At Least I Don't Have a Garage

At this point, things are looking a little more Grey Gardens than Farnsworth House.  So it is time to do so some clearing out.

Yeah...

Diamonds are a guy's best friend

You know, I've never been a real believer in luck, karma, Juju, divine intervention, or whatever you may call it.  I'm hard-core skeptic who's natural tendency is to attribute everything to the luck of the draw.

However, the world sometimes has an unmistakeable pattern to it.  Take, for example, the rather unbelievable string of home-related travesties that has befallen me since my move last year.  Surely there's no way that these events could have all occurred within this short timeframe without some kind of supernatural intervention.

Well, I must have done something right lately (a rare occasion, I assure you), because the Mid-Mod gods have chosen to smile upon me....

... and bequeath unto me this set of gorgeous Bertoia Diamond Chairs!

OK, so maybe that's a smidge dramatic, but I'm really excited.  I've been searching high and low for a pair of Bertoia's for quite some time.  In fact, I'd say that I'm completely enamored with their airy, sculptural look.  Just ask Mr. Modtomic.  He's probably sick to death of me oohing and aahing every time he brings his out.  Now I've got my very own to admire.

And the Mid-Mod gods may have played a part, but one of my readers actually delivered the goods (THANKS!).  It's such a cool experience running into readers and it's been happening more and more frequently lately, though they usually first ask if I'm Mr. Mod.  A shared interest in Mid-century Modern makes striking up a conversation easy and I've made some great friends and acquaintances over the last few months.  Anyway, she was making a trip to St. Louis to pick up a few things and decided to put some of her own items, including the chairs, up on Craigslist.  I was ALL OVER IT.

As is the case with most Bertoia's, these guys obviously spent their days out on the patio and the Rislan finish is rusted-through and flaking.  Something will need to be done, but what?  More on that in a second.

These have the original glides, for which I've already ordered replacements... 

... and the original Knoll covers.  Yep, that is a HOT pink, and that's the (very) faded side.  Wanna see a REAL hot pink?  

Daaaaaaaaang that's hot!  I didn't even know Knoll made this shade.  Obviously, being a red-blooded American male, I'll be putting the covers in storage.

So, here it is.   The breakfast nook is finally complete.  Well, almost complete.  See, I've gotta decide what to do about the finish on the chairs.  Should I go over them with a wire brush and paint them with Rustoleum?  Would it be better to take them to get sandblasted and powder coated?  How much would a job like this cost?  Should I do them in white, black, or a white/black combo like Hannah's?  Is just leaving them in their current rustic state for the best?

Oh, the questions.  The nagging, nagging questions.

Bertoia Dilemma

I've searched high, low, far, and wide, but can't dig up any info on how to construct a home-made Bertoia Diamond Chair cover or find a cheap replacement.  Surely some enterprising individual has taken it upon themselves to recover these Knoll lovelies.  I mean, it looks fairly simple, doesn't it?

"Intellectual property... blah blah... Harry Bertoia rolling over in his grave... blah blah... Supporting good designers... blah blah..."

Yes, I know.  I know.

source: Zeitlos Berlin

I'm a bad person.  There, I admit it.  The simple truth is that I'm a cheap S.O.B., and I'll be damned if I'm going to fork over $600 to cover a chair that cost 1/6th of that.

So, anybody out there got the deets?

If not, I might be taking a crash course in upholstery.  If it goes through, I promise to share the results, however terrifying they may be.

Wish List Part 1: The Kitchen

Man, January just flew by.  It seems like the year only just started and here we are in February.

You've seen my 2012 to-do list for the house, but I thought I'd also start on a list of items I'd like to pick up throughout the year as well.

Part 1: The Kitchen

1. Blown glass succulent terrarium

source: Shelterness (I believe this is The Brick House)

2. Saarinen Tulip/Noguchi Cyclone-style kitchen table

 

source: Treadway Gallery

source: Office Designs

3. Eames shell/Bertoia wire-style chair (x2)

source: St. Houzz

source: Blogspot - Room Lust

source: Knockaround

4. Scandinavian dinnerware (Ikea 365+ - $29.99 18pc set)

source: Ikea

5. Scandinavian flatware (Ikea Lärd - $24.99 20pc set)

source: Ikea

6. Scandinavian glasses (Ikea Svalka - $4.99 6pc set)

source: Ikea

7. Bamboo placemat (Ikea Toga - $1.99)

source: Ikea

8. A trash can that doesn't look terrible (much harder to find and more expensive than one would think)

source: Amazon

A Plethora of Pollock

I know they aren't exactly uncommon or high-end but I absolutely love Knoll Pollocks.  They're durable, comfortable, and have an attractive minimalist design.

However, as they say, you can have too much of a good thing.

(Yes, that is a Snuggie resting atop that Knoll Pollock.)

I think that might be the case here, as I've assembled quite an extensive collection.  I've got cloth, vinyl, leather, 4 star bases, 5 star bases, tagged, untagged, black-rimmed, chrome-rimmed, you name it.  And yet, not a single one has upholstery that is in good condition.

It would seem that my home has become a shelter for abused and abandoned Knoll Pollocks.  It's like a mid-century modern orphanage.

But just look at these pitiful chairs.  They've been scratched, scuffed, stained, and had buttons ripped from their cushions.  Could you turn these poor wretches away at your door?

I certainly couldn't, but that's left me with a bit of a predicament: no money, no time, and no idea how to fix them up.

<cue uplifting piano music>

Every day, thousands of mid-century office chairs suffer neglect and abuse.  Hi, I'm Nick from Save the Pollocks.  For only a dollar a day, you could make a difference in the life of this poor Knoll Pollock.  Give the gift of a brighter future with fresh upholstery and properly attached buttons.  Donate today and you will receive a hand-written letter written from the comfort of your adopted chair.  Thank you for your support and kindness and have a wonderful day.

(Disclaimer: Save the Pollocks is not an actual charity.  All proceeds from Save the Pollocks will, in all likelihood, be used to purchase additional unneeded mid-century crap.)