J.B. Taylor

Take another little piece of my swag.

Mr. Taylor and I are nearly all-unpacked from the big move, but as we all know, packing and unpacking take forev's, because you are finally faced with a lifetime of mementos that have been hiding away, in photo boxes under beds, and in the back of impending-avalanche closets. So now it is time to take stock in what we own . . . do we really need this creepy black '50s Siamese cat ashtray that's wearing a red bow-tie and looks like it's screaming? No. Do we really need this big video store promo-standee for the movie Sixteen Candles? I wish we did, but, no. Do I need these gold and leopard-fur cha-cha heels now that I live in the woods (and have never really been able to walk in them anyway)? No. And do I need to keep my collection of big space-eating wooden Enid Collins box purses, even though I haven't carried one in over 5 years? Nope (lucky for all you Collins of Texas collectors out there).

You see i'm doing everything in my power not to be a pack-rat, and I also believe in spreading the love, keeping lovely things circulating to make room for more lovely things. I believe in "vintage karma". That said, i'd be delighted if you'd check out my current eBay auctions, with many more to follow in coming weeks (wait until you see the vintage dresses and accessories i've got up my '60s trumpet sleeves)!

The New Apartment Book (1983).

As previously posted about, I am obsessed with Terence Conran's 1974 House Book, but if I had to pick a second favorite vintage decor tome, it would surely be The New Apartment Book (by the editors of Apartment Life magazine, whatever that is). And like the House Book, I found it at NYC's Strand bookshop for $12.50. Originally written in 1979, the edition I have was revised in 1983 (you can tell by the totally '80s graph paper treatment on the cover):

The "Apt. Book" contains  great ideas for sprucing up a small apartment, lending it a lot of pizazz, on a vintager's budget. Here are some great examples, both totally stylish, and highly humorous at the same time:

(Above) I choose to call this look "crafty-nostalgic-grannie-psych". Note the drawer of old wood type used as a coffee table = sweeet.

There is even a special chapter in the book dedicated to showing young graphic designers  how they should decorate their pads, which of course includes: cork canisters, photo studio lighting, lots of  booze, and grid patterns on your walls and furniture.

(L) Love this Fiorucci inspired desk scenario. (R) I've been obsessed with spice racks lately, so for me, this is some spicy porn. I also adore the tiny T.V. hidden away on the bottom shelf. I'd totally put a pillow in there and watch TCM all day, while sniffing cinnamon and sage.

So many things about this kitchen kill me . . . most especially the old shaving mirror spring used as a pot rack, "Babe Rainbow" and the "food/cigarette" painting above the stove.

(L) Nic and I found this exact Thonet-era rocking chair for $60 in Vermont, so eventually, i'm sure our bedroom will look identical to this (especially if I keep reading these '70s interior design books). (R) This is every aspiring pin-up girl's dream-Xanadu boudoir, perfectly adorned with tropical barkcloths, a pastel rainbow wall mural, gold typewriter, and a burlwood jukebox which plays The Andrews Sisters and Sailor, all day.

This shows how to achieve an "indoor patio" effect. Note the hammock, cloud photo window shades, gazing ball, and fish accent pillows. And you just know they were listening to this.

Upon first glance, I really laughed at how utterly '70s this room was, but the more I see it, the more seriously awesome it becomes. Now I can't mess with it. I'm actually filled with envy.

These demonstrate how to curate an "Art Deco" themed room, either on a pricey budget of $3,308, or a vintager's budget of $733 (today the couch alone would be $2,500).

The book even features an uncredited cameo by Richard Dreyfuss, as confirmed by the address on the package next to the trilby hat (the script for Down and out in Beverly Hills perhaps?).

(L) Here's a grody couple kickin' back in their hammock on a Sunday morning, and totally listening to this. (R) Judy and Vincente, Liza and Peter, Renate and Elton . . . so many fabulous women have married gay men over the years. Note that he just took her to see A Chorus Line, and they loved it so much, they bought the record. Awesome.

Too much late-'70s for my brain to handle, almost. I'm coveting the modern wicker chairs (where can I find those?), but I find the white-gloved-hand cup-cozy to be a bit much, no?

My dream den. We're on our way to emulating this look, and I promise to post pics soon!

All The Young Dudes.

