Kitchenette

I like the neat confines of the IKEA room box -- it inspired a quickly arranged scene (the accessories on the shelf and sink took the most time) that is long on satisfaction! Also, every time I use it or look at it, it evokes sun. Perhaps it is the lacy backdrop, or the handy fluorescents in our basement, or my own wishes for summer amidst the gray March days.

On a sunny note: a big "Hello!" to my new followers, and to the ones who have followed from the beginning. I really appreciate your interest, comments, and support - THANKS! :)

Credits: Light is a Playmobil City floor torchiere turned upside down; sink is vintage Bodo Hennig; shelf is IKEA; chop block is an eBay find; stools are Lil' Bratz; dog is from a children's game called Lucky Puppy Math; doll is Bozart; rug is handmade by Oese; accessories are Re-ment, Manor House Miniatures, eBay, MAR Toys, and from Spain!

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with some exceptions. The hot sauce on the top shelf is from Black Cat Italian Restaurant #3, and is good for 1:12. The pizza cheese and pepper shakers and green pepper on the sink are from Puchi Fun Meals #1, "Pizza Night," and are good for 1:12. The Palmolive-looking dish soap and paper towels on floor are from Disney Go! Go! Grocery #4, and are large for 1:12. The tomato can on the sink is from Black Cat Italian Restaurant #7, and is good for 1:12. The blue flowered bowl on the second shelf and the cooking pot on the bottom shelf are from I Love Kyoto #1, and are good for 1:12.

Cars

OK, I admit it...this scene is merely an excuse to use some amazing little HO scale 1:87 cars by the German maker Schuco. I found them in my local toy store last week and they ranged in price from $6-7, very affordable given the quality. They are so incredibly well-made --the detail and finishings are phenomenal.

I bought three: the Jaguar with the trailer, the VW bug with flames, and the VW bus. There were a lot more tucked away in the back of the toy store, so maybe I can go back and clean them out. I think they had motorcycles, too. Heaven.

I also was able to use the bed from the Kaleidoscope House, which I have not incorporated into any of my scenes before. It's quite large and bulky and does not fit well into the smaller K House rooms, but the plaid drove (no pun intended, hee hee) my color scheme.

The yellow table is actually a candle holder from Crate and Barrel (.40 on clearance!), and I flipped it for the tabletop.

If you haven't guessed, I love a bargain. :)

Credits: Bookcase is vintage German; plant is Playmobil City; plates on wall, mirror, Asian beauty box, teddy bear, strawberry doll closet and table, puzzle, bunny candle, and crafts on table are Re-ment; bed, strawberry coverlet, and chairs are Bozart; side table, lamp, purple coverlet, and rug are AG Minis; yellow table top is Crate and Barrel; table is Battat; cars are Schuco; pig is a Japanese eraser.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with some exceptions. The crafts on the table and puzzle on the floor are from Natalie's French Goods # 9, and are all good for 1:12. The Asian beauty box and fan are from I Love Kyoto # 9, and are good for 1:12. The strawberry closet is from Eggs, Beans, and Berries #5, and is good as a plaything in 1:12. The mirror is from Princess Tea Party # 3, "You're Invited to a Champagne Party," and it is good as a large mirror in 1:12. The bunny candle is from Pretty Placement #3, and is good for 1:12. The powder puff is from Flirty Pink #5, and is large for 1:12. The plates on the wall are all from Sushi Bar #9, "Wasabi Makes My Eyes Watery," and are good for 1:12.

Dream Haus

Oh, boy, this is a beaut! I first saw Haus Kathrin when I was researching the origin of some vintage German furniture I bought on US eBay. Annina pointed me to a page on the puppenhausmuseum website as she found the source, a stunning DDR two-level abode from the early 1960s with a garage and patio. I love the lines and design touches in the doors and windows. While some of the wallpaper and flooring looks damaged, it otherwise appears to be in nice vintage condition -- even the awning is intact! Sigh. A few shots:

I can only dream on this one, since it just appeared on German eBay and will likely go for a pretty hefty sum; it's already up above 20 Euros. My guess is close to 200 Euros. Enjoy more eye candy on German eBay, while the auction lasts.

UPDATE, 3/4/10: The house sold for a whopping 558 Euros (nearly $765.00)!! It looks like there were fifteen bidders and twenty-two bids. The lucky winner swooped in at the last minute to secure the future of this lovely house. I wonder if it was a museum or another collector.

