Roseville for Raymor swinging coffee pot

Yesterday I happened to see a listing on eBay that I consider noteworthy. It is a swinging coffee pot designed by Ben Seibel and produced by Roseville for Raymor.

The fact that it has a slight hairline crack is more than made up for by the low starting price of $60 and its remarkable design, especially since I've seen some sellers list them from $500-1500. I find this one of the most fascinating coffee pot designs to come out the the last half of the 20th century, and this one would display beautifully.

All images from ebay.com - rameau1000

Tiny modern houses on wheels

I ran across an interesting article on Decoist entitled Houses on Wheels That Will Make Your Jaw Drop, and I think my jaw actually did drop. Take a look at just a few photos of these great little homes. The link above will take you to more images, including interior shots.

All images from decoist.com

It's about time

...and storage and charging your iPhone. It's called The Butler, and it's just about the coolest item I've ever seen.

This handy wall accessory has a place for wallet and keys in the top sleeve, an iPhone in the side sleeve (with a concealed space for the charging cord) and a slide-out piece that can hold glasses or a hat or a scarf. It does all this and only takes up 10" x 9" x 2 1/4" ( approx 25.5 cm x 23 cm x 5.7 cm).

Created by Curtis Micklish out of solid walnut and baltic birch ply, it's one of several items from his line that we're considering carrying in the store. I don't know about you, but I want one of these!

All images from micklish.com

William Krisel

William Krisel (1924- ) was born in Shanghai, China, where his father had a State Department job. In 1937 the family came back to the United States and settled in Beverly Hills, California. At age 16, Krisel entered the University of Southern California's School of Architecture.

His studies were interrupted by World War II, which saw him working with Army Intelligence as a Chinese language interpreter. Following the war, he resumed his studies on the GI Bill, graduating in 1949. By 1954 he had become a licensed landscape architect as well.  His mentors included Raphael Soriano and Garrett Eckbo.

He worked as an apprentice in the offices of Paul Laszlo and Victor Gruen and formed a partnership with Dan Saxon Palmer and named the firm Palmer & Krisel, AIA. The partnership was dissolved in 1964, although together they designed high- and low-rise office and apartment buildings, shopping centers, schools, hospitals, hotels restaurants and affordable tract housing in the Los Angeles area during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Krisel proudly described himself as a developer's architect. According to him, "In the 1950s, it wasn't enough for an architect to design well. You had to convince builders they would make money." And if you developed a relationship with a builder and did good work, you didn't have to search for clients. By 1957, he reportedly was working with seven of the 10 largest home builders in the country, most notably George Alexander, and by the 1960s, he declined any commission for fewer than 50 houses.

By his own calculation, he and his partners were responsible for more than 40,000 units of housing in Southern California, bringing the aesthetics and values of casual indoor/outdoor living to the masses and exemplified the building boom that took place after World War II.

From dwell.com, modernsandiego.com, palmspringslife.com and getty.edu

Home show house
dwell.com

Corbin Palms tract
dwell.com

La Jolla Pacifica tract
dwell.com

La Jolla Scenic Heights tract
dwell.com

Racquet Club Road Estates tract
dwell.com 

Twin Palms Estate tract
getty.edu

Ocotillo Lodge, Palm Springs
getty.edu

Butterfly roof, Palm Springs
ultramodernstyle.com

Paradise Palms tract (Las Vegas, NV)
artsvegas.com

youtube.com - jgorst

You win some; you lose some

Several days ago, I started watching an item on eBay. Not just any item, mind you. It was a wish list item...a Rosenthal Studio Line Porcelaine Noire kingfisher by Tapio Wirkkala. I already have one in white, and I've been on the lookout for its black mate at a reasonable price. For a few days, I thought I had found it.

Then, as so often happens, the price went up drastically in the last hours of bidding and sold for more than triple my bid. In my opinion, the high bidder considerably overpaid...or just wanted it more than I did.

The search continues.

ebay.com - hoboro99

Exemplary exteriors

For those of us who live in a part of the world where it's winter, I know it's a little early to start planting, but if your yard needs some upgrading, it's not too early to start planning. Here are some fantastic mid-century homes with equally remarkable lawns, flowerbeds, pools and spots to lounge when warm weather arrives, which it will...eventually.

And if it's summer where you live, maybe these homes will inspire a weekend project soon.

atomcindy.com

tclf.org

buildllc.com

tomtarrant.com

dwell.com

flickr.com - Curtis Locke

topweddingdecoratingideas.com

honeybadgerhome.com

houzz.com

houzz.com

houzz.com

lglalandscape.com

Harry Bertoia Sculpture: 15 Years at Wright

For any of you lucky enough to be in New York in the next three weeks, there's an exhibition you might want to catch.

Wright Auctions is celebrating their history of selling the magnificent sculptures of Harry Bertoia by exhibiting select works, some of which they sold and some that have never been offered on the market. From Bush Forms, Welded Forms and Somnambients to experimental works, they will highlight exceptional pieces from Bertoia's extensive oeuvre.

The exhibition opened January 21 and will run through February 15 in their gallery at 980 Madison Avenue.

From wright20.com

Bush form
jonathanboos.com

Early bronze bush form, 1962
1stdibs.com

Close-up of bush form
1stdibs.com

Welded form
1stdibs.com

Welded form
liveauctioneers.com

Welded form
wright20.tumblr.com

Somnambient sounding sculpture
1stdibs.com

Somnambient sounding sculpture
liveauctioneers.com

Somnambient sounding sculpture
mutualart.com

Hillside modern

When a couple from Bellevue, Washington, decided to do a complete ground-up renovation on their home, they turned it into a dream house, inside and out. Using white oak, walnut, glass and steel, along with a mix of custom furniture, beautiful lighting and vintage pieces, they created a flawless environment. Feast your eyes.

All images from decoist.com