Diner style

LE STYLE "DINER"

The Art Deco diner, an icon of the American dining scene of the 40's, 50's and even 60's, has always been a delight for me, all shining steel construction and  mostly red and black color scheme. It is long gone for the most part, replaced by the coffee shop, its culinary descendant. Its inimitable style is gone with it except for a few relics here and there, kept alive for the vintage quality of the unique architecture and design. I believe that some of the mood can be easily translated into our century if some guidelines are carefully followed.

Manhattan, Salem Massachussetts, Miami Forida

do's and dont's for a successful diner look

1) don't copy a diner textually; less is more. period.

2) do use some authentic items carefully; no diner museum please

3) do translate the look in neutrals and darks; you can add some subtle hues; avoid primary colors for a modern look.  

4) do use color parsimoniously; be very selective; again, less is more

the choices

clean lines and sleek flooring ( here, terrazzo)

some metal, industrial in feeling

some fabrics to bring in some color and warmth

some wood to soften the industrial feel

metal dining tables , restaurant or mid-century style

to mix with existing modern wood cabinets, if that's the case

sleek metal accessories and neutral or black accents

 authentic diner dinnerware 

they can be found at antique shows, flea markets, online of course and at Fishs Eddy in Manhattan; some bear the name of a long lost diner, some are adorned with whimsical airbrushed images.

these patterns, from the Syracuse company of the 30's, were ubiquitous in diners and are still used in coffee shops around NYC.

images dwr, minimalismi, housetohome, igougo, melbourneblogger, restaurantwarecollectors, apartmenttherapy


au revoir.

MONDAY: TRANSATLANTIC PARALLEL

AUJOURD'HUI

with Tish Jett

This the very first Transatlantic Parallel game that Tish Jett, the very talented and observant creator of the fabulous blog A Femme d'un Certain Age and I are playing on our respective blogs.

Tish and I lead "parallel" lives if you will, she, married to a Frenchman and living 40 minutes from Paris and I, a happy resident alien (don't you love that description?) 30 minutes from New York City with my American sweetHart (petit jeu de mot...) a play on words -or name- in this case.

Each week we will each divulge what we like, what we noticed or what we could never give up in each of our adopted countries; what we miss from home: a cultural difference or practical aspect of day to day life, or maybe something not found where we now live. I will post my thoughts here and Tish will post hers on her blog simultaneously, in "Parallel", so flip back and forth and compare; you will have fun, promis. 

Aux Etats Unis

I like:

the I-am-so-sorry-to-hear-that-Ma'am professionalism and the how're-you-doin' today-Jeannette friendly attitude, of most anyone you (finally) reach on the phone pleading for help or calling to complain. 

(I believe Tish likes Dyptique candles, but shhhh, I said nothing, go check for yourself on her blog.

I miss:

the Paris corner store, l'arabe du coin, always owned by a North African family, stocked with all the usual life saving wares and sometimes surprisingly inspiring Moroccan or Tunisian goods, opened late on Saturday night,  "Hamdullah"! (thanks to God) when adorably persuasive friends "just landed at Roissy and would love to see you..." bon, bon, tres bien...

I find amusing:

When you have a party, and you have dolled up your house, la cuisine, the kitchen, had better be parfaite also: half the guests will congregate there in no time and happily spend the evening chatting among the waiting platters and opened wine bottles. relaxed. touching. simple.

I could never give up:

Supermarkets and drugstores open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; as life saving as the Paris arabe du coin but without the couleur locale, the quirkiness, nor the makings for a complete couscous!

images cotedetexas, amazon.com, share.skype.com, treehugger.com, all modified with photoshop

Et voila, pour cette semaine, for this week; et maintenant, swim across the ocean to A Femme d'un Certain Age if you have not already been there and find out how Letitia Jett evaluates her life in la Belle France.

Now it's your turn: what have you spotted in France or in the States that you found amusing, annoying, frustrating? or fun, bizarre, endearing enough to share and compare. We would LOVE to find out. Let us know, s'il vous plait in the petit commentaire space below or on the comments section of A femme d'un Certain Age. so Letitia and I can cheerfully debate your views en Parallel, of course. MERCI et...

mille merci, Letitia.

à bientot.

au revoir.

T.G.I.F. Victorian laptop?

C'EST VENDREDI et...

today's fun find

Richard R. Nagy aka Datamancer constructed this "Victorian" laptop out of wood, glass, watch parts and brass fittings. It works, it looks fantastic in a paneled library but portable? probably not. And the case? Fortuny velvet? in any case,no pun intended, what a technical and decorative feat!

 

images via www.foreverfun.net

alors, amusant?

au revoir.

Flower bouquets for Haiti

DES BOUQUETS DE FLEURS
POUR HAITI

I dedicate this post to the people of Haiti.

I have changed the text of my prepared post in honor of our Haitian friends who, more than they ever in their catastrophe-ridden history, are enduring the unbearable. For them, I offer a virtual delicately colored bunch of my favorite blooms by far, pale sweet peas, a symbolic message of encouragement and sympathy from me.

and these bouquets created by fleuristes all around the world who are certainly thinking of them today. 

you are in our thoughts

COURAGE NOS AMIS.

HERE 

IS ONE WAY WE CAN HELP

Bellhop Imagery

LES GROOMS
en images

The symbol of an era full of cozy lives and luxurious travels is the bellhop and his iconic short, double buttoned, Spencer jacket and side stripe pants. It speaks to me, the lover of all things 40's, of Fred Astaire movies, Ocean Liner chic and old style luxury hotels.  I found some images that really bring back that era and I want to share them with you.

memorabilia at flea markets, this one somewhere in France.

wood statuette from the 40's holding salt and pepper shaker suitcases

the famous French cartoon character Spirou who got into all sorts of adventures in the 50's

One of J.C.Leyendecker's front page illustrations which he created for the paper in the 30's

a surprising 40's porcelain salt and pepper shaker: pastel color and ...girl power

a whimsical letter box, most certainly long gone; mail chic

bellhop in a 50's illustration, probably an add for a hotel with a kidney shaped pool and free form coffer ceilings. 

images anonymousworks, ebay, curtis publishing, parisparfait, kitchy-kitchy-coo, via google

au revoir.

Copper

LE CUIVRE

After a few years of antiqued bronze this and bronze that, shiny bright reddish copper has been springing up in the world of fashion but also in all kinds of  decorative home accessories. The warmer shade of gold marries well with warm spicy colors but is even more spectacular with grays and jewel tones.

a classic tin plated copper tub straight from of Out of Africa.

the ubiquitous artichoke lamp translated this time into rich copper.

a pair of shining copper columns standing at attention

 Tom Dixon's Copper Shade lamp. I just used this fixture in a pale gray kitchen over the breakfast table; stunning.

in the front hall of a chateau in belgium

like an army in a neat row over a long line of tables

a cooper glazed ostrich egg; a soft glow for a soft shape.

copper salt and pepper shaker with a 50's vibe

a sculptural wash basin in hammered copper. the perfect raw look to go with a rough stone wall and dark hardware

for the color coordination lovers, a total array to choose from

of course, Murano does metal dust inclusions like no one else. This bowl is  simply extraordinary.

images dekio, theendofhistory, skona hem, gasolinealleyantiques, bozea, mialinnman, aphrodite, wejetset, via google








au revoir.