Every-time I spy a great "mantique", it makes me sad i'm not a dude (or that i'm not my husband, who happens to be the coolest). I am always seeing fab items in boutiques, and on eBay, that make me think "if only I were a jazz listening, Playboy reading, bourbon drinking bachelor, so I could buy this for my pad." So, let's pretend for a moment that I am indeed a handsome lad, circa 1968, in search of sexy decor pieces to make the dames swoon. Here are some perfectly cheeky picks:

(L to R): '60s Hollywood Regency-style brass elephant telephone ($149), vintage sterling "anchor link" ring ($9.99), burlap Zig Zag wall hanging c.1970 ($9.99)

Antique Meerschaum pipes, some by Carl Heiss, because I would totally smoke a pipe (from $19 to $225).

All items in this row from Mantiques Modern. (L to R): 1960s Fiat showroom chairs (call for price), mid-19th cent. architect's drafting table (call for price), 1940s Abercrombie hippo bench ($8,200), which is similar to Edie Segewick's Abercrombie rhino (seen danced upon in the following '60s photo from Vogue), a photo of which I recently payed homage to (though not quite as waifishly) at a friends grandparents house in Connecticut, where I spotted a delightful mini-hippo by the same company . . .

 Now back to dude-accoutrement . . .

(L to R): 1950s Italian butler's rack (min. bid $50), mid-century plaid Bertoia chair (min. bid $650), Poster for Let's Get Lost, Bruce Webber's heartbreaking film about jazz legend Chet Baker ($90)

1970s Sterling Navajo turquoise watch cuff (Sold for $127), Antique masonic badge with double-headed eagle and crown c.1857 ($360), giant pocket watch clock from the wall of a '60s barbershop, Mister Nesbitt's Grooming Kit (for my moustache).

1970s Dow Jones ice bucket and glasses set (sold for $9.99), 1960s Raymor "Whisky" decanter (spotted on eBay), Braun SK61 radio/turntable (AKA; Snow White's Coffin) designed by Hans Gugelot c.1956 (sold for $764), W.C. Fields clothing hanger c.1967 (sold for $20)

 

Macho 1960s tiki-style carved wood decor by Witco (easily found on eBay). Check out the giant Witco sword we had adorning our last entryway in the far right photo.

I'm lovin' it.

2009 has just kicked off, and i'm already in LOVE with so many new things. Here is a list of some recent acquisitions, holiday gifts and various tchotchkes that the mister and I are truly diggin':

~ Our groovy Chemex coffeemaker, which was coveted after being spotted in 2 late-'60s Mia Farrow movies (John and Mary and Rosemary's Baby), so it became my housewarming gift to Mr. T.

~ A unisex Autumn-toned poncho from Greentree Weaving, purchased at the Maryland Renaissance Festival (yes we totally went! Photos soon, promise), preferably accessorized with a clay Churchwarden's pipe from Keen's Chop House.

~ Our enormous French '70s-peasant-chic dining table, purchased for a steal at ABC Home's awesome new outlet in Hackensack, NJ, and a '70s burl-wood coffee table (found at a fab mid-century decor store in Wash. DC).

~ My glam new Karen Walker sunglasses (Mr. T's Xmas gift to me), along with Kenny Shopsin's new cookbook, and wonderful  tomes about Vivienne Westwood and Bill Gibb.

~ Falke's super-warm Family tights (a Winter essential), and Kalustyan's masala chai sipped out of Starbucks' cable knit holiday mug.

~ 9 Volumes of Time Life's awesome 1979 Good Cook series, found at various antique malls in Atlanta GA and Hyde Park NY (only 14 more volumes needed to complete my collection).

~ A nautical-style ropeball doorstop, to be used as a bookend for my grandfather's National Geographics (a lovely gift from my beloved in-laws), and the wickedly beautiful '70s Marantz turntable I gifted Nic for Christmas.

~ A '60s spice rack with porcelain jars and cork tops won on eBay for $22, and the worlds largest macrame chandelier, found at an antique store in Woodstock, NY for $75.

~ The vintage Pfaltzgraff pot my lovely mom gave me for Hanukkah, which Nic and I used to make a delicious homemade Kedgeree on new years morning.

~ Ali Baba the Pug! (Check out the pic below of his very first snow encounter, which he loved).

And since many friends have been asking me what it's like to have moved from hustly-bustly Manhattan to the cozy woods of Upstate, NY, i've decided  to answer by posting these lyrics to a favorite Nina Simone song (with words by Anthony Newly and Leslie Bricusse):

Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds driftin on by you know how I feel

Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And Im feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom in the tree you know how I feel

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, dont you know
Butterflies all havin fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
Thats what I mean

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel