Table of contents for Fall 2015 in Atomic Ranch

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

my 2 cents

Scrolling through recent postings on our Atomic Ranch Facebook groups, I was struck by the enthusiasm and support readers bring to a wide variety of topics. • How can I rearrange my living room furnishings, and what size rug would tie it together? • Does anyone recognize this lamp? • I’m repainting my house; what color should the trim be? What about the door? • Here’s a great midcentury property for sale near me; please share this with your contacts so we can save it! While there is a component of pseudo-advertisers using the platform to reach our 10,000-plus online members, plainly some people have the time and appetite for giving advice, most of it positive-ish. It really is a big club, and you’re a member even if you never…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

Historical Record

Arapahoe Acres, a 124-home development in Englewood, Colo., was designed and built by Edward Hawkins and Eugene Sternberg between 1949 and 1957. Its architecture reflects the International and Usonian styles, and in 1998 it became the first postwar subdivision to be listed on the National Register. The vision of Arapahoe Acres was to attract a diverse community of varying family sizes and economic status. Houses range in size from 800 square feet to 2,300 and, though all share a midcentury modern aesthetic, no home is exactly alike. The streets follow the grade of the land, winding and curving. Much of the landscaping has a strong Japanese influence, and many of the shrubs and trees are carefully sculpted to complement the austere nature of the architecture. I purchased my 1951 house…

7 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

books & backs

Atomic Ranch: Design Ideas for Stylish Ranch Homes Plenty of ranches from our early issues to inspire you: modern kitchens and baths, DIY landscaping and tips on pulling together a retro interior. Resources, history, decorating on a dime—it’s got it all. Michelle Gringeri-Brown & Jim Brown, hardcover, color and b&w photos, 192 pp., $40 Atomic Ranch: Midcentury Interiors Explore eight ranch interiors in depth—from warm moderns and split-levels to tract homes and retro traditionals—in our 2012 book. The homeowners share their experiences with economical finishes and furnishings to adding on a master suite and reworking a tight floor plan. Michelle Gringeri-Brown & Jim Brown, hardcover, 200 color photos, 192 pp., $40 Order books, back issues and digital editions at atomic-ranch.com and engagedmediamags.com…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

Fat Lava

My parents were high school teachers on American military bases in Germany most of their adult lives. In the late 1960s through the ‘70s, my father collected antique clocks, while my more modern-leaning mother shopped for contemporary German pottery. Along with the ticking and tocking of grandfather clocks in every room, I took my mom’s pottery for granted as a child. The ceramics may have been in stylistic opposition to the old-fashioned antiques my dad collected, but the strong designs and heavy browns and reds of Fat Lava pieces fit in nicely with the dark, ornate woodwork of the clocks. Newfound appreciation Years later I rediscovered my mom’s cache of dozens of pieces. Digging through a box of dusty planters, I realized the pots were perfect for the decor in…

6 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

atomic events

Fall 2015 Mount Dora, Fla. Esherick to Nakashima Bringing together the works of Wharton Esherick and George Nakashima, this exhibition continues Modernism Museum Mount Dora’s examination of the ‘DNA of modernism.’ Visit their site for the specific opening date, as well as info on the VIP opening with guest speaker Mira Nakashima, who will share insights into her father’s work; modernismmuseum.org. September 8–December 13 Brooklyn Isamu Noguchi at Brooklyn Botanic Garden Fifteen important sculptures dating from the 1940s to the ‘80s will be on view in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and elsewhere at the botanic garden as they celebrate their 100th anniversary; bbg.org. September 11–13 Denver Denver Modernism Show The 10th anniversary of this midcentury furniture, collectibles and vintage clothing bazaar has a ‘class reunion’ theme, complete with a prom…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

