In the warehouse: Seating sale

My SIL is having a seating liquidation sale in the warehouse that includes some really nice bargains. These are either pieces we haven't restored yet (so they're perfect for the DIYers who want to save some money), or they're pieces we don't plan to recover or refinish.

Cream velvet Hollywood Regency chairs

Italian armchairs by Arrben

Cantilever chairs in the style of Mart Stam

Three-piece Danish parlor set with wood arms

Four-cushion sofa with tapered legs
(This is identical to the one I have at home...just in a different upholstery)

Milo Baughman three-cushion sofa with plinth base

Retro two-cushion sofa with button back

Three-cushion retro sofa with textured cotton upholstery

If you're curious about prices, you can see them on our website under the In the Warehouse tab.

In the store: Seating, storage and so-much-more

Several new chairs have made their way into the store, including a pair of Adrian Pearsall chairs and a pair of Saarinen executive chairs. We also have a great chrome bench upholstered in red. Two Baughman chairs are still at the upholsterers awaiting release from limbo. Our upholsterer called to tell us that we came up short fabric for one...that's right, ONE...armrest, so now we have to find more chocolate brown mohair velvet. We also have a couple of Ole Wanscher armchairs being refinished and a Jens Risom sofa being recovered, which should be ready soon.

We have one new credenza on the floor, but my SIL just got back from Memphis, Tennessee, with a load of five credenzas that he dropped off at the refinishers yesterday, so look for more soon. We've added three stunning mahogany and brass bedroom pieces to our inventory of case goods, and I've fallen in love with them. I'm trying to fight the urge to strike a deal with my SIL for them, but I'm quickly caving in, so anyone who wants them better beat me to them!

Two gorgeous olive wood pieces by Milo Baughman are now on the floor. They're so substantial and so classy! In contrast to their warm, solid good looks, we also have a new Lucite and glass coffee table that is icy cool.

My SIL is becoming a lighting addict. He just can't pass up a gorgeous lamp these days, and he's really finding some amazing ones....chrome, glass and the amazing Adrian Pearsall in walnut. He's become fascinated with vintage Danish lighting and is researching it constantly, so don't be surprised if you start seeing more of those in the store too. (Inside information: He just bought one that should be here soon.)

Adrian Pearsall chairs

Eero Saarinen Executive chairs

Upholstery and chrome bench

Glass and Lucite coffee table

Milo Baughman olive wood coffee table

Milo Baughman olive wood side table/cabinet

Credenza with oblong pulls and wood trim

Mahogany and brass bedroom set

Adrian Pearsall lamp

Torino lamp

Lightolier birdcage lamp

Yes, more Blenko

We may not have received 200 pieces from our consignor, as we initially expected, but we got enough that it has taken several posts to cover it all. These pieces aren't as large as the ones in my last Blenko post, but they're very nice nonetheless.

#434 bookends

#5431 pointed bowl by Wayne Husted

#597 bowl by Wayne Husted

#6630 decanter by Joel Myers

#971 fish by Winslow Anderson

#5710 pitcher by Wayne Husted

#7127 decanter by John Nickerson

#8433L cowboy hat ice bucket by Don Shepherd

Cowboy hat as ice bucket

#594 corner bowl/hanging planter by Wayne Husted

Blenko ashtray - Anyone know the number?
I don't think it's a #966 freeform, because it's polished inside and out.

Fifty years from now: Patricia Urquiola

Patricia Urquiola

Patricia Urquiola (1961- ) was born in Oviedo, Spain. She studied architecture at the Faculdad de Arquitectura in Madrid but later moved to Italy to attend Milan Polytechnic. She graduated in 1989, having completed a thesis mentored by Achille Castiglioni.