Images courtesy of the eBay listing.

Big Buzz, Mini News: Brinca Dada!

After the recent Toy Fair in New York City, buzz spread very quickly amongst the modern mini community about the Emerson, a stunning 1:16 modernist creation unveiled at the Fair. FromDaddy Types, to ohdeedoh, to my fellow bloggers Mini Modern, Altera, and Rebecca, design and doll house aficionados posted with intrigue about this newcomer, designed by the firm brinca dada (that's "BREEN-kuh day-duh"). Modern MC of Mini Modern recalled that a very similar-looking house sold on eBay for over $400 a few months ago, and it was confirmed that it was indeed the Emerson prototype. See this Daddy Types post for more on this.

The house will retail for $299 this spring, and according to the Brinca Dada website, the home has it all: six rooms including a living room, kitchen, library/office, master bedroom, bathroom and child's bedroom; a large, open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows; many extras including mitered-glass corners, two fireplaces, sliding glass doors, solar panels, and recessed LED lights; and non-toxic and lead-free wood stains and paints.

A press release on the brinca dada website notes that the Emerson's design was inspired by Neutra’s Kaufmann Desert House and the ultra-modern home that A. Quincy Jones designed for Gary Cooper, here (courtesy of www.eichlernetwork.com):

I was in touch with brinca dada head Doug Rollins, a dad of three, about the house, and wanted to share some more about this welcome addition to the modern doll house scene.

What's the scale?

The scale of the house is closest to 1:16, although buzz early on said everything from 1:12 to 1:18. Rollins says, "The actual size is 3/4" which I think equates to 1:16. When we originally designed Emerson as 1:12 it was enormous and we thought it would be too big for many playrooms and too expensive. We're learning about scale as we go here. The idea for the company is to make toys that adults love to look at and kids love to play with. For the houses, we are finding that there is a significant market for dollhouse collectors as well. So we are quickly learning how best to give them what they are looking for. We developed Emerson House for kids as the primary user and adults (re: dollhouse enthusiasts) as a secondary target."

By the way, I have to assume a level of durability of this house given it is geared for children, who will likely not be deterred by the lack of stairs!

Are there accessories for the house?

There are dolls and living furniture. The dolls have a minimalist edge and in my opinion might resonate more with the kids and may not suit those adult collectors who use dolls in their scenes, but the furniture is more adaptable for collectors. Rollins said of the furniture and pricing, "We don't have prices for the furniture, but we are hoping to keep them in the $30-$40 per room range. More to come on that. We are still in the design phase so we don't know materials etc. yet." The chair is an absolute definite for me, and it would be great if the firm produced a range of rooms.

Where will the house be sold?

The house will be sold on the brinca dada website and in fine toy stores. Rollins said that he is "...pushing for wide distribution of our toys at retail. We plan to be in toy shops, hobby & doll shops, design stores, museum stores, department stores and maybe even some furniture stores." They are currently seeking a European distributor, but will ship worldwide!

Who is brinca dada and what is the meaning behind the name?

Rollins, a toy industry veteran, co-founded brinca dada with architect Tim Boyle, who as Rollins stated has "designed houses for a number of celebrities (which he can't disclose, even to me)." On the name, Rollins shared that "Brinca dada (it's day-duh) comes from the Brazilian term for toy or game. It's a total butchering of the spelling, though. Tim and I both lived in Brazil at different times and we both always liked the term. It has a great ring to it. Brinca is also Spanish for jump and we like the association with the dadaist movement which was so playful and also with the idea of daddy, which Tim and I both are." Boyle is dad to four, and both he and Rollins reside with their families in New York City. The company is so new that as Rollins said, "...when I say new, I mean new. We launched this last Sunday at Toy Fair."

Will brinca dada continue to produce doll houses?

Rollins said that brinca dada will continue to design houses as part of their line and have some ideas for other toys that he did not want to disclose at this time. Regarding additional items, they have a modern townhouse in the works, the Bennet House, that Rollins hopes will be available by October. "It's truly stunning," Rollins said. "I can't wait to finalize the designs so we can get some renderings out."

We can't wait either!!!

The Emerson definitely fills a niche for modern doll house collectors, including those who prefer working in 1:12, but who might be amenable to working in a smaller scale. I absolutely love the use of materials and the warmth of this house. I am impressed by what looks to be fine finishings and a keen level of architectural detail; I look forward to seeing it in person.

