pre-thanksgiving day sale at bauer pottery

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Extra special pre-Thanksgiving pre-Christmas sale if you happen to be in the hood. AND, Bauer is taking an extra 10% off the already discounted seconds pricing. What's not to like?

Bauer Company Showroom Sale

Saturday, November 23, 201

10am - 5pm

 3051 Rosslyn St., Los Angeles, CA 90065

hirschberg hooped glass vases from a new york city jaunt

On my last self-indulgent junket to New York City, I stopped by my very favorite glass store, The End of History. I can't help myself. The shop is absolutely incredible. All the glass is organized NOT by manufacturer or country of origin BUT by color.

From the Robb Report, Great Find, The End of History.

Honestly, it is a cacophony of colors, shapes and sizes. In only the best way.

introducing sumi the wonder dog

I truly believe in living as simply as possible. Our modest mid-century modern home is consistent with this philosophy as is my addiction to selling, buying and reselling all manner of used objects, furniture and clothing on Craigslist and eBay. I have found having cats is a low maintenance pet option and provides me an easy fuzzy fur fix.

But sometimes the universe interferes with your ideas of how your life should be lead.

dwell city modern manhattan: family style 14th street loft

Lucky me! I got to go to Dwell's City Modern Manhattan Home Tour and take a look at how sophisticated city dwellers live. The first house we toured was a converted Con-Edison switching station with a hipster industrial vibe. The next home was just as cool, but it had a distinctly family feel and was a tiny bit more practical.

This may be my favorite feature of the whole house. And, not really kidding. A shoe cubby by the front door, wouldn't you just die?

dwell city modern manhattan: con edison switching station turned townhouse

Oh do I have a treat for you. My annual expedition to New York City this year just happened to coincide with Dwell's City Modern Manhattan Home Tour. We get to peek into three of Manhattan's finest spaces.

Pretty unassuming right? I have seen some other pictures of the front of this home and it gets frequently redecorated by local artists. Wouldn't that make you crazy if it was your house? But the current owners seem to embrace it.

psa: palm springs modernism week 2014 tickets go on sale october 1

In case you missed all the posts about my trip this past February to Palm Springs Modernism Week, you can walk down memory lane here. Honestly, its more fun then a barrel of Bauer. Seriously.

Palm Springs Visitors Center from the Bus Tour

Tickets go on sale October 1 at 12 p.m. PST at modernismweek.com.

flea market pottery finds: bauer and a question

A few weekends ago I went to the Long Beach Antique Market. I was stunned and amazed at the truly fair pricing and and the quality of the merchandise. Even though I was really only on a scouting mission for future mid-century modern purchases, I can't go to an outdoor market and NOT partake of the wares. Seriously?

It is extremely easy to glance at this table and see exactly what caught my eye based on past posts.

long beach antique market: get your retro on

Just when I thought things couldn't get any better after my discovery of the Rose Bowl Flea Market a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the Long Beach Antique Market.

Would you like a bison horn with your knitting needles and vintage chartreuse vase? I know. Who wouldn't?

blenko? i think so.

Negotiating in a flea market. I am sort of just learning the shtick. Something caught my eye on this table at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market.

What could it be?

pasadena rose bowl flea market: mid-century modern what not and then some

I learned a valuable lesson this weekend on buying vintage and retro stuff. This is the pricing hierarchy that I have been long familiar with:

• Retail stores branded vintage are usually the more expensive option due to rent, and other factors. More so in California where mid-century is SUPER hip, vs. what I have seen out of state. 
• Craigslist can provide great deals. BUT it is competitive. And you have the whole annoying Craigslist factor.
• eBay has been my guilty pleasure for many years and bargains can be had for sure. However, eBay prices are starting to seem closer to retail as most sellers are fairly savvy. 

Turns out there is another incredibly effective way to buy mid-century modern, vintage and retro in Southern California.

vintage shop labor day glass treasure and a church

So I bragged yesterday about "discovering" a new vintage modern retro shop, Out of Vogue, in Fullerton, over last Labor Day weekend.

So what couldn't I resist this time? Guess before clicking. A few of you will get it right.

out of vogue: vintage modern shop in fullerton

My oh my, what do we have here? A retro shop tucked into a corner of old downtown Fullerton (Southern California), only 25 short miles from my home?

Have the gods been holding out on me? Why do I have to read Sunset magazine to figure out this little corner of heaven is in my own backyard?

