FLOW

This scene is not as I had planned.

I originally set out to use the cute, retro bird paper as a backdrop for a kitchen. Laziness and the late hour prevented me from going downstairs to retrieve some TOMY kitchen items, so I started to play around with these white Re-ment shelving units and a bag of Bead for Life beads I purchased recently. Somehow, a new setup emerged, inspired by the types of hip storefronts that occupy the streets of the east village and NoHo in Manhattan. When I lived near the lower east side in the early 1990s, the area had not yet turned a corner on trendy, and was pretty gritty. As time passed, new apartments and condos cropped up, and soon cute stores followed in these tiny, tiny spaces, which managed to look completely cool and airy, with clothing, jewelry, housewares, and other items.

So, here's my sliver of east village/NoHo life, probably a pottery and bric-a-brac store. You'll see that I named it "FLOW." These vintage alphabet blocks were purchased at an outdoor antiques mart, but were incomplete; my intent was to call it "FLOAT," but alas, no "T" was to be found. There was a "W," though!

By the way, thanks for joining me on Facebook, and liking the Call of the Small page! I just reached 100 likes -- thanks!

Credits: White shelving units are Re-ment; globe lamp by minimodernistas; all vases are Bead for Life beads, made of paper by hardworking, entrepreneurial women in Uganda; vespa is from Jazams, my awesome local toy store; 1:24 scale midcentury chair and boomerang table by Paul MacAlister; vintage alphabet blocks are from an antique mart near Lambertville, NJ; mini origami are made by my son and sit in a top from an AMAC box; pine cone planter made by me; wallpaper is scrapbook paper from Michaels; chair is Bozart; rug under chair is cut from a Chilewich placemat. Accessories are AG Minis, Re-ment, Manor House Miniatures, and handmade by me.

The time it took me: 1 hour, 25 minutes (the beads kept falling down, victims of my clumsy mitts!)

Well, Hello, Mr. MacAlister!

A number of lovely, one-of-a-kind, midcentury modern 1:12 scale furniture pieces by acclaimed designer Paul MacAlister--one of the first to bring "how to" interior design to the masses via his landmark Chicago TV show--were on eBay over the past month, along with some 1:24 sets. Bidding was passionate and fierce, and prices were high, with some sets exceeding $250!

While it was disappointing to have so many sets slip through my fingers and out of my reach, it was interesting to see this level of activity on these pieces, and of course it was great to have a look at this amazing treasure trove of modern miniature design history. The intense interest in MacAlister and his work is certainly a testament to the modern side of the hobby, and makes me wonder that there are a fair amount of mini-lovin' folks out there (beyond the ones I know and love!) who dig this aesthetic. Megan of Modern Mini Houses did a few posts on all of the activity, along with a wonderful archive of photos -- check out her blog out for more information and detail. Also, Glenna of BJD maker DollStories managed to get her hands on a number of sets, and just started a new blog to showcase all the loveliness called Lumimini. Have a look!

I was quite fortunate to get my own set, pictured above, as well as one additional piece that has not arrived yet. I mentioned earlier that there were some 1:24 sets as well, put up by another eBay seller, and I did manage to get one of those. The prices did not go as high there, likely due to the smaller scale. I hope to share these other pieces soon!

First, some detail shots of my new furniture set, an orange painted wood sectional couch set and coffee table. While the couch pieces do not have the appearance of wood, they are indeed just that, and skillfully painted with flecks to appear as fabric. I was surprised at the fine spikiness of the legs, very cool and sleek.

The craftsmanship overall is very fine, especially the coffee table, which is made of dark walnut. Truly stunning.

You will see that each of the couches is labeled "A1, A2, A3," I assume for proper configuration.

I wanted to give my new MacAlisters a test drive in my midcentury modern bungalow. While the house is in very good condition, it did not come with one of the walls that separates the kitchen from the bedroom. I had some foam core lying around, and was inspired to use some new wallpaper received in my swap with The Shopping Sherpa. It's a lovely minimal textured stripe, and worked quite well!

 

If there are others who are also proud owners of any MacAlister sets, PLEASE SHARE THEM!

Credits: Sectional couch and coffee table by Paul MacAlister; rug is a fabric sample; pillows are by Annina; lamp is vintage Lundby; artwork is vintage German; moss pot (I added the moss) and newspapers are from Manor House Miniatures; moss pot stand is an AMAC box; brass pot on table is an eBay find.

Moody

As I was photographing this scene in my midcentury modern bungalow, I kept thinking moody, moody. Not sad, just moody. Perhaps it is the lighting, or the color scheme that developed as I put it together, but in the end, I am happy with the way the moodiness reigned.

