Recovery

As you've likely heard, our fair city of St. Louis experienced a couple rough nights this week.  My heart goes out to everyone caught in the middle, including our friends over at Rocket Century who were right in the thick of it on South Grand.  Thankfully, they escaped unscathed, but many others were not so fortunate.

I hope that our community can make a speedy recovery and that those responsible for the unnecessary violence and destruction are swiftly brought to justice.

Getting back on topic, I thought that I'd follow up on my last post and link you all to the new MCM-inspired collection released by Ikea.  While many MCM enthusiasts may not hold them in particularly high regard, I actually really like a few of the pieces.  Check it all out here.  Apologies for the lack of English translation.

Chicago Trip

While most of my Chicago vacation was taken up with Halloween parties and Mexican food, I did make a few shopping trips.  You didn't think I'd come all that way and miss favorite Swedish homegoods store, did you?

It seems like every time that I pay Ikea a visit, they've got a few more MCM-inspired pieces on display.  Some might scoff at such things, but I'm actually a big fan.  These pieces look great and would suit anyone who is in the market for new rather than used.  Can't wait for the new location to open in St. Louis.

Aren't these armchairs cool? The one on the left is a reproduction of an actual model that they introduced back in the 1960's.

This surprisingly solid credenza is stained to look like teak and has all the wiring cutouts,  drawers, and shelves that you'd need for a modern media center.  My 1960's credenza required some jerry-rigging and cutting in order to fit everything inside, so that might be a big plus for some.

Break Out the Aloe

It's been a while, hasn't it?  As Mr. Modtomic mentioned, St. Louis has seen a severe Mid-Century Modern drought which has become more and more pronounced over the last several months.  I'm not sure whether this can be attributed to the huge influx of new dealers, the heat, the absurd prices, changing trends, or something else, but I'm trolling Craigslist fairly consistently and there just doesn't appear to be much at all out there.  The number of "sweet MCM deals" has fallen precipitously, from several a day to several a month.

While I'm saddened by the dearth of MCM goodness, I've had much more free time to dedicate elsewhere.  The girlfriend and I even managed to take a vacation to Tampa Bay!  While we've not yet recovered from our overindulgence in sun and fried seafood, we had a wonderful time and I hope to visit again soon.  The sunsets alone were worth the trip.

Snow Day

I was hoping to get back home and post a few pictures from my Christmas vacation, but apparently Old Man Winter had other ideas.  St. Louis got walloped with 10-14 inches of the white stuff, a wind chill dipping below -30, and gusts of near 40 mph!  Not exactly optimal landing conditions.  On the up-side, I get to spend the day(or days, depending upon the weather) lazing around in my velvety new bath robe and eating holiday candy.  I might need to leave that suitcase behind and pick up some larger pants upon my return if this trip goes on much longer.

Admiring from afar

Though my first home-buying experience was, to put it lightly, not at all pleasant, I've not yet given up hope on one day owning my very own perfect MCM gem.

No, I'm not in the market yet.  There's far too much going on in my life and the economy in general to consider another move at this point, but that doesn't mean that I can't wistfully page through the Zillow listings.

I've seen quite a few decent homes come and go, but this one in particular caught my eye.

Right in my price range, great schools, nice neighborhood, entryway garden, spacious yard, all original fixtures/kitchen/baths, A FREAKING BOOMERANG ROOFLINE...

Yeah, this place has just about everything, but it looks as if an offer was accepted last week.  Here's to hoping that the new owners appreciate Mid-Century Modern design, because if I see busted up vintage cabinets and tile sitting on the curb, man tears will be shed.

Safety First

Stay safe out there, St. Louis Craigslisters.  Remember to exercise caution by meeting in a public place, not flashing cash or expensive items, not traveling alone, and always telling a friend or family member about the transaction beforehand (who, where, when).

Source: River Front Times

House Tour (redux)

We've gone through a number of adjustments at the homestead, so I thought it'd be a good time to update the house tour.  The place is really starting to come together and look like an actual grown-up residence.   Considering that I bought my first home and began collecting less than a year and a half ago, I'd say we're making good progress.  Don't worry though.  There's still plenty of work to be done and Mid-Mod finds to share! 

So, without further adieu, here's the grand tour.

Mid-Century Midwest House Tour (1/30/13)

Living Room

Green Shag

While I'm completely preoccupied with the non-vintage (though still very, very crazy) aspects of my life right now, I did sneak in a few minutes at the Green Shag Market parking lot sale this weekend.  There's no way that I was going to miss out on that one!