From 1990 until 1992 she was an assistant lecturer at Milan Polytechnic. In 1991 she became head of the product development department of De Padova in Milan, which is where she designed her first furniture pieces. From 1993 through 1996 she had a studio with two friends, working on architecture, interiors, showrooms and restaurants.  In 1996 she became manager of the Lissoni Associati Design Group, where she worked for Alessi, Antares-Flos, Artelano, Boffi, Cappellini, Cassina, Kartell and others. At the same time, she independently designed for B&B, Bosa, De Vecchi too, Fasem, Kartell, Liv'it, MDF Italia, Molteni & C., Moroso and Tronconi, as well as designing stands and showrooms for Knoll, Moroso, Sag 80 and Somma.  In 2001 she opened her own studio in Milan, which employs more than 20 people and focuses on product design, displays and architecture.

Urquiola achieved recognition through her work with Moroso. Her products were included in the Italian Design 2001 exhibition and for the International Design Yearbook in 1999 and 2001. In 2001 she was chair of the jury for the CDIM Design Award, and she is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences and at universities. Urquiola is one of the young designers whose work is destined to be considered classic fifty years hence.

From designboom.com, hansgrohe.com and stylepark.com

Clip bed for Molteni & C
designboom.com

Flo chair for Driade
designboom.com

Caboche pendant lamp for Foscarini
pinkappledesigns.co.uk

Tropicalia for Moroso
nirmada.com

Nub for Andreu World
dailyicon.net

Frilly chair for Kartell
sterlingfurniture.co.uk

Canasta series for B&B Italia
dezeen.com

More from the Canasta series for B&B Italia
dezeen.com

Bend sofa for B&B Italia
dezeen.com

Fjord chair for Moroso
designboom.com

Glove lounge for Molteni & C.
dailyicon.com

Lowland sofa for Moroso
designboom.com

Husk chair and ottoman for B&B Italia
roomu.net

Back in the day: Golden Books

I've always loved books. My parents were avid readers, as was my maternal grandfather, so I came by it honestly. I imagine my mother started stockpiling books for me before I was born, because my very earliest memories are of her reading to me. I would also rope my dad and Papa into reading to me as often as I could. That wasn't really difficult, because they enjoyed an opportunity to instill the joy of reading in me as much as my mother did.

I was born in 1948, just six years after the first twelve Golden Book titles were published, and they have been present in my life ever since...when I was a child, when my daughter was growing up and now that I'm a grandmother.

Probably my most vivid memory of a Little Golden Book involves something that happened when I was four years old.  My father cut his finger badly with the blades of an oscillating fan. He was frantically wrapping his hand with a towel, and my mother was approaching hysteria, until I walked in, book in hand, and said, "Don't cry, Mommy. Doctor Dan the Bandage Man will make Daddy better than new."

Naturally a four-year-old would think that. After all, the book did come with six real Band-aids. That feature makes this book historically significant, because it marked one of the first ventures into book and product joint packaging. The first printing of this book in 1951 was 1.75 million, the largest Little Golden book first printing to date.

Doctor Dan the Bandage Man Little Golden Book
amazon.com

Here are some of the other Golden books that I remember fondly. The image of the Cheshire Cat will always remain in my memory, as will the words "I think I can, I think I can," but no book will ever have a place in my heart like Lady and the Tramp, my all-time favorite.   Every time Grandson #1 says, "Read it again, Grammo," I realize how profoundly and magically these books have affected five generations of our family.

Alice in Wonderland Big Golden Book
antikewl.com

The Little Red Caboose Little Golden Books
goodreads.com

Peter Pan Little Golden Book
goodreads.com

A Day at the Seashore Little Golden Book
amazon.com

Tootle the Train Little Golden Book
flickr.com  (try-whistling-this)

Lady and the Tramp Little Golden Book
goodreads.com

Of particular interest to lovers of mid-century design is the author of these books. Ole Risom, the brother of designer Jens Risom, was vice-president and art director of Golden Books Western Press from 1952 to 1972. He then became vice-president and associate publisher of the juvenile division of Random House when they acquired Golden Books in 1972. He retired in 1990 but remained a consultant thereafter.

He authored a number of Golden Books, including the ones shown here, which were illustrated by Richard Scarry.

I Am a Puppy, I Am a Bunny and I Am a Mouse, 
written by Ole Risom and illustrated by Richard Scarry
preschoolathome.typepad.com

From nytimes.com and randomhouse.com