Phone Photo Friday
01/14/2011
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Art, Art: fashion, Art: God's creation, Art: mid-century design, Art: modern design, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: cell phone photography, his and hers, Phone Photo Friday, rain boots, snow day | 
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Posted by mahlbrandt
Home Office Part 5: The Cloffice (or Offet)
01/12/2011
What do you get when you cross a closet and an office? A cloffice? An offet? The latter is cute but we’ve been calling it a cloffice ever since a friend made the suggestion. I’m happy to report that this home renovation project is FINISHED. DONE. COMPLETE. We’re undecided about adding bi-fold doors at some point. I kind of like it open but covering it up might be nice too.
Since my last post about the hall-coat-closet-turned-home-office here is what has been done: Jason re-hung my upper monitor (straight and centered this time; I’m a mess without him…), installed an electric outlet, removed the door and widened the doorway, finished my desktop, reframed the doorway and painted the trim, baseboards, hall wall and shelves. Oh, and he also painted a stripe on the floor for me. It was necessary because part of the wood flooring was missing when we removed the wall. But I like that it’s kind of funky and helps to define the space. I touched the cloffice wall paint, cleaned up the top shelf with new matching storage boxes and hung some Command hooks for my bulletin board and computer satchel.
I’m kicking myself for not taking a before picture. POO. Anyway… here are the first four parts of this series in case you missed them:
Home Office Part 1: Small Homes Require/Inspire Creativity
Home Office Part 2: Closet Offices & Inspiration
10 Comments | Art, Art: Closet Office, Art: graphic design, Art: interior design, Art: mid-century design, Art: modern design | Tagged: cloffice, closet office, home office, small space | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Before & After: Little Birdie Planter
01/03/2011
A quick before and after post to start out the new year. Just a little spray paint and a cactus made this $2 estate sale bird planter a little more classy.
2 Comments | Art, Art: crafts, Art: gardening, Art: mcm thrift store find, Art: mid-century design | Tagged: before & after, bird, cactus, estate sale | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Modern Gingerbread House
12/21/2010
I wish I could take credit for this but alas, I cannot. I saw it on a blog last year and saved it in my inspiration files. (The blog is now private so there is no point in citing it.) Maybe it will inspire someone else out there, too!
1 Comment | Art, Art: Cooking, Art: crafts, Art: mid-century design, Art: modern design | Tagged: Christmas, gingerbread house, mid-century, modern | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Wishing You a Shiny Brite Christmas, Again
12/14/2010
OK, last time I’m going to mention this, I promise. Wishing You a Shiny Brite Christmas poster and postcards are available for sale in my Etsy shop, Light Hand. (Sorry, the poster sold out already! Let me know if you want one and I can order more from the printer if there is enough interest.)
What can I say, I love my Shiny Brite ornaments!
2 Comments | Art, Art: graphic design, Art: interior design, Art: mid-century design, Art: modern design | Tagged: Christmas, Christmas cards, Christmas decorations, shiny brite, vintage ornaments | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Christmas Gift Ideas for MCM Lovers
12/13/2010
A Christmas Gift Guide for the Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lover!
A Colorful Rotary Phone – Price: $20-60
I found this turquoise beauty on Etsy for $55. I prefer to do my own hunting rather than paying the mark up for someone else’s vintage find, but I have a friend who is on the lookout for one and she’d be happy to receive one like this for Christmas.
Funky Vintage Mugs – Price: $12
Perfect for a hot drink lover, these mugs could be paired with a favorite local coffee, gourmet tea or specialty hot cocoa.
Atomic Ranch: Design Ideas for Stylish Ranch Homes – Price: $26.40
Inspiration galore for the atomic ranch owner in this beautiful coffee table book.
Eames Style Rocker – Price $120-160
Of course the real deal would be great but if you’re looking for something equally attractive (and uncomfortable), there are many more affordable replicas out there. Braxton Studio sells a few different options like the one above through Amazon.com.
Saturnus Coat Hook – Price: $18
These retro style over the door hooks would be great for anyone who needs a little more hanging storage space (and who doesn’t?).
Vintage Style Crosley Alarm Clock Radio – $58
No authentically mid-century alarm clock radio would be mp3 player ready but this one definitely pulls off the retro look.
Giclee Print Mushrooms – $35
I’m a big fan of JennSki’s mid-century inspired art. This 5×7 print called Mushrooms is available in her Etsy Shop.
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: mcm thrift store find, Art: mid-century design, Art: modern design | Tagged: christmas gift guide, mid-century modern gifts | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Shiny Brite in the Mailbox
12/09/2010
As I was brainstorming ideas for our Christmas cards this year, I decided that the Shiny Brite Christmas ornaments poster design could translate to a postcard. (Hopefully I’m not spoiling the surprise for anyone … I mailed these out on Monday so, my family and friends, you should be receiving one soon if you haven’t already!) When I ordered these from the print shop I decided to get some extras to sell in my Etsy shop. Have you bought your Christmas cards yet? I’m selling these as sets and as individual cards. 🙂
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Posted by mahlbrandt
Wishing You a Shiny Brite Christmas
12/08/2010
Last year I was inspired by the old cardboard boxes from my Granny’s Shiny Brite ornaments and I decided to make a small Christmas poster. This year I have a few available for sale in my Etsy Shop in case anyone else would like to add one to their holiday decor. Sold out! If you are interested in one, leave a comment. I can order more from the printer, however it may take a couple weeks to get it to you.
1 Comment | Art, Art: graphic design, Art: mid-century design | Tagged: Christmas, poster, shiny brite | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Shiny and Bright Christmas Tree
12/07/2010
Every year at Christmas I love to unpack and admire the Shiny Brite ornaments that I inherited from my mom’s mom a few years before she passed away. Jason and I have come up with a few creative ways of displaying them the past several years. (Three examples here.)
This year we decided to copy our mid-century modern loving friends in Cincinnati and get a vintage aluminum Christmas tree on eBay. We don’t have a color-wheel light for it; maybe we’ll get one next year. It’s so sparkly and shiny just on it’s own. I love it!
I think our Shiny Brite ornaments look so at home on it’s metal branches.
1 Comment | Art, Art: mid-century design, Family | Tagged: aluminum tree, christmas tree, ornaments, shiny brite, vintage | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Merry Christmas from My Mid-Century Modern Life!
12/06/2010
I’ll be celebrating Christmas for the next few weeks on this blog, mid-century modern style. I hope you stick around. It’s the most wonderful time of the year … though I could do without the cold weather! 🙂
Jason and I got an early Christmas present from my parents this year: a fresh balsam wreath. It’s lovely and it smells like Christmas. We had it hanging in the house for the first few days so we could enjoy the smell but it started shedding a lot so we moved it out to the front door. Isn’t it lovely?
1 Comment | Art, Art: mid-century design, Art: modern design | Tagged: Christmas, evergreen, mid-century modern, wreath | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
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