5 Items for a Retro Perfect Dining Room

Today on Vibrant Vintage, I'm happy to present a guest post by Amy at LuxeDecor!  They offer a wide range of home furnishings with a retro touch.  They have handpicked some items that my readers will surely be interested in, especially those who love midcentury decor.  Enjoy! 

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Often referred to as the Golden Age, the 1950s were a time of funky furnishings, bold artwork and vibrant décor. Seeking to add some of this midcentury vintage drama to your dining space? Whether you want to overhaul an eating area into a total time warp or just want to add some cool graphic furnishings and colorful art pieces to an otherwise modern mealtime nook, there are plenty of options for filling a dining space with nostalgic style.

Here are five items fit for a retro inspired dining room:

Image Via Pinterest

Splashy and dramatic, a sputnik chandelier is the perfect fit for a midcentury dining room. Adding tons of light to the ceiling, this showpiece lighting fixture is a glitzy standout.

Image Via HGTV Home

Classic and cool, a metal bar cart offers any dining room tons of character. Filled with bar staples and classic mixers, this cart is bound to be a hit during parties and evening soirees.

Image Via Memorable Décor

A large hypnotic painting offers this dining room a fresh focal point and tons of dazzling retro charm. Perfect for giving an eating space a bit of glamour, this painting is a definite blast from the past.

Image Via BeeYoutiful Life

Forget a commonplace gray or brown rug and instead opt to give a space some serious sparkle with a bright orange rug. Perfect for plain or muted floors, this colorful floor covering gives a dining room a burst of energy.

Image Via Decoist

A dining room needs a space for noshing and nothing screams midcentury more than a classic table with tulip chairs. Ideal for entertaining, this Scandinavian style dining set is like an ode to 1950s family life.

Guest Post by Amy Spagnola for LuxeDecor

Memento Mori

Last March, we spent a weekend in Philadelphia PA for my husband's work.  Our friend Molly came along, and the two of us set out on sightseeing abandoned and unusual places.  It took some doing to find the entrance, but we eventually found our way into the Mount Moriah Cemetery.  It is a huge cemetery that has no official owner, so the land has fallen into disrepair and the woods have overtaken large swathes of the property.  It is located right along city neighborhoods and roads, like a bizarre time capsule.  In some places, the brush has grown over the tombstones so heavily that all you can see are the flat faces of the stones looking up through the dried grass. 

The inscriptions were varied, but the majority of them were placed in the late 1800s.  One stone, for a family named Sherlock, had an inscription on each side for the different family members.

 

Molly!

Molly and I took pictures, met some geese and a deer, and then ate lunch looking over the graveyard.

 Very strangely, at the edge of the cemetery, we found an operating beehive with empty glass jars littered around and bees buzzing in and out, even though it was a cold day.  A very curious discovery.

      It's such a shame to see this place basically crumbling away, but there are those dedicated to preserving the gravestones and the property (visit The Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery for more info).  In any case, it is a surreal experience to visit this place in the middle of the busy city.

5 Keys for Instant Mid Century Style

Mid century design for the home has never truly gone out of style.  You just need to take a trip to your closest Ikea and you're sure to see how Scandinavian style influenced the homes of the 1950s and '60s.  Here are some basic things that are easy to include in your house for a touch of retro style.

1)  Streamlined furniture
Mid century modern couches, tables, and chairs usually have the trademark hairpin legs or narrow legs, which can be found on plenty of new designs, too!  DotAndBo has plenty of mid century modern inspired pieces at very reasonable prices.  If you have a piece that needs an extra something to complete the retro look, search online for hairpin legs or check out Ace hardware, which sells wooden table legs to add onto your own furniture.

2)  Atomic age motifs

A starburst clock or mirror is plenty to add some vintage flair to your living room.

From Life Magazine

3)  Geometric shapes

Along with the ubiquitous starburst, look for anything that has a pattern with clean lines.  A wall print or a cute sculpture can add a little more interest to the room.  Plus, if you're renting and can't paint, a big print on the wall (or even fabric hung from the walls) gives you a nice burst of color.

