armed forces day, a truly mid-century holiday, celebrated with 1,776 flags

Armed Forces Day is traditionally the second Saturday in May. And Newport Beach has a very special way of paying tribute to our members of the military.

1,776 flags are placed on a cliff above Newport Bay to honor all branches. It is simply spectacular.

perfect (perfect) cliff may in long beach; 1954 never looked so good

Cliff May is considered the father of the post-war California Ranch home, and Long Beach, quite near where I live, has a substantial Cliff May housing tract. Just a day before its first open house, I got a little sneak peek of a really impressive Cliff May.

They had me at the front door. Awesome coordinated light turquoise retro door with a Firesticks succulent in a matching pot.

irvine terrace home sweet mid-century home

We live in a certifiable mid-century modern housing tract. However, most of the homes have been flattened, remodeled and changed so much, you wouldn't recognize the perfect mid-century roots.

Recently, due to a very clever Realtor friend of mine, I stumbled upon the original sales brochure for our development. Wanna take a peek?

mid-century modern home tour ... psst it's an eichler

Okay, okay. Just one more.

I go a little bonkers for Eichlers.

palm springs modernism week 2014: dragnet house -- the story you are about to see is true . . .

Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Dragnet opening line!  This house, which was part of the Palm Springs Modernism Week 2014 Signature Home Tour in February, was built by Jack Webb, most famous for his role as Sargent Joe Friday in the 1950s radio show and the 1960s television series.

modernica and la downtown modernism: super efficient shopping

I really do enjoy trolling online, retail and flea market venues for mid-century modern collectibles. So, if I may self-proclaim — I am becoming somewhat of an aficionado. with opinions. 

Like this chair? Absolutely beautiful laser cut plywood and pretty typical of what you uncover at Modernica's Downtown Modernism spring event. 

home tour alert! eichler's in san mateo california

I may just hop up to San Mateo, California on May 3-4, 2014 for the Inside Outside Highlands Eichler Home Tour.

All my favorite things: art, decorating, landscaping and Eichlers.

palm springs modernism week 2014: royal palm court home tour is best of new home construction and mid-century modern

Back to our regularly schedule programming, although I did really enjoy the Eichler distraction. Let's jump from 1962 all the way to 2006. On the Palm Springs Modernism Week 2014 Signature Homes tour back in February, I was disappointed perusing the brochure that one of the homes included was nearly brand new. What a travesty!

Alright, alright. So I was wrong. Not the first time. 

my one second of fame: jeff lewis flipping out and dwell on design

So, I was just sitting around one evening last week and got this text:

Huh?

eichler in orange sneak peak: virtually untouched from 1962

Lucky, lucky me. I was invited to a "Sneak Peak" opening party for an Eichler that isn't "quite" on the market yet.

And someone else is going to get really lucky. This beautiful piece of classic Eichler real estate shows signs of being gently loved with the prior owners keeping their power tools in the garage. (Exactly where I think they should be, if you must own any at all.)