I'll keep tabs on brinca dada, and have a feeling you will too.

Room Box

I did a quick run through IKEA yesterday for a few storage things and came away with a vegetable box...a room box, that is! I would not have known that the Rationell Variera was for veggies if you asked me. I saw it for its mini potential and built-in backdrop and windows!

Here's a few quick shots...

Credits: Room box is IKEA; White couch and doll are Bozart; orange stool and hanging lamp are vintage Lundby; kitten is Playmobil City; egg tables and coffee cup are Re-ment; plant is an aquarium plant; pot is from a craft store.

Pixels

This scene features my first Mini Modernistas purchase: a pixel chair and ottoman. Neat, huh? The quality is really nice, and the look lovely. It's going to be hard not to buy more!

I have been wallpapering the VERO, trying out different things, and wanted to test it out. Thanks again to Annina for scanning her VERO papers! The flooring is scrapbook paper, inspired by the Pixel chair.

The hanging light was purchased from German eBay and arrived in a very sorry state: cracked and scuffed. I repaired it as well as I could, but it does not look as it should. Here is what it should look like (photo courtesy of the puppenhausmuseum website):

And here's how it actually appears:

It's still a neat fixture, even upside down!

The 1:144 house in the back is also from German eBay, purchased as a lot (thanks again for sending, Oese!). Boy, does it need a good cleaning!

Above the tea and treat in bed are Little Red Riding Hood plates by Re-ment. I have not had a good use for them until now...I asked my son to put them in order, and I think he did a good job!

Speaking of kids, my daughter did a nice scene too today of a tomboy's room -- good work, my sweet!

My next "baby" is coming to me from overseas, and I hope to share pictures of it soon!

Credits: Bed, nightstand, wardrobe, plant stand, 1:144 house, sideboard, and mirror are vintage German; table and light fixture are vintage VERO; pixel chair and ottoman are by Mini Modernistas; tea set, tray, Little Red Riding Hood plates, perfume trays, and frog are Re-ment; fabric hanging in back is Marimekko; accessories are Re-ment, Bozart, AG Minis, Manor House Miniatures, and Petite Princess.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with some exceptions. The Little Red Riding Hood Plates are from Fairy Tale Dishes #8, "Trip to Grandma's House," and are large for 1:12, but can work as decoration. The tea set is from Princess Tea Party #2, "The Princess' Late Night Tea," and is large for 1:12. The tray is from Bread and Butter #2, "Free Spirit Bakery," and is good as a large serving tray in 1:12. The danish is from Bread and Butter #6, "Lovely Danish," and is a bit large for 1:12. The red perfume tray is from I Love Kyoto #1, and is good for 1:12. The black perfume tray is from I Love Kyoto #7, and is good for 1:12. The beauty packets on the black tray are from Puchi Drugstore #1, and work for 1:12.

Crafty at Heart

There was lots of Valentine card making for my kids' classroom celebrations today, which ended up not happening. We got hit with mounds of snow (close to 18" by us), along with the rest of the east coast, and the sun shines on all that needs shoveling today. The valentines will still go to their appreciative friends next week, after the snow has cleared.

Here are some pictures taken in the thick of the storm -- can you spot the intrepid squirrel? :)

Credits: Green couch, counter, two chairs, and tomato artwork are Bozart; boomerang table and lamp are vintage German; art mat and accessories, green flowered tables by fireplace, cookies, danish, bread, bowl, fishbowl, bunny purse, clock, and phone are Re-ment; juice is a Japanese eraser; ball chair is Reac; stacked sideboards are vintage VERO; pouf is Lundby; "wallpaper" is scrapbook paper; skateboard is Tech Deck; pillows are AG Minis; accessories by Manor House Miniatures, Tiny Doll House Shop, and eBay finds.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The cookie box is from Megahouse Pop 'N Kitchen #4, and is large for 1:12. The round bread in the bowl is from Re-ment Bakery #5, and is good for 1:12. The danish is from Fun Meals #7 "Morning Grab 'n Go," and is slightly large for 1:12. The art mat, glue, X-acto knife, tape dispenser, stapler, and tub of glue are all from My Favorite Stationery #5, and are all good for 1:12. The tiny jars of paint are from My Favorite Stationery # 8, and are good for 1:12.

Dorm

I never lived in a dorm room in college. Instead, I lived in some pre-war studios and apartments, sometimes alone, sometimes with roommates. Not like this scene, though! Perhaps this is a grad school dorm at the beach -- while the girl looks sassy and smart, she may not always want to study, especially if a strawberry shortcake awaits on her little terrace! :)

I decided to park this student's car in the "garage." Fits nicely!

By the way, the Stockholm now sits on a new credenza, bought for $49 (marked down from $499!) from my favorite Crate and Barrel outlet. It is meant as a piece for the dining room, but did not have its sliding doors. It is a nice glossy white with shelves, so I will be sure to fill them up!

Credits: Terrace: chair is vintage Modella; table is vintage Fisher Price; strawberry shortcake set is Re-ment; bongos are an eBay find; plant is vintage TOMY. Bedroom: Bed, lamp, and desk are vintage German; stool, butterflies on wall, fish tank, laptop, book and holder, bird candle, coffee press and cup, storage cubes, and potted plant are Re-ment; chair is Reac; photos and doll are Bozart; blue painting came with my VERO house; guitar is Nodameggaki; car is Lil' Bratz. Accessories are Re-ment and IKEA.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The strawberry shortcake set is from Puchi Mini Sweets, #9, and is large for 1:12, but can work. The coffee press is from Megahouse Dach's Coffee Shop, #2 and is good for 1:12.

Well Red

Yes, red is the color for me today! I've had this Lundby bed for quite some time and have never used it in a scene. The Jean of West Germany sideboard has made its way into a few scenes already, but never lifted off the ground! It just fit perfectly and slid into space above the bed.

I also decided to set up an office and bath scenes and mixed different scales: 1:10, 1:12, and 1:16. Can you tell which is which?

Credits: Bedroom: Bed is vintage Lundby; raised sideboard is vintage Jean of West Germany; cow rug is by Oese; table at foot of bed is vintage Fisher Price; red rocking chair is Reac; light, red Asian case next to bed, magazine, purse, red/white standing ashtray, and all the boxes above the bed (except Hello Kitty) are Re-ment; Hello Kitty box is Sanrio; black and red vases are Bozart; wall covering is scrapbook paper. Bath: Vanity is vintage TOMY; chair is vintage Petite Princess; brush, lipstick, false eyelash set and "rug" are Re-ment; wall covering is origami paper. Office: Red chair is vintage German; white desk and side drawers are vintage VERO; computer and keyboard are by Lilu Shop on Etsy; pencil sharpener, pencil set, tissue box, clock, book holder on desk, coffee tumbler, boxes on upper shelf, white shelf and bird, elephant, and laptop accessories on the shelf are Re-ment; white pig on upper shelf is a Japanese eraser; plant is vintage TOMY; books are AG Minis, Bozart and from France.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in these scenes with some exceptions. Bedroom: Red Asian case is from I Love Kyoto # 9, and is a bit large for 1:12. It is meant as a bento box, but can be re-purposed as I have done. House-shaped box above bed is from Megahouse Pop 'N Kitchen #9, and is good as a large storage box in 1:12. It is really meant as a lunch box. Bath: Brush is from Merry Strawberry #4 and is good for 1:12. False eyelash set and lipstick are from Cosmetics #5, "Actress," and are large for 1:12, but can work. Office: Tissue box is from Merry Strawberry # 9 and is good for 1:12. Pencil case is from My Favorite Stationery #6, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. Golden bird on shelf is from Princess Tea Party # 7, and is good as an accent piece in 1:12.

Before the Next Flight

I saw the movie Up in the Air recently. George Clooney plays a professional hatchet man who travels over 320 days a year. His "home" was a spare and bare bachelor pad, and was merely a stopping point until his next flight. He used his frequency as a flier to completely distance himself emotionally from others. Eventually, he gets in touch with himself and reconnects with family, but overall it was a bit of a downer movie. Nevertheless, it inspired me to create a scene for the flight attendant who might be on his next journey. I wonder how relaxing that job is...I, for one, likely would be stressed out most of the time, in need of a nice dip in a pool or a soak in a hot tub. :)