Out of Vogue
109 E. Commonwealth Ave.

Fullerton, CA 92832

(714) 879-6647

Out of Vogue

cliff may 1954 rancho-style mid-century in long beach - #2

Okay, I can't hold out. You really need to see the second Cliff May I toured last Saturday. The first one was exquisite, honestly perfect in every way. This little beauty is an equally special treasure.

It does give out a bit of that mid-century tiki bar party vibe. For sure.

cliff may 1953 rancho-style mid-century in long beach - #1

The California ranch is quintessentially mid-century modern. And, Cliff May is considered the father of the ranch. Lucky for me, I live just a few short miles away from Long Beach and some of the largest Cliff May housing tracts in the United States (okay I made that up, but I think for sure it may be).

Step inside. And feast your eyes.

#dwell la home tours: diana wong artist studio and residence

All good things must come to an end. My summer goofing around at wineries and pet sanctuaries was fun, BUT back on the wagon.

Home tours and home improvement here we come.

8 tips for visiting wineries in paso robles, california

You type "mid-century modern barware" into eBay search and an amazing assortment of drinking-ware will present itself.

Dorothy Thorpe Roly Poly Glasses on eBay right now!

Cocktail hour is quintessentially mid-century modern and has been making a huge comeback. Honestly, I have never been a fan.

best friends animal society: a different kind of home

What do mid-century modern homeowners love more than their homes? Their grandchildren? Their children? Their spouses? Nah.

Their pets.

fred johnson bauer rose bowl arranging: a tutorial

A popular thing to do in blogs is provide tutorials. I thought I would give it a whirl.

#dwell home tours: atwater crossing industrial townhouse

I have another Dwell on Design house from the tour in June to share. There are two things I like about this residence in general. First of all, in the L.A. area, they are building more and more of these types of town house units on small lots in cool neighborhoods and selling to a younger generation who doesn't need the yards, the drive, and all the stuff. Honestly, it is refreshing. L.A. is such a ridiculous sprawl.

The second thing is the design. This particular home is professionally decorated and staged by the owner/designer, David Mast, and I enjoyed looking around and observing the touches only a designer could lend to a setting. Hopefully I can learn something.

#dwell home tours la: las tunas malibu, architect bruce bolander

A house tour is like a treasure hunt. The morning of, I wake up excited -- not sure what the day will bring. Don't get me wrong, house tours take a certain amount of endurance. There is the uncertainty for sure. Will the homes be spread up and down the Los Angeles freeway system? Will the tour organizers make attendees line up and go in two at a time to protect the precious houses?

But there is also the unadulterated joy, when you step into a home that you would never, ever, be able to see in your wildest dreams, in your "real" life. The last home of the June 15, Dwell L.A. West Side Tour was just such a home and something I thought we could all enjoy.

#dwell home tours: h house, richard banta, glendale

Doubling back a little bit. I have a few houses still to show from the Dwell Home Tour in June. I'll just pick off a few of my favorites, the more unusual homes.

Only in California do they build on essentially unbuildable land. But here you have it. A 1,300-square-foot-1962 home on stilts in Glendale. And yes, Glendale does get earthquakes. And there have been a few substantial ones since 1962.

denwar pottery's home mixes mid-century modern and craftsman treasures

Two times a week I drive down the same street in Costa Mesa, CA. It is after work, and I am tired, on my way to get my butt kicked at the gym. And four times a week (both coming and going), I notice this little mid-century modern across from a charming park.

I have wondered but never investigated.

spiffing up a mid-century modern patio

I brake for vintage and modern.

I scream to a halt for chartreuse.

winners announcement halsea tote and clutch

Winners Announcement

The Halsea tote goes to Donna Hayen Lässker and the clutch goes to Stacia Wyrick Schaefer -- reach out to me with your addresses and I will mail promptly! Please email rebecca at midcenturymodernremodel.com. Congratulations and thanks everyone for playing.

The print is call Kona Koi Sunset. 

And if you happen to know either of these two, please do drop them a line.

public service announcement: jonathan adler and j.c. penny

I had the most bizarre experience with a shipment from J.C. Penny the other day and must share. I searched high and low for a ceramic coffee canister because I broke our beloved Starbucks canister. I stumbled upon these little beauties.

J.C. Penny Happy Chic Jonathan Adler Canisters

Perfect, right?

los angeles downtown modernism

I stumbled into something cool again in Los Angeles last weekend. Honestly, it seems as if all the cool stuff is in L.A. (rather than near me in Orange County).

