Oh, I do like to be...
I want to stay here!The Midland Hotel is a restored Art Deco hotel which was once the playground of the rich and famous. They've done a great job - it looks gorgeous.
Now I just need to think of a reason to go to Morecambe.
I want to stay here!Now I just need to think of a reason to go to Morecambe.
The Art of Tiki
My very talented husband painted me a tiki picture! I love it. It goes with another blue version of the squid he had painted previously. I'm going to hang them over our aquarium.I've included a close up because I adore the expression on the squid's face, if you can call it that.
In other tiki news, I bought my first tiki today. Found it in a local charity shop and was very surprised to see it there. It's a bit worse for wear so I'm going to put my pens and things in it. And so it begins...High Tea
I think these hanging tea light holders are adorable. I love the white with splashes of colour inside.
In a similar style are these 'magma stones'.
Ebay Finds II
The Light Stuff
I need a new lamp - and I use the term 'new' loosely here, as I'd prefer either vintage or at least retro style. I've been desperately searching for a lamp similar to one Biba posted on her blog nearly a year ago with no luck (seen on right).
Tikimama has an amazing lamp (I hope she doesn't mind me posting her pic here...) but I can't seem to find anything like it.There are a lot of retro style desk lamps around but I've already had a couple of them and would like something a bit different now. I quite like these two from ikea but the search will continue.
UPDATE: - Went to ikea and found that the BRASA (white one) was much bigger than expected - still nice but too big for my bedside anyway. We very nearly bought the LYKTA but while deliberating on which colour to choose decided that the open top would mean it would get very dusty, so we left it. The search goes on...
Shock to the System
Further to my earlier post about Fallout 3, another game involving retro styling is Bioshock. Set in a glorious, art deco style underwater city where things have gone terribly wrong, Bioshock was a feast for the eyes. It was also an excellent game in my and many, many others' opinions. 
Now the gaming community is getting excited for the sequel Bioshock 2 'Sea of Dreams' - I know I am!
Scheduled for release later this year, I eagerly await my next dose of retro styled gaming.
The images here are from the original Bioshock game. The vid below is the trailer for Bioshock 2.
Etsy Betsy Spider III
Some more goodies - there's loads of great mod stuff on there right now. (I found these by doing a vintage search for modern - too many separate links for me right now).
A Room Divided
I've been looking into some 'mid mod' style room dividers. I found the following quite cool - especially the first - but I don't think I'll ever own a home big enough to need one. At least not in England anyway.
Stoned Immaculate
I happened along pics of someone's back garden a while ago and have since been on the look out for those decorative concrete blocks (apparently also called 'Stone Screens' that appear every now and then.I guess it's partly why I liked the room dividing book shelves in one of my previous posts.
My grandparents used to have such a wall in their old house (in Australia) and I hope the new owners have kept it. Last time I went looking, I recognised the house from the walls so they are clearly a memorable design feature.
The pictures below were found through a google image search ("decorative concrete blocks"). The best compilation of this style I've seen so far has been at Very Vintage Vegas.
I haven't seen many in England but now that I'm looking for them I hope they'll crop up.
tiki, Tiki, TIKI!
OK, I feel it only fair to warn you that I have been bitten hard by the tiki bug. I have spent the last few days practically obsessed with finding cool tiki stuff. I have seen loads but being in the UK limits availability (and cost effectiveness) a lot.
I have been teaching myself how to make nets in which to hang tiki lamp decorations and have even hassled my ever-suffering husband into painting something tiki-based for me - which is currently in progress.
I have been listening to tiki podcasts and have just ordered a tiki related book!
What's going on with me?? Sleek and stylish design will always be my first love but I'm fascinated by the whole tiki phenomenon. I have no room for a tiki collection but can't help but want to stockpile for leisurely luau-style garden parties that I plan to have in the future... some day.
Painless Dentistry
Found this amazing chair on the Elemental.uk.com website. A restored dentist chair from 1900. It is fully adjustable and automated with hydraulics. Despite it being over 100 years old, it has a touch of the mid-century about it don't you think?
You need to register or phone to get a price, which is a good sign that this is way out of my budget.
Atomic!
MidCentury and gaming don't usually go hand in hand... but I'm glad to say there are a few shining examples (I can only think of two at the moment).I'm currently attached to my Fallout 3 game. It is set 200 years after the nuclear war that devastated the game's world in an alternate post-World War II timeline. I spend most of my free time on the internet looking at cool retro stuff and then play a game which features a lot of the retro style I love. It was hard to find pictures of the furniture and other decor but here are a couple pics to give you the idea:
While trying to search for some images I came across this brilliant promotion for Fallout 3 at a gaming expo. They cleaned up an authentic airstream (caravan) and filled it with retro-styled goodies based on the game.
If you like what you see, or are already a fan of the game, there's some nifty game-related, retro styling at the official Fallout 3 site.
Word of warning though, this is not a game for the kids.
Visions of Loveliness
Some inspiring images I've just found at Go Modern.
I particularly love how the bookshelf looks in the last picture. I don't think I'd want to put anything on it though - would also be a bugger to dust!
3 Days of Peace & Music
I've been wanting this Woodstock festival poster for a while but have only found it in the UK without the bands listed. Until now... 
I've found it cheap (under £10) but I think it needs a white frame and mount to make it look even more fabulous. The poster is A2 size but does this mean I need to order a larger frame so I can fit the mount in as well? If anyone can help me with this, I'd be grateful.
I so wish I could have been at Woodstock in '69. When I've attended music festivals, I've found myself imagining/pretending that I'm actually there and surrounded by all the weird and wonderful people the event brought together. Sounds a bit pathetic now I write that but so what?
Peace, love and mungbeads!
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