The Incredibles snazzy living area. I want it . . . . with the Zanuso chair to boot!

Julie Newmar and the Swanky Apartment

I was rummaging through LIFE.com (because I like rummaging through the virtual world about as much as I do in real life) and spied Julie Newmar's photo shoot showcasing a particular play she was appearing in back in the late 50's.

Now, when you usually think of Miss Newmar, you immediately associate her with Catwoman from the 1960's TV series. But indeed she was very busy slinky sedctress before then. So, let's get back to my point here... In 1958 she did this photo shoot/story in LIFE magazine after being cast for the Broadway play The Marriage-Go-Round.

Aside from Miss Newmar, the imagery we see is of the set from this Broadway production. We only get a glimpse of this backdrop, but sometimes that's all one needs for some inspiration. It's very 50's, with just enough Modern thrown in; there's those tall champagne-pink bookcases with matching sofa, all loaded with volumes and volumes, a touch of African art here and there, the sculpted glass brandy bottles and I love the built-in radio.

Now why can't my pad look like this? Because I'm not that suave, swanky and sophisticated, that's why!

Anyway, enjoy Julie and the setting, you can read the rest of the story by clicking on any of the photos -

Parade of Atomic Homes is Here!

Hi there, and Welcome to our Parade of Atomic Homes! My name is Babette and I will be your tour guide.


Now I'd like to invite each and every one of ya'll to our first home on today's tour - it's a single story ranch style called "the Delores" built in 1958. Doesn't that just sound dreamy?! Let's have a look inside, okay? Now watch your step. There's a lot of stairs to climb, isn't there? There you go! Oh, isn't this landscaping just adorable? I hear that most all of the flowers and greenery are original to the property's beginnings.

Allrighty then! As we step inside can anyone tell me what Mid-Century Modern is? Does anyone know? That's right ma'am! Mid-Century Modern is the style of decor highly popularized during the 1950's, and that's the style that we see today inside of this very home.


The Living Area
Has everyone made their way inside? Could one of your gentlemen please help Mrs. Roberts up with her walker? There we go! You just go right ahead and please make yourself feel right at home.

Oh, by the way, the owner requested that if everyone would please watch their step? And please walk around his genuine imitation Himalayan Nanny Goat Hair Rug... He is kind of overly-sensitive about that. *wink*

Thank you so much!


If everyone would line up behind me, I'll escort you to the next room on the tour. Yes, there's plenty more yet to see!

Oh, Mrs. Roberts, now there's no need for pushing and shoving like that! You'll all get your turn soon enough...

= = =

Be sure to return next time, as we continue the Tour!

Peek at the Man Cave

The Man Cave. The Bach Pad. Umm... Yes, it's humble. Yes, it's not a dream ranch. It's really quite plain normal (as in maybe a half century ago). But this is home. Above all else, all you can really ever ask for is a place to call home ;)

Just another peek while I'm clicking away with the camera to give you an honest view of where I like to call home.

Italia Tabletta ona Neophobia... Mamma Mia!

Seen at Neophobia

1950's Italian Modernist Iron Frame Coffee Table

Unusual 1950s Modern cocktail table. Wrought-iron frame with glass top and cane shelf.

Price: $695.00

Glass top... *perk*
Wrought iron... *swoon*
Italian Moderne... *melting*
Che bello!

I really, really wish I wouldn't stumble on to things like this. It makes me very... wanting.

Magari!

One Corner

One Corner (16/365), originally uploaded by aabbbiee.

I love Flickr. It lets me spy on so many fabulous vintage homes lovingly restored out there. This corner of Aabbbiee's looks so modern... yet so cozy!

Fired Up

Warmer weather may be on the way, but these Hot fireplaces are never out of season

In the 50's, Lovett designed the metal, freestanding fireplace, sometimes called a "firehood" with it's inverted space-aged coneshape with a parabolic opening to reveal the warm glow.

One of the big wannahaves of my lifelong MCM Dreamhome list has just been checked off. I've seen similar models, but last week when I stepped into my favorite retro shop "The Nest" I was lured, enticed and teased by these lovelies - two metal stand-alone fireplaces with that classic Lovett inspired design.

