Vintage Reproduction Atomic Ceramic Cats! (Royal Dux)

Over a month ago, I found an amazing pair of vintage repro ceramic cats done in the "Royal Dux" style on Etsy.  I have been looking for a real Dux set for a long time and when happen to find a couple of pairs, they were very expensive or had damage.

The "Royal Dux" company, originally known as "Duxer Porzellanmanufaktur," was founded in Czechoslovakia in 1860 by Eduard Eichler.  This brand is known for its distinctive seal, or "pink triangle:"

Royal Dux created vases, figurines, and ornate sculptures.  The designs ranged from art nouveau opulence to modern simplicity.  The modern cat design became very popular in the 50s and early 60s.  Here are a a few examples of authentic originals:

I would LOVE to get my paws on these cats!  But, as I stated earlier, these Dux cats are usually very pricey and often difficult to find!

Despite being unable to track down the Royal Dux atomic kitties of my MCM dreams, I found a seller on Etsy who makes faithful reproductions using vintage molds!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/117109770/modern-atomic-retro-ceramic-mod-cats?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Here is the pair I purchased:

And here is how they look on my mantle in my den/TV room:

The cats measure 4.5 inches tall and are 5.5 inches long.  The colors are bold, bright orange and vivid teal blue.  I love the fact the cats were glazed in complimentary colors!  Total opposites on the color wheel!  The result is an intense pop of color on my otherwise boring white-painted, brick mantle!

I am very happy with my new repro cats!  They are perfect.  However, if I ever stumble upon a real Royal Dux cat or cats when I am antiquing, I may grab them (especially if the price and/or condition is right).

So, if you are looking for a little bit of atomic pottery for your MCM abode, you have to give Desert Arts Pottery on Etsy a look!

New MCM Wares for My Ever-Updating, Rockabilly Abode! (Oh, and Vintage Eyewear Too!)

This past Saturday, my sister and I went to Southeast DC to visit the District Flea Market.

http://districtflea.com/

The day was sunny but the air was crisp with a windy autumn bite.  I wore my Freddies of Pinewood classic indigo jeans, a 50s camp shirt, and a red 49er jacket.  I thought about wearing a housedress with tights but jeans seemed like a better, more logical (and warmer) choice.

As we grabbed a hot coffee, we browsed several booths containing vintage records, hi-fis, books,  prints, art, clothes (mostly 60s-80s but I did spot a cute 50s patio set with gold ric rac but it had holes), jewelry, wall scones, lighting, mirrors, melmac, shabby chic furniture, vintage eyewear, and mid-century furniture.  In addition to the shopping vendors, the District Flea also boasts food vendors. 

Now, I admit that I went to this market with a few doubts.  I was not expecting to walk away with anything.  I was hoping to see the vintage eyewear booth and maybe stumble upon some bakelite, but my hopes were reserved.  However, my doubts were soon proven wrong when I found two Lane two-tiered end tables in gorgeous condition.  I was floored.  The tables only had minor stratches (nothing Scott's Liquid Gold couldn't fix!) and the seller wanted $250 for the pair.  I recently spotted similar tables on eBay for $500 or so.  I took notice of the tables and decided to think about it.  After a few sips of coffee and some brief hemming and hawing, I went back and told the gentleman, "You have a deal."

While I was coming down from my "end table high," my sister and I found the vintage eyewear booth.  I was in total acetate, cateye, and aluminum heaven.  I tried on a few pairs of various colors and styles and then found the pair I wanted: a 50s silver aluminum modified cateye frame for $55.  The hinges needed to be cleaned but overall, they were perfect.

I already own four pairs of vintage frames that have been fit with my prescription: a solid black cateye, a clear acetate and soft gold cateye, a pale blue and clear acetate cateye, and lastly a black, brushed silver, and clear acetate cateye.  In addition, I have three pairs of vintage sunglasses also fitted with my near-sighted/astigmatism prescription.  I am addicted to vintage frames. Yes, it's true.  I am not ashamed.

