Table of contents for Fall 2018 in Atomic Ranch

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Tile with Style

HAVE YOU EVER WALKED INTO A KITCHEN AND IMAGINED YOURSELF WHIPPING UP FAMILY-FAVORITES, hosting festive events or casually enjoying everyday life—all with a perfectly tiled backdrop? What about a bath that had you imagining spa-like weekends and an idyllic morning routine? That is just what we’ve strived to create in Atomic Ranch’s Kitchen & Bath issue. For fans of Midcentury Modern design, these spaces have a lot to live up to in the style category. The bright hues of boomerang-patterned Formica counters, metal cabinets, sleek handles, pastel appliances and of course—the pink bathroom. These rooms were far from bland, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. These spaces are more than pretty, they have to be workhorses. So, what is a modernist to do when the charm of original…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

True Blue

A CONDOMINIUM MAY NOT BE THE FIRST PLACE YOU WOULD EXPECT TO FIND a stylish and functional Midcentury Modern kitchen—and when Brad Erwin moved into Phoenix, Arizona’s Roman Roads condo complex in 2015, he knew he had some work to do. His townhome, built in 1964, needed renovating to return it to its former midcentury splendor. Refreshing the first floor was at the top of his list, which included his now-stunning kitchen. MAKING SPACE “Essentially, the entire kitchen, along with almost all of the remainder of the first floor, was demolished down to the studs as part of the renovation,” Brad shares. “Overall, the space was quite cramped and fairly dark. You couldn’t even open the refrigerator doors all the way without hitting the countertop or walls.” The problematic layout…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Midcentury Minimalist

FOR THE RENOVATION of a 1959 Minneapolis, Minnesota kitchen with functionality at the core of its design, highlighting its Midcentury Modern aesthetic was an absolute must. Designers Kristin Rackner and Kimberly Scanlon, formerly of Crush Collective, collaborated with the homeowners, the Taylors, to recreate the space. According to Kristin, the team renovated with three goals in mind: “To respect the integrity of the architecture and its time period, to integrate the homeowners’ love of Scandinavian design and, most importantly, to make the space function for a busy family with three young girls.” STRATEGIC STRUCTURE “Honoring the history of the home is always a priority when working on an original Midcentury Modern project,” Kimberly says. For this project, according to Kristin, that meant “working within the parameters of numerous architectural constraints.…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Creatively Custom

WHEN YOU THINK OF MIDCENTURY MODERN STYLE, functionality and quality through design likely come to mind. Nathan Hartman offers exactly this to his clients with his custom cabinet and design company, Kerf Design. A CHANGE IN SPACE According to the New Englander, Nathan grew up in an environment where “People were doing things themselves,” and was exposed to the do-it-yourself mentality early on. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in industrial design, Nathan moved to Seattle, Washington and created his company. Started in 1999, Kerf Design began as an experiment to “make simple furniture” but it grew into a custom-furniture and cabinet company that combines Midcentury Modern style with their personalized services, as well as a unique aesthetic that stems from a love of…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Custom Kitchen

When Annette first began to tackle the kitchen, she met with a carpenter to discuss a custom space. Discouraged by the price, she researched other options and discovered Semihandmade. “It was the obvious choice,” she says. Founded in 2011 by John McDonald, Semihandmade specializes in creating custom doors, shelves and other accessories to fit Ikea cabinets. Their process allows for a custom space at a fraction of the cost. “With Semihandmade we could get a Midcentury Modern feel but in a fully modern kitchen that’s functional for our family,” Annette says. For John and Semihandmade it’s been a wild ride. The company has landed on Inc. Magazine’s list of 1,000 fastest-growing private U.S. companies every year since 2015. Semihandmade has spread through word-of-mouth and its strong social media presence and…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Keep tabs on us

Inside Scoop! Retro Road Trip Where will Ken MacIntyre take us next? Join us as we tour Midcentury Modern landmarks and hotspots. Must-Have Mod Collectables See what tops our list of the retro treasures we simply have to have. Flea Market Survival Guide Tips and tricks for scouting out the best vintage finds at the best prices. Blenko 101 It ’s as popular as midcentury treasures come, but do you know the history—or how to spot the real thing? Cool Stuff…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Suburban Oasis

