Blushed: Pink Hues Within The Interior

February 9, 2018February 9, 2018 ~ Kristin ~ 2 Comments

Blushed. A word that references an unexpected pink rosiness to the cheeks in delightful response, so, too, does the infusion of pink fill interior spaces with unexpected delight. Blushed in pink. And can the color be layered in a modern, sophisticated appeal? Indeed it can. There is elegance in a color that nature paints its blooms. Perhaps with appreciation, this compilation of hues of blushed pink tones will showcase the timelessness of a color. With modern appeal, for certain…

Infusion of Color: Pink Hues In The Interior

As Winter’s barren effects and pure white snow surrounds, perhaps there is no month more appropriate than February to present a visual of blushed pink hues. A burst of pale color seems the perfect infusion.

Consider in appreciation the addition of pink to the world of interior spaces. Seasonless in style with perhaps a boldness even in its faded form. Pink is not for the timid yet its hue in our modern world of design offers an elegance of classic beauty with a modern edge. I’ll blush to that.

Onward,

Kristin

“Mistletoe Green” Within The Interior

December 19, 2017December 19, 2017 ~ Kristin ~ Leave a comment

Mistletoe Green Delights Within The Inter

Mistletoe green. Hues of deep, rich green that fill interior spaces are sure to delight with nature’s reference. Oh, and in the Winter these hues speak even stronger in velvets and painted walls. For the love of “Mistletoe green”. As a cultural reference being associated with Christmas as a decoration under which a kiss is kindly requested, the hues of mistletoe green gift our interiors with a color that is predominately missing when Winter settles in: Nature’s green. Yet to mimic the pines and the holly that still bear their branches through the winds of Winter’s chill, filling our interior spaces with green brings to life within the grandness of the natural forest green world that awaits its return. Hues of rich delight in emerald deep tones are timeless and classic within the interior. A compilation of striking greens, indeed…

Mistletoe Green Interior p 6

Mistletoe Green Hues Within The Interior

Forest Green: Deep Tones Within The Interior

Consider the beauty and simplicity with bold impact of deep green hues. Whether you deem the hues to be emerald green, forest green or the holiday nod to mistletoe green, the varied hues deserve appreciation when boldly gracing the interior. Onward in the richness and luxurious tones that nature provides. Hues that embellish our inner spaces with nature’s delight…

Onward,

Kristin

“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which it’s loveliness arrives”

The City Apartment…Smaller Spaces With Maximized Style

May 7, 2017May 7, 2017 ~ Kristin ~ 2 Comments

The city apartment. For those of us that have or currently dwell in apartments above a city…this collection of images is for you and for those whose aim is to take to the heights with a less-is-more approach to possessions. For me, perhaps reminiscing about one’s early days in the city is a worthwhile recollection. Memories of growth and independence, for certain. Without a doubt, one’s first city apartment surely holds memories of being “young, optimistic and resilient”. Perhaps when one looks back it is with an awareness that happiness was and is certainly not equated with the size of one’s space. Rather, personal style knows no limit by square footage. Personal style can truly begin from the humble first apartments that sit high above and amidst the city surrounds. At least, this was true for me. City havens that find our personality, that inspire our creativity and our inventive spirit to call the four walls we dwell within our personal perfection. The city apartment. High in style within a city and world that surrounds that is constantly moving.

Perhaps there is no other interior space that requires a “Less is more” approach (courtesy of architect Mies van der Rohe) to what surrounds than in the four walls of a city apartment. Of note, Mies van der Rohe adopted the motto “Less is more” to describe his “aesthetic of arranging necessary components of a building to create an impression of extreme simplicity. Every element and detail is to serve multiple visual and functional purposes”. Oh, so true when we look to our interiors. Large or small. Especially within the square footage of a city space. Perhaps it can also be said that filling such a space aligns itself as “the art of things chosen well rather than often”. Surrounding oneself with the things that have meaning and purpose and that are part of who we are today. Quality vs. quantity, indeed. Alas, less is more.