Credits: "Hot tub" is a soap dish from Bed, Bath and Beyond; white shelf, shoes, tea set-up on table, thermometer, and "rug" and flight bag inside are Re-ment; table is vintage Modella; white chairs are Reac; towel hook, standing lamp, and pillow on bed are AG Minis; "towel" on hook is Marimekko fabric; chairs inside and cabinet are vintage German (thanks, Oese!); "towels" in cabinet are tissues; flower stand and lights on cabinet are also vintage German; kidney-shaped side table is Ryan's Room; chess set is an eBay find; bed, bed platform, and hot tub platform are from the Villa Sibi; coverlet is Bozart; painting is Lundby. Accessories in cabinet are Re-ment and from dollhouse stores.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The honey jar and honey stick are from Re-ment Bakery # 5, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. The cup and saucer are from Megahouse Pop 'n Kitchen # 4, and are good for 1:12. In the cabinet: the pink clock is from Storage Beauty #10, "Pretty Placement," and is good for 1:12. The pink perfume bottle and larger pink jar are from Flirty Pink, #5, and are large for 1:12. The flight bag and thermometer are from Natalie's French Goods #6, and are good for 1:12. The flowered creamer is from Princess Tea Party # 2, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. The deer head on the top shelf is from Princess Tea Party # 3, and works for 1:12.

Big Bath, Big Thanks!

This is the first time I have used the K House great room as a bath. I've used it as a bedroom, kitchen, and of course a living space many times, but never a bathroom. Our real "master" bath is anything but - it's a very narrow and tiny space, but at least it is ours and we don't have to share it with the kids. We couldn't anyway!!

In case you are wondering about the backdrop, it is a framed photograph that I propped up to hide the wall behind the house. I've used the vintage German cabinet (thanks, Oese!) as pillow storage, kind of like a linen closet (with less folding to do!).

By the way, today marks my first full year of blogging. THANK YOU for following and for tuning in and leaving your comments. It brings me great joy to write about and photograph my minis, and I love learning from others out there. Cheers!

Credits: Sink, bathtub, and toilet are vintage Bodo Hennig (thanks, Oese!); artwork is Bozart; Eames lounger is Reac; lamp is vintage Petite Princess; side table, wire basket, flower vase on bath, purse, and orange dresser and light are Re-ment; couch is vintage VERO; pillow is handmade by Tarkus; plant is an aquarium plant; cabinet is vintage German; coffee table is Lil' Bratz; vase on coffee table is a bead from Pubdoll; white rug is The House That Jacq Built; dress form is from Pain d'epices. Accessories are Re-ment, Pain d'epices, vintage TOMY, DRAP, Lundby, AG Minis, Manor House Miniatures, Ryan's Room, and Bozart.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with two exceptions: the mirror and brush on the dresser are from the secret set Cosmetics "Actress," #5, and are good for 1:12.

Curator

I've posted in the past on one of my career paths that never took flight: museum curator. I have friends who are curators and like to be friends with them, but would not want to compete with them for a job or an exhibit! These are tough, opinionated, passionate people who tend to work very hard for very little appreciation (or at least that was the art world climate in New York City in the early 1990s). So, this is my conception of a curator's home, likely in a European city.

The lovely little wood scene in glass came from Germany from an eBay seller I work with often, daspuppenhaus. It has amazing detail and I haven't seen anything like this before.

I am very excited to have used this room in the VERO. The wallpaper is courtesy of Annina, who scanned some of her VERO papers for me recently. I decided to print it at 100%, so the pattern may be larger than hers, but I think it looks nice. I have not pasted the paper yet, and thought I would try it out. The flooring is covered with neutral scrapbook paper.

I have decided for now to leave the original acetate windows, even though they are torn in places. They give this a gloomy, solitary feel. Not to say curators live this existence, but when working, they likely do!

Credits: White chair is Reac; rug is AG Minis; cowhide chaise and desk are by Paris Renfroe; desk lamp and standing double lamp are both vintage German; the sideboard is vintage German as well, bought from Oese; the glass box with wooden scene is a vintage eBay find; typewriter, tea pot, pencil and mug are Re-ment; books are handmade by Oese and AG Minis; silver pot is from the Tiny Doll House store; horse bookends are vintage Petite Princess; ball clock is handmade by Pubdoll; plant is vintage TOMY; and black/white vases are Mattel (Jonathan Adler for Barbie).

Time for Tomy

I made some time for my Tomy Sylvanian, which I have not done in a very long time. I had a mini, mini incentive: a Tomy Sylvanian replica doll house for my doll house! It's pretty adorable, and I was able to fit two 1:144 pieces in it.

I have to say that it was a bit easier working in this smaller house than in the K house. There is a straightforward simplicity to the space that makes it very manageable to do a scene! I should come back to it more often!

