Mid-Century Modern Homes with Art Toys

I've got some schemes on how to integrate my mid-century modern art toys into my home. But I might steal some design tips and ideas from São Paulo.

They have more than a few mid-century modern home clients with art toys and it's great to see the collections live throughout the house.

Is Mid-Century Old Enough to Be Historic?

We're coming to an interesting intersection in American preservation. The point where we have to ask, "Are mid-century homes and buildings historic?" And, "If so, what are the defining characteristics?"

I've touched on the subject once or twice, but I'm just a fan of mid-century and good architecture. I don't want to even start suggesting I have the answers — or expertise that would qualify me to give the answers. But NPR started asking some interesting questions in a story I heard the other day.

The Miami Herald's old headquarters on Biscayne Bay have been sold to a developer who wants to tear it down. Historic preservationists are working to stop the demolition, saying the hulking, boxy building is a prime example of Miami modernism architecture from the 50's and 60's. Demolition proponents — which include some prominent architects — say it's a clumsy building with no sense of style and not a "MiMo" design worth saving.

Is it NIMBYism or mid-century preservation? For a while, it might be hard to tell.

Mid-Century Modern Library and Movie Theater

Our library could probably stand a little love and a new paint job, but at its core it is a pretty outstanding mid-century building. And I finally got around to taking a few photos during our weekly visit.

It's the Yarborourgh library in Austin now, but that wasn't the case till 1999.

Originally the building was the Americana Theatre (hence the double sign), a movie theater that was built in 1965 and sat 1,000 people.

Story goes that the theater, which had been sold to AMC Theaters by this point, had a contract with Disney for the exclusive rights to premier Annie, but only if they continued to show it for 18 weeks. The extended showing essentially bankrupt the theater and that's how it became a library.

If you pay close attention to Dazed and Confused you might reconize the Yarborough library. It was the parking lot where the cheerleaders hazed the freshman girls.

The columns are reminiscent of hair pin legs, with some atomic-style connectors and caps.

The overhangs have been redone, but they kept the orignial wave motif.

You can check out the original overhangs here.

The pendant lights under the overhang have an extremely mid-century modern / atomic age feel to them.

I'm really glad this building has been repurposed and will probably be around for a while, and that I get to visit it every week.

VW Bus Wagon for Kids

I have a mini obsession with VW buses. Once we're to a stage where we're no longer hauling precious cargo around (the type that needs a baby seat and/or airbags), and my current car turns its last key, I'm planning/hoping/scheming to get an old-school VW camper bus.

However this VW bus wagon, which we spotted at the park, would be perfect for kids.

I asked the dad attached to the handle about it and it turns out he took a fire truck wagon, stripped it down, repainted it and added a few VW touches. That's a lot of work for a wagon, but it is one kickin' VW bus wagon.

Blue Genie Art Bazaar 2012

The 2012 Blue Genie Art Bazaar opens today and runs till Dec. 24th. If you're in Austin, it's a great place to pick up some art for your mid-century home. Some of my favorite local artists show there year after year and I almost always find one or two more to fall in love with. And it's usually a pretty good place to do some holiday shopping.

I picked up this gray owl from Blue Genie themselves at the Bazaar a while back. It lives in our play room, right next to our rosewood buffet, and we love it. We bought it a few years before owls got big (ridiculously big); so it looks a little trendy these days, but also has a timeless quality. And it will be living in that spot long past the owl trend.