Monday, January 7, 2013

patina decor: mid-century modern shopping in vegas and blogworld #NMX

I am spending the early part of this week in Las Vegas attending BlogWorld -New Media Expo 2013 #NMX. This morning one of the key note speakers was @GuyKawasaki, who is as about as down to earth as you can get for a technology thought leader and successful venture capitalist. Here are four big things I got from his interview:
  1. He owns no IOS devices (but loves Apple)
  2. He thinks Google+ is THE BIG THING and we can all be in on the ground floor, 
  3. He believes, for all intents and purposes as far as relevancy, Microsoft is dead. "If you wait by the river long enough, you'll see your enemy come floating by,"
  4. He is also fore-telling the end of big publishers controlling the book market, as evidenced by his book on self-publishing APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur-How to Publish a Book (I bought it on impulse during his interview, it is actually really interesting butI don't have any plans to self-publish a book -- yet). 

stratosphere, las vegas, nv
Iconic Stratosphere, Las Vegas, NV, off of Las Vegas Blvd.
as seen from Main Street.

Las Vegas is also a hot bed of new mid-century modern, retro and vintage stores. I took this opportunity to run down to Main Street and Casino Center to see the shops, some less than a year old, that have been established in Antique Alley in the Las Vegas Arts District.

First up was Patina Decor. Honestly, I was beyond impressed.

Patina Decor
Mid-Century Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

1211 South Main Street
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(720) 261-9290
Patina Decor


Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Rebecca's 5 Point Rating Scale (1-not-so-great and 5-fabulous):
  • Store Size / Inventory - 4.5 (Small size store which is crammed to the gills with the most interesting items that can be squeezed into a single store front. The owners are seeking larger space.)
  • Merchandise Quality  - 5 (Oh, do they know their stuff. It is not often that I have seen Knoll sofas laid out next to Holmgaard glass objects.The paintings are really nice too and art is obviously a specialty of the proprietors.)
  • Organization - 5 (Exceptionally well organized. It is tight quarters so look around very carefully. I wandered up and down the center aisle several times, spotting new items of interest on every trip.)
  • Pricing - 5 (The prices here are good as far as I am concerned. The glass prices are reasonable as is the furniture. The owners are charging at or slightly below market value and have high quality items.)
  • Service - 5 (I spoke to Kate Aldrich, who is the wife of Tim Shaffer. Tim is the "buyer" for the store. I broke something in the shop ... Kate was lovely. I inquired about a painting and she said her husband would drive it to me and I live in Southern California ... she was lovely. Did I mention she was lovely?)
Total Rating is 5 (out of 5 stars)

Link to Yelp Reviews

I was most impressed with how high end Patina's merchandise is and how well curated. Kate and Tim are NOT stocking kitschy mid-century. Their decor would look appropriate in any Case Study home (for the most part) and certainly very appropriate in any current day contemporary home. Here is a sample of their wares (iPhone photo tour, apologize in advance for picture quality).


This Lucite bar cart is in perfect condition.

lucite bar cart, patina las vegas
Lucite bar cart

Kate called the incredible assortment of glassware and pottery "smalls" and said that she and Tim liked focusing on "smalls" as well as larger furniture and art pieces. They do a great job. I have such a thing for mid-century modern glass.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


I loved this chartreuse glass bowl from Italy. About $190 if memory serves me right. Super tempting.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


But this fair sized, obviously mid-century covered bowl was only about $60. Reasonable, huh?

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


The Holmgaard blue bottle was almost mine. They are offering for $225 I think, which is a really fair price.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Just look at the barware! Beautiful.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Lovely little dining room set. Danish modern probably. Okay, there is some kitschy stuff here. It was the 50's. Hard to avoid.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


 Another cool chair (not a Knoll womb chair but in that vein?). Looks absolutely perfect.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


More beautiful "smalls." All reasonably priced.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


A little Russel Wright for Dana, in my favorite color.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV



I bought this little beauty. Wasn't a giant ton of money. Raymoor Italy ($40 if you must know and remember, I broke something in the store too).