“Good style is good editing” – Thomas Jayne

Whether a small studio or a spacious, multi-room apartment with heightened ceilings, personal style pairs with purpose and function, scale and proportion. Each room presenting a clearly defined purpose with careful attention to space planning and arrangement of the furnishings that gain our permission to fill the space. For some, it is minimalism. For others it is filling a space with curated belongings collected through the years. Of course, editing is key in order to allow a space to feel more spacious while giving significance to the items that remain. Significance, the key word. It is said that the best rooms have a refinement of taste and that simplicity is the essence of style. Designer and novelist Edith Wharton (1862-1937) once said that “The supreme excellence is simplicity”. Oh, indeed. That said, the key to any interior is making the space you have work for you. Tailored to suit your lifestyle. Designing each room for maximum use while incorporating elements that reflect your personal interests and style within the space you reside within. Style & taste cannot be defined by the size of a room. Square footage does not matter. We only have the space we have…cheers to living with what is truly important, in stylish and refined form…

Collected images to inspire. May you find inspiration and appreciation for the city apartment. City love and city style, onward…

City Love: Interior Style With Smaller Spaces

City Style: Within 4 Walls Of A City Apartment

Personalized Spaces High Above City Streets

Interior Delights Of Personalized City Spaces

“A gem of a house may not be its size at all, but its lines are honest and its painting and window curtains in good taste”- Emily Post

Consider with appreciation the city apartment and the stylish spaces that do not require much square footage but simply personal style. Again, Style & taste cannot be defined by the size of a room. So to those that adore the city and the life within it, bravo to creating refined style in smaller spaces. Style cannot be limited by size. Onward in that…with style.

Onward,

Kristin

My 1st City Apartment: A Chicago Studio/ 1994

“My space is small. My life is big”.

Reflections….a personal visual homage to my first city apartment. A small studio off Lake Shore Drive in a vintage 3-story apartment building. A homage with a few excerpts of my written words while living in that space:

“It’s morning. The traffic of horns awoke me. The overcast Chicago sky provides enough daylight so that even the details of the tall ceiling with its double edged rim of white crown molding speak of the history, charm and simplicity of this studio of mine. The wood floor surrounding me shines with a golden glow. When my eyes focus on the walls before me and around me, I see the basic designs; the simple display of the pieces the comprise my life, as yet. A table holding a few silver photo frames. A lounge chair that makes a statement all its own. A bed that becomes a day bed by day. A pair of silver candlesticks on the mantle and candles below awaiting a match to alight the beauty of the marble hearth before them. Oh, the outlined form and subdued details of the fireplace in relief forms of dancing cupids outlining it in elegance. The wirework basket holding black and white matted photographs of architecture taken from behind my lens. The bathroom with its stemmed porcelain basin of white, tub and mirrored cabinets. Towels of pure white. The marble window ledge covered with silver bowls filled with lipstick and flanked by bottles of fragrance. Each part of this studio so close to my heart. The kitchen and its black and white checked floor with a wrought iron bistro table. The large window with a view of Lake Michigan and the traffic of Lake Shore Drive. The expansive window ledge where the coffee bodum awaits my morning brew. A simple black and white picture of New York City dotting the wall. Simplicity. Filled with all essential pieces to me. Basic and indispensible. Representing and defining who I am; who I have become. The closet, lined with cotton broadcloth and denim shirts and black blazers in a neat row. Stacks of sweaters, denim jeans and v-neck white tees on the shelf. A stack of books atop the built-in 3 chest drawer filled with essentials. The simple silver pull chain cord above for the closet light. The door. The mirror behind apartment 3G. What will I remember about this studio apartment of mine? It will always live on in spirit. None will be like this. A chapter in my life…” -Kristin Abrahamsen, Chicago 1994

Personal Details: The city Window/My Bathroom /1994

Beyond The “Pantry”: Kitchen Essentials On Display

February 19, 2017February 20, 2017 ~ Kristin ~ Leave a comment

The “Pantry”. Rethought, indeed. Not every home has the luxury of a separate room appropriately deemed as “The Pantry”. But alas, small spaces or kitchens that are void of a separate area to store the kitchen essentials of dining and culinary fares must creatively find storage to house the key items and surplus effectively.

“Let there be a place for every article, and when not in use let every article be in its place.”
-Mrs. Elizabeth Ellet, written in ‘The Practical Housekeeper’,1857

Of course, a brief history…
The actual word “Pantry” is termed as “a small room or closet in which food, dishes, and utensils are kept”. The word “pantry” comes from the Old French word “paneterie” derived from the latin word “Panis” and “pain” which is the French word for bread. In Medieval times food and supplies were stored in specific rooms and bread was stored in the “Pantry”. Who knew? Following this kitchen division, during the 17th and 18th centuries colonists in New England built rooms off kitchens for food storage called the “Buttery”. It was during the 1800’s, however, that the era of the “Butler’s Pantry” is said to have begun in England as well as America. The “Butler’s Pantry” was a small pantry between the kitchen and the dining room where china and silver were stored and meals were often plated. Elegance and luxury, indeed.

