Table of contents for Summer 2018 in Atomic Ranch

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Summertime Lovin’

WHAT WAS THE FIRST PIECE OF MIDCENTURY FURNITURE YOU PURCHASED? For me, it was my turquoise vinyl-upholstered footstool with tapered legs. While wandering a thrift shop looking for a vintage end table I spotted its bright upholstery—it was just barely peeking out from beneath a pile of boxes. The little tear where the piping had pulled away didn’t bother me because I was so entranced by the looping design imprinted on its top. Despite not being what I had set out for, at just $12 I knew it needed to come home with me. Since that day, it’s bounced all over my house. For a while it sat in front of my arm chair and made for an idyllic reading corner—but I can’t seem to let it stay in one…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Remaking History

AT ITS HEIGHT, MIDCENTURY STYLE CAPTIVATED AMERICANS AS THE PREVAILING CHOICE FOR DESIGN-FORWARD HOMES. The mid mod look is once again sought after and appreciated by a new generation of enthusiasts who pay careful attention to period details and authentic elements. Some, such as the owners of this 1961 Joseph Eichler-built home, feel drawn to an honest representation of the style not just for aesthetic reasons, but also because of a personal connection. The mother of one of the homeowners grew up in an Eichler house, and they wanted to bring that nostalgia into their own home. Located in Sunnyvale, California, the home was artfully refreshed to be authentically Midcentury Modern throughout–with special care paid to the kitchen, thanks to John Klopf and Geoff Campen of Kloft Architecture. OPEN &…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Enduring Style

If you thought Herman Miller was a man who designed midcentury furniture, think again. The name we speak with so much reverence refers to the company Herman Miller, Inc., which actually started as the Star Furniture Company in 1905. At its inception, the company specialized in traditional wood furniture, a far cry from the iconic midcentury pieces we know and love. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS The Star Furniture Company began its journey to greatness in 1909, when a recent high school graduate named Dirk Jan (D.J.) De Pree was hired as a clerk for the company. A hard worker, he climbed the ranks to become the company’s president by 1919. In 1923, with the help of his business-savvy father-in-law, Herman Miller, he purchased 51% of the company’s stock. To express his gratitude,…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Boise's HISTORICAL Movement

Early in 2016, Boise, Idaho based real estate agent TJ Pierce connected his passion for Midcentury Modern history and architecture to an otherwise neglected niche within the city’s residential market. Sticking to a successful strategy focused on identifying Boise’s period properties, TJ has helped to return these architectural jewels and their noted creators to the spotlight. REDISCOVERING HISTORY “Art Troutner is our most admired architect and his homes seem to be the most interesting and most desired by those that call themselves midcentury enthusiasts in Boise,” says TJ. “We also had architects like Nat Adams, Joe LeMarche, Victor Hosford, Charles Hummell and even some national players like Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra and Cliff May—who have all influenced our midcentury market with their direct work.” The quintessential appeal of midcentury…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Keep tabs on us

Inside Scoop! Higgins Glass Studio Make way for your new favorite collectible! These colorful glass creations have a vibrant history—and future. Gretta Grossman Groundbreaking interior designer, industrial designer and architect Greta Grossman was born and raised in Sweden, eventually bringing her delicate yet functional Swedish Modern style to Los Angeles. Celebrating the Makers Meet the creatives who are handcrafting their way into our hearts—like the sunny creations of Michelle Valigura and Amanda Visell of Switcheroo. Case Study 101 Our series continues, as contributing writer Lindsay Jarvis digs into the history of Midcentury Modern’s greatest experiment. Cool Stuff Midcentury Modern duvet, $185 for king. Visit etsy.com/hangtightstudio88. Braxton chair in Key Largo Grass, $1249.Visit joybird.com. “The Royal We” unframed 41”x 17” serigraph print, $549. Visit shag.com. Simple small table lamp, $73.50. Visit…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Curating Midcentury

Tucked safely in a cardboard box and wrapped in newspaper pages from the 1950s, a piece of Franciscan Ware donning the now iconic “Sputnik” pattern kicked off a deep-seeded love of all things Midcentury Modern. Rob Baker opened that box from his grandparents’ house and made his fateful discovery in elementary school. Now the owner of a midcentury home and the creator behind Modern Mailbox, his passion for the design movement has yet to wane. SEARCHING FOR MODERN Fast-forward to 2013, and the midcentury style Rob and his wife, Carrie Quinney, love so much just wasn’t shining through in their traditional 1950’s brick home in Boise, Idaho—despite their best efforts. With a baby on the way, the couple also wanted more space for their growing family. “We really tried to…

