DC Big Flea Market: September 18-19

I've posted about this show once before, but haven't been back in months. Sometimes it's good to take a little break; especially since it's usually the same dealers hawking the same old tired junk. This weekend's show was limited to the one convention hall, but was packed to the rafters with people.

If you are going with the intent to buy, I have found that it is always good to have a plan. For example, today I knew I was going to be looking for vintage deskware for the new office. This greatly limited impulse spending.

Now, on to the goods...

This dealer had a pretty good selection of vintage movie posters.

This guy's booth always draws a crowd. Now you know why.

Dollhouse? Interesting.

These types of kits were popular throughout the 1960s. This particular one must have been a store display piece, and featured a real working engine and drifeshaft.

A small but amazing selection of mid-mod furniture and accessories.

Vintage military gear is always popular.

The formica dining table was unique in that the leaf was included. That's pretty rare.

What a great sign. Unfortunately the mercury was long gone.

"I Pity the Fool!"

Vintage Ray-Ban aviators and a can of Old Milwaukee suds? Sounds about right to me.

I've always been a Pac-Man junky, and I had that exact same lunchbox when I was a kid. Not a bad buy at $65 (I didn't get it) considering the thermos was included.

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Campaign coloring books were a warehouse find. Absolutely hilarious.

I'll be kicking myself later for not purchashing that vintage Georgetown pennant. They are impossible to find here in the DC area.

Some pretty decent furniture, but those two matching chairs in the front were going for $650. Rip. Off.


So what the hell did I buy? I actually made out pretty well. See for yourself:

I popped immediately on this vintage plant stand. I've wanted one for awhile, and at only $40 it was way cheaper than what I've been able to find on eBay. The fiberglass is a little scuffed and scratched, but I have a few project ideas in mind.

I saw this desk fan and knew that I wanted it for the office. It was only $18 and needs a little cleaning up, but it works great. I date it back to the 1940s.

The 'Mad Men' Look Contest: Final Results

Remember the Mad Men Look Contest that I entered?

*Spoiler alert* I lost.

I knew once that the heavy hitters started rolling in that I didn't have a shot in hell. There's no way that I can possibly compete with houses designed in the mid-century by award winning architects. Nope. Ain't happening folks. But I was contacted once by a Post employee so at least I felt like I was still in the running.

Just check out the winners already.

The 'Mad Men' Look Contest: The Washington Post

Mad Men season 4 begins at the end of the month and I'm pretty damn excited about this. It's far and away the best show on television. Shame on you and get with the program if you're not already a fan. Feelin' guilty yet?

Anyway, I was equally excited when I came across this recent article in the Washington Post:


Details about The Post's Mad Men Look contest
Saturday, June 26, 2010

Knotty pine. Wallpaper. Formica. Venetian blinds. Those lamps! They help form the distinctive look of homes portrayed on AMC's "Mad Men" television series, set in the 1960s.

As the series's new season draws near, we're looking for the Washington area home that most captures that look and feel. We invite you to pull back your pinch-pleat draperies and show off your home's late '50s-to-mid-'60s vibe.

Enter The Washington Post's Mad Men Look contest by submitting a photo of your place, whether it's a house, condo, apartment or even a single room. Entry deadline is midnight July 11. Entries must be for residences in the District, Maryland or Northern Virginia.

Entries must be of your own residence, whether owned or rented. Finalists must be available for photographs and an interview between July 14 and 18.

Finalists will be judged by a panel of Post editors and designers, along with Daniel Donnelly, owner of Daniel Donnelly Modern Design Studio in Alexandria.

Photographs of the winning entry will appear online and in The Post's Real Estate section July 24, the day before "Mad Men's" fourth season premieres.


I read this and thought, "why the hell not?" Sure I live in a small brick condo building built in the early 1980s, but have long been a fan of post-war modernism and mid-century modern style. Over the years I have cultivated furniture and various other odds-and-ends to match my particular tastes. I have an artistic eye and am pretty adept at scouting out oddball pieces from places such as thrift stores, flea markets, Ikea, Craigslist, eBay, etc.

I never win contests, other than a beauty pageant in Texas when I was 5 (true story), but I kind of really want to win this one. The contest is ramping up and the competition is fierce. Call me a Mad Man.

