By the Book: Dining In

So I'm still flipping through my 1968 BH&G Decorating Book. I just can't get enough! Last time I was all about technicolor living rooms and this time I'm madly in love with this bold dining room. The table and chairs, the lighting, the credenza, the paneling, the art; it's all great! Even the checkerboard floor, which is normally reserved for casual kitchens and diners, seems perfectly at home here. Major swoon!

Image via Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book, 1968

By the Book: 1968 BH&G Technicolor Livingrooms

I'm kind of addicted to vintage decorating & woodworking books. I've amassed quite a collection and am always on the lookout for more. They're not just a look back into the past, they're also full of amazing inspiration for modern decorating, especially if your taste leans towards retro modern or MCM like mine. Just look at the cover to the left...nix the green carpeting (and the green paneling if you're so inclined) and you've got a gorgeous modern room.

Since I can't possibly use all these awesome ideas in my apartment, I've decided to stop being selfish and share them with you! Every week I'll post some of my favorite pictures from a one of my books. Currently, I'm stuck on the Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book from 1968 so don't be surprised if all the pictures come from here the next few weeks! Out of all the books I have, this one has the largest amount of great pictures. It was a birthday present from Leilani of the Thriftaholic blog. It's nice to have awesome vintage-loving friends who will buy you retro goodies :)

All images via Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, 1968

I like the geometric prints on the rug and wall tapestry. I wish I could see what is in the lower right corner. Looks like some kind of platter with a tribal print.

This is one of my favorite rooms. The multi-colored pillows, blue rug, worn wood floors, and art on the walls are amazing. Oh, and look at those colorful bowls on the coffee table. I'm not a fan of the arm or rocking chairs, but other than that I'll take it!

Till next week...

Etsy Shop of the Week: Inaluxe

Getting ready for Christmas?  Need a housewarming gift?  Stop by Inaluxe for a few cards and prints.  Each piece has a life of its own with colorful, mid-century themes and layers of texture.  I especially love the folksy animal prints.  Your white walls won't be bored with a few of these hanging around!

Currently, Inaluxe is having a giveaway.  Enter before the 21st for your chance to win a gorgeous print!  Click here for more info.

My old couch gets new life!

Remember my gorgeous '60s couch and chair set?  I bought them off craigslist 3 years ago.  I fell in love with the gentle swoops and beautiful angles.  They're classic pieces in an awesome orange color.  How could I resist?

 

Unfortunately, our move to Chicago this summer meant that I couldn't bring the sofa with me (I kept the chair and now have it in my office).  Not only was it too big to fit in the Uhaul, but the fabric was worn from 50 years of being sat on.  I knew it would be quite awhile before I had the money to have it reupholstered, so I did the unthinkable and sold the couch on craigslist to the first person who could pick it up before we moved.

Thankfully, an awesome gentleman bought it and took it immediately from my house to his upholsterer.  I knew right off the bat that it was in good hands!  Even better, he sent me pics of the newly redone piece, now a soft pea soup.  What do you think?

Used Friday: What's Black, White, and Red All Over?

Clockwise from top left corner: Brownie Target 6-20 Box Camera, $30 (Falcon and Finch); Red Striped Mugs, $24 (8 Point Design); Flip-Up Spector Sunglasses, $9.99 (Kevey Dean); Plastic Vintage Buttons, $3 (Orit Dotan); TGIF Vintage Typewriter Keys, $9.75 (Sadie N Stella); Royal China Tweed Serving Bowl, $10 (Blue House Vintage); Bus Exit Sign, $45 (The Sunday Times Market)

Zenith Tube Radio C519, $150 (4 Eyes and Ears)

Red Plaid Blazer, $27 (Huzzah Vintage)

Vintage Spice Pots, $16 (Rhubarb and Apples)

Used Friday: The Windy City

Vintage Wooden Desk (Chicago - Pilsen)
Price: FREE!!

Free 1950's desk. Get it now.

You may also like: 60's Glam Desk

Orange Lounge Chair (Glenwood, IL)
Price: $175

What a fun chair! I think it would look even more fun if you painted the wood frame but that's just me. Fabric seems to be in good shape.

You may also like: Funky Wieland Unimold Chair, Retro Reclining Chairs

Record Cabinet (Chicago)
Price: $195

This little record cabinet is simply adorable. I wish I had the space.

Ceramic Tiles (Shaumburg, IL)
Price: FREE again!!

If you're a DIY-er with a tiling project on your hands, this posting's for you. They have over 6 boxes of tiles leftover and they're giving them all away for free!

Mid-century 4-Drawer Dresser (Batavia, IL)
Price: $95

This wooden beauty is full of potential. Keep it as is or grab a brush and transform it into a masterpiece. For inspiration, click the Kroehler link below.

