Vintage love: An MCM Corner shelf

I am all in for utilizing corners and making the most of the available space. Found this very sleek and well made corner shelving. True Mid century modern, wooden and classy, completely my kind of piece :)

Era: Mid century modern
date: 1950-60
Material: wood


Unable to credit the picture to any site or person as it was dug out from my saved archives. Any help in tracing original source and the maker of the piece would be appreciated. 

Teak Sofa Set: Vintage eye candy

The local buy sell site had this breathtaking set for sale. By the time I contacted the owner/seller it was given away. Yes, you read it right. Given away due to lack of buyers. Wish he held onto it for just another evening and these beauties would have been driven to my abode. I could not believe what I heard. :( (Missed browsing the site just one afternoon and see what I missed)

 Pic courtesy: seller (with permission)

I am told it was custom made in the late 60's. Pure teak and original cotton ropes weaved into such wonderful pieces of art. :) 

Art deco meets mid century :)

Found an amazing sofa set on a local reselling site. had to share it.

one design era met another?
The sculpted and rounded arm rests with a curvy design  are from the very elegant 1920's, 30's and early 40's  Art Deco style/era. And the pencil thin, tapering legs and sleek wood look with removable cushions are a mid century modern influence on the piece. So the set is inspired by design eras spans 1930's to the mid 60's :)

What ever the style, it looks well made.

Could not get any information on the set. However. it does look locally made by a skillful carpenter. Most Indian homes had very retro looking pieces made in the late 60's until the late 80's.They were reproductions of some well known designs and pieces. Most carpenters I speak to, talk about being inspired by film art settings, and film star homes :).

That reminds me, I have a few posts lined up under my Movies, Masti and Magic segment!,  Hoping to post them soon

Pic source: seller on a local preloved /reselling site

Vintage Love ~ Teak Credenza

Found this amazing credenza listed on the local C'list.

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seller's desc: 

Extremely rare and large free-standing break-front cabinet designed by California Architect, Richard Thompson and produced by Glenn of California.

Vintage Love ~Magazine rack

Faulous Studio magazine rack by "Wierd Willy" - lift off tiers and beautifully crafted solid wood frame with hand carved one-piece legs. Signed on bottom: "Another creation from weird willy's wonderful world of wild and wacky wood works"

source: valiantvintage.com

House Beautiful ~ At Home with Dana

As promised, I am back with a home tour. Starting the series with a peek into Dana's beautiful mid century home. Infact, Dana is the one who suggested the title for this series. 

She is my Research guru and has an amazing blog which is my go to guide for everything mid century. She is a mini celebrity :-) (her home was featured on HGTV's rate my space). I always knew this was the house I needed to start my home tour series with. 


Thank you Dana, for the pictures and a wonderful write up. And now, over to Dana.....

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I’ve been reading Sudha’s beautiful blog, The Design Enthusiast, for quite some time now, so I was honored when she told me she wanted to do a home tour series and would like to start with my home.

I live in a mid-century ranch style home which was built in 1950. It is very small…only 1200 square feet…but it’s the perfect size for me and my two sidekicks Mister Ming (a Shih Tzu) and Isadora (an Italian greyhound better known as Izzy).

My 1950 ranch style house in Fort Worth, TX

Ming and Izzy

Bright colors greet you as soon as you walk into my entry. The varying shades of red, orange, green and turquoise are used in some combination in all the rooms of my home. The art is a large Miro print and two smaller Brian Andreas StoryPeople prints. I’m in the middle of a DIY upholstery project on a “new” vintage bench which will soon be where you see the leaning shelf. 

Small entry hall sets the tone

  

My living room is a long, narrow space with French doors at one end and a small alcove at the other. One wall is lined with the original built-in shelves. The hardwood floors are also original to the structure, but the slate tile in the alcove, which also extends into the dining room and kitchen, was added by the previous owner. The alcove, along with the master bedroom and the dining room which all extend across the front of the house, have ceiling-to-floor windows with wood blinds. My living room is decorated with mid-century modern furniture I found on Craigslist, at estate sales or at auction. 

Living room furniture is all vintage, except for my one concession to pure comfort, an Ekornes chair

Alcove with Carter Brothers scoop chair, Jens Risom credenza, which holds Kosta Boda and Blenko glass

Original built-ins which contain Haeger pottery and vintage pewter

My dining room furniture is a Drexel Profile set that I found on Craigslist a few years ago at an unbelievable steal of a price. The china cabinet houses my collection of Russel Wright Iroquois Casual.

