apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

And here is where I admit my love for thrift store paintings... On Sunday morning, I hit the Melrose Flea Market at Fairfax High and purchased a great vintage "starving artists" oil painting on canvas. The dimensions were 12"w x 24"h. And the image was of a rocky and mountainous seaside with crashing waves and a deep orange sunset. So, of course, I knew it would be perfect for the one white wall in my bedroom! I just dropped it off to get it framed in a simple white frame. But when I get it back, I'll post an image on the Flickr slideshow. Seriously, I'm so excited by this find. It's so cheesy-but-not at the same time! I think it'll look fab in the white frame. Added bonus: While at the Melrose Market, I ran into a Backstreet Boy and his wife and toddler. So I got to catch up with them for a few minutes. (I used to work with the group several years back.)

Whoa, whoa there sailor. I understand you, and I as well, appreciate modern contemporary as architecture and form. But let us keep the hate for our historical and older forms such as victorian down shall we (pile?). I would like to think that appreciating those styles is what leads us to be able to appreciate what modern contemporary has stripped away to create itself. One can hardly say they see and entire story in a form if they would be blind to what other forms have to tell.

Hi, Chris.

I completely agree with you. I used "pile" in the sense of "a very large building." This usage is quite common in Britain; manor houses are often referred to this way.

I found it refreshing to see a modern dollhouse, one without gingerbread and gables, but I certainly don't hate Victorian architecture. On the contrary, I love classic dollhouses, and I once lived in a wonderful restored Victorian.

I also think it's great that adults can actually get their hands into this dollhouse; the rooms aren't as tiny as they usually are. I play dolls with my niece whenever I visit her, and I'm constantly knocking into dolls and furniture.

I'm all for imaginative play, whether it occurs in a dollhouse like this or in a more ornate structure.

Thanks for your feedback.

I saw something very similar to the Art Deco Bar Cart in Lobel Modern a couple of years ago. It cost a fortune! It'll be interesting to see what the one on Ebay finally sells for.

Ooh, that faux crocodile piece is convincing me that I need to reupholster these dining chairs I found in similar material. Unfortunately, even the faux stuff is expensive! (Have to figure out how much I need, and then maybe I'll bite the bullet.)

Yes, that Ralph Lauren desk is magnificent. *Sigh*

Who is Stephen Colbert???

Stephen Colbert is the host of the "Colbert Report" on the Comedy Central network. The show airs right after "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."

Actually, Molly's not exaggerating when she says that the choices in dollhouses are usually Victorian, Victorian, Victorian, and Victorian, with a little Colonial for a break. It's not a forward-looking market. Resources for interiors are also very traditional and backward-looking.

In the dollhouse kit world, there's currently ONE modernist house kit in production and three discontinued kits that show up fairly often.

I need to dust the house where I have the minimalist Zen bath set from the Kaleidoscope house. The only photo I can find is lousy.

I found this rendering of the Kaleidoscope poolhouse. Is this the one you have? You'll have to scroll down to see it:

http://www.pmwarchitects.com/kaleido.htm

I'd love to see a photo of the actual house. Maybe you could do a round-up of what's available in modernist dollhouses and send it to Maxwell and Alec?

Although I don't have children, I'm always interested in what's happening in design for kids. Until recently, it's been an under-researched area of design journalism. Suddenly it's very trendy to talk about kids' design, so your piece would be welcome and timely. Think it over!

--Molly S.