Vintage camper for kids

If you want to put a smile on the faces of those vintage-loving kids in your life, take a look at this.

Land of Nod has come out with a play tent that looks like a vintage camper. This snazzy little number has seven windows, an embroidered license plate, logo and patchwork tires. It also has an awning and curtains that look like the real thing. If you really want to make the camping experience seem realistic, they have a coordinating campfire to go with the trailer.

What a cute idea!

Land of Nod Jetaire play tent with S'more the Merrier campfire
landofnod.com

Embroidered logo
landofnod.com

Jetaire awning
landofnod.com

landofnod.com

In the store: Stiffel Rocket lamps

These brass Rocket lamps are the best of both worlds...elegant and glamorous, yet very space age. Everything is original on these lamps, including the shades and diffusers. These are Stiffel quality with design pizzazz. What more could you want in a lamp?

Rocket lamps for Stiffel

Top view

Lamps in situ

Close up of rocket-style base

You will frequently see these lamps attributed to Tommi Parzinger, but I have seen no evidence that Parzinger ever designed for Stiffel. If you have any catalogs that prove otherwise, I'd love to see them.

Another bird

I can't seem to stop finding irresistible objects. If you've been following my blog for very long, you know that I have a thing for birds and have them scattered throughout my house.

I've found another one that I think is so beautiful that I'm going to have to have it. Simply called L'Oiseau, it was designed by brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and is made of natural maple.

L'Oiseau
design-museum.de

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
vitra.com

In the store: Diamond faceted credenza

This unique credenza is a real stand out. Made of claro walnut and dark mahogany, it sits on pyramid legs and has push touch doors and adjustable shelves with one drawer in the center. I don't think this one will stay on the floor for long.

Diamond faceted credenza

Front view

Close up of door

Vitra trays

The last few days, my posts have morphed into a public wish list. It started innocently enough with my finding pictures of Howard Smith birds, and then I did a post about a collection of Vitra miniature chairs, which led me deeper down the rabbit hole of must-haves.

I might as well let out all the stops and post about all the things I've found the last few days that have gone on my To Buy list. Today it's all about trays in patterns by George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Girard.

I'm torn between the first two, but the other two are equally delightful.

Classic tray: China Shop by George Nelson
vitra.com

Classic tray: The Family by Charles and Ray Eames
vitra.com

Classic tray: Sea Things by Charles and Ray Eames
vitra.com

Classic tray: Eden by Alexander Girard
vitra.com

In the store: Harvey Probber game table and chairs

Bridge? Poker? Family game night? Whatever your pleasure, you'll be playing in style with this low slung and sexy game table and chairs by Harvey Probber, the designer of some of the most elegant furnishings of the 20th century.

The mahogany set has been fully restored and features dark legs with brass caps on the table feet, a beautiful, round piece of terrazzo in light tan with black and orange flecks in the center of the table, as well as four expertly upholstered chairs in orange.

Harvey Probber game table and chairs

Top view

Newly upholstered chairs

Front view of chair

Side view of chair

Game table

Table top

Something else to obsess about

The only downside I've found to blogging is finding too many things that I'd like to collect. If I were a normal collector, it might not be bad at all. Tom Giannini, the collector of Vitra miniatures I posted about the other day, said he watched eBay for five years before he found a listing for a particular chair he wanted.

Oh, to be that kind of collector! But, no...When I start a collection, I want it complete by the end of next week. Or sooner. My daughter and SIL roll their eyes at each other and say, "She's obsessing again." I prefer to say that patience has never been one of my virtues.

Looking at the Design Museum website...while writing the post about the Vitra miniature collection, in fact...I ran across Alexander Girard dolls. The description reads as follows:

Alexander Girard was one of the decisive figures in post-War American design...The focus of his broad oeuvre was on textile design, and a key source of inspiration for him was his passion for the popular art of South America, Asia and East Europe. The Wooden Dolls, which Girard created for his own home in Santa Fe and made himself, are likewise inspired by his own extensive collection of works of popular art. Half decorative element, half toy, the Wooden Dolls were originally intended only for personal use. Based on originals found in the Girard Estate held by the Vitra Design Museum, the partly playful, partly grim-looking company of dolls is now coming out as a charming enhancement to any interior.

Of course I want some of these, and I'm not sure I can wait till Christmas.

