Tag Archives: modern

tiny modern retreat in north georgia

Ellijay_facade

Jennifer Sams is a hunter by trade—an antiques hunter. It makes perfect sense that the owner of City Issue, one of Atlanta’s best sources of pristine midcentury furnishings, should wind down with her partner in a modern weekend cabin outfitted with Danish sconces, tulip chairs, and abstract paintings. Andrea and I spent a couple of days last October photographing, styling, and interviewing at the 500-square-foot cabin in the blue hills of Ellijay, Ga., and the article is finally out in Atlanta magazine’s HOME fall issue. Here’s a peek at the photography, including a couple of outtakes.

Ellijay_fireplace

Ellijay_living

Ellijay_dining

Ellijay_bedroom

Ellijay_telescope

my teak bar gets a new cluster

Lustron dining room, Joan Savo painting, Danish modern bar, Danish teak candleholders, McCoy starburst planter, Shawnee confetti vase, Russel Wright Iroquois carafe, Russel Wright creamer and sugar bowl

Decorating my Lustron is a never-ending project. I’ve been filling out and reimagining every prefabricated nook for nine years, so I thought it would be fun to share my ongoing adventures in thrifting. Lately I’ve been playing with clusters on top of my Danish bar cabinet in the dining room corner.

Danish teak candleholders, McCoy starburst planter, Shawnee confetti vase, Russel Wright Iroquois carafe, Russel Wright sugar bowl and creamer

The McCoy black and white planter from Etsy was the sole decoration for months. Then the Russel Wright carafe, sugar bowl, and creamer that lived on the dining table took refuge on the bar because they were often jostled when Andrea worked on his computer in the dining room. So I decided to make them a permanent fixture and add a couple of tall pieces to the mix. I chose Danish modern teak candleholders (another Etsy score) and an aqua confetti vase by Shawnee pottery, found at Broad Street Antique Mall in Chamblee.

Here are resources for you to find similar treasures of your own:

Teak candleholders by Bee Haven Home // Starburst McCoy planter from Mamabirds Vintage // Aqua Shawnee confetti vase from Modernware // Reissued Russel Wright beverageware from Bauer Pottery

mom’s house and me: milk glass

We both like antiques, but she’s turn of the century, and I’m midcentury. She likes country accents, and I keep things modern. While my taste has changed a lot over the years, it’s always been really different from my mom’s. During my Easter visit to my family home in Louisiana, though, a few of her prized possessions appealed to me in a new way. I suddenly felt drawn to her milk glass collection, sherbet-colored Tupperware, and cornflower blue dishes. So, in honor of Mother’s Day, here’s the first post of a series that showcases some of Mom’s favorite stuff  . . . and my own spin.

Here’s how Mom does milk glass — casual, shabby chic storage in the kitchen.

Milk glass vase with utensils

And here are some milk glass pieces I’d be happy to host in my Lustron.

milk_glass_mosaic

Product info clockwise from top left:

Hattie Carnegie milk glass and rhinestone necklace from kiamichi7 on Etsy // Set of 3 gold-dipped vases from NellieFellow on Etsy // Danish modern milk glass and teak pendant from AvantGarden on 1stdibs // Paul McCobb brass and Vitrolite table from Black & Gold on 1stdibs

modern atlanta home tour roundup

If “professional voyeur” were a job, I’d apply. I love peering into people’s nests, so I relish web galleries like the “sneak peeks” on Design Sponge. The only thing that beats panting over interiors online is buying a ticket to do it in person! That’s just what Andrea and I did Sunday, crisscrossing the city to visit four homes on the Modern Atlanta tour. Here are my favorite design moments.

sarvis home, north buckhead

See photos from three more homes after the jump!

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my favorite modern exhibits at LACMA

Last weekend we balanced our flea market marathon with a trip to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I had heard good reviews, but nothing specific. I wasn’t prepared to see important works, icons of modernism, that confronted us before we even made it inside! Here are my favorite moments.

On our way to the ticket window, we fell into trance watching three Alexander Calder mobiles in a lovely water garden.
Next we walked through Michael Heizer’s “Levitated Mass” installation, a mashup of primitive boulder art and modern engineering.
We spent several minutes in the courtyard watching these kids play with “Penetrabile,” by Jesús Rafael Soto. This little girl’s broken arm didn’t hold her back one bit!
Just after entering, we wound through Tony Smith’s monumental “Smoke.”
I’m in love with the color combination in Matisse’s ceramic “La Gerbe.” A local couple commissioned it for their patio in the 60s.
Didn’t expect to turn a corner and run into Josef Albers’s “Homage to the Square” paintings.
Looking closely at Lichtenstein’s “Cold Shoulder,” I was surprised to see many pencil marks and paint smudges. I always assumed that his imitations of mechanical printing were extremely precise. This discovery made me feel I could ease up a bit on my own perfectionism.