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Heal’s (or Pleasure Should Be Taken Seriously)

Of course, no trip to London is complete without my pilgrimage to the Orla Kiely store on Monmouth. I had a free afternoon on Sunday, so I got on my walking shoes, my sunglasses, my ipod (yes, I still use an ipod) and headed to get my shop on.

And you know what, nothing floated my boat. Nothing. I think since I was there in February, not enough of the inventory had turned over. Some new spring stuff that didn’t really excite me and all the housewares were the same. I decided to check out a store I had heard about many times and headed to Heal’s on Tottenham Court Road. Heal’s is the manufacturer of the awesome Orla furniture that costs more than a college education. And take note, you fine folks, they had more Orla than Orla.

And truly, who could resist a store with this Eames quote proudly displayed on the ground floor in the spa section? Yeah, a housewares and furniture store with a spa section. Someone pinch me.

And not kidding about the Orla-gasm. Check all this out:

And, to add insult to injury, two Orla chairs were on sale. I actually spent about 15 minutes trying to figure out how to get them in my suitcase. Of course, even at 60% off they were way more than the cash I have in the bank. Mucho dinero. Or mucho poundos.

Okay, lest you think it’s only Orla, it’s actually a 3-story department store filled with everything you could imagine including kitchen and bathrooms. Think very high end and curated with more taste than Ikea. And there was a cafe, but no meatballs. I coveted this awesome starburst clock. I want one of these for the kitchen and love the design of this one, though it was a smidge too big.

I also love the new trend for Pantone products in homage to the color matching system of the same name (PMS…hmmm). Fun and cheerful, even with PMS.

And finally, in the art section, these very slick images of the two best Bonds ever. James Bonds.

And just to verify that Catherineholm is hot, Heal’s had its own version of an enamelware print.

Of course, I did have to walk away with something. I bought some super cute Orla enamel planters for these very sad plants sitting on the kitchen windowsill, naked in their plastic pots from the nursery. I am sure they will cheer up in these pots. And if I actually water them.

(Apologies for the shoddy picture quality. Maeve wasn’t here to be my genius photographer. Plus, I took these surreptiously on my phone to avoid being thrown out of the store.)

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Tags: Heal's, London, orla kiely, pantone

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Categories Art, Bathroom, Bedroom, Decor, Furniture, Products, Uncategorized

Weekend Show and Tell

11 Dec

Almost all Christmas shopping done, completed last night in bed with some homemade feijoada watching ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. My idea of shopping heaven. But of course in my somewhat attention-deficit brain, I was flipping all around the internet and found some things I couldn’t wait to share for show and tell. Enjoy!

This is called the ‘Fractured Fairy Tales’ wall display on Thomas Wold’s eponymous blog. From what I can tell, he’s some kind of woodworker/designer, maybe? I can’t find and ‘About’ tab and that’s a crying shame because he has some gorgeous pieces, many MCM inspired. I couldn’t find out how to contact him if I wanted to buy his stuff (as if I could!).

You all witnessed my media cabinet transformation from an old Habitat for Humanity record player cabinet into a modern family room media center. However, had I seen this and had the bravery to actually submit the inquiry request to get the cost (it’s a bit like those menus with no prices), I would have second thought the effort out into my $10 on. I love that this accomodates the moden flat screen TV and retailed that mid-century built in look from Wilkerson Furniture. Love it.

I know that Pantone just declared the ‘Color of the Year’ as Tangerine Tango, but I’m just not there. (And who they are to declare colors of the year, I simply don’t understand. Pantone does know color, but do they know fashion?) For me, I am still ridiculous hung up on the gray and yellow of (apparently) yesteryear. I do indeed believe gray is the new beige and I love it combined with this mustardy yellow. This will inspire our bedroom, if we ever get around to working on it. (Click on any of the images for the source.)

In the DIY category, I love these wood veneer pendant lamps from Poppytalk. While not Brandy-level possible, not impossible either.

And because we can’t be in December without a holiday show and tell, printable mid-century ornaments (on a pink tree, no less!). Love it. From Modern Kiddo.

Tags: gray and yellow, mid-century modern home blog, thomas wolf, wilkerson furniture

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Categories Bathroom, Blogs, Decor, DIY, Furniture, Uncategorized, Weekend Show and Tell

Weekend Show and Tell

23 Oct

I am not one of those people who starts planning for Christmas in October. I barely plan for Christmas in December. However, I couldn’t resist the charm of these Pantone ornaments. Now that makes for a modern tree.

I don’t know if I want all these mirrors around me while I am doing my business, if you know what I mean, but I have to admire the DIY design of this kind of Alice in Wonderland mirrored room.

Asking what time it is will never be the same with one of these word clocks. How can I resist when it’s all about words?