atomic advertisers

accessories & artwork Atomic Mobiles 74 323.640.0003 AtomicMobiles.com Atomic Ranch books 33 atomic-ranch.com Brenda Helt, Fine Artist 69 612.396.7539 brendahelt.com Bruce Yager—jetsetretrodesign 75 505.341.2806 jetsetretrodesign.com DSPrints.com 11 571.235.8736 FOS Design 48 888.591.0751 radius-design-usa.com boxdesignusa.com Haus by Santi 48 917.272.8403 Hausbysanti.com Hennessy Puzzles 73 310.391.0519 HennessyPuzzles.com I Adorn U 73 iadornu.net J Schatz 69 866.344.5267 jschatz.com Moda Industria 11 812.330.5135 modaindustria.com modbox USA, Inc. 57 919.781.8403 modboxusa.com modernchristmastrees.com 35 303.885.4153 Modern Fabrics Company 74 704.740.9676 modern-fabrics.com Sin in Linen 49 206.935.2079 SinInLinen.com Storage Studies 74 503.756.3436 storagestudies.com accommodations & midcentury lifestyle Mid Tex Mod, Central Texas Chapter of DoCoMoMo 69 512.350.6034 midtexmod.org Modernism Week 34 760.799.9477 modernismweek.com The Orbit In/Hideaway Hotels 35 877.99.ORBIT orbitin.com design resources & books Atomic Ranch books & back issues 33 atomic-ranch.com Diane Vallere 74 469.865.9640 dianevallere.com Kerf…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

modern wisdom

Having been an AR magazine subscriber since 2008, your quarterly magazine has inspired us to take our 1951 ranch back in time, with a few modern amenities. We look forward to reading about the latest featured homes, ogling the photos and reviewing the advertisements. We can’t say enough about Practical Props in North Hollywood; it was a must-stop when arriving in LAX on our way to Palm Springs, where we stayed at the Orbit In. Oh my, midcentury heaven! If you should ever find yourself in Boise, we welcome you to visit us. Thanks for one of the best magazines! Mark & Sarai Paljetak Regarding the letter in your Spring 2015 issue concerning the Laurent House in Rockford, Ill., it is, indeed, the only home that Frank Lloyd Wright designed…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

home page

Plantation, Fla. H. Miller and Sons built our Asian-inspired ‘Contempra’ model ranch in 1970. We bought it because of its MCM traits: an open floor plan, sliding walls of glass, sunken living room and a garden courtyard entrance. We replaced the roof and are pleased with the new charcoal mansard shingles. The kitchen still has its white Formica countertops and backsplash, and the cabinets are a matte black laminate, which we think looks very current. The light is amazing and every room is open to the outdoors and/or the screened lanai and pool. A wonderful way to enjoy our south Florida weather and wildlife 365 days a year! Brooke Anderson & Paul Gierse Kansas City, Mo. After years of searching and waiting, we were lucky to find this beautiful 1961…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

A Sure Thing

Ten years ago, Tony and Josette Schuur weren’t even looking for a house when they stumbled across a 1954 brick ranch in Portland, Ore. They were already collecting midcentury furniture and art in their ’20s bungalow, so it fit their underlying aesthetics and they jumped on it. The house had been flipped by a local tile manufacturer, so while some of the choices weren’t really in synch with the age of the home, it was a turnkey purchase. After moving in, the couple added some personal touches and upgradesebonizing the hardwood floors, painting, upgrading the electrical, adding central air and replacing leaky single-pane windows in the daylight basement. “We were so caught up with all the inside stuff we neglected to think about the yard, especially the lack of privacy…

7 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

A tale of Two Kitchens

The Collector’s Kitchen photography Marcia Prentice Insurance VP Bruce Rockwell and his wife, Emily, an attorney, spent 15 years in their 1955 home before tackling a kitchen upgrade. “We had lived in the house long enough to know that the layout was quite functional and didn’t need to be significantly changed,” he says. “The kitchen cabinets were falling apart and the appliances needed upgrading. We knew nothing about midcentury modern design before moving in, but I did a lot of research in time for the kitchen redo in 2013.” The couple live around the corner from Case Study House #10 in Pasadena, Calif., and they spied a construction sign for Design Vidal when walking their German shepherd past the property. “I thought that they must know midcentury modern, so I…

6 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

You’ll Like This…

In addition to shooting, writing and assembling this issue of Atomic Ranch, there has been some feverish activity in the offices lately; beginning with the Winter 2015 issue, you’ll start to see some of those changes. For all you ink-and-paper traditionalists, you can look forward to wider availability on more newsstands around the country. And this issue, Fall 2015, is receiving special expanded displays in all Barnes & Noble bookstores, so tell your far-flung friends to check it out. Many of you have asked (and continue to campaign) for digital editions, so I’m happy to report that soon there will be electronic versions of Atomic Ranch. Down the road, a digital archive will also be offered. All in all, I think you’ll be pleased with the new elements to your…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

more wisdom

I’m 15 years old and a big fan of the magazine. I have always been interested in art, and about a year ago I became hooked on midcentury modern design. At first I was obsessed in particular with the works of Charles and Ray Eames. Since then I have been researching and scouting for MCM design and furniture, and I stumbled upon your magazine. I think my personal style is a mix of midcentury modern and ‘today’ modern; I thought you might like to see some pictures of my space that I designed. In the corner next to the bed there is a small reading nook that consists of two floating IKEA shelf units, an old trunk that was used by my father, a George Nelson Ball Clock replica and…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

