Easy atrium fix

When we first bought our current house, fixing up the atrium was close to the bottom of the list. First we had to buy new furniture, paint the drab and muddy-looking tan walls white, and replace all the curly oil rubbed bronze light fixtures, door levers and ceiling fans with something more modern. Then new plumbing fixtures, bathroom counters, and new artwork. The list seemed to go on and on.

Finally it was time to turn our attention to the tiny inside/outside area. There are no "before" photos, because there was nothing but dirt to photograph. The previous owners had staged it with a fancy cement birdbath that bore no resemblance to anything modern, but they took it with them when they left.

The fix turned out to be very simple and inexpensive. First we put down a layer of pea gravel, then added landscaping rocks and stepping stones. After a few shots of paint, vintage Russell Woodard patio furniture was ready to move into the space. New greenery was added to the corrugated metal planter I used at the "modernist nest," and the boys and I painted some rocks for a little color.

Now we have a cozy little spot for coffee on weekend mornings.

Changes at the Modernist Nest

For those of you new to Mid2Mod, I built a small house behind my main house a little over a year ago. My daughter and her family moved into the larger house, and I moved into what one longtime reader lovingly called "the modernist nest." One reader after another started calling it that, so the name stuck. (If you want to read my chronicle of the build process, Google "mid2mod construction saga" for the whole story.)

The little "yard" behind the Modernist Nest just underwent a redo. I put down black mulch last year after the construction was complete, primarily because it was a cheap, quick fix. I didn't put in grass, because the entire area is in almost constant deep shade from 60-year-old pecan trees.

The pecan trees turned out to be the culprits that made Plan B necessary, because mulch didn't hold up well to the constant blowing and raking of leaves and those pesky male pecan flowers called catkins...nasty little caterpillary-looking things that make a horrible mess. (If you have pecan trees, you know exactly what I'm talking about!) By the end of a year, most of the mulch was gone, swept away with pecan debris. On the other hand, we were able to use the leaf blower on the rocks in front of the house and keep them clean very easily.

As a result, I decided to replace the mulch in back with rocks, and the job was finished today. Here's a before and after of the yard.

Before: Loved the contrast in colors, hated the mess

After: Rocks!

After: Edging around my flowerbed
and vintage Russell Woodard outdoor furniture that may be going for a powdercoat soon

Star style: Julianne Moore chooses Russell Woodard

An Architectural Digest article about Julianne Moore's breathtaking New York garden caught my eye recently. I spotted something familiar tucked among the lush boxwoods, ivy, staghorn fern and stacked rock. It seems that Moore shares my love for vintage Russell Woodard outdoor furniture and fiberglass planters.

I also enjoyed seeing a basketball goal sitting in the middle of the gorgeous Brian Sawyer design features. While many celebrities only want showplaces, it is refreshing that Moore and her husband opted to make the garden a place where the family can actually relax and play.

All images from architecturaldigest.com

(Note: Vintage Russell Woodard patio furniture)

Spring will be here...eventually

Although there will inevitably be more cold weather to come, even in the mild climate of North Central Texas, spring will eventually arrive, so it's time to start making plans for outdoor entertaining.

My SIL recently found a beautiful Salterini patio set that sold before I was even able to get this post written. Still, this photo of it is inspiring me to get my own Russell Woodard set sandblasted and powdercoated before springtime officially arrives.

Recently sold Salterini set

Maybe one of these sets will make you want to clean the barbecue grill, begin to think about what kind of flowers you want to put in big pots on your patio and maybe even start the search for that perfect set of furniture.

Woodard tete-a-tete
1stdibs.com

Richard Schultz set
diamondbeachcondorental.com

Salterini double chaise
ironrenaissance.com

Woodard spun fiberglass patio set
ebay.com - galleryanderson

Woodard Sculptura set
psmodernway.com

Salterini set
ironrenaissance.com

For about three years, I've been trying to identify my patio set, which I bought on Craigslist on the super cheap. I had just about given up on finding out who manufactured it, but as it always happens, I ran across a company that restores vintage patio furniture, and they had a set. According to their identification, it's a rare Woodard set, which I suppose is why I've had such a hard time finding pictures of it anywhere.

My Woodard patio set last fall...now in desperate need of a new paint job

In the store: Fruitful picking

In addition to the Adrian Pearsall sofa and chair, my SIL's picking trip to Austin yielded some fabulous finds. As promised, here's a look at them:

1960s Click Clack sofa

Packard Bell "Space Age" console stereo

Hairpin leg side table with dropfront storage

Pair of American of Martinsville end tables

Spun fiberglass coffee table by Russell Woodard
(No, it's really not rattan!)

2-drawer side table, circa 1963

A better look at the 1960s Adrian Pearsall gondola sofa with plush upholstery.
We call it "Oscar the Couch."

...and the matching Adrian Pearsall chair