I must say, there was fewer mid-mod items than the last sale, but that doesn't mean there wasn't plenty of treasures to be found.

Those Lane Acclaim tables were unmarked and it took all of my willpower to not ask the vendor about pricing.  I've already got quite the hoard of Acclaim awaiting refinishing upstairs (though none of the rarer double or scissor tables), and there just isn't any room.  No way.  No how.

I got to see the other St. Louis bloggers as well.  Living Analog, Secondhand Hannah, and Mr. Modtomic all had booths and a few others popped by as well.  Each had tons cool stuff for sale.

Unfortunately, I wasn't in much of a buying mood, though I did take home two vintage prints from Hannah's.  She's always got such a wonderful, eclectic assortment of items and I'm in need of pictures to cover up my crappy plaster walls.

So there it is folks.  I'll see you at the next Green Shag sale!

1520 Carman Road, 63021

A Mid-Century Modern home in West St. Louis County?!

On a drive through my old hood, Manchester, I noticed a "for sale" sign outside of this strikingly modern home.  It wasn't just any home.  No, it just happened to be the very same one I'd always admired growing up.  As a child, my school bus rode by this home every day and I always gave it a longing glance as we went by.  It was just so different than the suburban McMansions that sprouted up  all around the neighborhood.

Too bad the coffers are dry.  So somebody needs to save this mid-century gem before the bulldozers claim another victim...

... and then sell it to me real cheap when I've saved up to buy my mid-mod dream home ;)

You'd be hard-pressed to find such a modern home outside of Ladue or Clayton.  They just didn't build them like this around St. Louis.  

It looks as if a little elbow grease will be required, but it's a great neighborhood and such a rarity.  

For more (and larger, non-pixelated) pictures, head over to Ted Wight's St. Louis Style blog.

I put a spell on you

Yep, my house is definitely cursed.  No doubt about it.  

First the roof leaked in the second story.  Then it leaked in the bathroom, spare bedroom, and living room.  Next came the clogged waste drain pipe, the peeling drywall tape, and cracking plaster walls.  After that, the windows began leaking and a pipe burst in the basement, flooding the area with sewage and necessitating the removal of a section of the concrete floor.  Oh, and we can't forget the water seeping into the basement and the settling/cracking foundation.  All of the above were expertly hidden by the lovely renovators who redid my home and then promptly fled to Eastern Europe as soon as the ink on the paperwork was dry (presumably after casting some sort of gypsy curse on my abode).

As if all of that happening within a period of 8 months wasn't enough, the a/c has now conked out and there's a fresh leak in the sunroom.

Not the best way to start Memorial Day weekend, but I did end up getting a few hours of respite.

Mr. Modtomic, his girlfriend, and I had a look around the Wentzville Flea Market on Sunday and brought home a few goodies.

Then I prepared a BBQ feast, which included my world-renowned ribs, for my father's birthday.  Seriously, you have to try this recipe.

AND my friend Jon and I made it to the Gypsy Caravan!

There wasn't much Mid-Mod left after Mr. Mod cleaned the place out (nor were there any gypsies who could lift my curse), but it was nice to get out of the sweltering house and get some sunlight on that pale hide of mine.

So now it's time to start combing the review pages to find a decent (and cheap) a/c repair company... and perhaps an exorcist.

I've got my eye on you

'Scuse the messy bed in the pictures below.  I got a little too excited about my latest find and couldn't wait to get a few snaps.

This "eyeball lamp" comes by way of St. Louis Craigslist and was somewhat of an impulse purchase.  "That's kinda cool," I thought, "looks sorta like a Sonneman Orbiter."  In the trunk it went.  Yes, they did look similar, but it was missing the trademark handle and they've pumped out knockoffs of Sonneman's by the thousands, so I thought nothing of it.

Then I get home and, in the process of giving it a once-over, noticed this tiny green sticker.

Yep, it's confirmed.  This is a "Kovacs", not a Sonneman.  Oh well.

Or is it...

I hadn't heard of the Kovacs name before, so I performed a little Google magic and guess what.

It's a gen-u-ine Sonneman!

From what I can gather, Robert Sonneman designed a series of lamps for Robert Kovacs' light fixture company.  This included the orbiter series, but also a number of other lamps that didn't include the adjustable Orbiter handle.

The details all match up (the hinge, the wire, the stand material, etc.), so unlike a lot of other ID attempts, I'm fairly certain about this one (though feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken).

So now this little guy is gonna direct his cyclopic gaze over my study.  No more Walmart junk-lamp here!