From GrainLA@me.com 

Sad but true. The O.C. is just not hipster friendly. No matter how much we beg to disagree.

70's print halsea tote and clutch giveaway! happy july! (CONTEST EXPIRED)

Winners Announcement

The Halsea tote goes to Donna Hayen Lässker and the clutch goes to Stacia Wyrick Schaefer -- reach out to me with your addresses and I will mail promptly! Please email rebecca at midcenturymodernremodel.com. Congratulations and thanks everyone for playing..

What do you think about this bright cheery print?

I love it. Reminds me of all things 70's.

#dwellondesign 2013: miscellaneous and random goodies

Well, all wonderful things must come to an end. I promised five posts in five days about the fabulous #DwellonDesign show and, sadly, today is post number five.

Isn't this display of Sunbrella fabric colors just delicious?

#dwellondesign 2013: outdoors, gardens and patios (oh my)

Today may be my favorite post. I love garden and patio stuff. When we redo our kitchen, I plan to upgrade an interior courtyard immediately adjacent to the kitchen including roofing it, and making it an outdoor living space. So I am actively hunting down ideas.

The entire middle of the #DwellonDesign convention center space was called Dwell Outdoor. On with the show.

#dwellondesign 2013: lights (and glass)

I love glass. Therefore, I love lights. Dwell on Design 2013 was last weekend at the L.A. Convention Center and it afforded me plenty of opportunity to see both.

David Trubridge Lighting. Beautiful colors.

#dwellondesign 2013: kitchens!

Dwell on Design 2013 was last weekend at the L.A. Convention Center. Five posts in five days - can she do it? Regular visitors know I am good for one or two posts a week. But I have too much good stuff to show you. I am planning a kitchen remodel so I was especially drawn to anything that whispered kitchen.

Let's get the kitchen stuff out of the way.

#dwellondesign 2013: chairs and a chest!

#DwellonDesign was at the L.A. Convention Center this weekend. On Friday, I drove my mom up to Los Angeles and had a look around. Imagine the very best of design all on one convention center floor. Spectacular and a little overwhelming. I am going to break the posts up into groups of things I am interested in (my assumption always is my interests are your interests - haha). First up... CHAIRS (and a chest)!

Coolest booth. Ever. I mean that.

#dwellondesign home tours l.a. 2013: garten and reid residence

It's that time of year again! @Dwell is back in town with their June 21-23 Dwell on Design show which also includes home tours. Sunday, June 15 kicked off with @DwellOnDesign's L.A. West Side Tour.

I walked up to this home on the tour, the Garten & Reid Residence in Venice.Yawn.

la dwell home tours 2013: treehouse-modern-green-outdoors-in. words fail me.

It's that time of year again! Dwell is back in town with their June 21-23 Dwell on Design show which also includes home tours. Sunday, June 15 kicked off with their L.A. West Side Tour.

The first house on the tour was, well, incredible. Dwell Home Venice.

bauer pottery online seconds sale

Remember a week or so ago when I went bat sh_t crazy over the Bauer Potter Showroom? And I bought all kinds of wonderful seconds? I just got a note that the showroom is running a small, private, online seconds sale. They will offer only two products: 16" oil jars in two colors, White and Midnight Blue. These seconds will be priced at 40% off the regular price of $330.

Opens:  12:00pm (PDT), Wednesday, June 19

Closes:  12:00pm (PDT), Wednesday, June 26

Items Available: 16” Oil Jars in White and Midnight Blue

Price: $198.00 (plus shipping & applicable sales tax)

Bauer Pottery Seconds Sale

On our visit to the showroom, I bought a 16" oil jar myself. This one. Nice hefty size.

Yay!

blinds: boring but important

A friend of ours asked us if we would help out their sailing club by hosting a couple of girl sailors this summer for a week. Albert said if I was going to host 16-year-old girls, then our bathroom window situation was unacceptable.

Seriously? What is the problem?

salvador dali, don quixote and buried treasure

Those of us who frequent consignment, vintage and thrift stores do so for a variety of reasons. We like to decorate and dress to the nines on the cheap. We enjoy the thrill of the hunt and the victory of the find.

As Macklemore says again (and again) on the radio, we are "lookin' for a come-up." Got one!

bauer pottery showroom los angeles part 2: the haul

You will all be relieved to know that I did not come home empty handed from my visit to the Bauer Pottery Showroom.