6 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Q & A with Adam Call

Why do the pieces produced by Herman Miller endure? I believe they endure because they are truly original designs, not derived from market trends. Herman Miller’s early designers, like Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and many others, focused their designs on solving everyday problems they observed in homes and offices. This resulted in sleek and sophisticated products that were both playful and functional. When you focus on solving the problem not fitting into a trend, the design should stand the test of time because fundamental human needs don’t really change that quickly. What do these iconic pieces say about the midcentury? These pieces speak to the overall optimism of the time. There was a sense that new processes, materials, and opportunities were possible, and many designers responded to these…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

resources

Remaking History, p. 26 Klopf Architecture, (415) 691-7227 or klopfarchitecture.com Kerf, kerfdesign.com Curating Midcentury, p. 30 Modern Mailbox, modern-mailbox.com. MASTER BEDROOM: Bedframe: Allmodern.com, allmodern.com. Saarinen Womb Chair: Tomorrow’s House, (208) 861-5672 or tomorrowshouse.info. Vintage Broyhill Brasilia hutch: Tomorrow’s House, (208) 861-5672 or tomorrowshouse.info. George Nelson Bubble Lamp: Boise Vintage, (208) 949-9034 or boisevintage.com. Daughter’s Bedroom: Bedframe: allmodern.com. Framed painting: Boise Vintage, (208) 949-9034 or boisevintage.com. Office: Luther Conover desk: Tomorrow’s House, (208) 861-5672 or tomorrowshouse.info. Knoll side table: Beatnik Vintage Décor, (208) 867-5654 or beatnikvintagedecor.com. Witco painting: Boise Vintage, (208) 949-9034 or boisevintage.com. BATHROOM: Shower curtain: Target, target.com. LIVING ROOM: Magazine Rack: eBay, ebay.com. Bullet Planters: Hip Haven, (512) 462-4755 or hiphaven.com. Adrian Pearsall couch and coffee table: Boise Vintage, (208) 949-9034 or boisevintage.com. George Nelson Bubble Lamp:…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Bright & Early

HOMEOWNER ROB BAKER, OF MODERN MAILBOX, AND HIS WIFE, CARRIE QUINNEY, transformed their ranch into a cheerful, vibrant display of midcentury treasures. While refreshing the kitchen, the couple focused on emphasizing what was already there—adding a green backsplash from Heath Ceramics, and installing new hardware and countertops. However, the real star of the space is the breakfast nook. “Adding the tikis and Nelson Saucer Bubble Pendant tied it all together,” says Rob. A boomerang-inspired outlet cover, designed by Rob, is a hallmark of their attention to detail while the space as a whole is a fun and funky representation of the couple’s joyful approach to midcentury design. To see the rest of their home, turn to page 30!…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

It’s Up to You

MODERNIST HOUSES FROM THE 1950S AND '60S ARE IN NEARLY EVERY CITY WITH A POPULATION OVER 200,000. We hear the most about larger Modernist communities like Los Angeles and Palm Springs, but there are many more scattered across the United States. In your own town, there’s possibly a dozen modernist houses, and if you are a true fan, you’ve likely heard or inquired about the architects. “Surely,” you think, “the local preservation society has researched these houses and their creators.” You call—and typically you find the society prefers cottages, mill and Victorian houses, and old churches, among other structures that wouldn't host butterfly chairs. “Modernist houses still look ahead of their time,” the society says, “so how could they be considered historical or worth preserving?” Maybe it’s time to talk…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Rambler Revival

Tackling renovations room by room allows for planning and budgeting, note Tiffany and Nate Mueller, who say the house will continue to evolve over time. Finding the perfect midcentury home is always a challenge. Finding one while long-distance house hunting for Minneapolis from Seattle takes both dogged determination and a measure of luck. Homeowners Tiffany and Nate Mueller know this from experience and have documented the process in their blog, Hello Refuge. “We wanted something that had some remnant of character that we could build off, then this one popped up,” says Tiffany, referring to her family’s sixties-era rambler in the southwest suburb of Edina. An interior stylist and co-owner of Hello Goodbye Studio with her husband, Tiffany ventured to the Twin Cities alone to tour the house after the…

4 min

Atomic Ranch|Summer 2018

Mid Mod Mix

Keen on living within a quintessential Midcentury Modern style home, a young couple tasked architecture firm Tindall Architecture Workshop, LLC with a modern yet mindful makeover of their recently acquired period property. Located in Stone Lake, a downtown neighborhood of Greenville, South Carolina, the spilt-level structure’s original footprint made for a perfect match with the homeowners’ needs and required no additions or adjustments to square footage. “The home is a current version of a true MCM home. All the conveniences of a new, open layout with the aesthetics, scale and features of a true Midcentury Modern classic.” “Keep the fixed elements SIMPLE and NEUTRAL. Let the color and accentuation in a room come from the furnishings and accessories. ” RESTORING FUNCTION Revitalizing the building’s ramshackle condition quickly became the restoration…

5 min