Credits: Downstairs - Gold drum chair is vintage Petite Princess; wall hanging unit is AG Minis; purse is handmade by Oese; vase is Bozart; shelving units and plant stand are Re-ment; kitchen table is vintage Bodo Hennig; lucite chairs are eBay finds; light is vintage Lundby; plant is Playmobil with a craft store pot; coffee table is vintage German; Upstairs - "rug" is Re-ment; chair is Reac; lamp is Bozart; table is vintage German (Modella?); sideboard is vintage Barton; Eiffel Tower is a laser cut craft from Michael's; mirror came with the house; picture on floor came with my VERO house; mini Sylvanian is a UK eBay find; custom 1:144 furniture is by SDK Miniatures. Accessories are MAR Toys, Bozart, AG Minis, Mighty World, Re-ment, Manor House Miniatures, and Lil' Bratz.

Sunday Night Blues

We joke in my house how I suffer from the "Sunday Night Blues." This means I get a bit gloomy when Sunday night rolls around, because I am sad the weekend is gone and I wonder what I accomplished. The weekend always goes; accomplishments are not as certain!

So, blue was my color today and I gravitated toward the Lundby Stockholm bathroom. I've used it as a bathroom and laundry room, but not a bedroom before. I got some new vintage German bedroom pieces and decided to put them to use here, in addition to some girlie accents. I tried two different kinds of light: incandescent (more shadows) and fluorescent. I think I prefer the latter.

This weekend I actually did accomplish some major organizing in my doll house room. We bought a lovely wood dresser from a Crate and Barrel outlet recently - it was marked down from $799 to $59 (!!), so I figured why not. The catch was one drawer was missing and there were no drawer pulls. I purchased some drawer pulls and filled the two drawers with Reac chairs and some plastic organizers.

I also got some smaller boxes that came in a pack of four...the colors were so similar to the K House, I had to get them.

I was able to re-package and sort by volume and chair all of my Reac, so they are better protected and inventoried. I also filled the organizers (mostly Re-ment) according to some logic. Now I feel I have a better handle on what I have, and it was actually easier for me to put this scene together.

I cannot believe how much stuff I have accumulated over the past year - it was just over one year ago that my husband gave me the Villa Sibi for Christmas. I think he regrets that decision every day! :)

Credits: Bed and night table are vintage German; torchiere light is Playmobil; egg table, globe, lava lamp, pink filing boxes, and pink purse are Re-ment; chair is Reac; backpack is a Japanese eraser; rug and wall organizer are AG Minis; artwork is Bozart; clock is Sanrio. Accessories are AG Minis and Mighty World.

Another Schoenhut Makes an Appearance

Art Deco love...a rare Schoenhut "Malibu" doll house from the 1930s is up for sale on eBay. Quite a lovely, simple house at a not-so-simple price of $499, not including shipping!

I love the simplicity and vintage lines, and it looks to be in very good condition. Another Malibu sold a few weeks ago for just over $400, but it was a slightly more elaborate style and in somewhat worse condition.

If you grab this gem, let us know!

Images courtesy of eBay listing

UPDATE, 1/12/10: The house sold for $499!

Stork Club

I have a fondness for storks. Of course, they symbolize a new beginning (Happy New Year!), but for me have always held some mystique, mainly because my Grandmother and great Aunt often told me stories of New York City's famed Stork Club, a fabulous, lush Art Deco haunt frequented by the elite (see Alfred Eisenstaedt's amazing images for LIFE here). Divorced sisters who both raised my mother, they once took her for an elegant evening out when she was a teenager in the 1950s. No lady could go in unaccompanied, so they were barred from entering at the door. My feisty Aunt promptly recruited a handsome stranger off the street to escort them in and they had a memorable night!

Credits: Swan (not stork!) chair by Reac; black chair is Creative Playthings; sideboard is vintage VERO; shelf and box on floor are Re-ment; black and white vases are Mattel (Barbie by Jonathan Adler); artwork is Bozart; flooring is scrapbook paper; lamp and whirlygig are AG Minis; side table is made of two vintage Petite Princess tables stacked one on top of the other; white poufs are Lundby; plant is vintage TOMY; paper storks are scrapbooking accessories from the Paper Source; tea set and New York City photo album and pictures are from the Tiny Doll House store; mirror is from Pain d'Epices. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, and Manor House Miniatures.