Mid Century Modern Furniture Show

20th Century Cincinnati



Amid the killer-cold shivers, and cabin fever inducing winter time blues exists a ray of hope. 20th Century Cincinnati is a warmth radiating across the barren landscape of a mid-western winter.

The show returns in 2010 with a fist-to-the-jaw lineup of top-shelf Mid Century Modern dealers. 50 of them to be exact. That's epic.

We attended last year's show. Decisions were made then to show up every year.

Below are some shots we took of the Mid Century Modern goods being peddled last year.




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Details:

• February 27 - 28, 2010 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Sharonville Convention Center • 11355 Chester Rd • Sharonville, OH 45246

• $7.00 general admission (good for both days)

• $20.00 for special first-look preview 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Saturday (includes breakfast)
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This is not just a furniture show. Expect a wide variety of things - jewelry, pottery, dinnerware, lighting, accessories, textiles, posters and art. A great thing about the show is there truly is something for everyone.

Beginning collectors (those there for the first time who are just looking for something interesting to get the MCM ball rolling) and seasoned collectors looking for higher end stuff will all be in heaven.

Prices range from the ultra-cheap to the mega-cash.

Deco to disco is pretty well covered.
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We've created a Facebook event to keep up with who's attending. This will be an easy way to plan meet-ups and carpools.

I'll be easily spotted in my trademark Vintage Roadside t-shirt.


We hope to see you there.

Cheers,

-Baz

Mid Century Modern Bullet Lights

A tale of four lights.


(Image courtesy of Zach Dobson)

It was the bright of times, it was the dark of times.

Okay. Done with that witless attempt at funny. Onward.

Mid Century Modern lighting is iconic.

From Nelson Bubble Lamps to the holy-grail-equivalent, Arco Lamp, Mid Century Modern lighting transcends the era in which it was designed. It seduces the most contemporary spaces. Seductions are nice.

Upon procuring our Mid Century Modern abode from the now infamous "house flippers", we were left with a slew of contractor-special, big-box hardware-super-store, flush-mount lights. We affectionately describe these lights as (for lack of a more accurate visual) flesh-mount breast lamps. One doesn't have to squint to see our point.

A view of our peep show on the ceiling:


Removal of offending lights was in order. Carefully. So as not to be accused of groping:


We were faced with poorly executed work in need of ceiling patching.
Big surprise. Yay for fun. Double yay for incompetent house flippers.

Patch work complete. Now in need of appropriate non-anatomy-thought-inducing replacement lights donning the proper Mid Century Modern vibe.

We've long had a love of Mid Century Modern bullet lights. This love is unrequited no more.

Found: set of four vintage cone-shaped bullet lights on Ebay:


These poor lights had succumbed to several coats of paint over the years. Discovered original color was orange. Convenient. Serendipitous even. Orange happens to be our accent color. We decided to contribute one more layer.

Stripped, sanded, smoothed. And then we got to work on the lights.


Hit with orange spray.


Dig it.

One perceived drawback to bullet lights is their uni-directional spotlight nature. No matter. We embrace all things for what they are, including flesh-mount breast lamps.

Following a brief head scratching session, we recalled seeing Mid Century Modern clip-on light diffusers advertised in vintage home publications. Attempts to find these online netted us nothing. Undeterred, we innovated.

List of materials:

• Decorative sheet metal (available at most any hardware store in a variety of patterns).

• Small lamp shades with clip-on-to-light-bulb attachment. Found at Goodwill for 50¢ each.



Let's roll.

Cut the shade part of a lamp shade to shreds, leaving you with the heart of this project - the "clip" (the two little circles in the center basically "clip" around the top of a light bulb).


Trace clip onto decorative sheet metal.


Cut traced lines with shears. Sand down dangerously sharp edges.


Epoxy sheet metal to clip. We chose Seal-All. Dries fast and clear.


Clamp. Go play Texas Hold 'Em, or splatter a canvas while you wait.


Paint desired color. Or leave metal finish. Which ever you prefer. We won't judge.


Implement.



Enjoy the fruit of one's labors with a balanced mix of friends and adult beverages.



(Image courtesy of Zach Dobson)

Result: nice mood lighting that doesn't blind, confuse, or inspire illicit thoughts.

Cheers,

-Baz

Happy New Year!

We're Busting out a New Year's Revolution.


Image courtesy of Indianapolis Monthly Magazine

2009 has faded like an Eames shell chair left outside for 50 years.

Wasn't all bad. Not all of it. Right?

So, now we're all swimming in a chatter of "New Year's Resolutions." Forget it. So passive. We're choosing instead to bust out our "New Year's Revolution."

A revolution to tirelessly forward the passion for, interest in, and awareness of: good design. Especially that of the Mid Century Modern kind. Uncle MCM Wants You. Bring it.

The propagation of this revolution begins with a little one-page feature in 2010's inaugural issue of Indianapolis Monthly Magazine. On shelves now.



Aside from its ego-inflating properties, press is good. It brings new eyes. New eyes = new minds. Of these new minds, a few will "get it." That's cool. Totally cool. Anything that helps this nation's Mid Century Modern homes survive this kind of "update" is something we can dig. All the way down.

If you're an Indy local, pick up a hard copy of the Indianapolis Monthly. If you're out-of-state, check out the online version.

Goodnight, 2009. Cheers to, 2010. Now go forth and break something MCM off in it. For us.

-Baz