Inspiration: Vintage Molecular Models

If we're being honest, our least favorite subject in high school was chemistry--but we can't help loving the look of these vintage molecular models. We first spotted them at our friend Jeremy's pad when we snapped pics for his house tour...

We love the assortment of colors that are usually found with these particular vintage sets--Seafoam green, robin's egg blue and yellow to name a few. Timeless yet fun, they work great as a coffee table centerpiece or on a well-edited bookshelf. Plus, you can alter the pieces to make any shape or configuration you'd like. After a bit of research, we found vintage molecule sets on eBay that range from $50 to upwards of $200. Or, you're on a tight budget, this print of a colorful molecule grouping has a similar vintage vibe.

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(Images: Beth Zeigler and Modern 50)

Comments (6)

Or I'm sure you can just DIY 'em.

posted by Wacholez on June 29th 2009 at 12:21pm
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i am in love with this place...plus, he has one of my furniture items that i consider is a goal to own one day (the case study storage unit). this is one of the few places that i see photos of that i feel i could move in exactly as it is and not want to change a thing!

two questions.
one: i am enamored with the item that looks like some sort of directory for emergency treatment (photo 25). any idea what these are called? i'm trying to figure out how i'd search for one online.

two: you mention bachelor pad. is he single? heterosexual? can't blame me for inquiring. :)

posted by hiddenexposures on June 29th 2009 at 12:24pm
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reminds me of college when it was cool to drink out of erlenmeyer flasks

posted by ec05 on June 29th 2009 at 12:44pm
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I had a set in college (required for my organic chem courses) - but the new ones are plastic, boring colors, not nearly as nice as the one shown above...

posted by julie_k. on June 29th 2009 at 1:09pm
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I love vintage science models of all sorts -- armillary spheres and wooden geometric solids, also. Hard to find and usually pretty expensive...

posted by SherryBinNH on June 29th 2009 at 4:43pm
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Heh - I have a modern-day kit, and I'm still quite happy to keep my model of ethyl butanoate kicking around on top of my dresser! (Goes with my other science stuff - Time Life science library, minerals, fossils, bits and pieces.)

posted by ryttu3k on July 2nd 2009 at 1:28am
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