"THE FUTURE"

Over the weekend, before we got a foot of snow in my area, I was foolishly thinking spring was here and perusing craigslist for some patio furniture. I had a few leads, but sadly none panned out. My gorgeous kidney-shaped patio looks so desperately empty, but I guess I can survive a little longer without a comfortable set of outdoor furniture. Partially because I now feel as if I’m living through another ice age, also because I happened to stumble upon the perfect distraction. My dream dinning table set. Looks like ol' Craig has come forth with goodness yet again.

As a sci-fi nerd I’ve always had a weakness for Lucite. To me, nothing screams “THE FUTURE” like clear acrylic furniture. The smooth lines and clean look compel you to keep it clutter free so you can soak in the object's own beauty.

The aforementioned table is a smoked glass and Lucite set from Chromcraft. The chairs are also Lucite with embossed electric blue flower patterned satin cushions and chrome tulip-style basses. The table top is a heavy, darkly smoked glass oval. The base is a chrome and Lucite, tulip-style base with the ingenious detail of having the very top covered by the same blue flower fabric used on the chairs' cushions. You can actually just see its color and pattern from underneath the smoked glass table top.

It's an incredible set. Just the type I’ve been lusting after for some time now. I’m proud to add it to my own domicile. Now, I just have to figure out where to put it...

From the hand of God

  Anybody need a chandelier? Looks like a church in Staunton Illinois has sadly decided to "upgrade" their lighting. If only I had high ceilings.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/fuo/3602766738.html

"Vintage Smut"

  Had a little time this weekend to make some simple frames and hang some art. "Vintage Smut" is a screen printed set from about a year ago by artist Adam Saul. I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. The den is really coming together. As I write this I'm sitting by a fire, listening to some lounge music and sipping on a little whisky. 

Ding Dong

 Today is a glorious day. Why you ask? The answer is simple, I have a working door bell. No longer will I suffer the tyranny of wondering when my frinds have arrived or where my delivery food is. Today I am a free man!

 All thanks to a little NOS (new old stock) found on eBay. It's even a Nutone just like the rest of the doorbell system.

It's not a perfect fit, but I like how well it matches the diamond pattern on the doors.

Fisticuffs

  Possibly a futile quest, I am determined to fix all those “little things” around the house. For this adventure I challenged the light fixture located in my basement stairs to a duel. Casting aside concern for my own well-being, I delved into the darkness. Striking hard and fast, I dealt blow after blow to my dastardly foe. After what had to have been an exhausting 8 or 9 minutes of grueling fighting the fixture squealed "uncle" and I was victorious. 

  Seriously though, fixing a dead fixture is super easy. Grab some heavy gauge wire and a new socket (found easily at your local big box store) and you can resurrect any fixture. Just make sure you turn the power off and pray to Crom first.

the old wire

check out the burn marks on the old socket

wired up and ready

dig the crazy light patter it throws

lighting my darkest hour

Little things matter too

  Weekend project time. I know what you’re thinking, It’s Tuesday, but I swear I did this last weekend. (Some might say your faithful author is a bit absent minded.)

  The floor in my entry foyer is deep solid black and gleaming gold sparkle tiles. Laid out in a beautiful checker board pattern, it catches your eye the moment you walk in. On a sunny day the gold sparkles are almost blinding. Mostly in incredible shape, only a few trouble spots exist. A few of the tiles had corners coming unglued. They haven’t been tested but they are most likely asbestos based. Between a mild fear of living in a house full of broken vinyl asbestos tiles and my desire to keep them in beautiful shape, I decided they needed repair, sooner rather then later.

  Not much to this DIY, a few dollops of Liquid Nails under the trouble spots, stacks of old college books to keep the tile corners down and wah-la you’re done. Just be careful not to use to much and quickly wipe way any excess that may squeeze out when pushing the tile down.

The Groundhog was wrong

Here in the midwest we are have a minor snowpocalypse. Nothing to worry about but it sure is purty.

Requisite snow covered house picture