Drexel Profile and Russel Wright china

Corner cabinet with more Russel Wright, as well as a collection of Harvest Time by Ben Seibel

I was born in 1948, so I am a "genuine" mid-century gal, and it only seemed appropriate that I use turquoise, the signature color of the 1950s that my grandmother loved so much. The room developed around a vintage bedroom set that I found on craigslist, and it soon took on a life of its own with a 21st century twist to the turquoise color scheme. 

Crate and Barrel bed and bedding with vintage bedside tables and chest

Vintage saucer chair

My second bedroom is a TV room for me and playroom for my grandsons. The closet hides toys, play mat and bouncer when they’re not visiting.

Yes, more vintage furniture...but I made the barkcloth pillows

The bathroom was already “updated” when I moved in. I would have loved to find it in original 50s condition, but the previous owners had opted for more of a spa look. 

The spa look isn't quite my style, but the previous owners did a nice job.

The previous owners installed stainless steel appliances, stainless steel countertops and slate flooring in the kitchen, but I’m planning a redo in the near future, so I won't show it yet. Maybe that will get me invited back to do another guest post on The Design Enthusiast.

Thanks again for the invitation, Sudha. I hope your readers enjoyed the tour of my house as much as I enjoyed sharing it.

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So folks,you see why I started the feature with her home right!! I strongly recommend Dana's blog and store for further design inspirations. Can't thank her enough for the wonderful post. Watch this space for a guest post from this wonderful lady and my major source of inspiration. You can leave comments and questions for Dana.

Pictures courtesy: Dana

Friday Finds ~ Movies masti and magic. Indian movies and Danish /MCM inspirations.....MGR style!

I am back with my movies and art direction series...apologies for the long break in posting a song from my folder...So, dont you love all the gooey goodness in this set. What is not to love, wood tones, wall unit, long couch with such pretty side tables, lamps...dont miss the dining set in the long shot (Neils O Moller's teak set. yay!..:)..All set in a beautiful 50s inspired floor plan with a caned lattice screen/room divider and a welded iron room divider (sigh!), embossed wall, and all the beautiful details. I could just keep going.

While you devour all the the decor pieces and the set, enjoy a romantic number with a beautiful and very stylish  Jayalalitha and the evergreen MGR. (I dont mind their occasional jumping jacks)

sing: enna porutham
Movie :Ragasiya Police 115 Directed by B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu Starring M. G. Ramachandran J. Jayalalitha M. N. Nambiar S. A. Ashokan Nagesh Music by M. S. Viswanathan Lyricist: Kannadasan Studio Padmini Pictures Release date(s) 11 January 1968

Art in our movies was so classy in the 50s and 60s

View my other posts on Indian Cinema and Danish inspirations..
here

Vintage Love ~ Westnofa from Norway

I have been keeping away from craigslist for a while now. I dint want to get into the temptation of buying something and not being able to get it home for the lack of space. But a week was all I could hold out. (lol)...And found this beautiful set of Westnof teak frame loveseat and chair...lovely isnt it!..a little beyond my budget but whatz the harm in looking right!

Modern Scandinavia has a long line of wonderful designers and wonderful designs to its credit!...Norway's Westnofa has a long history of innovative design and quality construction. This is a classic Siesta chair and ottoman from Ingmar Relling's kitty. 

The famous "Siesta" chair and ottoman are said to capture the true Scandinavian flavor. This elegant chair with its proud profile was originally Relling's submission to the Norwegian Furniture Council competition in 1964, where he won a well deserved first prize. The Siesta is considered the most comfortable chair 

that conforms to your body.

The best part of this deal is that this seller also has a very rare loveseat from the same designer...sweet!

I am not a leather lover..but really appreciate the beautiful piece!

The number of museums this chair is displayed:
Röhsska Museet, Göteborg
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (s. engl. Wikipedia)
Die Neue Sammlung, München
Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York, (zugehörig zum Smithsonian Institution)
The National Design Museum, New York, (zugehörig zum Smithsonian Institution)
Smithsonian Institution, New York
Nationalmuseum Oslo, Oslo

PS: images courtesy craigslist seller 

Antique Chairs and more vintage love ~ Guest post ~ Shalini a.k.a. Kamakshi Diamond

While on the blogging journey, I meet wonderful people who, I feel like I have known for ever. Sharing simple things about day to day living - joys, sorrows and of course blog topics, brings us closer.  I tend to forget that I would have never met or spoken or seen them in person. Sweet isn't it...One such very lovable person is Shalini who blogs over at Sanctified Spaces. Her blog is a true reflection of her simple, down to earth and creative personality. She writes about things she admires and loves- food, general musings and thoughts, travels and temples. One such post I really loved was about her ancestral home and her Grandfather. It took me back to times I spent with my granddad and my recollection of his influence on me.

