Potic Finale

Potic Cottage front facade

Potic Cottage screened-in porch

 Potic Cottage bedroom

 Potic Cottage stairwell

Long-time readers of this blog know that it all began with the purchase of a small cottage in the woods.  Potic Cottage, set on Potic Mountain in the Hudson Valley, was a one bedroom, 665 sq.ft. house we purchased in 2007. Now, ten years later, the cottage has taken on a screened in porch, two additional bedrooms, and a full bath. A mix of folk art, midcentury modern fixtures, and second-hand antiques, Potic Cottage has a classic Catskill vibe.  Better yet, we've had wonderful memories there, the bear that ate out of our bird feeders, the gong meditation Jackson created, even a documentary shot there.

Andrew Geller's Westhampton Pearlroth House

 Pearlroth house in Westhampton, NY, facing south.

Entrance into house

Jonathan Pearlroth with a view of the copper roofing

Geometry in the roofline

Built- in bunk beds

Guest blogger  Jane Jagger is no stranger to LI architect Andrew Geller's work.  Having restored a Geller-designed home with her husband, Steven, in Huntington Bay, NY, Jagger was gracious enough to photograph Geller's Westhampton gem for me-- the Pearlroth house. While celebrating the release of a new book by Jake Gorst,  Andrew Geller: Deconstructed, Jagger captured the angles and geometry of this iconic beach house.  As luck would have it, Bouler Pfluger Architects has been commissioned to design a beach house right next door. Certainly Dune Road has changed since Geller designed this pure, minimal geometric design; however the spirited architecture remains a tradition.

Dining Room Renovation: Finishing Touches

I have finally had a chance to change the chandelier in the dining room.  This Supernova light fixture was made by Lou Blass from Adlib Antiques in Hudson, NY. Longtime followers of the blog know my minor obsession with light fixtures in general, and this one, in particular.

 Thanks to my mom, I was reunited with this self-portrait done in 1985.  Always fun to rotate the artwork-- don't you agree, modernemama?

After a frenetic rug search, I took a leap of faith with this one from Crate and Barrel. The Chrysanthemum rug, which seemed to have a mid-century feel, reminded me of the circular shape and spindles of the light fixture.  Better yet, it was the only 6' x 9' offered.

And finally, Jackson shared his heart with us all-- the ultimate finishing touch.

Before and After: The Dining Room

Before

After

Before

After

Eleven years ago, I decorated the dining room, and at the time, I loved the rich red walls and the historical qualities of our 1920's home. And then I didn't. A redesign that was more in tune with my current aesthetic was long overdue. Scouring Craigslist for Danish mod furniture, Crate and Barrel for a rug, offering up my own pieces for free, and a day painting, here's the result. The only missing piece-- the light fixture, which is waiting for me at ADLIB Antiques in Hudson, NY. But that's an entry for another day.

Hey Charley!!

What can I say about Charlie Harper: An Illustrated Life except that I bought it as a gift and kept it. The graphics capture animals in the most minimal essence that it's hard not to try to live my entire life in such economy. Instead of the Taoist who shrunk man inside the magnitude of nature, Charley Harper turns nature into a Platonic essence. Bird-ness indeed!!!

And the Winner...

Eames-esque and mid-century-- both for $150. Now that I've got the stools, I just need the bar!

Stools!

It started on Craigslist with these in Massapequa for $40 each. A great deal, don't you think?

Then I thought about these from DWR.

Until I found these at Modernica. Ah, it's love.

Charley Harper: MidCentury Artist and Birder

When we saw the Charley Harper exhibition at Cornell Lab of Ornithology last spring, I hadn't realized how much his work would seep into my consciousness. With my growing passion for streamlined midcentury design only growing, his colorful images capture the essence of birds in a uniquely stylized way. So when I was searching for a new 2012 calendar this morning, Charley Harper's images came to mind. With January already gone, I thought, hey I'll get a discount. On the contrary, Harper's calendars are SOLD OUT on many sites and now commanding higher prices. Fortunately I was able to find one at its original price before they were all gone. What this means, of course, is that my Charley Harper illustrated first edition of Betty Crocker's Dinner for Two Cookbook must be worth at least double the $3.50 I paid for it at a yard sale.

Sputnik Lands

Part asteroid, part spaceship, James made yet another great Craigslist discovery: this Italian light fixture circa 1960. Just add candelabra flame bulbs and the look is outta this world.

Mid Century Mania

My growing passion for Mid Century design has only increased over time. And sadly, my Duncan Fife-style chairs and table were becoming too delicate for daily use. Enter Craigslist. After looking through a handful of Salvation Army and Goodwills, I began the search for earnest on ol' reliable Craigslist. I found this set of six chairs and table with leaf for ... $95. No joke. We wasted no time getting over to the woman, who was given the set to sell as a donation for animal rescue. Fate? Indeed. Handing the woman an even $100 for good karma, we took the set home and began to refurbish the seats and stain the wood. Now all of my linens seem incredibly old-fashioned, so I bought these recycled placemats from CB2. Perfection!