History Brush up on Mid-Century Modern Design- George Nakashima

George Nakashima (a Japanese American woodworker/architect) is, hands-down, one of my favorite names from the Mid-Century Circa. His unique furniture is famous for its use of large slab wood pieces with smooth tops and natural wood edges.  

George Nakashima graduated with a Bachelor’s in Architecture from University of Washington and his Master’s in architecture from M.I.T. by 1930. Although he started out as an architectural designer for larger scale projects, he later secured his passion on a much smaller scale with furniture.  

At the beginning of WWII, he opened a furniture workshop in Seattle with his wife but this was put on hold because they were interned in a camp like many Japanese Americans during the war. It was during this time that he was trained on salvaged wood by a master Japanese carpenter which sparked his interest in the unfinished, organic wood look.

“In dealing with solid wood almost each piece becomes a personal problem and the nature of each slab is used to its fullest capacity.”

-George Nakashima

 

George Nakashima often fixed cracks or filled voids using butterfly joints.

A close-up of Nakashima's signature butterfly joints.

In 1943, he and his wife resettled in Pennsylvania where he set up shop again. His shop employed some of the world’s finest craftsmen who devoted their time to Nakashima and his ideas, some of who still work in his studio today. Even though Nakashima passed away in 1990 at age 85, his work and his studio still live on through his daughter, Mira Nakashima-Yarnall.  

Some of his major commissions are listed below:

• 200 furnishings for Nelson Rockefeller’s home in New York

• Interiors for Columbia University

• The Church of Christ the King in Katsura, Kyoto

• The International Paper Corporation

• Monastery of Christ in the Desert as well as the Alters of Peace

• Series of furniture for Knoll

A plethora of Nakashima-inspired pieces...

 

 

Toodles,

Amy B.

Is Dark-Colored Paint Timeless?

I last wrote a post about achieving a timeless look within your home. By purchasing antique and classic pieces, you’ll be able to create a home that is balanced and grounded by timeless furniture.

If you enjoy staying tuned into current trends, updating your accessories, fabric, and paint every 10 years will allow you flexibility and transformation.

 Pinterest

Changing the color of a room can dramatically update a room. Painting walls is one of the things that can be done fairly easily and inexpensively.

Using dark paint in a room can significantly transform it. I’ve discovered that it’s more common to see smaller rooms painted dark gray, rich purple, or deep blue rather than large and bright rooms.  

 Tim Street-Porter

A study or library is a great place to use dark colors in your home.

Pinterest

It’s common for dark paint colors to be ignored for less obtrusive light colors. People naturally steer towards using lighter colors in their homes. It’s hard enough to correctly choose the creams and whites, right!?

Maria Killam has written several blog posts explaining why white is not a good choice for a room that doesn’t have an abundance of natural light. White walls look dingy in a darker room. Modern homes painted white usually have walls of windows that accompany them.

I specifically like the quote Maria used from Janice Lindsay’s book; All About Colour

White is a snob that likes its own company best. Interest comes from a variety of textures and sheens and from natural or uncoloured materials – wood, stone, fur, metal, glass. It likes other neutrals and finds black, it’s colour complement, incredibly exciting. If other colours are pale enough, white considers them part of the family. If they aren’t, the white tries to make them look bad: bold and boisterous, like vulgar intruders. Colour gets blamed for being loud but white is the mischievous culprit.

Dark colors are fun. It can be easy to pick a dark color if you already have your room decorated.

Tom Scheerer Interior Design

Source

Pinterest

Dark colors can be soothing and relaxing.

Miles Redd Photography

 Ashley Goforth Design 

 Dark colors are waiting for you to create some ambiance.

Ashley Goforth Design

 Dark colors can be neutral.

Source

Tom Scheerer Design- close to Sherwin Williams, Gibraltar?

Black is a timeless color; according to Janice Lindsay, all colors are timeless. It is combinations that go in and out of style. It’s not so much about the color versus how and where a color is used.

 Image via Cote de Texas



So if you’re looking for a little fun in your home, I challenge you to find a dark color to use in replacement of light colors. It doesn’t have to be an accent wall, it can be the whole room or a ceiling.

  

Pinterest

Tip: If you’re going to paint your walls a dark color, leave the ceiling white so there’s a contrast and it doesn’t feel like a dark hole. Leave the trim white too.

Thanks for reading!