When I requested her for a blog post, she obliged..and as promised in my previous post, here is her lovely write up on antique chairs. I am sure you will fall in love with the pieces and her post as much as I did.

over to Shalini :-)
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When Sudha from Design Enthusiast asked me to do a guest post,I was thrilled to bits.I love the fact that she features individual pieces of eclectic furniture and pares it down to its period,style and utility.Great information for Antique aficionado's.So this post took me on a trip to research chairs.So I promptly landed up at Mr.Prabhakaran's home for a tour.He was generous enough to take me around his home and answer all my queries.To read up more click here.All images are from his home.

Check this gorgeous Antique beauty.This is a 110 year old easy chair.Vintage furniture at its best.Made of cane for the seating& back rest with rosewood frame.This is known as Grandpas chair.The related model for this chair is the planters chair.Its clearly in a Pristine condition given its age.

Meet the mother of all chairs.This is the Connemara Chair.This was found largely in the Connemara Library in Chennai and hence the name.This is a Colonial piece designed beautifully in rosewood.A stunner indeed.Less backaches I believe,user info.A stunner indeed.

This is another beauty in Burma Teak,a corner chair in colonial stlye

Another corner chair in rosewood colonial stlye.What a pleasure to read in this chair.

A rocking Chair with a caned seat and back in teak wood.The style is Indian.

Antique Reading chair in rosewood with slots for papers and even a cup holder which is broken.Style:Colonial

Cane reading chair in Burma Teak,Style:Indian

Rosewood,Reading/folding  chair,Colonial

I wish I could own one of these vintage pieces.So beautifully designed.I thoroughly enjoyed doing this piece.Thank you Sudha for this wonderful opportunity.


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thank you Shalini for such a lovely write up and beautiful images. I could have never compiled such an exhaustive post on Indian furniture classics. 

New place ~ and we aren't there yet!

Hi folks, I have been very busy setting up the current apartment. I am falling in love with it..slowly, but yes, I am getting there I guess. In the meanwhile, I have not been on antique hunting or scouting for new stuff for the house. Infact, a lot of things found their way to thrift store and new homes :-). The kitchen, and our single bedroom still have a few things which are waiting to be arranged. ( Lesser storage space is not what I was looking forward to :(...but have to do with it).

A pair of teak chairs came home, to match the daybed/sofa..vintage, unmarked but costed more than what I generally spend on preloved furniture.

Sorry about the clutter...thats how we are living right now!..lol...:)


And btw, watch this space for a lovely guest post from a very talented lady -Shalini, who blogs at Sanctified Spaces. 

  

Chettinad's Wood and Cane Daybed ~ Archana's Guest Post

While working on a post about daybed styles and period furniture, I remembered the very elegant cane and wood daybed I saw on Archana's Flickr stream. Archana Srinivas of Rang Decor needs no introduction in the Flickr and Blog world. The lady behind so many amazing photographs and a set of beautiful blogs, agreed to a guest post when I requested for information on the piece she has in her very beautifully done up home.  I am quite excited to have her write for The Design Enthusiast.

Here is her post on the daybed. 

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" Of all the lovely design blogs out there, what really caught my attention in Sudha's blog was her passion and immense interests in the various styles of furniture. She researches the style, the period, the designers.... it's quite impressive. So when she asked me about our traditional daybed on which I have shot so many photographs of my everyday life, I had to brush up my memory!

Will share with you all, what I know of this simple but functional piece of furniture. We picked this cane daybed from Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu. It is a style quite common in Chettiar homes. Made of seasoned Burma Teak and woven with cane, this piece is a beauty. Summers in southern India is intense and this furniture usually placed it between two open doorways provides respite.  The shape of the furniture helps recline and stretch one-self on a lazy summer afternoon.

A detailed view

Have seen this style with a Portuguese twist in Goa as well. What makes India so intriguing to me is the amalgamation of various styles!"

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A special Thank you to Archana for the lovely post. :-). And it feels good to see such wonderful things being said about me and the blog (*smiles*).

A glance at my previous posts on thonet rocker and caned furniture, and you known for my love of wood and cane furniture. This piece certainly figures in the "must-have" list :-).