Because MCM owls have a soft spot in my heart, I can’t help but swoon over this wallpaper. A bit much for my real house, but so darn cute.

And finally, for your Sunday afternoon listening pleasure, Spinning on Air from WNYC features what they call the mid-century modern design music equivalent. You decide, but for me, Miles Davis, George Russell and Elmer Bernstein come pretty darn close.

Tags: home blog, mid-century modern, mid-century modern blog, mid-century modern home blog, owls, pantone, WNYC Spinning on Air, word clock

Comments 4 Comments
Categories Art, Bathroom, Blogs, Decor, DIY, Products, Uncategorized, Weekend Show and Tell

Flower Power

11 Oct

I have a thing for big, bold, flower prints. Not on my body, of course. (Certain parts of mine definitely do not need a big poppy covering them!) And I tend to be fairly understated in my clothing and home decor choices. However, this experiment in mid-century land has me coming out of my shell. Somewhere deep inside an attraction to big flower prints blossoms. Do you think it could perhaps be because I was surrounded by them when I was a child or face down in them as a baby? (On orange and brown shag carpet no less!)

So it’s no surprise that the first house project we tackled, the main bathroom (extensively recorded here, here, here and here and probably in even more posts than I know) was inspired by a color palette from a Marimekko knock-off shower curtain at Target by Dwell Studio for $27. I loved it, the colors, the flowers, everything.

That is until I saw a real Marimekko one today from Crate and Barrel that made me swoon. Similar in many ways, but the Marimekko is darker, bolder, with more flowers. This one is priced at $60, so for half the price, I am pretty happy with what I have. For now.

However, it did get me thinking about Marimekko and the lasting power of a mid-century design. What is it about those vibrant alive colors and the explosive poppies?

Marimekko is a Finnish company that started out applying friends graphic designs to textiles. They created a line of simple dresses made famous by Jacqueline Kennedy during the 1960 presidential campaign, first appearing in a simple pink example on the cover of Sports illustrated. However, the Unikko pattern with the giant poppies became the iconic Marimekko print.

Marimekko also grew in the United States with its relationship with Crate and Barrel, which began in the 60s. Crate and Barrel is the retailer I most associate with Marimekko based on the products they sell and the way they use the fabrics in their window designs. I first discovered Marimekko after falling in love with a bright red poppy umbrella in the window of the Michigan avenue store years ago. How can a rainy day not be cheerful with poppies over your head? (I also labored under the belief that Marimekko was Japanese for a number of years.)

One of the things I love about Orla (yes…all roads lead back to Orla) is that her designs pay tribute to the wonderful over the top patterns and colors of the early Marimekko. I have a handbag that could easily be Marimekko instead of Orla Kiely.

Apparently, after a purchase in 1985, Marimekko found itself in a financial mess. In the 90s, it was bought by Kirsti Paakkanen, who is credited with turning it around. It got a further boost by Sarah Jessica Parker (the modern day Jackie O.), who sported Marimekko on the hit show Sex and the City. Though I must admit I see Carrie as more Manolo than Marimekko.

Finally, I just have to say I would love to score this Marimekko version of a bean bag called the Fatboy. These fatboys belong in my family room! But man, I need to be rich to get them for all of us! Or even one!

Regardless, I am thrilled the company has survived and prospered and is opening up a flagship store in NYC. Guess what’s on my site-seeing list when I am there next week?

Tags: marimekko, MCML, mid-century modern, mid-century modern blog, mid-century modern home blog

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Categories Art, Bathroom, Decor, Fabrics, Products

Weekend Show and Tell

9 Oct

I woke up this morning feeling under the weather. Almost literally. The sky was dark and oppressive with rain and my throat hurt and I pretty much felt achy all over. But in every cloud there is a silver lining right? Or perhaps a silver spider web? When I walked outside, I was greeted by this Halloween lovely. How can one stay in cranky sick mood after seeing that?

Via Spearmint Decor, I love this patterned wallpaper. Though Brett swears wallpaper is the most horrible decorating punishment in the universe, I can see its benefits in small doses. Plus, I just love the green. I have seen stencils on Etsy that give the same effect without the future wallpaper removal.

And just for the sheer hilarity of it, I can’t help but re-post ‘I Have Mid-Century Wood’ from Modular Four about his quest for mid-century modern furniture legs. Wade, I got it too, babe.

I love this new modern industrial chandelier from West Elm. The Finn is powder-coated, very sleek and Gorgeous with a capital G.

I just have to share this from Remodelista in the category of ‘Dreaming’. I have a thing for outdoor showers and this is the ultimate in my mind. Sigh. The rest of the house is sigh-inspiring too.

And another one for the DIY file from Apartment Therapy (via 2Modern) that will probably never be done. Dreaming again, huh? I thought this was pretty clever. No cutting, just organizing paint chips. Cool and clever.