In the store: Fantastic furniture and awesome accessories

My SIL won two great Haeger earth wrapped vases at an online auction and then found a very cool 26" metal sculpture on an out-of-town picking trip. The vases add a bright splash of color to any credenza or coffee table, and the metal sculpture will create a bit of drama in any room.

While on his picking trips, he made some fantastic furniture finds as well, including a teak desk with a top that slides from side to side to reveal hidden storage, a pair of Baumritter chairs, a dining set with six newly reupholstered chairs and a 9-drawer credenza.

The first of three Carter Brothers scoop chairs just got back from the upholsterer, and it's on the floor now too. An identical low-back one in avocado green and a high-back yellow one will be ready soon.

We also just put a really nice vintage bullet planter out. It's white with a gold pattern, and it's in super condition.

Crazy Craigslist bargains

From time to time, I cruise Craigslist to see what kind of bargains are out there for the taking all around the country. Sometimes I'm amazed at the prices I find. A layer of foam to fill out stretched upholstery, a quick steam cleaning, a coat of paint, a rubdown with Restor-a-Finish or vinegar or just a gentle hand wash, and these pieces will look great. (We should probably tell them that they could ask more if they'd clean them up and take better pictures...but, nah...we'll take their "junk" off their hands and clean them up ourselves.)

Danish rolltop desk - $95
craigslist.org - Albuquerque, NM

Kroehler sectional - $250
craigslist.org - Albuquerque, NM

Tropitan rattan set - $150
craigslist.org - Albuquerque, NM

Danish lounge chair - $50
craigslist.org - Austin, TX

Pair of bullet planters - $60
craigslist.org - Austin, TX

Arc lamp - $25
craigslist.org - Dallas, TX

Jens Risom credenza - $180
craigslist.org - Dallas, TX

Tiki bar - $20
craigslist.org - Dallas, TX

Pink and silver Sascha Brastoff dish - $20
craigslist.org - Dallas, TX

Milo Baughman chair (with tags) - $99
craigslist.org - Denver, CO

Bench - $50
craigslist.org - Denver, CO

Sofa - $150
craigslist.org - Denver, CO

Danish sofa - $200
craigslist.org - Los Angeles, CA

Hanging ceramic clock - $85 obo
craigslist.org - Los Angeles, CA

Chrome chandelier - $49
craigslist.org - Palm Springs, CA

Update: Here's a picture of the Milo Baughman chair in our store, after a little TLC...and a long trip to Dallas from Denver.

More perfect plantings

Back in September, I posted about houseplants that were common in the 1950s and 1960s. That particular post has consistently stayed at the top of my "Most Popular" list ever since, so I thought readers might enjoy a look at other plants which complement mid-century decor.

What kind of planter you choose is important too. Many sleek, modern pots are available today in a variety of materials, such as ceramics, metals and bamboo. For the health of the plant, as well as for aesthetics, the pot should be proportioned according to the size of the plant. If you're not sure what size to buy, your local nursery will be glad to make suggestions. I still love a great bullet planter, which is a good seller at our shop,  but there are many other styles that look right at home with your other mid-century decor.

My personal preference is one large, dramatic planting in a room rather than several small ones, but groupings create a spectacular look if you have a long expanse of wall or windows. I've had countless houseplants since I moved into my first apartment in the late 1960s, and here are some I've had success growing and can highly recommend, even to the novice indoor gardener.

All images from theplantpeople.net unless otherwise noted

Yucca

Ficus alii

Ponytail palm

Fiddleleaf fig

Dracaena marginata

Straight marginata

Yucca bush

Cactus

The sky's the limit on how much you can spend on a planter for your modern home. In addition to these beautiful pots from The Plant People, a commercial interior plant service in the Washington, D.C. area, I've found some great buys at CB2 and Lowe's.

Bamboo squares

Tall metallic with a slight curve

Classic flare

Sleek pinched style

Bullet planters from our shop
mid2mod.com

Flat poly/resin planter (great for succulents)
Marked down from $49.95 to $19.95!!!
cb2.com

Wood planter
lowes.com

Clay planter
lowes.com

Glazed ceramic planters
lowes.com

Bunches o' bullets

While most of the merchandise in our store will be vintage, we made the decision to carry a few new accessories. Bullet planters are so hard to come by that they were one of the first new purchases we made. When they came in, it was like Christmas Day.

I had ordered a short orange one for myself, so I was doubly thrilled when the order came in. I had wanted one of the planters for years, but the ones I found were stained or cracked or way too expensive. Now I'm the proud owner of a gorgeous bullet planter for my home, and here are the ones for the store.

Tomorrow we start moving into the store, and even though I'll try to post with regularity, things might become a little haphazard. Bear with me. I'll get back on schedule eventually.

Perfect plantings

Mad Men’s Betty Draper made all of us cringe when she bought a Victorian fainting couch to go with her Dunbar sofa.  Some items work with mid-century furnishings, while others don’t.  That holds true even for plants.  If you want an authentic MCM  home, detail counts.

Having grown up in the 50s and 60s, I recall several houseplants that all my friends’ moms seemed to favor.  Rubber tree plants top the list.  They were so popular that Frank Sinatra sang about them in “High Hopes,” and they were featured in Better Homes and Gardens Houseplants in 1959.

Other favorites were sansevieria, also known as snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue, split-leaf philodendron, and any type of succulent or cactus.  All of these are still easy to find at your local nursery today.

Planter style is important too.  Outdoors, most housewives favored white or red clay pots, but the bullet planter was the hands-down indoor favorite.  I occasionally see one go for a great price on eBay, and hiphaven.com is the place to find great reproductions in lots of colors.  They even sell seconds from time to time.

Rubber tree plant
Better Homes & Gardens book Houseplants, 1959

Split-leaf philodendron
popsugar.com

Jade plant
almanac.com

Succulent dish
huffingtonpost.com

Sansevieria in my home

Bullet planters
mid-century-modern.net