Here are my new frames:

After returning home from the flea market, I placed the two Lane tables in their spots in my living room.  I treated each table with the Liquid Gold and then let them cure.  Then, I accompanied Big Daddy to his barber appointment, we had lunch, and we went to my local optician to have my frames fit with my prescription.  I love them!  There is nothing like a great pair of vintage cateye glasses!  I used to despise the fact I needed to wear glasses (modern frames are typically boring to me)  but once I discovered vintage frames, I am happy to wear glasses again!  It is just another way to accessorize and accent my daily vintage style!

So, overall, this weekend was a huge success!  I got some pretty new frames to wear and my home is continuing to be updated in proper, mid-century style!

What are your newest vintage treasures?

Taking the 80s Out and Putting the 50s In! My Bathroom Transformation

In early December 2012, my husband and I decided to refinance our home due to historically low rates. In order to complete the requirements for approval of the new loan, we needed to renovate.  We replaced our garage door, replaced doors in our sunroom, painted walls, re-finished ceilings, replaced toilets, sanded, spackled, power-washed decks, and cleaned like crazy. During this arduous process, I decided to finally tackle the 1980s "country nightmare" that was my downstairs powder room.

The walls were coated in wallpaper similar to what's depicted above.  For years, I tried with all my might to avoid it. I even attempted to conceal the country-themed abomination by decorating the bathroom with 50s knick knacks and chalkware.

Since 2010,  I have been slowly transforming my 1985-constructed home into a mid-century showcase. I have taken most rooms from 80s "shriek" to Eames-era "chic." While most of the house has enjoyed a 50s facelift, the powder room was the "lone holdout."

Despite my frustration with the poorly-timed renovations (uh, hello, Holiday season!), I pushed the impending stress from Holiday shopping and cooking aside and focused my rage on the hideous bathroom that seemed to taunt me! It was like the wallpaper was my kryptonite, rendering me powerless to defeat it and take it down (figuratively and literally).

The bathroom in question is about 20 square feet. It has a toilet, cabinet sink, and mirror. Just the basics.  Not a big deal, right? Even though the work involved many steps, I was able to complete the transformation in about a week.

After taking the gross paper off the walls, this is what the bathroom looked like:

I washed any remnant of wall paper and glue off the walls and began spackling patches. I let the spackle dry and the sanded. Talk about DUSTY! Spackle dust gets everywhere!

I washed the walls again and then began the white primer coat. I got so dirty and covered in paint! But I loved it! Reminded me of art school!

After the two coats of primer were done, I painted the ceilings flat white. Then, it was time for the fun part! Color paint in a satin finish! The color I chose was a bright pink. I had read that pink or teal were popular colors for mid-century bathrooms. Despite Big Daddy's initial hesitation, he decided to let me "run with it."

The blue paint tape was applied and the pink went into the walls! Let me tell you, the bathroom glowed with Pepto-pink realness!

After the walls were dried, I began to re-do the standard brown wood sink cabinet. I painted the cabinet black and added pink diamonds on the doors.

When the paint was completely dry, I added two coats of polyurethane. It was so stinky and took forever to dry!

When I was young, my mother used to buy untreated wood furniture and stain it herself.  She also would search for vintage pieces to renovate and refurbish. I remembered watching her work in our garage until late and I learned quite a bit along the way. As a result, I was so thankful that I was able to utilize the skills my mother taught me for this project. Nevertheless, I sealed off the bathroom for a few days with a fan on to help diffuse the clear coat fumes.

When the clear coat was dry and smooth and the poly coat no longer smelled, I then added gold starburst transfer decals I bought off Etsy to the walls.

I also bought a white shelf from Target and spray-painted it gold and mounted it on the wall above the toilet. I added my two Holt Howard ceramic cats and also added two hand-painted shadow boxes.

To finish, also purchased a bronze-colored mirror from Target and spray-painted it gold. I refreshed the caulk bead on the edge of the sink and wall and viola!, the bathroom was finally done!

I am pleased with my work and I cannot wait to start on my master bath! The color I have picked out is a Bermuda/South Florida-like teal. The color is bright and lively! I cannot wait!

