mid-century modern drought tolerant landscaping

When we re-did our bathrooms three years ago, we re-landscaped a tiny strip of yard on the back fence so the bathrooms would have a view.

It was beyond silly and humiliating to me that the rest of the yard looked like this.

Midcentury Modern Catalina Weekend Getaway

Even though it is back to school (boo), I have one more summer adventure to share with you.

Almost a month ago we ran away from home for the weekend.

what i bought on my summer vacation...mid-century modern midwest

Now for the fun part. When we trekked back to the Midwest over the 4th of July, my patient and tolerant cousin indulged my love of the op shops.

I decided I would focus on mid-century modern Midwest pottery.

very modern: millennium park chicago; what i did on my summer vacation part 3

I know. You wish I would stop. But I can't. You see the problem is, I used to take pictures and put them in albums. Then I took pictures and made scrapbooks. When the digital age happened, I went online and made photo books.

I would make one for every single vacation. And then, one day, I didn't.

what we did on our summer vacation part two: chicago architectural boat tour

Those of you out there in the Midwest know how absolutely hot and humid it can get.

And, you would never voluntarily plant yourself in July, on the upper deck of a boat, in a river, surrounded by buildings...with temps and humidity above ninety degrees, for ninety minutes of slow moving sight seeing. That's what we have tourists for, right?

farnsworth house: midcentury modern minimalist miracle

We had the good fortune to spend the week of the 4th of July in Illinois and Indiana. My parents both hail from Indiana and my sweet cousin lives in Chicago. When we travel to the Chicago area, my cousin always indulges my architectural fantasies. She gave me a list of houses to pick from for this trip. Imagine my shock and awe when I looked through her links and brought up this home:

OMG. I have seen the Farnsworth Home so many, many times in various books, touted as the quintessential example of mid-century modern minimalism. I never noticed it was near Chicago. SCORE.

my favorite five new things from dwell on design 2014

My third Dwell on Design Friday!  My first DOD, 2012, wow'd me. I was overwhelmed with all the cool things. The 2013 DOD seemed a little more lower key than 2012 for whatever reason although, I accidentally had my very own one second of fame.

 But... the 2014 DOD knocked my socks off. The exhibits and displays were impressive. And the Dwell Outdoors area was the best ever.

Having been to three now, you kinda know what to expect. I went in like a veteran, looking for something fresh and new. Here are my top five picks for new things that got my attention at the show.

dwell on design 2014 home tours west side los angeles

YAY! It is that time of year again. Dwell on Design Week in Los Angeles. Before the main Design Event next weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center, I dropped into the Dwell on Design Home Tours, West Side Los Angeles.

I am going to go at it a little differently this time. Rather than bore you with room by perfect room of the latest and most expensive design on the West Coast, I thought I would pick out the highlights (according to me). Let's do a top five ... Shall we?

armed forces day, a truly mid-century holiday, celebrated with 1,776 flags

Armed Forces Day is traditionally the second Saturday in May. And Newport Beach has a very special way of paying tribute to our members of the military.

1,776 flags are placed on a cliff above Newport Bay to honor all branches. It is simply spectacular.

perfect (perfect) cliff may in long beach; 1954 never looked so good

Cliff May is considered the father of the post-war California Ranch home, and Long Beach, quite near where I live, has a substantial Cliff May housing tract. Just a day before its first open house, I got a little sneak peek of a really impressive Cliff May.

They had me at the front door. Awesome coordinated light turquoise retro door with a Firesticks succulent in a matching pot.