Architectural Pottery

What a dream come true. My friend brought his vintage Architectural Pottery planter over to our house and asked me to plant it. It's got a chip on the rim but hey, it's been around for over 50 years! I did my best to hide it with the right shaped succulent. The owners did not want dirt touching the interior so I created a coconut shell to hold the plants that is removable for watering and sufficient drying. This planter looks pretty awesome out next to my Bend furniture and I know it is going to look perfect in their amazing home!

shell

this evening the sunlight was perfect for long shadows and naps.

the baumritters

8 zillion years ago (or 4 years ago exactly), I scored a set of 6 vintage Baumritter dining chairs on Craigslist.  They were a little worn out but had the perfect danish modern look I was after.  And of course I was going to refinish them and bring them back to their original glory.  Within a week of purchasing these chairs, I bought a roll of fabric to reupholster the seats. I was ready to go!  Perhaps this is where a sound effect of a car's sreeching breaks would come in handy.  4 years later... I'm finally getting around to that Baumritter project.  I'm working on the upholstery.  The wood still looks like crap but at least they will have new padding and clean seats.  It's a start! 

So I bought the fabric to reupholster the chairs 4 years ago and chose a pattern called Bull's Eye by Pollack.  I thought it had a 1950s vintage vibe without being too"atomic".  This Pollack fabric is made in the USA from 100% Post-Industrial Recycled Polyester and I'm still quite keen on its eco-friendliness.  I'm not sure if I would have picked this pattern in 2013 but I do not hate this grey circular fabric and I have a giant freaking roll of it.  As you can see, I have not committed 100% just yet - no staples have been shot.  I've got a make-shift, tucked around version of a seat to look at for a few days.  Who am I kidding?  I have a giant freaking roll of this incredibly awesome fabric.  The staple gun will be joining us shortly. 

I found this 1960's advertisement on the web for the Baumritter Corporation and a bit of history on the company...

Theodore Baumritter and his brother-in-law Nathan C. Ancell started a housewares company in 1932, making plaster gnomes, trellises and garden swings. Three years later, they paid $25,000 for a bankrupt furniture factory in Beecher Falls, Vermont, and began manufacturing furniture. In 1939 the company introduced a line of "Early American" furniture they called Ethan Allen.

By 1962, Baumritter and Ancell owned 14 furniture factories in the East. By the middle of the 1960's, the Baumritter Corporation had the largest group of furniture in the world, with a 1,600-piece line to choose from. They also had stores by that time in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Australia, and Canada. In 1970, Baumritter retired, and Ancell took over the company. In 1972, The Baumritter Corporation officially changed its name to Ethan Allen Industries.

From nytimes.com and fundinguniverse.com

sugar bowl

Got a little post-birthday surprise last week... the sugar bowl that goes with my vintage Rosenthal china. Thank you Mark!! We have the Conference pattern designed by Raymond Loewy. What didn't Raymond Loewy design? His Palm Springs home I suppose was one thing. He let Albert Frey take care of that one.

bringing Jens back

A little update on our Jens Risom coffee table... the top had so many drink rings and deep stains. With a veneer top, I had my doubts but Mark has really made some progress bringing it back to its original glory. Go Mark!

Speaking of Jens Risom, his Block Island prefab weekend home built in the 1960s is simply perfect. One of my dream homes!







In 1965, Risom purchased 7 acres of land for $5,000 on Block Island (in Rhode Island) and built this amazing prefab weekend home for his family. LIFE magazine sent a team to document the construction from start to finish. Risom had met a LIFE editor before the house was built and criticized the magazine for only covering expensive summer homes. He asked why they did not write about affordable homes that readers would be more interested in. That editor obviously took note. The article with a nice spread of photos appeared in the September 8, 1967 issue.

Photos by John Zimmerman for Life Magazine, 1967

coming soon: the den

What once was the green spare bedroom is now on its way to becoming the den. I was thrilled to paint over that bright Hulk green! The combined paint left over from the kitchen and basement turned out to be a perfect light grey. Now the hunt begins for a coffee table, rug, and some lighting. I can't wait to get this room put together! As you can see I've got a long way to go. Oh and I am only dreaming about a new couch...must find a way to make ol' dumpy work in this space. Right now, poor dumpy has temporary 2x4 legs!








black and chrome vintage task lamp
beautiful Jens Risom coffee table
Jens Risom sofa and sofa table
West Elm rug
love this magazine rack
vintage Danish modern daybed-sofa

Speckman House

So much good stuff in the latest issue of Atomic Ranch. The Speckman House in Saint Paul, MN is featured and I wish the article included some interior shots as well. I'm sure the inside is as stunning as the exterior and landscape!

READ MORE HERE

Hans Olsen

Dwell has a nice article on some amazing MCM homes in Borrego Springs. When looking through their slideshow of photos, I noticed a Hans Olsen dining set in the Fairway Cottage, the Compact Dinette Set by Hans Olsen for Frem Rojle Moblefabrik. What a perfect example of form and function. Such a beauty!!

And then I remembered a friend of mine had a set like this for sale so I checked to see if it was still available and it is...




If you're interested in adding a Danish classic like this to your home, send an email to David at Pegboard Modern (info@pegboardchicago.com).
He can tell you all about his Hans Olsen set and quote you a price as well.

furniture dreaming

As we're currently scraping every penny to finish our never-ending basement remodel, I find two lovely pieces I would kill to have. If only I had some extra cash right about now. This is the exact smallish credenza I have been dreaming about. It hurts to see it and not be able to have it!! And then this beauty popped up in my google reader this afternoon. Wow! That is some nice Brasilia!

pollo

The Tapio Wirkkala Pollo vase for Rosenthal has been on my Things I Hope To Have Someday list for many years. Last week I saw one at Modern Relics, a fine Etsy shop. The timing was perfect. The price was right too. I can finally cross something off my list!



Last year I also purchsed a lovely wire bowl from Modern Relics. I think you should go check out this shop right now!

fantasy five for friday

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

all from Converso