Cabin Fever

A humble 1970s cabin on the ’Sconsin side of the St. Croix River dividing Minnesota from Wisconsin sits some 30 minutes from the Twin Cities. Owned by a family of four for several decades, the ranch house had two bedrooms and a bath in the daylight basement, another bedroom and bath upstairs, along with a small living room and a claustrophobic kitchen that measured less than six feet wide. Recreation and relaxing happened on the deck and in the gorgeous wooded property, but meals were eaten on the floor by the coffee table or outdoors on the screened porch. Luxe digs these were not. “The house belongs to former clients and good friends of mine,” says designer David Heide. “We lived there ourselves one winter when we were remodeling our…

5 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

A Look Inside

During a flip by Pratt & Larson Ceramics, the Schuurs’ home was given an attractive interior color palette and, unsurprisingly, a fair bit of new tile surfacing in various rooms. Fortunately the exterior Roman brick, original room sizes, flooring and windows were retained in the 2,860-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath ranch. Some of the material choices weren’t what the couple would have made, but ripping out the ‘improvements’ seemed imprudent. The living room fireplace wall now has a modern-bungalow tile cladding, perhaps designed to appeal to the Arts and Crafts fan base of the neighborhood. A Roman brick fireplace surround in the basement, likely similar to what was upstairs, was left as-is. “Originally we had Danish modern furniture upstairs but the fireplace treatment was too modern for heavy wood furniture,” Tony Schuur…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

ranch dressing

Q: This is one of a pair of lamps my parents bought when they were married in 1957. Few people know how to turn the lamp on, as the switch is the small white collar at the base of the shaft, which rotates. I always fought my mom to keep these lamps, as they are so unique, so naturally they’re mine now. Everything is original, but the wood finials are missing and the drum shades need some work—the metal frame needs welding, but the fabric is in great condition. Also, one of the lamp bases is a little loose and needs some of its parts tightened up to keep it from leaning. How can I find a reputable lamp renovator who knows how to work with lamps of the modern…

6 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

resources

Historical Record, pp. 12–21 Arapahoe Acres Historic District: arapahoeacres.org Artwork: carolannwachter.com etsy.com/shop/ RusticModernDesigns art-object.totokaelo.com/art Jere sculpture & Bensen Neo sectional: modlivin.com Spindle coffee table & Mid-Century Task Table Lamps: westelm.com Plum & Bow Libby side table: urbanoutfitters.com Antwerp Floor Lamp: jonathanadler.com Alfred Ivory rug: crateandbarrel.com Kitchen counters: caesarstone.com Cabinetry: executivecabinetry.com Hudson tile: mod-craft.com LEM barstools & Sapporo storage units: dwr.com NUTID appliances: ikea.com Range hood: broan.com Tankless water heater: us.navien.com Bath: Vanity, furnishmevintage.com Savoy tile, annsacks.com Mirror & shelves, smedbo.com Muse toilet, icerausa.com Fixtures, hansgrohe-usa.com graff-faucets.com Light, robern.com Office Swag Leg Armchair: hermanmiller.com Cabin Fever, pp. 24-32 Architecture & interiors: David Heide Design Studio, dhdstudio.com Windows: marvin.com Appliances: liebherr-appliances.com zephyronline.com Remy chairs & Aro barstools: bernhardtdesign.com Custom dining table: JP Woodworks Ink, St. Paul, 651.225.4343 Rug: surya.com/rugs Sure Thing, pp. 36–47 Mild steel: thesteelyard.com Metal fabrication: bacametal.com Concrete work: mikecoconcrete.com Exterior systems: Oregon Outdoor Landscaping, oolandscape.com Kitchen counter:…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2015

coming up

Plus, a heritage house in Houston and a modest Ontario kitchen Atomic Ranch (ISSN 1547-3902), Issue 47, Fall 2015, is published quarterly by Engaged Media, Inc. 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. U.S. subscriptions $19.95. Periodical Postage Paid at Anaheim, CA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atomic Ranch, PO Box 9624, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310-9624. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No #40065056. Canadian Return Address: DP Global Mail, 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A 6J3.…

1 min