See those ottomans? They are quite minimal, modular pieces by Concord, $4.95 for the pair! Lemon Cadet tipped me off on them. I decided to use them without the tops, which are slightly rounded and come right off. Lemon Cadet used them here, and removed the legs but kept the tops -- check out the rest of her Flickr stream too, with lots of Petite Princess treasures and other vintage pieces.

The artwork on the wall is by Mark Manders, who has a traveling show on view now at the Aspen Art Museum -- Parallel Occurrences/Documented Assignments. Very interesting work, and I do like the piece pictured here, Ramble-room Chair (2010).

A last bit, no moodiness here: my Crate and Barrel tissue box house featured in a post last month was chosen for an exhibit, Members' Musings, at Grounds for Sculpture, here in central New Jersey. You can read more here about the show, which opens on April 9 and runs through June 5. If you are nearby, check it out!




Credits: Dining table is Bodo Hennig; couch (VERO?), credenza (Crailsheimer?), and watering can (Bodo Hennig?) are vintage German; Arc lamp and lucite dining chairs are eBay finds; rug is vintage TOMY; plant is AG Minis; Barcelona chair is Reac; pillows on couch are by Annina; pillow on chair is by minimodernistas; ottomans are Concord Miniatures; artwork is by Mark Manders. Accessories are beads from Pubdoll, AG Minis, Re-ment, Delph, and eBay finds.

Midcentury Modern Bungalow by Haefner & Krullmann

Photograph taken in natural morning light

My newest acquisition is a lovely vintage German Haefner & Krullmann bungalow, which dates from the early 1960s. I first saw this house on the wonderful puppenhausmusem website, here, a few years ago, where the house is said to be from 1964. Blogger and collector diepuppenstubensammlerin has the same house, which she wrote about last June, and she places the house at 1962. You can see pictures and other information at the above links -- please check them out!

This is my first bungalow. I love the simplicity of the layout and midcentury lines, and it is able to be put together and taken apart quite easily. I want to give you a little tour of this gem, which now sits in our living room (it's the only place for it, actually...my basement doll house room cannot take any more occupants until we mount some shelving on the walls).

Putting it together was pretty straightforward, thankfully because the eBay seller (who bought the house last fall in Laupheim, Germany) had carefully wrapped and organized the parts and even provided the screws on an I.D. sheet.

First, the base and flooring...

Then the first half...

And the house! All the flooring is original, as is the lovely antenna and wall of flowers on the patio.

Sadly, the front door is missing as is the patio fence and the partition between the kitchen and what is meant as the bedroom (where's the bathroom???). I think I can fashion a partition with some nice papers, and I may see if Elizabeth, the magician at ELF, can do a new door and fence for me (she did a set of doors for my Large VERO, you can see them here).

There is also some yellowing on one of the outside walls, but I think I might be able to cover those spots with a paint that matches.

A window box also has a few plants missing...perhaps my love of aquarium plants will come into play. :) The kitchen and dining furniture came with the house, and fits well here. I do love the Modella kitchen pieces, with their "stainless" trim. Very cool!

It was fun furnishing the house a bit...

Vintage Bodo Hennig Lamp

Thanks for visiting number 24!

I hope to have more fun with this house -- let's hope my four year old does not feel the same way!

UPDATE, 1/25/11: Thanks (again!) to blogger and collector diepuppenstubensammlerin, I now know that the white floor lamp is by Bodo Hennig, and the red stool in the kitchen is as well. On the lamp, she shared a Bodo Hennig advertisement from 1969 that shows a series of lamps, and it appears mine is an amalgam of the top of one (L11 in photo below), and the bottom of another (see L12)! Diepuppenstubensammlerin noted that since Hennig products were imported to the U.S., and they had different product lines, that there might have been variations such as this. Here is the photo -- thanks again, diepuppenstubensammlerin!!!

ANOTHER UPDATE, 1/27/11: Diepuppenstubensammlerin has also confirmed that the kitchen pieces, including the refrigerator, stove, etc., as well as the table, chairs, and tea set, are all Modella. She shared a picture from her Flickr photostream that shows the boxed set from the Toy Museum of Nürnberg, dated 1970 (LOVE that clock!):

THANKS!!

Credits: Kitchen pieces are Modella; chair in living room is Crailsheimer; bookcase, chaise, dining pieces, and patio chairs are vintage German; lamp and kitchen stool are Bodo Hennig; rug is a piece of embossed felt from Michaels. Accessories are Re-ment, Bozart, and eBay finds.