1950s home design Wowee Zowie!

This is a great book that I scored at an auction. (No other bidders, much to my delight). Its called The Good Housekeeping Book of Home Decoration, from 1955. That means it was published smack dab in the middle of my favorite decade and showcases the best in retro decor to which I can aspire.  There are alot of great retro rooms pictured and a fair share of ugly colonial ones as well. Many photos are in black and white but here are a few color ones. My camera batteries died so I will supplement this post with more photos later. Below: Great orange and turquoise color scheme! Why have we as a society turned our backs on this color scheme?

 Check out this amazing rec room complete with stylish linoleum built-in shuffleboard alley! There's a rattan chair in the lower right corner as well, be still my beating heart!

 Another stellar rec room! Dig that mural on the wall! Plus those stools-- I am loving them. I can just picture myself in this room, wearing a killer vintage dress and serving up some mai tais to the strains of some Esquivel or other suitable lounge music. Yes, I dare to dream.

 Now, hang onto your hats, behold the TURQUOISE metal cabinets in this dream kitchen! I am short of breath, I am so enraptured. Ahh, I love it!

Bachelor Pad Magazine in the works!

Here is what we can expect in the upcoming September issue of Bachelor Pad Magazine:
http://www.bachelorpadmagazineonline.com/

Hiatus of home repair

Lots of hellish home repairs going on here at the nearly 100 year old bungalow pad where I reside. Due to said hellish home repairs I have had minimal junk scores (but migraines a plenty) , but I do have some stuff that I will photograph and post about shortly.

Greenwich Village Movie

Last nite I watched Greenwich Village, a musical from the 1940s starring Carmen Miranda, Don Ameche, William Bendix and Vivian Blaine. It was quite enjoyable!  Carmen Miranda has fabulous costumes and does some great song and dance numbers. Plus the colors in the movie are so vibrant and rich.

TRASH!

As the New York Dolls once sang, "TRASH!!" That brings us to my bottlecap embellished trashcan. There are some marbles thrown in for good measure. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily depending on your point of view, my male associates drink alot of beer so I have unlimited access to colorful caps, which I incorporate into all manner of recycled objects d' art. Bring a touch of the frat house into your very own home!

Electric Kool Aid Acid Test!

The swingin' 60s summed up in one screamin' Hawaiian shirt and matching dress. Summer of Love tiki action! Auction score! No one bid against me and I was ridiculed by both the auctioneer and the crowd. But I have thick skin and know that scorn means more kool goodies will be left for little old moi at ye old auction house. Open the window, you will  hear me yelling triumphantly about this score! Genuine made in Hawaii garments. Shirt is too big for me but I look super Jackie O Mad Men in the dress. WOWEE ZOWEE I need a mai tai! And an iron from the looks of these photos. (and probably some medication because I just re-read this post and I sound like a maniac.)

Oven trouble, Geishas and More!

Well, no sooner did I shoot my mouth off to cyberspace about the glory of my chrome double oven, wouldn't you know it broke! Fixing it involved some heartache and pain, one call to the GE headquarters to order a costly heating element from 1963, 2 different repairmen coming to the house a total of three times, plus a ton of money. But now it works! WOOHOO! One of the repairmen looked at the bar I have set up in the kitchen with old cocktail shakers and stuff and said, "You must drink alot." 
Anyhow, back to the junk report: I scored 2 ceramic geisha figurines at the auction this week. Made in Japan. No makers mark. Not that I care about brands, I just like to know about things and their origins.

One so-called "funeral basket" in an exciting, life-affirming shade of aqua with a green tone.   It is gracing the porch, stuffed with faux florals.  I had been wanting one of these but they are always either falling apart or too expensive. Finally I prevailed. Hopefully it looks shaby chic and not like we are holding services inside.

 Two sewing patterns from 1942. Behold.