You may also like: Kroehler Mid-Century Highboy, 2-Toned Bedside Table

Red-Glazed Entry Table (Hyde Park, IL)
Price: $60

What a fun table. It's pretty affordable considering the poster painted and glazed it themselves. Gives me a great idea for our entryway.

Vintage Record Player (Chicago - Humboldt Park)
Price: $100

Okay, I'll admit this post is for MY record player! We love it to death but we just don't have the space. I can't wait to see it go to another retro lover.

Mod Bookcase (Chicago - Lincoln Square)
Price: $295

Display your favorite acessories, use it as a sideboard, or frost the glass and turn it into an entertainment center.

You may also like: Drexel Sideboard

Retro School Desk (Chicago - Roscoe Village)
Price: $20

This would look great in a loft, office, entryway, playroom, etc. Plus it's a steal at $20.

You may also like: Orange Metal School Desk

Grammie's Gifts

Last Thursday, Grammie, my husband's grandmother, passed away.  She was 87.  My favorite memory of Grammie comes from our wedding.  We were taking group pictures and cameras were flashing all over the place when she said, "I feel like a celebrity!"  It was hilarious!

Grammie (2nd from right) feeling like a celebrity at our wedding!

This being a decorating blog, I feel it fitting to officially thank Grammie for the wonderful things we got from her home.  She had a house full of retro and mid-century furnishings.  Now they're a part of OUR home and are a constant reminder of the great woman they used to belong to.  Below are a few of our favorite items, not including the decanters, vases and other odds and ends we got.

The TV, cart, and VCR are from Grammie's house.

We have several of Grammie's books spread throughout the house.

The bookcase is our favorite piece in the house.  On it's own, it's worth a good amount of money but the fact that it comes from Grammie makes it priceless.  This is a family piece we'll ALWAYS have.  I can't wait to find a place for it in our new apartmnet!

Her awesome blender.  They don't make them as cool as this anymore!

This radio still works!

Thanks Grammie!

Used Friday: New vintage additions

This Used Friday I'm sharing a few odds and ends that I've recently photographed for the vintage section of the Apt528 Store.  So far, there are only a few vintage items listed but now that I have my "photography studio" setup I can add many more! 

First off, a little photography DIY.  Yesterday I built my macro light box, or mini studio as I like to call it.  Actually, I made TWO light boxes!  The first one was made using directions from Jen Kiaba's photography blog.  It's super easy, you just cut holes in the sides of a cardboard box, cover them with tissue paper, cut a piece of posterboard to use as your backdrop, and use desk lamps for lighting.

The first light box

The box turned out too small and flimsy so I went to Staples and bought the biggest moving box I could find.  I found new directions online (can't remember the website) that suggested cutting up old tshirts or other fabric to cover the holes instead of tissue paper so I gave that a try. I made the box sturdier by making smaller holes.  Even thought this one was stronger than the first light box, it still wasn't big enough.  It would be easier if there was no top so I could take overhead and angled pictures.

The second light box

A photo taken with the second light box and edited for a "vintage" feel.  Alarm clock available at the Apt528 Store.

Which is why I decided to skip the light box altogether and just take overhead shots of some of the products on top of the poster board.  It was much easier and the pictures turned out just like I wanted!  I'm going to make one more Staples run to buy one of those tri-fold boards kids use for science projects.  The board will give me a white background so I can take shots like the one above without having to worry about my messy workroom showing up in the background.  As an added bonus, the tri-fold boards are easy to store as apposed to the light boxes which take up space.

Take a look at some of the new products I shot with the poster board for the vintage section of the Apt528 Store.

What do you think?

Telestar's are back!

Remember the super awesome TV-shaped salt & pepper shakers from 51 Vintage Circle's Etsy shop?  Well, I'm starting to think Elea, owner of said store, has a thing for TVs because today she showed me the coolest televisions ever from Telestar's Predicta line.  Predicta's were popular back in the late 40's and early 50's.  Now, Telestar is bringing them back, with all the modern conveniences of DVD, cable and satellite connectivity.  If you're in the market for one of these retro beauties, expect to shell out at $1800-$3600...not bad for a gorgeous TV!

Canister Update!

Many of you were on the edge of your seats as I struggled to decide which canisters to buy for my kitchen - orange or avocado (both from Etsy).  After reading your comments both here and on facebook, the majority of people said to go with the avocado canisters.  I spent hours and days in the kitchen before finally coming to a decision...

The avocado canisters won!

I'm horrible at taking pictures so you can't really see the canisters in my kitchen without the glare, but I have one on the shelf with my mugs and fondue pot....

and the others on the counter underneath my shelf of vintage kitchenware.  They look much better in person, believe me!

I love them so much and think I made the right choice.  As you see, we have a lot of red, yellow, and orange in the kitchen so it's nice to have a little avocado to break it up!

Thanks for all the comments and support during my tough decision!