Firehood Find, originally uploaded by Space Commander.

One was a faultless white porcelein wood-burning beut by Majestic. She would be ideal for placement against a wall ("D"-shaped). The other was a red-orange electric by Preway ( "()"-shaped). There's been a vacant corner in my livingroom which has defied everything I've tried to make a home there. Everything was there, the retractable chimney, the screen, electric logs and the hidden heater unit. No dings, no rust. And with it being "off season" I got it for half the asking price. What a deal! Both fireplaces were likely manufactured by these companies in the '70's, but they are unmistakable in the inspriation of their design.

Here's one link I found helpful while researching my Preway and Majestic finds:
Tiki Central Forums - A Shag Style Fireplace

Mategot Era French Modern Perforated Stand as my New Coffee Table

Mategot Era French Modern Perforated Stand as my New Coffee Table, originally uploaded by Space Commander.

Mid century French wrought iron... Je t'aime!

Meet the Imitation Hymalayan Nanny Goat Rug!

"Wooly Bully" area rug at Lowes, offered in off white and cocoa brown in a variety of dimensions.

OooOOoOo... it's just like walking on yogurt! My bare living room floor has been dying for some T.L.C. like this for far too long...

The search took me through large area rugs, small rugs, dark ones and light. I looked at antique rag rugs, cowhide rugs, faux fur rugs(???) and almost settled on noodle rugs. And then... When I saw this baby on the showroom floor, it was L-O-V-E. I love this area rug. I bought it, bundled her carefully in the red wagon and carried her over the threshold in to her new home.

Mind you, she has one fault to overlook, she tends to shed mini fluffs with traffic. But that's okay. This rug will gently kiss your toes all day long without complaint. Ahhh-hhh...

Hip to the Jive Cats

Here's the mewest addition - my two ultra cool cats are ready to greet any and all honored guests to the pad. The vintage metal wall plaques were made by Sexton, they are as classic an example of 50's feline art as you can get. These two hip & happening Siamese cats have gold collars and a woodtone finish.

I know, I know... I'm breaking the most basic of the retro decorating rules - Groups of Three." But my set is missing the third smallest figure of the complete group. And I think these two alone fill out their narrow wall space quite nicely. Besides, the other most basic rule of No Clutter is no less dog-matic (err... pardon the pun) to each and every follower of modern style, is it?

My cats are slightly scruffy from age... they could get a breath of new life (one of their Nine lives, perhaps?) Aside from a tin of tuna or a saucer of milk, maybe a sleek smooth coat of satin-finish black paint is just the thing they yearn for?

Danish Lounge Chair on eBay

This one immediately caught me. Though I treated her as a infatuated whim at first, she whispered and she spoke to me. So I bid on her, her ebony laquered arms and legs, the supple form of her spring-filled cushions, and the promise she held at the end of a long weary day. Yes, I bid on her, and while I went to my job, dreaming happily of coming home one day to lounge in my very own Danish Modern easy chair of stylish comfort, some one else had the same idea as I and took her away from me. Which makes me come to the conclusion that I wish I had a normal 9-5 job so that my dreams couldn't be taken away from me again...

... not at least while I off to work.
This auction was offered by The Modern Line.

Pearsall/Craft Assoc. Sofa on eBay

Still on my never-ending quest, forever searching for the crowning jewel of any respectible man's retro-lounge-hep-cat-bach-pad. And I found this. Just a tad outside my budget, but I can still enjoy looking at those lines on the arms and back rest, and those narrow long legs make it all float on air.

Adrian Pearsall Craft Sofa Reupholstered Restored Eames This is being auctioned by All Nines.

A-Frame Beach Cabin

Designed by Dr. David T. Hellyer

Wall Unit Bookcase on eBay

Mo Moderne always has something appealing on hand. *Sigh*.... I need one of these...

Room Divider/Wall Unit/Bookcase/

Joseph Shepherd Abstract on eBay

Work by Joseph H. Shepherd, done on illustration board, dated 1952. I want this on my living room wall. I love it simply for the geometry of all the shapes and interwoven parabolas. Look beyond the abstractionist aspect and you can make out the figure of the high-living lady.

Auction by Mo Moderne.