MCM Facebook This Week – November 11th, 2015

Wow, Meg Evens Hayden has a cool home! She shared this photo to the MCM group and I while would not be the first to say you should showcase avocado green here it works wonderfully! Tempered by the neutral wall and floors the punch of green in the incredible fireplace, as well as the seating, makes for playful yet sophisticated room. Also, any room with a good supply of books, music (nice vinyl collection here), and a glowing fireplace is always going to score points with me. Meg had the classic Firehood covered to gas and it’s a great way to update them and to make them a little more convenient to use. Again, a fabulous space and thanks for sharing! Click here for the original post.

While there may not be an actual movement called eclecticism it is, though, a school of thought in which proponents try never to cling rigidly to a single paradigm but rather prefer to draw upon a multiple of styles. Herney Gallego posted a photo that articulates that idea quite nicely. Anchored by a few great MCM pieces with accessories from outside of the era the effect is ‘living’ design. The traditional carpet and antique scale in a Victorian glass presentation box and perfect foils (in a good sense) for the bold modern art. It is in these contrasts that we can appreciate the qualities of the individual designs all the more. Thanks for sharing Herney! Click here for the original post.

Alexandra Juryte posted this lovely image of her home and it is a great example of how to create a wonderful space with MCM pieces without it feeling too stuffy or museum-like. The trick, as well demonstrated here, is to mix things up and incorporate different styles to achieve an overall more dynamic effect. Classic pieces like the Hans Wegner chairs and Eames lounge work very nicely with more traditional and eclectic items. A great space created with the right amount of furnishings. Thank you for sharing Alexandra! Click here for the original post.

What a well done space. Kelly Paananen shared this photo of her living and dining area and it looks like a space you just be so comfortable hanging out in. It’s a ‘well mixed’ space as well with pieces of different periods. And Kelly has done the one thing I think everyone should do with a TV – and that it put out for everyone to easily see. I do not cotton to the idea of trying to ‘hide’ newer tech. We can enjoy MCM pieces but we shouldn’t live in denial that we live in this period. Good design, as shown here, has to be comfortable, and you can’t be comfortable if you’re hiding something. So stop hiding your TV, you paid good money for it! 🙂 Have to note the clever effect of the carpet swirl nicely echoing the swirl of the coffee table legs. Nice. Thanks for sharing Kelly! Click here for the original post.

Hats off to Troy Vallafskey for removing a painted ‘80’s-ification’ to this lovely lamp base. He took it from an almost throw-away item to a lovely MCM accessory. Although he admits it was not without a bit of effort. In fact, he called the job a ‘nightmare’! But well worth it. I will never stop speaking to the great side effect of collecting – and that is that it is good for the environment. That is not to say all collectors are active environmentalists but by saving and restoring what some folks might consider trash that is one less item in the already over-full landfills. So, not only did Troy create for himself a lovely MCM treasure, he kept an ‘old painted lamp’ out of the trash – good for you Troy and thanks for sharing! Click here for the original post.

I find it quite astonishing how little it takes to make a big impact in design. Ross Severson posted this charming vignette of a few vases and an abstract painting all carefully arranged on a simple slat bench, and it makes the space. The simplicity of modern design means that quite often very little is needed to make the correct statement. But simplicity of design is not a new thing. Certainly the Japanese have been creating minimal, clean-lined spaces for centuries. And Native Americans have been creating minimal design for even longer. And that’s what caught my eye with this post – the rug (Navaho?) and its brilliant, simple and elegant repeat pattern. It’s a perfect underscore to the entire space. Thanks for sharing Ross! Click here for the original post.

Ana June posted this photo of her kitchen in her 1958 and the word that comes to my mind is that it’s adorable! The cabinetry on ‘stilts’ with the recessed shelving and to-the-ceiling range hood are all original features and while she says there is still work that needs to be done so far it’s looking quite fabulous! I will say here that while I have – if I may say so – a fairly nice collection of MCM furniture and accessories but what I am one day hoping to do if find a nice MCM house and restore it and to put my collection on proper display. It is photos like Ana’s here that keep me optimist – as well as providing some great ideas! Thanks for sharing Ana! Click here for the original post.

If you want (at least) a thousand likes on a post in the MCM group post a photo of a find of Starburst Franciscan tableware, as did Courtney Bales Manning with her great find. The Franciscan line started as a branch of Gladding-McBean of California and was first introduced in 1954 to tremendous success. A success that resounds today as people are just crazy about this line. And why wouldn’t they be? This series is just absolutely joyful! The color-backed star graphics are so period that, short of a boomerang graphic, it almost stands as the logo of the era! When I see these posted I like to think of the original designer and wonder how he or she feels about creating one of the most enduring designs of the 1950’s? Always a delight to see and thanks for sharing Courtney! Click here for the original post.

Terry Bowen posted this stunning example of the design works of Danes Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard Nielsen. People often ask me what are good pieces to buy and the answer depends of whether they are looking for something that will go up in value, or do they want a piece they will never tire of. If they want it for the latter reason I will always point them to a piece like this. These well-made, well-designed Danish case pieces are practical, durable, beautiful, and will always be a joy to own. Often in older folks homes I will see pieces like this still being enjoyed 50 years after they were first purchased. If you find something that works you stick with it and pieces like Terry’s here will always work. Thanks for sharing! Click here for the original post.

Again another classic case piece beautifully arranged by Ben Trotter – even the New Zealand map is period correct! Again, these Danish case pieces are some of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can buy. Some, by the better known designers, can be expensive but so many of these were produced during the 1950’s and 1960’s by lesser or even unknown designers that they can be had for a good price. But, whether by a Juhl or Wegner, or –as in this case – an unknown designer the one thing they will share is that they will all be very well made. Have to mentioned again that Ben has done a wonderful job with just the right amount of accessories and – from the map of the wall to the glass works – with perfectly chosen colors to compliment the teak sideboard. Thanks for sharing! Click here for the original post.

Heidi Keller posted this lovely table and chairs she won at auction and she delightedly shared it with the group – and rightfully so! It’s a beautiful table. But the post did bring up the subject of re-issues. Heidi did mention that this table is a later re-issue and I had wondered whether she meant a copy. This will always cause a debate with one side of the argument being that copies are not fair to the original designers and manufacturers with the other side claiming that originals are cost prohibitive and better to ‘fake it until you make it’. I find it an interesting debate and I find that frankly, whether you buy a re-issue or an original, it’s no one’s business but your own. If you like it and are comfortable with the purchase enjoy it. Lovely dining set Heidi and thanks for sharing! Click here for the original post.

Sometimes you see a piece and it looks like the designer did not know when to put the pencil down. And that can be said for this piece posted by Rob Henry. It’s a bar, storage, room divider, credenza, and possibly a dishwasher. It’s a hybrid of influences and purposes and it’s thoroughly marvelous! This is a statement piece and whenever I look at it I never know where to start with it? The little torpedo feet, the quarter paneling on the doors, that abstract Spanish glass door? Every part of this piece looks like it was designed by a different person and again, the final effect is glorious. I love surprises like this. No idea who the manufacturer or the designer is nor is it important in this case. Thanks for Sharing Rob! Click here for the original post.