Pictures courtesy: Archana Srinivas

I miss you ~405

It has been two weeks since the move, I have not had a moment to relax. With cartons and boxes around, I feel like I am yet to move..lol. Weekend went by sorting things and having a friend over for lunch.

This being my first major move ever, I am being easy on myself. We had a little more stuff than just books and clothes. As of now, things are yet to fall in place and I am still figuring out what needs to be put where and what stays with us and what need not. Sorting our stuff to donate, keep or sell took up major part of our last two weeks.

While all this is still on, I was missing my previous place. Thought I'd share a pic or two and bid a formal goodbye to my lovely apartment (my husband calls me a drama queen..lol...I dont seem to handle attachment and sentiments too well....am all mushy and teary eyed when it comes to anything and everything...family, friends, things or even the places i have lived till date....:-) (sniff sniff)

Most of our things came in safe but for the antique armoire which had a broken leg...I was a little upset...but then, thats what moves are all about...:)

I am off to join the weekend wrap up party at Patty's.. you should hop in too...its fun!

Inspiring rooms :-)

I could stay indoors all day in a house like this..wouldn't you love it too

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We have a new (to us) West Elm sofa ..:-)

Thank you guys, for having being patient with me during my hiatus due to my move and the following recouping session. :-). I miss my previous apartment, and the ample sunlight which made the apartment irresistable :-). However, I look forward to being occupied with doing up the new place and falling in love with this apartment.

This was our older living area in our previous apartment...

The current apartment has an interesting layout which made us rethink our furniture setting. We decided to move the teak set to our huge balcony and indulge in a (preloved) west elm sofa. The idea was to go for a clean line, armless sofa look, seriously inspired by the danish mod armless daybed/sofa

 The sofa is intended to be a transition piece before we can afford one of these :)

(inspiration folder)

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(inspiration folder)

inspiration folder

We are happy with this for now..:)

Cosy!

Friday Finds~~~Indian Movies and Danish Furniture inspirations :-)

I am a huge fan on old hindi movies (all the late 50's to early 70's) for a very crazy reason. All the drool worthy art direction and the very prominent mid century/danish influence on the decor. Super cool isn't it...want to see what I mean.

While you enjoy the very versatile Rafi on the soundtrack, and a handsome Sunil Dutt wooing a very pretty Saroja Devi ...look at all the Danish /mid century glory at work, beautifying the whole set. :). Dont miss the very prominent tea cart, dining set, hutch and the  yummy chairs and the entire living room set. And yes, dont forget the accent wall. Drool~~~

I can share a ton of such movie sets from my inspirations folder. I always wonder, as to what would have happened to all these wonderful accent and decor pieces after the movies were done being shot. I wish I could buy every piece which was ever a part of the Indian film industry...sigh!! Most of my time is spent researching whereabouts of furniture pieces i see in movies of that era...cool right!

Vintage Love ~ Danish Style Settee

A local CL seller has this vintage danish style settee..Love the burnt orange and aluminum leg combination. 

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Seller says "Vintage Danish style settee - very good overall condition, foam is good, base is sturdy. Some normal wear consistent with age. Signed, "Hurstline" under the sofa. Cushion is removable"

A little pricey for me but a good piece to put a very danish mod room together..what do you think! 

PS: Looking for more information on this line - manufacturer, year etc..help appreicated!...


Update:
here is post on my research about the settee...found out that it is Overman ..link to the update>>here 

Retro Metal Lounge Chairs ~ Vintage Love

I generally do not look for retro furniture. I am more of a clean lines, teak wood (danish) kind of person :). Also, vinyl is not my thing and I somehow do not connect with leather either. Having said all that, I could not resist sharing these really cool armless loungers for sale on local CL.

One look at them and their price, I was drooling!! Wouldn't you love these impressively vintage chairs, I assume from the 70's. A brief research dint get me anywhere till now...The seller has not put up much either. (any information on them, most welcome)

They seem extremely well made and have been maintained so well. I really admire people who take such good care of their furniture (crazy me!!). I am sure anyone taking it home will be very happy with the purchase :)

IMAGE COURTESY: SELLER

What I like about these loungers is that they have just the right amount of chrome accent on them and tufted look gives them a very streamlined, clean look (what say!)

Where these might work well

Such loungers look good when paired with a long couch

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 Imagine these lounge chairs instead of Eames classic ( The group chair) used in this setting

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or here (not a huge fan of whites) but wanted to share the layout

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I would really appreciate your comments and any information you might have about the make or exact period/style etc

UPDATE:

Yay!! i found out more about the chairs...so look at this post as well >>> Vintage-retro-lounge-chairs-update