I WANT This! Self-Adhesive Wallpaper with a Vintage Look!

Today while getting my red hair color refreshed and getting a hair extension colored to match (more on that in my next post), I was flipping through the latest issue of Lucky Magazine and came upon a feature that listed self-adhesive wallpaper. The company is called "Tempaper" and they make self-sticking wallpaper that can be easily installed and removed without destroying your walls!  Not only is this idea peachykeen, I love this "Alto" paper! It looks very mid-century. Uh, can we say, YES PLEASE?!

Here is the link:
http://tempaperdesigns.com/collection_alto.nxg

The average price per roll is about $60.00 to $74.00 USD. I know that is a bit pricey but to me it's worth it because I do not have to buy adhesive, tools, or deal with the mess. I have wallpapered before and it's a pain in the posterior! Moreover, the look of that Alto paper is gorg-e-ous! The paper also comes in a black and white print that is currently on sale! Want, want, want!

So, what do you gals think? Is the price worth the convenience and look?

Latest Artwork and Vintage-Inspired Home Updates (Picture Heavy)

In an effort to get back to normal life, I have been working hard at the office and at home to stay busy. I find that during times of stress, if I keep myself occupied with job tasks and creative activities, I feel better. I would love to get back to the gym again but I know that I have to pace myself. I cannot have too much on my plate so I will just take things as they go.

Nevertheless, I have made a few houseware purchases at my local Home Goods store, converted a plain table lamp and a simple bud vase into mid-century inspired pieces, and have completed an array of atomic-inspired paintings for the house.

So, let's start with the housewares! Here is a tall, orange ceramic vase I found at Home Goods for $19.99 USD. It stands about two feet (24 inches) tall:

I also found another amazing starburst mirror at Home Goods! I found my first one there in February. This one is slightly bigger in diameter and boasts silver-toned facets. It retailed for $49.99 USD:

Now, here is an orange ceramic bud vase I found at my local Michaels Craft store. It was plain orange and it cost about $4.99 USD. I decorated it with DecoColor Paint pens in aqua blue and gold.

This lamp used to stand on a side table in my guest bedroom.

The base was white and the shade was an off-white cream shade. I think I bought it about 5 years ago. I painted the shade with a blend of clear mixing medium and antique white acrylic paint. When the shade was dry, I applied gold acrylic paint using a damp sponge. I then applied another coat of the paint mix and when it was dry, I applied another round of gold paint. Using a gold DecoColor paint pen, I drew on simulated string on the top and bottom of the shade.

As for the base,  I painted two coats of orange acrylic paint. I let it dry and then applied a clear varnish mixed with 1960s vintage, square gold glitter. 

Now, here are the new paintings! This large canvas is located in my foyer. I wanted bright, primary colors:

Here are two 8x10 atomic cat paintings I did using acrylic paint and paint pens. I found inspiration in a 1950s carved wood set of cats that were listed on Esty:

This is one of two matching 4x5 canvases. Again, I used a blend of acrylic and paint pen:

Here is how the above 4x5 set looks paired with the atomic cats. The paintings are in my den/living room area:

This next painting was inspired by a 1950s, atomic-era tablecloth I saw listed on Etsy. I added orange to make the muted colors pop. Again, I used both acrylic paint and DecoColor paint pens:

Back in February, I purchased a set of plain wood shadow boxes. Until a week ago, they were sitting unfinished in my basement. I was not sure what to do with them or what colors to use and then an idea came to me, go pink! I have pink tones in my upstairs foyer/hallway. I also have a pink diamond and black starburst table runner I made using vintage fabric.

I painted the shadow boxes with two tones of pink acrylic paint and I also used gold paint along with black and gold paint pens.  I painted two pink diamonds with starbursts on two matching 8x10 canvases. Here is the result:

Inside the shadow boxes, I placed vintage blown glass figurines. One is a whale and the other is a mouse, both from Norway.

So, there you have it! The latest updates to my slowly transforming vintage abode. The process is taking time (going from modern to vintage that is) but it is worth it!

