#pasadena modern tour: norton house, 1954

On the Pasadena Heritage Modern Home Tour, I had the pleasure of visiting an early Buff and Hensman home, built in 1954 for an oil company executive. Again, like the Tyler House, this home is a well crafted tribute to the post and beam construction prevalent in the mid-century.

Shall we?

#pasadena modern tour: tyler house, 1958

As advertised last Saturday, I went on the most AWESOME Modern Home Tour in Pasadena, CA put on by Pasadena Heritage. It's awesomeness kind of caught me off guard. When I think of Pasadena, I think of Green and Green, Bungalow Heaven, and Frank Lloyd Wright. I do not think mid-century modern.

Do you get the touch of craftsman and the modern in the address marker street light?
Colors are modern, shapes are really Frank Lloyd Wright.

I was so wrong. The houses were fabulous . . . oh so modern, but with a touch of craftsman. My first architectural love was craftsman (as judging by our misplaced kitchen), so I was all in.

Home Tour Sunday May 19: Pasadena Heritage Modern Architecture in L.A.

Yay! A modern home tour tomorrow, Sunday, May 19 in Pasadena, California.

1983 Hamlin House designed by Buff & Hensman and photo by  Dennis Hill

Pasadena Heritage is presenting Modern Architecture in L.A. You know I will be there. With bells on. And tickets are still available!

Richard Neutra's Desert Oyler House: Film Screening

Curbed L.A. yesterday featured Neutra's Desert Oyler Home. I had never heard of it, and I do so love all things Neutra.

Curbed L.A.

bauer pottery: retro and vintage inspired corner

A challenge rang out from Australia, "We'd love you to share a favorite retro or vintage inspired corner of your home."

Kylie and Donna throw such good retro parties. How could I resist? And, I have had "Bauer" on the blog post to do list for a long time. Today is finally the day.

ten reasons why i love the new newport beach civic center

In 2010, Newport Beach finally broke ground for the construction of a new Civic Center and Park. Projected costs were about $110M. Fundraising and planning had been going on for years.

The "cynics and the critics," as Mayor Keith Curry referred to them in his dedication speech on Saturday, May 4,  fought long and hard to prevent this project. As a lover of all things modern and beautiful, I am happy to report, THEY DID NOT WIN.

venice eclectic - modern architecture from the '70s and '80s

I never met a house tour I didn't like. And the Los Angeles Conservancy Venice Eclectic tour held April 20, 2012 in beautiful Venice, California was no exception. Even with absolutely no mid-century modern homes to be seen, I made do. #VeniceEclectic #CurratingTheCity

Exit from Tasty Spuds (Charles Arnoldi Studio). 

The tour consisted of four commercial spaces, a dead famous actor's houses (no inside pictures) and a downtown roundabout. So I won't break this up into six posts like usual. I am just gonna splat it all at you. HANG ON.

hunt for a mid-century modern garden bench

We landscaped the strip of yard decimated by our bathroom remodel about 9 months ago. The contractor left a small seven foot patch of land bare of plants and specified "bench - owner to supply."

Boo. Big blank spot in pretty garden to the right near the wall.

Can you see the big blank spot to the right. I have been scouring eBay, websites and Craigslist ever since.

the liljestrand house by ossipoff in hawaii: the amazing recreation room and landscape (part 3)

A few weeks ago on vacation in Oahu, Hawaii, we had the good fortune to take a private tour of a quintessential Hawaiian Modern home, The Liljestrand House, whose famous Hawaii architect is Vladimir Ossipoff.

Part one of the tour was the living room, dining room and kitchen. The kitchen was magnificent. And Part two of the tour was all the bedrooms with the creme de la creme being the master. Our final section of the tour is the amazing downstairs rec room and the landscaping. Here we go!

the liljestrand house by ossipoff in hawaii: tour continues with bedrooms (part 2)

The magnificent Liljestrand House tour continues. In the last post, we showed the house at street level, and saw the living room, the dining room and the magnificent kitchen. Part Two of the tour is the bedrooms. The final post is the downstairs rec room and the beautiful landscaping.

First we need to exit the kitchen through a little hallway room.