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Okay, now I fall apart because I don't know mid-century furniture that well. I love this dresser.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Great piece of metal sculpture. Would look classy in any mid-century modern home, or contemporary home. Great colors.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


 Awesome lucite lamp.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Lots of lamps as a matter of fact.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


I was so eager to take a picture of this Rosenthal Netter Bitossi pot, I broke a little mug. I should have bought this pot because it matches other pottery I have. But, I wouldn't have been able to get it home, and didn't feel like shipping. It was less than a $100 but I can't remember how much.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Beautiful glass coffee table.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Vaseline glass naked lady ashtray or bowl. I love vaseline glass because it glows in the dark under black lights. I actually have a few pieces. It dates pre-mid-century.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Perfect accent chars. Adore the red hot color.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


 Fantastic mirror wall hanging. The sharp toothy thing looks to be a metal color shark part.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Another fantastic Lucite lamp in utterly perfect condition. It would look great in any home. Just needs an updated shade probably.


Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Fabulous blue Knoll sofa. So perfect. Original upholstery I believe. $4,200.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Now my favorite... for $900 the 1950's modernist reversible painting. I really want this. Here is the front.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV



And here is the back.

Patina Decor, Vintage RetroMid-Century Modern Decor, Las Vegas, NV


Which side is better? Hard to pick. I think I love the lady. But I also love the abstract piece on the back.  I see at least two to three figures scribbled on it. Fantastic.

Patina Decor is well laid out, and fully stocked with reasonably priced, one-of-a-kind treasures. A Vegas MUST SEE (for us mid-century modern folks). I could easily drive up with a truck and load-er-up. Maybe someday I will.

I have a few more mid-century vintage shops from Vegas to share, which I will, later this week.

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15 comments:

  1. So much amazing stuff to love at that store! And I love the Russel Wright pieces. Chartreuse and avocado yellow are two of my favorite colors. Thanks for the shout!

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  2. The dresser is actually a Merton L. Gershun piece for American Of Martinsville. I believe it is the Dania collection. I have the small credenza and it is a beautiful piece, solid walnut, so heavy I couldn't even move it an inch by myself just to plug in a cord behind it.

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    Replies
    1. Hi. A friend of mine emailed as well and said her dad owns this whole set. It is so beautiful!

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  3. Nice pics! Thanks for sharing! And I thought the strip was all there was to do in Vegas. SO WRONG! Return trip is necessary now.

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    1. I was in Vegas this summer. Little did I know... And it was Sunday. I think only 20% or so of the shops were open!

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  4. It would seem you made good use of your time in Las Vegas, venturing off the beaten path. Interesting painting--do my eyes deceive me or is the image of the woman a companion piece to another painting you have of a woman?

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    1. Mom (can I call you Mom?) you are absolutely right. She does look like the other lady painting. Now I really want it. Perhaps a phone call is in order.

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  5. Blog expo and an awesome vintage store! Happy days.
    Looking forward to hearing more from the conference.
    The blue knoll sofa looks amazing.x

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    1. Yes, this was lucky. I learned a lot (brain hurts) and got to see outstanding vintage pieces. The side-trip off the strip was a whim. I really didn't know they had all this stuff. I found one place on Yelp and everything else was there as well.

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  6. Oooh Rebecca, so much to love and covet here.
    I vote for the back painting, I hope you buy it. It's stunning.

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    1. Incredible store. It really was over whelming. Great job by the owners.

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  7. Amazing store- thanks for the tour!

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    1. I am going to have a few more stores coming up. Honestly, was beyond impressed with the concentration of mid-century modern in one little block.

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  8. These are all pretty! I love all of the glassware in one of the shelves, they are all stylish. I'm just thinking how to compliment it on my light blue living room. Aren't they too glossy?

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