) to pick up a 70's retro space-agey chair/table thing.  I saw this on CL about 2 weeks ago.  I got in touch with the owner who was out of town at the time. I checked back this week when she was due back in town and she said "Come on and get it if you still want it".  

It's a table/chair combo.  Apparently there is a button or something that you push that pops up the center part.  I can' wait to get it and check it out. Here's the CL picture:

While I'm in Long Beach I'll check out some sales and thrift stores. Apparently LB makes for some good pickin'.  I'll post about my finds later today or tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!!  

  

My Willpower Lasted One Day. Sunday Shopping.

Woo Hoo!  I kept myself from shopping for ONE DAY.  Suprised? I'm not.  I did manage to keep myself from 2 estate sales on Saturday because it was such a busy day for me.  Sunday was another story.  We woke to cloudy skies that quickly turned to rain.  I had planned to sand some pieces but with rain that wasn't happening.

What's a girl to do?  Shop of course! I hit an estate sale in Sherman Oaks up in the hills in a gorgeous neighborhood of 60's homes.  That's always a plus.  The sale was huge but didn't really have the type of items that gets me excited.  I did manage to find a retro accordion wine rack, a plastic wall organizer, an old wood-top typewriter or utility cart and a minimalist white spotlight style lamp.  Then it was off to about 5 thrift stores where I picked up a few more things.  I also went by a Craiglist lead to look at some chairs but passed.   Take a look.....

These are the CL chairs. They looked promising in the ad and are only $5 each. In person they looked a little too ice cream parlor-y to me.  I don't care for the bent wood piece underneath the chair on the back legs. Thoughts?

Set of 4 tall back dining chairs in Goodwill.  I like the back of these.  Don't like the idea of refinishing them though. If you're into Hollywood Regency these would look really cool painted white or yellow.  Should I go back for them?

Cute retro wall hanging organizer from the estate sale. This was a popular design in the 60's. I've seen it on metal trays and cups.

Mod teapot made in Japan.  Gorgeous lines that run all the way down the handle.  Love this. I'm keeping it.  Doh! 

Retro flip clock. Love me some flip clocks! I like this one because it has a radio.   I don't particularly like being jolted out of sleep to a buzz or beep noise. 

Blendo set in like-new condition.  Includes one large bowl and 6 small bowls. 

60's rock chip art. Me likie. Me keepie. 

So yes, my willpower lasted one day.  I guess anyone that hunts for vintage, frequents estate sales and so on can understand though. It is quite fun and there is a rush and satisfaction when you find something you love.  

Did you hunt for vintage this weekend? 

TGIF! More Broyhill Love with Sculptra.

It's been a long and busy week for me, hence my absent posts.  TGIF with a huge exclamation point (!)  Can I get an amen?!  On the heels of my Brasilia restoration and subsequent posts  I decided to comment once more on Broyhill and then put it to rest....for awhile anyway...I'm obsessed, what can I say?

Broyhill's other spectacular and easily identifiable collection from the mid century is the Sculptra line.   Unlike Brasilia with it's sweeping curves, Sculptra's focal design is comprised of straight lines in a box formation.   I also love this line, but for different reasons.  It's very modern, fresh and controlled in it's design.    I have yet to come across a piece of Sculptra in all my years of hunting but I believe, like my once unattainable Brasilia, it's out there somewhere.  *** UPDATE 1/30 I FOUND a Sculptra Magna dresser for a steal! Now just need to figure out how/when to get it because like the Brasilia set, it's hours away. ***

Buffet / Sideboard

Triple Dresser

Room Divider 

Small Cabinet

Magna Dresser

Desk

Headboard

China Cabinet

I love Brasilia but let me tell you, Sculptra pulls at my heart....a lot.  Do you have a favorite?