Already living in a 1955 Cliff May Denver, home, Danielle and Cole St. Peter were enjoying their recent restorations and midcentury neighborhood of Harvey Park when another home fell into their laps. “Ultimately we weren’t looking. We planned on staying in the Cliff May for a while,” admits Cole. However, when their friend Adrian Kinney—a Denver, Colorado, Midcentury Modern real estate expert and specialist—notified them about a custom 1957 house in Northglenn, plans began to change. “We came to see it and immediately fell in love,” Danielle remembers. “We were ready for another project… We saw the potential here,” she continues. THE SALE Amazingly, the St. Peters’ buying process was contingent upon a string of four off-market transactions. “It was a crazy deal and tested my abilities!” says Adrian, who…

5 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Cooking up a Design

For Kristin and Kimberly, the design process truly is a process. Consider these factors as key “ingredients” in your recipe for mid mod success. • THE PEOPLE. It’s important to consider what Kristin calls the “human experience.” Who’s going to be living in the space you’re decorating, and how can you tailor that area to fit their needs? As Kimberly points out, “We are all in need of a haven from the chaos of daily life.” • THE LIGHTS. Lighting might not be at the top of your renovation to-do list, but its importance cannot be overemphasized. Your lights, in addition to contributing to the room’s décor, also determine how you’ll see that décor. Change up your fixtures and you might just see your space in a whole new light.…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Design Checklist

1. OUT IN THE OPEN. Incorporate open shelving into your bathroom to showcase everyday essentials—like folded towels or a basket of extra paper goods—for stylish organization. 2. POPS OF COLOR. Whether it’s with a painting on a wall or an accent color on the vanity, a little color can go a long way in paying homage to the bright baths of the midcentury era. 3. LARGE MIRRORS. Add depth and dimension to your getting-ready space by mounting a large clean-lined mirror. 4. WORK IN WOOD. It is no secret that wood is an iconic element of midcentury design. Its masculine yet refined appeal can create an eye-catching bathroom design. 5. A TOUCH OF TILE. Add that extra edge of mid mod personality with a unique tile backsplash.…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

TILE DONE Right

ARTISANAL MAY NOT BE the first word you’d associate with tile, but for a company influenced by Bauhaus design, nothing could be more fitting. Clayhaus founders Jason and Megan Coleman produce handcrafted, ceramic tile that combine Midcentury Modern style with artistic techniques—resulting in uniquely beautiful and entirely mid mod tiles. “We differentiate ourselves because we’re known for our color.” FROM THEN TO NOW “Our products reflect the style and architecture of the Midcentury Modern era as well as the Bauhaus period that was popular in the 1920s and 30’s,” says Megan. “Ceramic tile was the preferred building product at that time and especially during the housing boom of the 1950s,” she explains. Colorful tiles were produced in an array of hues—with pink, mint green and pale yellow among the most…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Background on Bauhaus

THE TILE COMPANY, CLAYHAUS, takes its name from a prominent school and artistic movement. Bauhaus (German for “house of building”) was a modernist art school founded in 1919 in Weimar, Germany. The institution stressed uniting the arts and industrial design with emphasis on practical skills, craft and techniques. Combining elements from fine arts and design education, students were immersed into specialized workshops such as pottery, wall painting and metalworking, in order to stress the importance of designing for mass production. During World War II, many of the key figures of the Bauhaus school, such as Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, immigrated to the United States where they continued to foster the movement both in Europe and the United States, which reunited creativity and manufacturing through design. Today, the movement is…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

last look

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO UPDATE THIS 1959 BATHROOM, one thing was clear—the pink wasn’t going anywhere. Homeowners Annette and Alan Vartanian have found creative solutions to preserving its iconic midcentury elements while meeting the needs and personality of their family. “Vintage pink bathrooms are a rare breed,” says Annette. Wanting to keep as much of the pink as possible, she saved the original Venetian pink sink and shower tiles. The latest pink addition to the bath is the toilet—which was sourced to match the other elements. As for the wallpaper, Annette jumped at the chance to honor one of her favorite shows, “The Golden Girls” by pairing Cole & Son’s ‘Palm Jungle’ print with the pink tile. For more on this house, turn to page 64.…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Confessions of a Former Packrat

