Calling all Sammy Hagar fans!!! Are you rocking a mid-80s hair band decor in your house? Then buy this immediately! It's been listed for months; let's find it a home, friends. $160
For this post, I found a helpful bio here and more information on the Knoll site here.
Eero Saarinen (1910-1961) was a Finnish architect/designer who emigrated to the United States with his family in the early 1920s. After graduating from Yale (too bad he wasn't very smart...kidding!) in 1934 with a degree in architecture, he began a collaboration with Charles Eames in 1937 that yielded a series of prize-winning furniture designs for the Museum of Modern Art's "Organic Design in Home Furnishings" competition (1940).
From there, he went on to produce several successful and iconic furniture designs for Knoll International. Some noted examples of these include the Grasshopper Chair, manufactured from 1946 to 1965; the Womb Chair and Ottoman, designed in 1948; the Saarinen pedestal collection of dining, coffee and side table, introduced in 1956; and the award-winning Tulip Chair, which was designed as "an exercise in clarifying form."
Until 1950, Saarinen worked in his father's architectural office. After his father's death, he opened his own practice in Bloomfield Hills. Some of his famous building projects include Dulles International Airport (D.C.), The Gateway Arch (St. Louis, MO) and the TWA Terminal at JFK International Airport (NY).
Listen, maybe it's the two Old Fashioneds (we're so simpatico!) I just* downed talking, but I just wanted to tell you again how much I love you. Yes, I'm married and you play a complicated man who is a bit of a wreck, but I love you just the same. I think you are brilliant on Mad Men and also as the boyfriend on 30 Rock.
My favorite TV scene of all time is when you were on a date (for stew!) at Liz Lemon's apartment and her bathroom door flew open. Hi-larious. You handle drama and comedy both with incredible finesse. And you look fine doing it. Thanks for being you.
Love, Jennie (& Meredith, who I know feels the same way)
*Reputation Control: this post was composed last night...not at noon on Friday. I'm not that simpatico with Don!
This weeks happy hour post goes out to Miss Jennie, who enjoys scotch-flavored beverages! Ladies and gentlemen: the Mamie Taylor-- 1 1/2 oz. Scotch Juice of 1/2 lime Ginger ale Squeeze lime juice into 10 oz. highball glass. Add 3 ice cubes, Scotch and fill with ginger ale. Stir and serve. Found in this priceless resource: A Guide To Pink Elephants, Richards Rosen Associates, Inc, New York, 1952.
Retro-luxe friends, you may be wondering "Why a patio post in September?" Well, here in Texas, thanks to the cooler weather (it's in the 80s!) and the departure of the mosquitos for awhile, we're able to reclaim our patios! Time to barbecue! Here are some inspirational patio vignettes from our Bible, The Practical Encyclopedia of Good Decorating and Home Improvement.
This is desperate plea for a retro-intervention. I posted design advice today over at the Brick House blog. What in the cat hair leads me to opine on matters of design and decor when I still have this ^&%$# ceiling fan with the Victorian sconces in my '60s ranch home? Full disclosure--we've lived here 2 1/2 years! These sconces have got to go...this weekend! Please, leave a comment about how ugly they are. I need some tough love to motivate me. Just don't tell me to not have a ceiling fan. This is Texas, yall...
Jennie, I know you are not the biggest fan of Texas Longhorn football, but is that any reason to neglect including this incredible, vintage, custom made, burnt orange sofa in the Craigslist round up this week? It's look great with that telephone table!
Hook 'em Horns!
P.S. Dear Santa, please bring me a fringed Texas Longhorn band jacket. I've been real good this year...
For our slapstick enthusiast cocktail lovers, enjoy these classic videos of one of our favorite songs "Cocktails for Two." First, Spike Jones & City Slickers:
Next, from the Steve Allen show. How precious is Don Knotts?
This week's flickr flavr o'the week comes to us from the flickr group "Vintage Publications and Home Interiors." Enjoy these images of blissful domesticity!
"That's right kids, stir evenly to make sure the opiates blend well."
Class is in session! Today we'll learn just a bit about American designer Russel Wright (1904-1976), who designed the Modern Mates/American Modern line manufactured by the Conant Ball Company. For this article I found helpful information here, here and here.
Mr. Wright championed an approach to design and home life that he called "easier living". This concept was marketed through inexpensive and mass-produced designs which were innovative, contemporary, gracious and yet informal. He is also considered a pioneer of "organic design".
Russel Wright, along with his business partner and wife, Mary, are credited with paving the way for today's "lifestyle interpreters" such as Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren. Like these designers, he designed not only furniture, but home accessories, art pottery, flatware, dishes and table linens, to name just some.
In 1935, Macy's debuted a line of modern furniture from Wright/Conant Ball under the name "Modern Living", later to be re-named "American Modern". This line was made of natural maple and became an instant hit. Now, I'm a little unclear as to how the "Modern Mates" line fits in, as that is also credited to Mr. Wright. From what I can gather online, it looks like these lines were produced from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s, in both maple and birch.
I found several pieces of furniture on eBay, in addition to dishes he designed for Stubenville. Locally, there are is also a dining set , a clock and a desk for sale on Craigslist. Happy treasure hunting!
James Bond Martini Recipe 3 oz gin 1 oz vodka 1/2 oz Lillet® Blanc wine
Pour the gin, vodka and Lillet blanc into a cocktail shaker half-filled with cracked ice. Shake well, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon, and serve.
I know someone can find a use for these woven/orange velvet lamp shades. $40 for the pair.
These green swivel rockers are AWESOME!! $200
Calling all Sammy Hagar fans!!! Are you rocking a mid-80s hair band decor in your house? Then buy this immediately! It's been listed for months; let's find it a home, friends. $160
Turquoise table, $125
Full-size bed, $30
I don't know why, but this red chandelier appeals to me. I think it has potential! $25
Photo from sputnikhousewares found here.
Photo from go-bunny found here.
Photo from Sanddiv999 found here.
Listen, maybe it's the two Old Fashioneds (we're so simpatico!) I just* downed talking, but I just wanted to tell you again how much I love you. Yes, I'm married and you play a complicated man who is a bit of a wreck, but I love you just the same. I think you are brilliant on Mad Men and also as the boyfriend on 30 Rock. 
1960s Lane table, $175
Set of 5 dining chairs, $250
Yellow kitchen table, $145
West Bend aluminum cake keeper with oak accents. I love stuff like this. ($20)
Found here.
Found here.
Found here.
Found here.
