Summer pickin’
July 10, 2013
There is no shortage of garage sales or flea markets when the warm weather finally hits making it a perfect time for a little summer pickin’. No telling what you’ll find, like this mid-century modern box… clean trim rectangular walnut body, travertine marble top and perfectly patinated brass fish appliques. A great hiding place for the remote or valet for your watch, wallet and pocket change on the dresser….either way you’ve found yourself a timely simplequietmodern treasure that’s one of a kind and sure to bring a complement or two.
Down to the Sea
July 7, 2013
It’s evident that an inspired walk along the shore set things in motion for this gorgeous fixture. Who could have imagined that the kelp that washes up…knobby joints…long thin limbs….would translate so beautifully to become this Sorenthia light by Dunn Studio? And,what a perfect fit for any simplequietmodern project you might be working to illuminate. Used singly or in multiples the articulation, simplicity and mellow finish are hard to beat. Added bonus? Made in the USA.
A Genius Move
June 30, 2013
Really. At least to my minds eye. So, for starters, you have an open space with your kitchen in full view. The simplequietmodern exercise of placing the major appliances ( stove , oven, refrigerator ) around a corner or behind a wing wall keeps everything neat and tidy when viewed from the larger living area, no matter what you’re cooking up. All that is visible is some simple lower cabinetry sans hardware and a few neatly appointed open shelves. If the giant Kitchen Aid mixer was tucked around the corner too, the entire area would read as console, sideboard or wet bar rather than prep area. The rolling worksurface wears several hats also… as a working peninsula , lunch counter or serving table rolled to wherever it’s needed. Pretty smart.
Dining Out
June 27, 2013
Mid Century master Marcel Breuer designed this concrete block and stone patio table sometime in the middle of the last century. Now, re- imagine it for al fresco dining in 2013. A little planning, a trip to the Home Depot, Lowes or a local garden center can outfit you with the requisite concrete blocks, concrete block or paver adhesive and a big ol’ 4 x 8 sheet of marine ply to top it all off. Using this picture of the original, you can spin the basic concept off in any direction to get a modern look that is uniquely yours. This could be a great weekend project before the 4th, eh? Then all that’s left to do is fire up the grill.
Finally…summer
June 24, 2013
Well, sort of. Mother Nature has taken her good ‘ol time and still there has been no shortage of gray days, gray clouds and rain. What better way to counter all of that than with a healthy dose of orange…or, simply securing the perfect spot to sit it out until the current weather passes…which it will.
http://www.shopterrain.com/colorful-utility/sun-garden-hose-orange/?upsell=1
http://www.youaretheriver.com/
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2012/02/math-facts-quilt.html
http://pfeifferlab.com/#/plank/
http://www.mrporter.com/product/361786
http://www.mrporter.com/product/352553
Top to bottom:
Dramm’s premium rubber hose is 50 feet of smile snaking through your garden.
A secluded roof deck with built-in seating sets you up in tree fort-like comfort.
Wrapping yourself up in this graphic summer quilt will ward off a chill until the bonfire is really roaring.
Relaxing with friends in the simplicity of Eric Pfeiffer’s modern spin on a classic Adirondack chair is sure to keep the conversation going.
Smythson’s orange leather-bound notebook is perfect for keeping track of this summers to-do lists and projects.
Pots of Epidendrums provide their own fireworks with firecracker-like bursts of hot color.
And, if you’re caught in a summer downpour you can keep yourself dry and happy with this oversized rain parka in orange cotton.
While everyone’s outside…
June 14, 2013
this summer you might take advantage of the lightened flow of traffic and get some things done inside… things that are more easily accomplished with a little extra elbow room and a minimum of interruptions. Hanging wall coverings is just one of those things. When you tell folks you’re wallpapering they won’t believe their eyes when they experience the simplequietmodern statement of this collection by NLXL. Designed by Piet Boon, this amazing collection of concrete wallpaper is almost better than the real thing. Being able to install the subtle and sophisticated tones and textures of poured concrete at a fraction of the cost ? Sign me up.
Workin’ for the weekend.
June 2, 2013
And, some weeks it can’t come too soon… especially if you’re lucky enough to be getting away to a smart simplequietmodern cabin like this. Neatly tucked into the hills…a little inside , a little out…and that fireplace? Just the spot to cozy up to should the weather take a turn…which you know it will. Really, all we’ve had lately is weather, right? The only thing left to do is to count it down…c’mon Friday.
It was worth the wait.
May 21, 2013
Muscari. Grape Hyacinths. Tiny floral jewels popping up in the spring soon after the crocus. But, this year? What happened? It might have been Spring’s late start or the rollercoaster of low to high temperatures every other day that held them off. Whatever it was, they’re here now…in waves of violet-blue against the chalky white of the birch…the fresh green of new grass. Time to grab a handful to bring indoors before the lawn crew comes and ….well, you know, that’ll be the end of that. And, what a perfect container in this Mid-Century piece of Murano glass. My favorite vase shape, a cylinder, allows the hyacinths to arrange themselves when simply dropped in. I usually only pull this out to showcase Spring’s first daffodils, but when I noticed the similarity of the Muscari florets to the broken canes captured in this ” end of day” mix, well…it was a no-brainer.
Field of Dreams
May 18, 2013
Well, my tile dreams at least. Maybe yours as well if you are looking for a surface material that is just right for your simplequietmodern project. It might be a bath or powder room application, exterior detail or focal point on your classic modern residence or a simple back splash in the kitchen renovation you have been waiting too long for. The place to start is Heath Ceramics…then go directly to their classic field tiles. The selection seems endless between the tile shapes and sizes and then the numerous glazes. Even for the smallest project this might be the time to seek the help of an interior design professional to help you wade through and skillfully edit the selections to what would be most suitable for your application. The simplequietmodern choice is any of the classic oblongs tiles stacked vertically or horizontally, narrowest grout lines possible with a matte glaze in any of the stoney neutrals, the new double glaze in the gun metal /chalk combination or the classic mid-century modern white. When you go with a product that has been turning heads and winning awards since the middle of the last century you can be sure that your gorgeous result will bring that aesthetic history home well into the next.
In another lifetime,
May 15, 2013
I must have been a monk. What else but familiarity with a monastic life would explain my constant attraction to the simplest of plank tables? A few long unfinished wooden boards and you have a gathering spot for eating, playing games, working out the details of a project or planning your future. A quick wipe with a damp cloth when you’re done and before you know it a patina has developed giving just a hint of the history that took place there. Nothing fancy, a bit organic, but definitely simplequietmodern.
If you are lucky enough to find a table with as much age and character as the one here seen on http://blackeiffel.blogspot.com/ , a few Bertoia dining chairs will complement it nicely.
http://hivemodern.com/pages/product474/knoll-harry-bertoia-side-chair-with-seat-cushion
simplequietmodern 