What home decor updates have you gals done recently! I would love to know!

More Vintage Home Updates-Atomic Bathroom Flair!

This weekend, I got my new vintage cat eye glasses and I went to Target. I know, very exciting. What a wild weekend, huh?

Despite my ho-hum activities, I managed to update my two upstairs bathrooms with some new vintage flair! At Target I bought a set of pink guest towels, a pink bath mat, a new shower curtain, and a set of aqua blue shower hooks for the master bath. The former shower curtain was a boring, celery green affair that had out-stayed its welcome!

Let's start with the master bath. Here is the new curtain:

 I love it! It has an atomic, yet almost mod look. Even though the print is quite abstract, there is also an organic feel to it.

A few years ago, I repainted the walls in my guest bath with a standard, white satin and then added gold floral stencils. Each stencil was hand-painted. Let me tell you, despite the small size of the bathroom, stencilling took forever! Nevertheless, the finished result was worth the effort!

Even though my guest bath looked nice, there was something missing. I had a set of plain cream towels and a espresso-colored bath mat. The whole thing was just 'meh.'  Then I had an idea to give my guest bath a little bit of fun: pink. Pink is so classic 50s vintage so I was 'tickled pink' (ha ha) when I spotted the set of towels and bath accessories in my envisioned pink.

I bought two hand towels and two fingertip towels along with a small mat. I recently purchased a yard of 50s cotton fabric printed with diamonds and black starbursts. I first washed the fabric and the towels and then I sewed fabric onto the towels for an extra bit of atomic fun:

Here is an upclose view of the fabric:

I also made a small accent for the top of the toilet:

See the rug? Love it! I am going back to Target to buy two full size towels and I will sew the fabric I have left onto each one.

I noticed the top of the white bookshelf I have in my foyer hall looked empty and plain so I made a small runner:

The pink starburst platter was found on Etsy last summer. It is from the 50s and was made by California Originals. This platter was on my living room table but I moved it to my bookshelf. The pink of the fabric just pairs so nicely!

My next project is to re-do my basement. It needs a major facelift! I would love to turn it into a tiki bar complete with boomerang tables!

Updated Odds and Ends in the Kitchen

I have been trying to "take it easy" with spending money and/or updating the house since the holiday season is coming up. However, I have made a few (cheap!) additions to the kitchen that I thought I would share with you all!

The above photo shows my handmade kitchen curtains and three hanging starbursts! The shiny, aqua blue starbursts are actually Christmas ornaments that I found at Michael's Crafts for $2.99 USD each! The aqua color pairs nicely with the blues in the kitchen.

While at Michael's, I bought another sheet of atomic rub-on transfers. I also bought the square white ceramic vase on the right. I simply put some transfers on it to jazz it up! I also put a transfer on my Fiestaware pitcher. I know it looks faint but it kind of blends in due to the vibrant blue glaze.

Here is a potholder I made using a remnant of Circa 50 fabric in "Space" and a yard of 5/8 inch wide teal blue velvet ribbon. I bought a yard of the fabric on Etsy a while back. I made a tablecloth out of it for my kitchen table about a month ago or so.

Here is an upclose look at the potholder:

I also ordered a fat quarter of the Circa 50 "Starbursts" fabric (matches my kitchen curtains) last week. I am going to make decorative tea towels to hang off my stove.

I think my kitchen is pretty much finished. I would like to update my guest bathroom and powder room but I think I will wait until the holidays are over.

There is so much I want to do in my house but I need to be patient! You should see my favorites list on Etsy right now! It is so hard to "be good!"

More Retro Kitchen Updates!

Last week, I realized the round gold knobs on my kitchen cabinets needed to be replaced. The knobs' shape was not only boring, their tawny color was seemed out of place in my atomic-inspired kitchen.  Moreover, they were very reminiscent of the soulless, 1980s decor that plagued my childhood. In other words, the knobs had to go! 

