Finally! After waiting all fall and all winter we have installed our new screen door. Well, actually my dad and Eric installed it and then Eric painted it and installed the insert. WE LOVE IT! It’s so perfect in every way. We got the insert from Hip Haven and had the screen door locally made.
As many of you know, Eric is a glassblower. He’s been working for many years with a local company that employs 5 glassblowers and their work is featured at over 500 galleries/shops/boutiques around the country. Eric is getting ready to gradually spin-off on his own and work for himself. We were pondering ways to “soft launch” the business, and decided he could create some 1950’s style ornaments and Christmas Tree toppers and post them on Etsy, and then we could also post them here. We were wondering if anyone out there has any other ideas? Keep in mind, Eric does “lampwork/flamework” which is very small-scale glassblowing, unlike the “glory hole”, which is where glassblowers work with a huge furnace. Eric, on the other-hand works over a small torch and creates small items like salt and pepper shakers, goblets, small vases, frog wall hangings, etc.
Here is a brief video explaining the type of glassworking Eric does. Again, we’re looking for 1950’s inspired ideas so we can advertise them on Ranch Redo! Thanks in advance for your ideas.
I’ve been a long admirer of FLOR tiles, but never had a reason to use them before. However, recently we decided they’d be perfect in the second bedroom. We couldn’t find any retailers of FLOR products in our area, so we were forced to go online. That’s where we found the FLOR tiles at Target. We ordered 4 sets of the Bright Solids collection, which came in the mail within the week. It was much easier to assemble than I’d assumed, and they don’t stick to the floor–instead, they come with special FLOR “dots” that you apply to the bottom corners, sticky side up, that connect all the FLOR tiles to one another. I’m especially happy with the outcome, because the Bright Solids collection is much more retro in color than we’d assumed, based on the online photos at Target.
Today I got an note from a reader in Oslo.
“Me and my girlfriend are going to USA in june. We´re looking for cool places to visit.. 50´s motels (kitsch motels), vintage shopping (clothing and furniture..), cool diners and places to eat. We´re into the 50´s style.”
I started the thread about hotels and motels a few weeks ago. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I know I’ve personally been wanting to visit Retro Row in Long Beach, CA.
Have you heard of the Nash Rambler, Messerschmitt, Fiat, BMW Isetta, Trabant 500, or the Mini-Cooper? I had heard of a few of them and enjoyed learning about the others by looking at photos of small cars from the past in this Newsweek featured slideshow. I think my favorite is the BMW Isetta, which looks incredibly dangerous, but cute and fun!
We’ve just found out that our house is going to be one of the featured houses in an upcoming walking tour of atomic ranches in Corvallis! Cool. What a great reward for all the hard work Eric has put into the yard and the exterior of the house (and me painting the trim and garage). I’ll keep you posted, but the tour is going to be at the end of May. I’m excited to see the other houses on the tour.
We’re doing a bedroom in the theme of retro rocketships and robots. Here’s what we plan on adding to the design. Let us know if you have any suggestions!
Today I was thinking about summer vacations and I had a small glimpse of a memory of reading about a retro-styled hotel near Joshua Tree, California. I did a little sleuthing and found the hotel, which is called 29 Palms Inn. Look at these fabulous pictures from their website:
Does anyone know of any other “retro-style” hotels or motels??
I’ve mentioned it before, and it’s true, Edie Brickell is my all-time favorite musician. She’s a singer-songwriter who slipped out of the public eye for about 10 years while raising her children, but in the past 3-4 years she’s started playing to the public again. And on February 12th she releases her new CD, with collaborator Harper Simon (yes, Paul Simon’s son) under the band name “The Heavy Circles“. I have an advance copy of the CD and I am completely blown away by how great this new music is because it’s so unlike anything she’s done before (while still containing her touching, stirring, and moving lyrics). I encourage you to download a copy from itunes, or purchase your copy today!
I was just looking at the Crestview Doors website, and see they’re having a sale on some of their doors (look at the bottom of the homepage). Thought some of our readers might like to know about these great deals! Their doors are beautiful!