Click here to view all of the photos: http://washingtonpost.com/madmenlook.

Lo Fidelity

My Living Room - Circa 2010

DC Big Flea Market: November 7-8

The DC Big Flea Market hit town this past weekend. Rarely do I miss an opportunity to visit this show as it attracts some of the finest exhibitors on the east coast. I've made out like a bandit in the past and have scored some big ticket items.

I took photos of some of the more unique items. Forgive the quality as they were snapped with my iPhone.

This Paul McCobb drop-leaf dining table and chairs was in truly excellent condition, and a steal at only $550.00. Early 1960s.

This exhibitor has some really great vintage sporting equipment, collegiate pennants, etc. He also is the primary supplier to all of the Ralph Lauren stores in the U.S.

An amazing array of the most random crap ever. Not sure what to look at first.


Apparently the show was open all of twenty minutes before these two matching chairs were snapped up. Awesome.

Pyrex baking and casserole dishes in swell condition.

This guy always has the coolest collection of vintage adventure books for boys. 1930s - 1950s.

I really liked the compactness of this retro dining set, but the patterns are just hideous. It was a steal though at $150.00.

I love old globes and this one was in pretty good condition.

1964/65 New York World's Fair commemorative glass.

The packed show floor.

$3000.00 for a Superman lunchbox?

Jim Beam Corvette Stingray decanter.

Retro lighted tree toppers.

Miami Vice anyone? Definitely a conversation piece.

Retro-luxe picnic plates and cups.

Cool starburst wall clock. Not sure if it still worked.

This thing amazed me. As big as a hardbound book and about as heavy. It's amazing how much technology has changed. And Erol's.

Roy Rogers horse-drawn carriage.

Tiki glasses in near perfect condition.

The toy man.



Just a small sampling of the toy man's wares.

Superman pogo stick.

Vintage shoe shine bench.

The next show takes place January 9-10, 2010.

Saarinen and Spock: A Most Logical Pairing

After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.
--Spock

Finnish-born Eero Saarinen was classically trained in both sculpture and architecture. His early collaborations with fellow designer, Charles Eames, lead to his first designs of an organic armchair.

Saarinen was commissioned by the Knoll furniture company in 1956 to create a chair to match an existing dining room table. The Tulip Chair (above) was born. Often considered a classic of industrial design, the Tulip Chair won a series of prestigious awards, including the Museum of Modern Art Award in 1969.

Due to its space age appearance and modernist use of materials the Tulip Chair was also used as design inspiration for set pieces on the original Star Trek. The chair provides a most logical vantage point for Mr. Spock to pacify the oft hot-headed Captain. Don't you think?

Why do it the Hard Way? Rest Easy on a COSCO Stool!

COSCO Step Stool Project File (Week 2.1):

In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue,
It was a courageous thing to do
But someone was already here.

Speaking of which, it has only been two weeks but I am convinced that my COSCO Step Stool has been around forever. This project has dragged on entirely too long now and I am quite ready for it to be finished.

I took a trip out to the local Jo-Ann Fabrics today because I knew that they carried a pretty wide selection of vinyl coverings. I was in desperate need of assistance as this was my first attempt at reupholstering furniture, and the friendly sales clerk proved to be great.

I wanted to find a fabric that would elevate this chair to a new level of cool. It definitely needed a wow factor. I found an amazing red vinyl with embedded silver flecks - a throwback to 1950's dinerware. I then took all of my purchases back home for final reassembly.

Check it out...

I sort of knew how the pieces fit back together but was unsure which glues to adhere foam and fabric to metal. I ended up purchasing this bottle of Elmer's Craft Bond, figuring it should do the job pretty well.

I laid out the original vinyl over top the foam batting and cut to size (above).

I then used the spray glue to attach the foam to the metal seat (below).

I did the same for the vinyl fabric. I should mention that layering the vinyl was a very, very tricky task. This process took about two hours and required a lot of heating and stretching to fit the corners. I eventually gave up on using the fabric glue in favor of good old fashioned duct tape.

After reassembling the seat to the stool frame I used a little Armor All to clean up the original rubber steps.

But you don't care about any of that do you? Remember the before photo?

Now, here are the amazing results:

I think I'll pour myself a nice glass of scotch and admire my swingin' new chair!