Your most important mid century accessory: Monsterosa!

I acquired this photo for a post on mid century wall-to-wall carpeting, but that will have to wait 'til later. Today's post is about arguably your most important retro reno room accessory: a Monsterosa Deliciosa plant!

You can see it in the foreground of this image - to the left of the fireplace. When we first moved into our 1951 ranch, we bought one right away, for our large living room.

Our daughter named it -- PAVA, for Plant And Vine Agent. My husband takes care of it religiously and it's thrived. Just recently he made an awesome moss pole for it. PAVA really makes a huge difference in our interior in terms of giving it an authentic retro feel! Mind you, these do get big, so plan for the space.

eBay pick of the day #2: Great vintage lights

Lighting is the theme this Sunday, not that I planned it that way! See this eBay lister for terrific vintage lights. I might just buy the bathroom sconces for my husband for a surprise birthday present.

Before you bid - check the completed listings. These lights are the real deal, and the sellers don't give them away for a song.

eBay listing for all items: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtrue_2_form

Awesome reproduction barkcloth for upholstery and draperies

I bought one yard of melinamade.com's "celestial aqua" barkcloth to make the valance in my kitchen -- and the fabric was just awesome. It is really nice and heavy-weight...great "hand", or feel...and the colors are rich and beautiful.

In the photos you get to see Melina herself. If you read the "about" section on her website, you can see that she got into the business out of passion -- which we totally identify with!! The site also notes that she was able to identify one of the few remaining companies the still weave barkcloth in the 40s-60s way, so this is the real deal.

Here is the link to the fabric section of her website: http://www.melinamade.com/Store2/vintage_fabric.php3?cookie_set=/+

I think that the "about" section is really great, too: http://www.melinamade.com/about.htm

And, you can read in my February post of about her wallpaper, too: http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=21680917&postID=2945308984387315455

Great mid-century design fabrics to use for upholstery and draperies - from Maharam

This fabric collection from Maharam -- called Textiles of the 20th Century -- is fabulous! It features vintage design fabrics for upholstery and draperies taken from original design classics from mid century designers (and their early 1900s European forefathers) including:

Gunnar Aagaard Andersen, Anni Albers, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, Josef Hoffmann, Arne Jacobsen, Koloman Moser, George Nelson, Verner Panton, Dagobert Peche, and Gio Ponti.

This stuff is expensive -- and you must get it from a designer or fabric showrooms -- but it is incredible, really well made, and well worth the investment. If you're on a budget, consider it for some dining room chairs, for example. Or, upholster just one perfectly curved chair for real punch.

The website is very good, it makes it easy and fun to look at the fabrics. Go straight to the "Textiles of the 20th Century" binder.

http://www.maharam.com/maharam.html

Heywood Wakefield furniture - made new - still available

It's fantastic that you can still get original-design Heywood Wakefield furniture, built new. In 1992 a Miami company bought the rights to the HW furniture line and began producing it to original specifications.

Heywood Wakefield "blonde" furniture was the epitome of 40s and 50s decorating. If you need a sofa - they have several models from which to choose, and a number of fabric choices. You can also provide your own fabric. I'll do a post on Maharam and melinamade.com fabrics tomorrow - they both have great designs from documented vintage patterns.

Of course, it's still great to buy original vintage pieces - if you can find them. Regarding vintage sofas - it's been my experience that it's very expensive all costs in -- what with the need for the piece itself, the fabric and the upholsterer. In addition, if there have been smokers or pets, you've go to rip the whole thing down to the springs. Perhaps better, with sofas, to buy the reproduction and start fresh.

http://heywood-wakefield.com/

Retro fireplaces, from Malm - I can't believe they still make these!

I've moved: Please see my dramatically impoved site: RetroRenovation.com

These are fabulous beyond belief -- I am blown away that they still make these great, cone fireplaces! Okay, we're now into 60s style...but I think one of these Malm Fireplaces will look great on the screen porch we're planning out back. Alternatively: In the attic, when we get around to finishing off the space as an all purpose open space for yoga, reading, my daughter's sleepovers and a spare guest room.

You can find cheaper versions of these, originals, on eBay. A company called "Preway" also made them, including in the famous orange. But, I think that buying this classic design but new is a great idea - including going with the gas logs!

http://www.malmfireplaces.com/

Out with the new, in with the old - Rejuvenation Lighting puts retro in new lights

I've had great luck with finding vintage lighting on eBay. I think the prices are the best, and it's great to have true vintage lighting.

But I also love some of the lighting available from Rejuvenation Lighting, a Portland, Oregon-based company that creates reproductions from vintage stock. I've purchased some of their sconces for my bathrooms, and they were great.

As the years go on, they continue adding to their Modern America collection. The pieces featured here are particular favorites of mine.

http://www.rejuvenation.com/collections/Modern_America_Lighting.html