LACMA: California Dreamin' of Mid-Century Life in the Modern Day

I knew it was going to be good when I saw that Airstream.

In January we stopped over in SoCal and visited the L.A. County Art Museum (LACMA) exhibit called "California Design, 1930-1965: 'Living in a Modern Way.' It was a short exhibit that packed many examples of the California mid-century life-style into a relatively small space. The exhibit offered prime artifacts that represented all aspects of everyday life from tea sets, bathing suits, video home tours, and of course furniture, furniture, and more furniture. The diamond of the exhibit is the re-created living room of Ray and Charles Eames of which you're not allowed to photograph but we may have caught one by accident. Here are a few pictures just from my phone because we haven't even downloaded the ones from the camera but here's a sampling anyway. The exhibit is going on until June so get your fanny over there. When your feet are pooped from walking all over the many buildings of LACMA you can have a glass of wine in a Bertoia bar stool at the museum cafe or Little Ethiopia is around the corner. We had an amazing meal at Merkato on Fairfax, the food was great and the staff was kind and informative when we were a little naive about certain foods. We even did a little Ethiopian beer tasting. You know you're at the right spot when the first thing you see is a bright shinny bean with an open door that is just screaming "WELCOME HOME!" Enjoy!

Hubba hubba! Check out that shape.

Last time I was at Eugene's Cone/Ball they had a prime example of the middle Eames chair.

What font is that? I love it!

LACMA at dusk. 

I think I might have said a bad but good exclamation when I first set my eyes on this bone chair. LOVE IT!

Here's a close up.

This was a desk and chair originally in Disney studios I think.

Yes, the clock is sexy but check out out the caption for the Ice Gun.

FYI Eugene fashion people - I would wear this at a summer BBQ.

I would also wear the bathing suit on the left.

I did not take this illegal picture! Proof? I'm in it! In between the indoor planter and light. Looks like Ray and Charles had me over.

Studebaker Avanti - super sexy for your late night drives between LA and Palm Springs!

An indoor planter in the coffee table - love it!!!

Cheers to LACMA and to the celebration of designers who knew all about modern life before it happened.

Palm Springs Modern Home Rentals: Your Next Vacation?

Our Palm Springs vacation rental home. Apparently a former residence of none other than Liberace himself!

Mustard colored front door and grated front window.

Welcome home!

Once past the entry way you have the kitchen to the right and living room to the right.

The living room with a bit of toddler proofing (bench blocking fireplace).

Our comfy living room perfect for cocktails and family games.

The outdoor dining room shares windows with the main dining, kitchen, and living area.

Everything was included except for your family, good times, and a special Mr. Monkey making margarita's.

January is almost over but since New Years is my favorite holiday I try to stretch out the fun and relaxation as long as possible. One way I can do that is by revisiting pictures from our last vacation. For this past holiday we rented a home with our chosen family. I love staying in a beautiful hotel but there's nothing like the comfort and flexibility of renting a vacation home. You can create your own dream modern getaway by renting from vacation rental websites like this. It's a nice alternative to a hotel especially when traveling with a group and with kids. I love being able to settle into a home for an extended period of time. I also love that when we travel with friends and family we all get the chance to lay about in our pjs and have lazy mornings and naps by the pool. And those who choose to stay up late snuggled up by the outdoor fire pit with a glass of wine telling stories of our lives can do that too. Over the next few blog posts I'll be revisiting some of our modern design and mid-century modern site-seeing excursions. We visited notable MCM Palm Springs sites and a few Palm Spring hotels that have been marked notable by the design world. We also made it to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to see their, "California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way" exhibit. While we couldn't take pictures of it all we managed to get some pix of the highlights. 

Happy new years! Cheers to living modern and living well.

Sunny Times in Santa Barbara Beach House

We spent New Year's with many of our favorite monkey's from college times and from current Eugene times in Santa Barbara, CA. Art Monkey down Tucson-way found us this sweet sea-side crib. I'm not sure how to describe this Montecito Beach House. It could be described as California Beach Retro. It had a touch of modern and maybe a little too much shell art. I think the home owners forgot that a little shell art goes a long way! We had a blast playing in all the various rooms of this luxury (for us) rental. These pictures were taken after a week of playing with two toddling twins and gaggle of Camp WU Bearcats plus a few dinner and hot tub guests. Cheers to California dreamin'.

Formal Living Room

Lanai

Formal Dining room looking towards bar and kitchen.

Evidence: A little shell art goes a long way.

View of hot tub and ocean for 2nd story sun deck.

View from the corner of our room of Ocean.

Mountain View from sun deck.

Adventures in L.A. L.A. Land: Part III

There's no doubt about it - this kitchen rocks! This kitchen is mostly vintage - found in a gorgeous California Modern Living house in the Cliff May tradition. Of course things like the cooktop were updated within the last 20 years. But the folks living here are the original owners and these cabinets are to die for. You just don't see these much anymore and in this amazing condition. You're probably thinking, "well the color is cool but. . ." It's true the color is super sweet but the materials  - a metal  of some sort covered in enamel - make this kitchen indestructibly modern. The drawer pulls were a very ergonomic wedge. Note the brown thin narrow rectangle in the right corner of the bottom drawers. Yup, it's a pull out cutting board! Plus there is a twin on the other side of the kitchen for symmetry and function! Last but far from least is the great globe overhead lighting. This kitchen belongs to the grandparent of one of our friends. We had the restful post-wedding brunch at this house and to be sure although the company and pool beckoned I really just wanted to sit a spell in this lovely location. Thanks to the brides for a fabulous weekend in LaLaLand. It was the best ever! Cheers to an excellent California Summer of Love. And cheers to the future Fall on our doorstep - a great time for nesting in modern spaces. I think I found a place for the Modernica Rocker - so stay tuned!

Adventures in L.A. L.A. Land: Part II

 

Next up is a fab modern house that we drove by in South Pasadena. Loveitloveitloveit! Thanks to Derek for passing on the pixs. I love the geometric aspect of this jewel plus of course the contrast of the dark wood stain and the white (possibly stuccoed) walls. It's flashy in a simple way. I'm not sure there is a specific genre that this fits in but I'm thinking - L.A. Modern (LaMo for short?). It reminds me of the  "Houses We Love" section of DWELL magazine except much more livable and aesthetically accessible by the average non-Modern loving individual. In fact there is a very close resemblance to these twins in San Diego, just a couple hours south. Maybe LaMo needs to be broadened to SCM - So Cal Modern. Thoughts? Opinions?

P.S. There's a Part III that was a major highlight (apart from the modernly fabulous wedding we were at). I'll post that Wednesday evening!