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.
Andrea and I just spent a long weekend in Los Angeles, exploring midcentury neighborhoods and relaxing near the beach. Sunday we drove to Pasadena for the monthly Rose Bowl Flea Market. I’d been looking forward to this shopping trip for weeks. This was a flea market in CaliFORNia, a modernism mecca! I was armed with a carry-on bag filled with bubble wrap and newspaper, thinking I’d load up on vintage goodies for my Lustron. Too bad I didn’t stuff one of those pockets with sunscreen and a giant water bottle. We saw only about a quarter of the vendors because the intense heat was draining us and frying my skin. How hot was it? 102F. The guys selling cheap hats and frozen lemonade made a killing. I did come away with two lovely Fire King bowls, some fun photos, and a lot of know-how for next time.
On a crisp day last week, Andrea and I took a break from our laptop pecking to explore Atlanta’s Northcrest subdivision. This modest midcentury modern neighborhood northeast of the city (zip 30340) is a feast for eyes that hunger for angular abodes and cacti gardens. Here are five homes that made me pull over and consider life in the ‘burbs.
In my inaugural post I shared photos of my Lustron and hinted that some changes were coming soon. Well, I tricked you. I used old pics of the living room, because my redecorating scheme was already under way, but not camera-ready. Now it’s time for the big reveal! I can’t say I’m “finished,” because I don’t think I’ll ever stop tweaking my favorite room, but I’m satisfied enough to invite you in.
The best part about the makeover? More room for our tushies and dinner plates. After living with a loveseat and small ottoman for seven years, we finally have a full-size sofa and coffee table. I wanted an iconic chair, so I chose the spry Grasshopper lounger from Modernica. We got the sofa from DWR, the vintage tile table from Danish Modern L.A., and the wool rug from Verde Home. We already had the Heywood-Wakefield side tables. Sarah Lodato, founder of the Atlanta Institute of Stitches and Crafts, made the curtains.
We mixed in objects and art from Andrea’s grandparents’ farm, which was recently sold. Seen above, the blue bird, sock darners, and orange pitcher all belonged to Grammie. The succulent cushions are by PillowHappy.
I’ll show you three more photos after the jump.
My mom spends about two hours watering her vast container garden, but I didn’t inherit those maintenance genes. My indoor favorites are succulents and air plants, tough creatures accustomed to a cruel world with little moisture.
Air plants can be expensive, yet they don’t live long, so I like to buy the small ones and set them in a “landscape.” Here’s how to make this one.
1. Choose any bowl you like–no drainage hole necessary. I used a crackle bowl from my mother-in-law that marks our wedding date.
2. Fill the bowl with PermaTill, a slate soil mix-in intended for discouraging voles.
3. Set a large rock into the PermaTill to serve as a mountain or mesa in the foreground. I unearthed my granite chunk in the backyard–a bonus of Georgia living.
4. Set a piece of dried grapevine or driftwood (look for this at terrarium suppliers, nurseries, and hardware stores) behind the rock, and wedge a small air plant between the “woods” and “mountain.”
5. Set a circular piece of citrine (available from crystal shops) in the background as a mock sun.
To water the air plant, about once a month I soak it in a separate bowl of water for several hours. Every two months, I dissolve granulated plant food in the water. I know, that’s absurdly low maintenance! This is my ideal plant–lovely and sculptural, but closely related to plastic.
