Seventies Style

THOSE WERE THE DAYS: DECORATING WITH BRANIFF

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Braniff was an airline at the cutting edge of fashion and design in the 70s. From hiring Alexander Calder to paint their planes, to calling on Pucci to design futuristic airplane uniforms, they stayed true to their campaign of ending the “plain plane.”

Alexander Girard's "New Look Gate," with Herman Miller seating. Designed for the Braniff International Airlines passenger lounge at Love Field in Dallas, Texas.

 

In this day and age with stuffy economy flights and stressful security checks, it’s hard to believe Braniff could have ever existed.

Just another groovy airport lounge brought to you by Braniff

Luckily, many vintage remnants and reproductions still exist on eBay and etsy for those who want to keep the dream alive…

 

Designed by Alexander Girard, this lovely set features the BI logo engraved on the bottom of each saucer. Everything here, $29.

Vtg. Braniff Airlines Demitasse 10 Cups 5 Saucers Tray, $29

 

For $3.99 you can own a piece of the Pucci-clad Braniff stewardesses in your home. For dramatic effect, consider framing this 5″ x 7″ print in a much larger frame with a floating white mat.

'66 CUTE BRANIFF BABES STEWARDESS BOEING AIRPLANE PHOTO 5"x7", $3.99

 

They don’t make playing cards like these anymore. Designed by Alexander Girard with tons of adorable phrases and translations, the BI cards are a real treat for the card game and graphic design aficionado.

BRANIFF International Translation Playing Cards MINT, $30

 

Just one of many travel posters advertising BI, nicely sized and priced.

Argentina Braniff 1950's Classic Travel Poster 18x24, $9.95

 

A kitschy handmade switchplate on etsy features one of Braniff’s promotional designs, pretty cute if you ask me.

Braniff Airways Chicago Switchplate, $12


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So Hot Right Now

PRETTY PAISLEYS

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Paisley is making a comeback! This traditional print is fun in brighter, lighter colors and makes a definite impression. Here are some cool paisley items on the market now:

Warm your doorstep with this festive doormat. $39.98.

PAISLEY DOORMAT

 

This pastel paisley shower curtain from Target would look great in a white tiled bathroom. $13.59.

Paisley Shower Curtain

 

And look—a paisley soap dish to go with it. $9.99.

Sierra Paisley Soap Dish in Chambray

 

These outdoor pillows are surprisingly fancy looking for being from The Home Depot. $30 each.

Arden Cayenne Paisley Square Pillow, set of 2

 

Schlepping a laptop around would be much more pleasant in this sprightly sleeve. $40.

HADAKI Laptop Sleeve in Hannah's Paisley

 

If I wrote real letters any more, I’d want to write them on these lovely notecards from Paper Source. $9 for a set of ten.

Curry Rajasthani Paisley A2 Stationery

Get the Look

THE VINTAGE MODERN NURSERY

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My friend Sarah is having a baby girl and received this vibrant Scandinavian Dala Horse Rug as a gift for the nursery. She loved it so much she asked me to help her design her baby room around it.

Dalahäst carpet

 

We painted the room in a medium, warm gray with crisp white trim to ground the energetic primary colors in the rug.

 

White linen sheer curtains from West Elm were added to soften and dress up the wooden blinds on the windows.

Sheer Linen Window Panel

 

To give the room a more feminine touch I chose to play up the gold in the rug and use it as my accent color. Auggie bedding is playful and has a wonderful vintage modern appeal. We paired it with a scalloped crib skirt in white from The Company Store for $29.00.

AUGGIE Fitted Crib Sheets, Baby & Toddler Quilts, Crib Bumpers, $45-150

 

Furnishing a baby room can get expensive so we went with pieces that have longevity and dual uses. This painted wood spindal crib has an antique look for only $169.00 AND it transforms into a toddler bed when the time comes.

Davinci Jenny Lind Stationary Crib, $169

 

This low white dresser from Ikea has clean, simple lines that don’t compete with the crib and can double as a changing table with one of those nifty toppers they make.

HEMNES 8-drawer dresser, $299

 

The Womb Chair, one of my favorites and even though it doesn’t rock it has the right name. The real thing goes for $3,000 and up but this one looks pretty great and is a steal at $598.00. This piece will look just as good in her room now as it will when she is 16 or 35…. The dark gray is classic and neutral.

Eero Saarinen Womb Chair & Ottman In Dark Gray, $598

 

Don’t forget the accessories! This Ikea pendant adds a feminine touch to our non-frilly room and promises to project ‘decorative patterns onto the ceiling and on the wall.’ Install a dimmer switch for less harsh evening lighting. $89.

