Category Archives: Furniture

“Deco”-rating the Bedroom

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Entering the room

Contrary to what many of the DYI / home remodeling shows would have you believe, the period associated with Art Deco was not a world of only black and white. This was a period of lime-green, lemon-yellow, vermillion, purples, magenta, turquois, etc..  It also wasn’t merely industrial and chrome furniture.

 

My “deco” room started by painting the walls in horizontal stripes of three different shade of a soft lavender / grey color with the ceiling being a lighter shade of the same color family and ended by painting all the trim work a semi-gloss pure white. Because I have standard height ceilings, I felt evenly spaced stripes might be overwhelming.  Instead, I marked up 42″ from the floor then divided this lower stripe in half measuring up from the top of the base board.  If you decide to try stripes, there are many excellent online instructions. I can only tell you to measure carefully, have a good level and be prepared to use lots of painter’s tape.

Oh, if you try this, don’t be alarmed if initially you think the room looks like an Easter egg!

 

I improvised the look of chrome trim (which priced out at over $700.00 – eek!) by purchasing inexpensive 1/2 round molding and 1″ marine grade Mylar tape (available online).  After attaching the 1/2 round to the walls (covering the line where two colors meet) I carefully and slowly work the tape over the 1/2 round. It wasn’t difficult to do but it took a bit of time and patience. Total cost to do my room? Under $100.00.

 

I wanted platinum colored drapes to add a masculine touch and balance out color of the room.  Luckily, I sew and was able to make them (silk, fully interlined and black-out backed) for a cost of just over $600.00.  I know that sounds like a lot, but custom drapes priced out at over $1600.00 (double eek!). Okay, not every one sews, so, when purchasing, buy the best quality you can afford and protect your investment by making sure they are lined and/or backed.  The under-curtains were purchased at a discount drapery store to add a bit of softness and texture. For those who are purists, I  know the mini-blinds are not period but it is a first floor bedroom and privacy is an issue.

I found this complete (11 pieces), 1932 bedroom set on an online auction site for $500.00 (thank you, Mrs. Whithersole’s son). The rich walnut wood tones soften the industrial “chrome” trim and provides a counterbalance to the solid colored draperies. I like it for its warmth, masculine lines and maroon Bakelite handles accented in brass. The veneer is  book matched, straight cut walnut in a chevron pattern accented with panels of  burled wood. Even the vanity has a more masculine quality than most and serves as my full length mirror. Nothing beats the quality and construction of this set; it was made to last – and it has!

 

The artwork over the bed are color copies of six originals prints I purchased at a Paris flea market for about $6.00 each. The other two are also copies but copied from a modern fashion calendar.  Can you tell the difference?

Color copying is your friend.  It preserves the originals and I can easily replace the displayed ones if they become damaged. I made the matching “period” matting  by color copying a vintage reverse glass picture frame (adjusting it for the size to fit the frame), cutting out the center and using this in lieu of matt board. I like the way it ties all the prints together and it was more affordable than buying and having matt board cut.

Color copies of original fashion prints.

Color copies of original fashion prints.

The crowning glory of my room, in my opinion, is my ceiling light. Also purchased on an online auction site, the six sides are heavy, pierced metal in a platinum finish with a canopy of frosted glass panels. It took the two of us (thank you, Anthony) to attach the shade as it weights around 12 lbs. and is held up by six individual spire-like fittings at the top. Awkward to install, but worth it. A close runner up for favorite room accessory is my sunburst floor lamp purchased at Stoudt’s in Adamstown, Pa.

 

I like to display grouped family photos (always a “must” to bring a room to life) and the rest of the décor is mostly vintage with some “inspired” contemporary pieces that I acquired over the years. Of note are the vanity accents, waste paper basket, and silverware box. With the exception of the waste paper basket, many of these items can be somewhat easily found on your own Freakin’ Tiquen’ adventures.

I am rather proud of how the room turned out and hope you like it, too. If you ever create a deco room, I hope you can use some of my ideas to help you express your “deco”-rating side.

Chris

Hunting Deco in thrift stores and junk barns.

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Some of my best Art Deco items did not come from any fancy New York City antique show, Miami gallery or San Francisco shop, but from thrift stores and junk barns. I will grant you that junk barns and thrift stores are hit and miss, and to be honest, mostly miss. But every once and a while a real treasure can be found. The trick is to find a store that is located in an old established neighborhood, town or city, rather than one located in a suburban stripmall, and then go back often. Stock comes in every day, so one weekend there might not be anything of note but the next weekend might be the jackpot.

 

In a junk barn a half hour south west of Allentown, Pennsylvania, I came across this Chase Corn and Pancake set, designed by Russel Wright (1904 – 1976). Wright was an industrial designer who worked in New York City and is probably best known for his spun aluminum products made in the 1930’s and his famous lines of dinnerware such as American Modern (1939 – 1959) for Steubenville Pottery and Casual (1947 – 1967) for Iroquois. The Chase Corn and Pancake set was sold by the Chase Speciality Line between 1935 – 1940 and originally sold for $4.50 ($78.00 in 2014 dollars). It consists of a syrup jug, salt and pepper shakers and a chrome and blue glass tray. This set has a book value of $250 -$400. I was lucky to find this set in unused condition for $6.00.

 

There once was a great thrift store in Rochester, New York. Almost every other week I would go to the Vietnam Veterans Thrift Store to see if anything new came in. Now most times I came out empty handed, but sometimes a real treasure was to be had at bargain basement prices. One day in October, 2009 in the back of the store among all the chairs there was a 1930’s Lloyd Manufacturing Company Springer Rocker chair designed by famous industrial designer K.E.M. Weber (1889 – 1963). The chair was in good original condition, with original cushions with no tears or cracks and the chrome was not pitted. Normally that chair sells for between $450 – $2,000, but at the thrift store I was able to pick it up for just $30.00.

 

 

Another great find at the Vietnam Veterans Thrift Store, was a set of six Ruba Rombic 10 oz. footed tumblers for a $1.99 each. Ruba Rombic was created by Reuben Haley (1872 – 1933), the most important American glass designer of the 20th Century, for the Consolidated Glass Company of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. Introduced in 1928 it was produced only until 1932 when Consolidated Glass closed, due to the depression. When the company reopened in 1936 Ruba Rombic was no longer part of the line. Upon its introduction, the company called it “An Epic in Modern Art”, most of the public called it “that crazy glass”. The colors of Ruba Rombic were Smokey Topaz, which is the color of the tumblers that I have, Jungle Green, Jade Green, Sunshine Yellow, Lilac, Silver, French Crystal and Opal. Jungle Green and Smokey Topaz are the most common of the colors. Aside from the extreme look of the items, it was also very, very expensive – the 10 oz. tumblers that I picked up cost $9.00 a piece in 1928, which is the equivalent of $125.00 in 2014 dollars. Today Ruba Rombic is very rare, Jack Wilson an expert on Consolidated Glass feels that less than 3,000 pieces of Ruba Rombic exist. These tumblers are worth about $275 – $300 each.

 

It is finds like these that inspire us to stop at those out of the way barns and thrift stores on our travels.

Chris & Anthony