Tara

Approaching "Timeless Design"

Faint blue walls with gold toned furniture and accents. The wall color is close to Benjamin Moore, Stone White. Source

How do budget-conscious, young women decorate their homes today so that in 10, 20, or 35 years, we’ll still LOVE it?

·         Hire a designer?

·         Only purchase classic antiques or reproductions?

·         Splurge only on trendy accent pieces like rugs and pillows?

Since decorating styles cycle, it may be impossible to create a timeless home that won’t eventually bore you or require updating.

A timeless look by Jeff Harr Photography

Right now, trending styles include gray and whitewashed color schemes with European influences….been to Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware lately? What's interesting is that the 'hot' furniture right now includes antique replicas, or reproductions.

 Source

...and I LOVE this trend.

So, if your home reflects your personal style, you’ll love it.

But personal aesthetics change. Will this white-washed look remind everyone of the 2010s in 2040?

Really, there’s no way to stay safe from evolving styles, patterns, and fabrics…especially if you naturally enjoy decorating. After all, isn’t it “the hunt” that makes decorating so fun!?

A rule of thumb is to change out the textiles, paint, and accessories every 10 years to keep your home fresh.

Designed by Kathryn Ireland of Million Dollar Decorators

But, it is possible to have a home which only requires tweaks…if it’s filled with antiques....

Antiques…never go out of style.

Antiques or reproductions can really ground and warm-up a room. They give homes a level of sophistication. I love wood furniture and interesting wood grains. Most antique reproductions are solid, inviting, and comfortable. They can handle wear and tear. You can also have your antique furniture professionally painted, if you wish!

Room designed by Miles Redd

The use of antiques in the room above make it hard to tell what period it was created in...The lines in the antique furniture give it that everlasting grace. This room is a bit formal for my tastes, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't find similar pieces, like the rug, the chest on the back wall, or the lamps.  Antique furniture doesn't have to be this dressy...see more below.

John Saladino

Another way to design your home so it stays fresh-looking is by cleanly mixing styles, like modern and classical. Darryl Carter is a newer designer who has received attention for his ability to put seemingly unrelated items in a room to create comfort. 

This small space is so interesting! Antique chairs, mirror, round table, and weathered doors mixed with contemporary coffee tables

Darryl Carter, Simon Upton Photography

Darryl Carter Design in Elle Decor. Even though this room is so interesting, it holds classic pieces.

Mid-century furniture is hot right now...but be careful of purchasing more than a few pieces for your house. Filling an entire home with period-pieces won’t achieve ‘timeless and traditional.' 

Source. This room feels cold and sterile to me. Are the owners of this home going to appreciate the style for 30 years to come?

Look at these next photos...can you guess when they were photographed?

Timeless and traditional, warm and elegant. Photo from Pinterest.

Source

You or I could guess, but we may be surprised.

What do you think? Is antique furniture something you would purchase today?


Thanks for stopping by!

Tara

Are you on Pinterest?

Are you on Pinterest?


 It seems that the more I'm on Pinterest and 1stDibs, the easier it is for me to find 'inspiration' for blogging.

Pinterest

I was a blog reader for a very long time before Amy took initiative to get this blog going.

Often, after finishing another blogger's post, I think,...hmm..I really liked what she said, but didn't feel like the complete direction or goal of what she was trying to say came full circle.

Photo Credit

And today, I ask myself the same question. Did I just start a post to 'get something out there?' Or was it content that someone else would find interesting, insightful or worthwhile?

So while it's fun to find photos from all the available sources out there, a good blogger is someone who will take further steps forward to inform or entertain the reader.

As a blogger, thats when your blog stats rise, your audience grows, and you start to become knowledgable about what you're passionate about.

Photo Source

So today, I'll inform you.

A month or so ago, Amy and I talked about a new project that we were working on for a Dallas consignment store. That project is now on hold, and we don't know if we'll get back to it.

However, we do promise to keep posting about other other projects. And we will find other opportunities. We are 2 fun and creative girls in Dallas!

Plus, Amy recently had a plummer come and rip out a large section of her bathroom wall! Exciting!!

We'll be back to share more about paint, bathroom hardware, and tubs.

Photo Credit

I really like this photo. I love the twin-size bed. I'm not sure how often I'd feel like taking a nap in my kitchen, but this kitchen seems pretty special.

This kitchen also has a unique design element. 

Curtains that drape the floor. Via Cote de Texas

Thanks for reading!

Tara