From design-museum.de

Collection of Alexander Girard dolls
meudecor.com

Here are my favorites, roughly in order of preference, in case my daugher or SIL happens to be reading my post today. (And stop rolling your eyes, Jenn.)

Girard doll #12
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #20
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #3
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #13
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #1
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #6
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #17
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #18
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #19
cooperhewitt.org

Girard doll #10
cooperhewitt.org

The Films of Charles and Ray Eames

Charles and Ray Eames are two of the most famous American designers of the 20th century. They are most widely known for their furniture and architecture, but they were also photographers and filmmakers, creating around 100 short films on a multitude of topics that fascinated them.

The films range from the lives and times of great inventors to toy trains and tops, sea creatures and computers. Their friend Elmer Bernstein wrote the scores for over thirty of the films.

A six-volume box set of these films, entitled The Films of Charles & Ray Eames, is available at an incredibly reasonable cost. Design Within Reach has the set for $80, and the Vitra Design Museum Shop has it for 89€.

dwr.com

And just for fun, here's my favorite photo of Charles and Ray Eames. Most of the images we usually see of them are at a later stage in their lives. I love this one, because it captures their youth and playfulness.

Charles and Ray Eames, 1941
eamesoffice.com

An enviable collection: Vitra miniatures

Midcentury Magazine posted a fascinating interview with Vitra miniature collector and interior architect Tom Giannini. His collection numbers 215 chairs, mostly bought on eBay. Giannini was given a Vitra miniature as a party favor years ago, and he was hooked.

When asked what his best find was, he didn't hesitate. It's his Eames cowhide covered LCW. According to Giannini, there were only about 100 made, and it took him five years to find one on eBay.

I see several on those shelves that I'd love to have...and I wouldn't even be greedy and demand the cowhide LCW.

Vitra miniatures
midcenturymagazine.com

Tom Giannini and his miniature chairs
charlotteluxford.wordpress.com

To read more about Vitra miniatures, you can check out a post I wrote in 2011.

What's that sound?

I admit I'm a bit of a purist. Painting a Wegner Wishbone chair hot pink or upholstering an Eames lounge chair in bright red Pendleton wool makes me grind my teeth a little, although I believe people should do what makes them happy, with little or no regard at all for my teeth. It's only furniture, right? With that in mind, I can't help but show you the latest design to challenge my dentition.

Dutch designer Pepe Heykoop has introduced his latest project, the Skin Collection, in reaction to the waste produced by the furniture industry. He takes furniture found on the street or in a thrift store and then covers it with leather scraps, which are trimmed away in furniture workshops because of scratches, scars and color issues.

I'm all for up-cycling leftover design materials, but I think I see some pieces under all that leather that could be pretty spectacular if they were refinished. Oh, the glue you'd have to scrape off if you restored these pieces! I'll just tell myself they were knock-offs.

Skin Collection
pepehykoop.nl

Skin Collection
pepehykoop.nl

Skin Collection
pepehykoop.nl

Skin Collection
pepehykoop.nl

Formica: 100th Anniversary Collection

Formica® is 100 years old, and to celebrate, the Formica Group...the original inventor of laminate...has introduced a special anniversary collection. It includes Ellipse, Endless, Dotscreen and Halftone patterns in a variety of colors and is truly exciting. The fresh take on the iconic Formica® of the 20th century has an authentic look without being predictable.

In great colors such as red, tangelo, aqua, gray, blueberry and white, these new patterns would be fabulous in any mid-century home. They're have an authentic look without being predictable. The collection was created by Abbot Miller of Pentagram design group.

From formica.com

Red Ellipse
formica.com

Blueberry and Citrus Halftone with Mint Dotscreen
formica.com

Endless Graytone
formica.com

Eames tables in Blueberry, Citrus and Tangelo Halftone
formica.com

Aqua Dotscreen
formica.com

Mint Dotscreen
formica.com

Tangelo Dotscreen
formica.com

Gray Ellipse
formica.com

Red Ellipse
formica.com

Endless Graytone
formica.com

Endless Indigo
formica.com

Endless Smoke
formica.com

Blueberry Halftone
formica.com

Citrus Halftone
formica.com

Tangelo Halftone
formica.com

This video is worth a look. It has some delightful archival images, along with inspiration for using the new patterns in tandem with your favorite vintage pieces.

formica.com