WE ARE A NATION OF PACKRATS. We have so much stuff that the self-storage industry just laughs at us—all the way to the bank. One in 11 Americans pays an average of about $90 per month, often for years, to store things they will likely never ever use again. Some storage spaces are even air-conditioned and heated, raising the cost. One out of 11 of our nation, or 9.4 percent of American households, created this $38 billion dollar industry. That is three times the volume of the entire Hollywood box office gross for a year. According to an article on the subject by Patrick Sisson for CURBED, “the volume of self-storage units in the country could fill the Hoover Dam with old clothing, skis, and keepsakes more than 26 times.”…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Portland Puzzle

“When you respect architecture so much, there’s definitely a lot of pressure when you make substantial changes to a home.” Built in 1954, the house is one of the few midcentury properties to be found in northeast Portland. RENOVATING A HOUSE BUILT IN THE 1950S CAN BE TRICKY. On one hand, Midcentury Modern enthusiasts often want to preserve the original footprint and design elements that were unique to the post-war era. On the other hand, a home should be conducive to modern living. “With the major remodel, I did my best to give a nod to the original midcentury design, even though we took a lot of it down to the studs,” says Beth Williamson of her split level house in Portland’s Concordia neighborhood. Beth and her husband Seth Berman…

4 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

The Art of Escaping

NESTLED IN AN IDYLLIC WOODED NEIGHBORHOOD ONLY A HALF MILE FROM THE BAY, this 1960s kit house in Amagansett, New York, offers all that you would expect of a midcentury weekend retreat—and then some. “The frequent turnover within a vacation community can be wasteful. Some are eager to tear down what exists and start new,” says architect Paul Masi, of Bates Masi + Architects. “This project preserved the skeleton of the house and the history in the patinated materials that the client desired. Conventional materials were utilized in new ways to unify the old and the new.” In planning the renovation, the client’s design aesthetic was married seamlessly with the home’s post and beam construction. “The clients, DJ Victor Calderone and interior designer Athena Calderone—who worked on the home—gathered images…

2 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Style by Design

LOCATED IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, it is hard to believe that this stunning 1959 custom-built home was once a daunting fixer-upper. Thanks to Annette Vartanian’s eye for interior design and her husband Alan’s architectural background, their Midcentury Modern dream was soon realized. “The place was a hoarder’s paradise,” says Annette. Through all the clutter they saw the home’s amazing architecture—boasting an inviting and open floor plan, large windows and a wide outdoor deck—and fell in love. “No one else saw the potential, but we did,” Annette reminisces. With a can-do attitude the couple bought their dream home and began the process of renovations and touch-ups. “Ultimately what we wanted to do with our Midcentury Modern look was to maintain the integrity of the house but update it to our modern lifestyle,”…

3 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

Get the Lowdown on Tile Selection

1. Choose a tile that compliments your space and adds to, not overwhelms, your design. 2. Do you want your tile to be the focal point or the backdrop to other pieces? Whatever you decide, keep location and scale in mind, and visualize how they factor into the overall look. 3. “When shopping for handmade ceramic tile, allow for budget and lead time,” Megan explains. To avoid the tragedy of running out of tile due to improper cuts or other installation mishaps, she suggests ordering 10-15% extra.…

1 min

Atomic Ranch|Fall 2018

resources

True Blue, p. 26 Hexon tile backsplash in Pacific Blue: ModCraft, mod-craft.com Broyhill Brazillia Hutch: Vintage. 5 Piece Vase Set: AllModern, allmodern.com Suburban Oasis, p. 28 DINING ROOM: George Nelson Bubble Lamp: Design W ithin Reach, dwr.com. KITCHEN: Cabinet fronts and handles: IKEA, ikea.com. White ceramic tiles: Floor & Décor, (877) 675-0002 or flooranddecor.com. Hanging light above island: Deerstedt, etsy.com/shop/Deerstedt. LIVING ROOM: Retro rounded sectional couch: West Elm, westelm.com. Rug: Target, target.com. Eames lounge chair and ottoman: Design W ithin Reach, dwr.com. Zenith record console: Vintage. Arc lamp with marble base: Vintage. Atomic gravel art: Vintage. Lane Acclaim coffee table: Vintage. Edward Wor mley for Dunbar bench: Craigslist, craigslist.com. American of Martinsville end table: Vintage. DECK: Equipale fur niture: From a local estate sate. MASTER BEDROOM: Broyhill Brasilia dresser: Vintage…

3 min