Wall art / Dot Bo mid century wall art / Photo poster

4)  A bright pop of color

Use colors that were popular at the time, but maybe with the brightness or saturation enhanced a little.

From KathyDavisAssociates.com

5)  Mixed textures

 Mixing things like patterned cushions, a shaggy rug, or gauzy curtains can add a lot of visual interest to a room.  Also, keep in mind that -- like now -- there were a plethora of influences on mid century design.  Scandinavian design was popular, as were Asian motifs.  So build on these aspects with your own style and taste, and then you'll have a unique and original room that will be just right for you.

• What's your favorite era for interior design?
• Any plans to update your living space soon?

1950s for Spring

     I'm so happy it's springtime.  I think this winter was the last straw and I'm ready to migrate south next year; I guess I'm finally accepting the fact that I'm always freezing.  Here is what I'm normally wearing out and about come springtime, when it's time to shed the dark colored clothes and heavy boots.  

     It used to feel overwhelming trying to find something vintage and comfy and pretty to wear during the day; a lot of vintage shops and stores highlight dresses over all else, and that isn't always practical.  But with some trial and error, I found my go-to outfits for a day of shopping or running errands.  I get a lot of inspiration from teen outfits in the '50s, actually.  They're cute, functional, but still body-hugging and grown up.  If you don't have a pair of saddle shoes, go get some; it'll change your life (for real, ladies).

Image via the50shousewife.com

Image via Wikimedia, from an ad for T. C. Beirne's department store

Image via VintageDancer.com

Jeans by Merona, at Target

 Shirt from Lands End

Shoes from Payless

Book Review: Dig That Beat!

This month I had the pleasure of reading the book Dig That Beat! by Sheree Homer.  I'm not well versed on the early rockabilly scene, but I was interested to read about how the music we love today came into being.   Dig That Beat! presents a rich history of the musicians and singers that helped to evolve rock and roll into what it is today.  

There are interviews with countless artists from varied genres, from blues to soul to pop, displaying how each has shaped rock and roll.   There are also run-ins with familiar faces like Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and even Mae West (!), but the real gem of this book is getting to know some of the lesser-known stars of the era and those that are riding the resurgence of old school music today.  The end of the book highlights international artists that may not be on your radar, but are well worth checking out.  Dig That Beat! is an essential history and delightful tome for any vintage pop culture enthusiast, and definitely for anyone that would like to expand their knowledge of music history.

The book is available to purchase through Amazon or your local indie bookseller!

A Case of the Blues

This is the first vintage find that I ever purchased, almost 8 years ago.  This dress is near and dear to me, despite the fact that I repeatedly tried to get rid of it or sell it!  I guess I just couldn't make it work before, but now with practice wearing vintage clothes, it's one of my favorites.  My talented mom basically took it apart and put it back together, replacing the weak seams and making it fit better on me, too.  (Me + sewing machine = disaster.  I call mom instead.)  Now this is one of my favorite party dresses, perfectly comfortable and flattering at the same time.

Dress: Vintage, thrifted

Shoes: Target

Bag: a gift from my mom

The 5 Minute Flapper: Lips

Hi there ladies and gents!  I've been wanting to do some video tutorials for awhile, so I went ahead and put together my first one!  This is the first of three mini-tutorials meant to show you how to transform into a fab flapper of the 1920s, using some simple drugstore makeup.  First up, the enviable 1920s Cupid's bow lip in less than 2 minutes!

Next week:  those brows, baby!

Quilted and Cozy

Now that the colors of fall have faded and wintry weather is ultimately upon us here in the Mid-Atlantic region, I really want nothing else than to stay inside and drink tea.  Before it was the norm to put on some sweatpants and a hoodie to keep warm, ladies would wear house coats over their lingerie or PJs while getting ready for the day or winding down at night.  I decided to start looking for a nice and comfy housecoat so that even if I can't kick my yoga pants habit, I can at least look somewhat put together at home.

I recently found an excellent vintage house coat, and there is nothing like it for keeping you toasty and glamorous around the house.  This one is reversible, with a quilted royal blue side and a green gingham pattern on the other.  This is just the thing for the season and I'm happy it's getting a new lease on life.