While searching various online retailers and Etsy, I discovered that the vintage milk glass knobs and the artisan, handmade creations I liked were too expensive. One site had these amazing square-shaped, grecian blue knobs that retailed for $24.00 each! I needed 14 so the total would have been $336.00! Yes, each knob was handmade and drop-dead gorgeous but I cannot even imagine spending over 300 bucks on knobs! Can we say 'crazy?!'

After conceding my online quest for the kitchen hardware of my vintage dreams, I decided to visit the Lowes Hardware store near my office. I was so happy when I found a 1 and 1/2 inch round pale sea blue porcelain design. The color was a perfect match for the already-present colors in my kitchen and the price, 85 cents each, made this unexpected find even better. I grabbed 14 knobs and walked to the register. The total came to be $12.50!

Here is a view of the knobs overall:

Another view:

I also made a small tablecloth using a 1/2 yard of Circa 50 fabric in "Space." I found this pattern on Etsy. I paid $7.50 USD. Here is the fabric itself:

This is how my tablecloth looks on my dinette set:

I may add some blue fringe on either end of the tablecloth but right now, I am going to wait since I am not sure.

So, there you have it, girls! Has anyone else been updating their vintage abodes lately?

My (Real This Time) 50s, Atomic-Era Fabric Tablecloth!

Recently, I was duped by repro fabric on eBay. Even though the fabric is fabulous and looks authentic vintage atomic-era, it is indeed repro. Despite the fabric's modern age, I love it still. I made a curtain, table coasters, a table runner, and a pillow. My TV room looks great.

After my repro purchase, I have been searching for real vintage. Last week, I found an amazing listing for a 22 x 46 inch rectangle of 50s, atomic barkcloth on Etsy. The fabric cost $15.00 and with shipping, the final cost came to just over $18.00 USD.

When I received my package yesterday in the mail, I excitedly opened the padded envelope and instantly, I could smell the true scent of authentic vintage barkcloth! Yes!

I let the fabric air out and then I ironed it. I pulled out my sewing machine and stitched the edges to make a simple tablecloth. Viola! My atomic beauty was done!

Here is an up-close look at the fabric! I just love the design:

I was also impressed that my green candles matched the fabric! The two pewter candlestick holders and bowl are Norwegian designs that were given to me by my parents (Dad is from Norway). The set is vintage 1960s.

I would love some more vintage fabric. I would like to make curtains for my dining/living room area. The only drawback to vintage fabric is of course, the price!

So, have any of your girls made any vintage fabric creations? Where did you find the best fabric and/or deal?

The Latest Home Updates!- Using the "Not-So-Vintage" Atomic Fabric

Recently, I posted about buying two yards of "vintage," atomic-era fabric on eBay. Well, MaryDeluxe commented that my beloved fabric was actually a repro. I am so thankful for her heads-up and I am also annoyed that the seller lead me to believe the fabric was vintage. After reading MaryDeluxe's comment, I went home and looked over the fabric itself and saw a glaring "2003" copyright on the edges.  I guess 7 years is now vintage? (Lol!) 

Despite my ignorance and the fact the fabric is modern-made,  I love it!  The pattern is very true to the 50s, Eames era look and it was easy to sew.  I made a table runner, a pillow, coasters, and a window curtain.

Slowly, but surely, my home is becoming a 50s-era abode (even though my home was built in '85). I am currently on the hunt for 50s vintage wallpapers for my powder room and master bath. In addition, I plan on re-flooring my kitchen with a more 50s-era appropriate style.

Without further ado,  here are the items I made with the repro fabric:

Here is the window curtain:

This is the pillow on my sofa:

Here is the table runner:

And here is an upclose look showing the beading I added to the ends:

An interesting note about the above table; my mom and dad found it at Goodwill for super cheap.  I think the table was made between the 1940s and the early 1960s. My mom is very talented at furniture repair and staining. Mom sanded the entire table, re-stained it, and spruced up the hardware. It looks so new! I also have a vintage, stained-wood foyer table that my mom repaired.  It was actually found at the dump! I am amazed at what people toss out!

My vintage home is work in progress and I am having fun! A huge part of me wants everything done now but the real thrill of vintage decorating is the hunt and watching the transformation from modern blah to retro wow!