As I started placing items near the checkout stand, Albert expressed surprise that I came to buy and not just to photograph. Ummm, have you met me?

bauer pottery showroom in los angeles, california - a retro review

My love of all things Bauer is pretty much on the record both here and here. Knowing that there is a Bauer Pottery Showroom just an hour up the freeway has been slowly driving me crazy. The first weekend of the month, Bauer Pottery has a special Showroom Sale, and opens the doors to the public to sell their factory seconds at substantially discounted prices.

Yes, indeed the stars had aligned. Last weekend was the first weekend of the month, AND, I was free, AND, Albert (DH) volunteered to drive me. Normally I trek off on these random expeditions on my own (or with my gladly suffering mid-century mom).

Bauer Pottery Showroom
Mid-Century Modern Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

3051 Rosslyn St.
Los Angeles, CA 90065

(818) 500-0666

Bauer Pottery Showroom

pristine eichler on the market in fairhaven orange tract

Orange, California is known for three Eichler housing tracts. I keep an eye on them since I am a bit gaga for Eichler who was a well-known mid-century modern developer.

The pictures from the listing looked suitably colorful and the lines looked right. I decided to pop up the freeway and take a look for myself.

#pasadena modern tour: zook house, 1950, harold b. zook, architect

And so, all good things must come to an end. I bring you, the very last home I saw on the Pasadena Heritage 1940 Forward Modern House Tour. (You can see all six homes here.) The last home is a true and classic mid-century modern.

The brochure calls it "an excellent example of the International Modern style." I call it one tall drink of water.

#pasadena modern tour: Dorland House, 1950, Lloyd Wright, Architect

It was perhaps this house that I got most excited about the opportunity to visit on the  Pasadena Heritage 1940 Forward Modern House Tour.  (You can see all six homes here.) I have a very soft spot in my heart for Frank Lloyd Wright and was quite curious to see what his son had contributed to mid-century architecture.

Honestly, not disappointed. At all.

#pasadena modern tour: Hamlin House, 1983

Our Pasadena Heritage 1940 Forward Modern House Tour soldiers on with the Hamlin House. (You can see all six homes here.) The Hamlin House bounces us out of mid-century modernism straight into the eighties.

Does this front door scream eighties or what? Oh and the fuzzy photo tour continues. Readers of yesterday's post have said I need to own it. Own it I shall.

#pasadena modern tour: test house 1952

Our Pasadena Heritage 1940 Forward Modern House Tour continues with the Test House. (You can see all six homes here.) No, this "Test" is not like a Case Study Home.

This ornamental rail design is used throughout the house.

It is a home architected by Lawrence Test for his family in Pasadena.

#pasadena modern tour: norton house, 1954

On the Pasadena Heritage 1940 Forward Modern Home Tour (you can see all six homes here), I had the pleasure of visiting an early Buff and Hensman home, built in 1954 for an oil company executive. Again, like the Tyler House, this home is a well crafted tribute to the post and beam construction prevalent in the mid-century.

Shall we?

#pasadena modern tour: tyler house, 1958

As advertised last Saturday, I went on the most AWESOME Modern Home Tour in Pasadena, CA put on by Pasadena Heritage. It's awesomeness kind of caught me off guard. When I think of Pasadena, I think of Green and Green, Bungalow Heaven, and Frank Lloyd Wright. I do not think mid-century modern.

Do you get the touch of craftsman and the modern in the address marker street light?
Colors are modern, shapes are really Frank Lloyd Wright.

I was so wrong. The houses were fabulous . . . oh so modern, but with a touch of craftsman. My first architectural love was craftsman (as judging by our misplaced kitchen), so I was all in. Our first home, The Tyler House, is a true blend for sure.

Home Tour Sunday May 19: Pasadena Heritage Modern Architecture in L.A.

Yay! A modern home tour tomorrow, Sunday, May 19 in Pasadena, California.

1983 Hamlin House designed by Buff & Hensman and photo by  Dennis Hill

Pasadena Heritage is presenting Modern Architecture in L.A. You know I will be there. With bells on. And tickets are still available!

Richard Neutra's Desert Oyler House: Film Screening

Curbed L.A. yesterday featured Neutra's Desert Oyler Home. I had never heard of it, and I do so love all things Neutra.

Curbed L.A.