Sofa dreaming

  It happened again.  Another person told us their grandmother/aunt/neighbor/whatever just got rid of a pristine 1950s-60s couch.  "They barely ever sat on it," or "it still had a plastic cover."  This leaves me wanting to bang my head on the wall and sob.  This must be the third person in so many months to tell us we just missed out on a dreamy mid-century sofa.  "If only we had known you liked that sort of thing", they say.  Ugh.
   So, I'm broadcasting it to the world.  Putting the intent into the ether...we are looking, friends! 
 I found the most amazing aqua blue, 1950s sectional, with rounded corners and peg legs.  I pressed my face against the store window like some sort of deranged stalker.  The store wasn't open.  In fact, the store has never been open in the eight years I've lived here.  I believe it's only a storage space, despite the large furniture store description on the awning.  I went next door and asked the shop owner if he knew the owner and could possibly call him...or at least look the other way while I jimmied the lock. :)  To my delight, he actually had a set of keys for the building, but as soon as I got up close, I saw a SOLD sticker on the sofa.  Damn it all! 
  I've come upon a couple of other beauties "in the wild," but was lacking the confidence to spring.  I've been a bit weary to buy anything in the thrift store.  Since I can't exactly submerge it into some disinfectant, I'd really prefer to know the previous owner. 
   So please dear friends, help a girl out.  Keep your eyes peeled for the sofa of my dreams.

1950s sectionals Love that nubby mint green upholstery

Embossed designs on the backrest

1960s daybed

1960s Danish banana sofa

What's your sofa style?

Check yourself (outfit #31)

I purchased this 1950's shirtwaist dress from a thrift store.  It's made by a company called Pom Pom Fashions.   My red Swedish clogs are from Ebay.   I call this my "market dress."  All that's missing is a sweet straw shopping basket, filled with goodies from this Italian grocery store, which was built in 1921.

Happy Sunday!

Seeing spots (outfit #30)

This darling, 1950s polkadot dress was thrifted.  My jade and pearl clip-on earrings and matching apple pin belonged to my late grandmother.  Polkadots were such an iconic trend in the 50s, and they are just as flirty and fun today.  I think green is such a flattering color on red heads, don't you agree?

Happy Sunday!

Shine bright like a diamond

This is my six year old son, Emery.   I love finding clothes and cool hats for him, because he actually seems excited to wear them.  He's always asking me, "does this make me look like a gentleman?"  The Wash and Wear, button down shirt was purchased from Jack Sprat on Etsy.  They specialize in affordable vintage for little boys.   If you've ever attempted to dress your sons in vintage clothing, you know just how difficult it is to find clothing in decent condition.  Little boys just wore their clothes out.  I fell in love the with atomic, 50s diamond pattern, and knew he'd look super stylish in this shirt, paired with one of his beloved, thrifted hats.

Spinning in circles (outfit #29)

Here is my 1940s silk blouse, that I purchased at an estate.  It buttons up the back and has the prettiest circle cutout pattern on the collar.  My skirt is 1950s, designed by Rhoda Lee, and was thrifted.

Happy Sunday!

He's got game

I'm flying solo this week, because my husband went to Texas with a group of his friends for a Board Game Convention.  I get into a rhythm, so keeping track of four kids by myself doesn't even phase me.  However, by the end of the week, I'm usually really ready for him to come home.  He just texted me and said he was playing a game with Harry Crane (Rich Sommer) from Mad Men!  Now, I'm officially jealous that I'm not there too.  

My husband and I have been hosting a Saturday game night almost every weekend for the last four years.  We've even dubbed a couple of them "mid-century night" as an excuse to dress up, and drink from our fancy barware.

It all comes full circle. :)

Master bedroom

I'm finally ready to reveal our master bedroom!  It's really my own unique style; part mid-century, part girly glam.  I was inspired by some of my current color obsessions; navy blue, aqua, and mint green.  I added some peach and gold accents in the artwork to help warm up the space.  I tried to add plenty of reflective surfaces, neutral white and gauzy sheer curtains to brighten up the room.  It was a bold choice to go so dark with the wall color, but I'm really happy with the space.  It manages to be soothing, without being boring. 

The wall color is Behr's Darkest Navy.  The antique iron bed frame was mine in high school.  I used a thrifted, embossed, chenille bedspread as a bed skirt.  I love the fringe!  The mid-century, metal, rolling, record cart was a gift from a friend.  I found the Crosley suitcase record player at an estate sale for cheap.  The white hanging light is a puzzle lamp from good ole Ikea.  The letters over the bed are actually 3-D cardboard letters that I sprayed gold.  The are super lightweight, so if they fall off the wall in the middle of the night, we won't be killed by LOVE. ;)

The nightstand was thrifted and then painted a pale minty blue.  The blue, Zenith alarm clock/ tube radio is from the 1950s.  It only gets AM stations, but it sounds crystal clear! The "You and me are meant to be" screen print was ordered on Etsy. 

The Thonet chair at my sewing nook, was purchased at the Denver Modernism Show, and then recovered in the same Amy Butler Honeycomb fabric as the Mod Podged desk.  My wool chevron rug came from ebay.  Our matching Drexel dresser set came from an Estate sale for $50 for the pair!! I'm still doing cartwheels over that bargain! I have some of my vintage hats and small purses hanging from hooks on either side of my dresser.  It's a nice way to keep everything organized, and also display some of my favorite accessories.  We have an aqua Princess phone and the coolest turquoise, spinning pen holder.  The aqua, 1950s, deer, TV lamp came from ebay, but the two tiered fiberglass lampshade came from a yard sale for .50!!  I framed a 1950s swimsuit ad, and some of my favorite vintage cameras are displayed throughout our room.

The mint "Happy Happy" screen print is from Etsy.  The mint green floor fan was originally a standard, black plastic fixture, which met with some Krylon Pistachio and Silver spray paint.  I think it gives it a nice retro feel, but I don't have to worry about severed fingers, like with the genuine antique fans.  Those vintage metal fans are a thing of beauty, but those wide slats in the screen terrify me!

More vintage cameras, including a Brownie with flash, and the Bolex, I used in my film school days.  The mini bullet planter was thrifted and my kitschy little owl bank came from the same estate as my dressers.  It's the wrong era, but I couldn't resist it's cuteness.  The "I freaking love you" screenprint came from here and the "Home sweet home" screenprint came from here.

Our bookshelf has geode bookends.  The "Kissing Booth" screenprint came from here.

What do you think?