PS MASKROS Pendant lamp

 

These 6″ wood letters are made in the USA. We painted them in a lovely golden rod and sanded them away a bit to give them a vintage feel. Get cute with it by painting the baby’s initials a different color. $2.45 each.

Birch Wood Alphabet Letters, $2.45

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Friday Finds

FRIDAY FINDS

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Friday finds, nothing over $35! TGIF.

These paper placemats promise “proper etiquette” and come in a set of 50.

Perfect Setting Paper Placemats, $20

 

Give one of these as a gift and you might be greeted with an inquisitive look at first, but something tells me the recipient will always think of you when having their coffee with donut.

Face Mug, $18

 

New from Velocity Art and Design, these Thomas Paul tea towels are hand screened. Available in a variety of excellent prints.

Thomas Paul Tea Towel in Miami, $20

 

Go Valley of the Dolls on everyone with these darling pill coasters from Fish’s Eddy.

Pills Coasters Set of 12, $3.95

 

Or perhaps a little Saturday Night Fever with this rainbow cushion cover from CONRAN.

EMBROIDERED RAINBOWS CUSHION COVER, $35

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Shopping Guide

RETURN OF THE ROTARY PHONE

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I remember quite vividly the rotary phone we used to have in my childhood home. It was a shade of green that could only have come out of the late 70’s and it hung high up on the wall (well, high for six-year old me). I always thought of it as a toy, and today it would certainly look like one in comparison to the electro gadget I have now. But as more of us cease having a land line altogether, there’s something fun in the idea of having a rotary phone as a land line again. Rotaries could not look more nostalgic and usher back in the concept of having a “phone area”—a place actually intended for sitting and chatting. There are some great rotary phones still floating around out there (whether your place has a 4 prong jack is an entirely separate issue!). Here are a few:


This orange monster would have been just the sort parents gave their kids for their own bedroom lines. $50 on Etsy.

Vintage Mid Century Modern Orange Rotary Phone 1970s

 

I think I’d go through the hassle of having Time Warner install a 4 prong jack in my place just so I could use this pretty pink number. $75 on Etsy.

Vintage PINK Rotary Telephone

 

The rotary dial is on the bottom. Not sure it gets much cooler than this. $90 on Etsy.

Vintage Rotary Ericophon Phone

 

This French-style vintage phone from Western Electric is as dainty as all get out. Starting bid of $14.99 on eBay.

VINTAGE FRENCH STYLE ROTARY TELEPHONE

 

Is it a phone? Is it a donut? Why, it’s both! Starting bid of $9.99 on Ebay (search for ‘donut phone’ for other colors and auctions).

TELEPHONE Donut / Handbag Phone

 

For those that want the look of a rotary without the added effort (cheaters), Crosley carries a whole line of modern adaptations, like this red one for $49.90 on Amazon.

Crosley 302 Red Desk Phone

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Setting the Table

SETTING THE TABLE: THE MODERN RUSTIC FARM TABLE

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Throwing a dinner party and need to set the table? FM will put together affordable table settings for any occasion. For the first installment, we take inspiration from the modern farmhouse. Farmhouses are simple, clean and pure. These are the guidelines you will want to follow to get the look.

 

 

The dining and salad plates I chose have beautiful muted, earthy tones…

Camden Sand Dinner Plate, $6.95

 

Camden Stone Salad Plate, $5.95

…and pair nicely with this simple matte flatware.

DATA 20-piece flatware set, $29.99

 

I like the idea of drinking wine out of these great pewter goblets, it makes me feel like a Viking.

Empire Goblets Set of 4 - Pewter, $49.99

Since the goblet makes a bold statement, it’s a good idea to choose a plain drinking glass to stand along side of it.

GODIS Glass $7.99 / 6 pack

 

Twine and a roll of brown paper is something we should all have in the closet. They’re great for wrapping gifts, dressing tables and a million other things.

United Facility Supply kraft 9 dia. wrapping paper roll, $34.26

Nursery Jute 3-Ply Ball - 10 lb, $16.49

 

Layer the earthy plates from Crate and Barrel and top them off with these striped organic cotton napkins and a homemade twine napkin ring. Use a piece of brown paper the length of the table as a runner.

Yarn Dyed Organic Napkin, 4 for $12

 

Pick up a couple of these water bottles, add lemon or cucumber slices…

SLOM Bottle with stopper, $3.99

 

…buy a bunch of unscented white pillar candles (all sizes) that you can bunch together in two groups on the table. Pick some wild flowers, put them in a recycled jar or can, and you are all set to entertain!

Unscented Round Pillar Candles, $4-9

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