It is interesting to note that in American’s 1869 Catherine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote in their seminal, The American Woman’s Home, promoting the idea of bringing the pantry into the kitchen with the addition of more shelves and kitchen cupboards. However, that ingenious idea would not be utilized for nearly another century. As a departure from the pantry “room”, it was during the 1900’s the American wooden Hoosier cabinet would become an instant icon in American kitchen and serve as a pantry. Yet in the 1920’s and 1930’s the idea of a “breakfast nook” begins to replace pantries all together in kitchen design, furthering the merge of the pantry with the kitchen. Alas, the brilliant idea of Catherine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe would finally see its formation with extended cabinetry and cupboards in kitchens.

Indeed, the pantry as we know it today has certainly evolved to be housed in a myriad of forms. The pantry today is certainly utilized based upon the surrounds and space that we have within our personal interiors. Although the term “Pantry” includes food storage, it is the display of household basics, such as bowls, china, dishes, glassware and kitchenwares, that my focus is upon. Attractively on view. Whether on view behind glass cabinets, open and exposed shelving or hidden attractively behind a closet door in small spaces, the storage of pantry items can certainly be a creative endeavor that can bring an attractive visual appeal to one’s space. An organized ease of seeing one’s essentials and inspiration to use them more frequently, indeed.

Yet to reiterate, what is stored must be pertinent and essential. To store what is not necessary is simply using valuable square footage. Simply stated…

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak” -Hans Hofmann

Perhaps each year, when the urge hits us to “Spring Clean” after the blur of the holiday’s have passed, we have looked at our collections of dishes and kitchen wares and have realized that edits lie ahead. Yes, less is more. But in the world of culinary fare, there are those that loudly claim more is more. That said, organized, grouped and readily accessible those essentials will most certainly find more use and visual pleasure when attractively set before you. “On Stage”, indeed. Rethink. Edit. And attractively find a nook, a shelf or align those pantry shelves!

Inspiration awaits…onward!

Lined, Stacked & At-The Ready: The Pantry

Creative & Unexpected Storage Of Kitchen Essentials

Consider the “Pantry”. Whether you are creating a space with shelves or only have room for a simple rolling cart, find inspiration in how to use what you have. Since we only have the space that we have– maximize it! Rethink with an organized format with an attractive and visually appealing presentation, onward! You may just be inspired to entertain and enter the culinary world more often. Remember, edit first. Remove the unnecessary, so that the necessary may speak-And be used!

Cheers to organized entertaining ahead!

Onward,

Kristin

A New Year Celebration: 5 Years of House Appeal!

January 2, 2017January 2, 2017 ~ Kristin ~ Leave a comment

January 2012-January 2017: 5 Years Of House Appeal

Another milestone. 5 Years of a blog that began in January of 2012. 5 Years of sharing. Five years of compiling images. From behind my lens and sourced from the vast world of the internet. All with the continuing goal of delving deeper into creating a greater appreciation of what surrounds. Life is a gift. Attitude is destiny. Appreciation and gratitude is a worthy goal, indeed.

Thank you to each and every one of you that have stumbled upon this blog and have followed along on my journey of sharing and expounding on those things that comprise our world and our lives. With the intent of redefining appreciation for what surrounds us in all aspects of life. Awaiting our focus. Perhaps it is a greater awareness that brings furthered appreciation. For certain, in every moment there is something beautiful to focus on. Something to find appreciation for or merely gain a renewed appreciation upon connecting historical background. Renewed perspective. Life moves swiftly. What better goal in our daily lives than to look at the world closer. Ponder with appreciation what surrounds. Ponder what is beautiful, timeless and enduring…

It was in 2014 that I had deemed the word “Onward” as my mantra. In 2017 that word still holds true. A word that is defined as “In a continuing forward direction; ahead” and “going further than coming to an end or halt; moving forward”. Since 2012 my life has changed vastly. I made personal choices and decisions in 2015 that would change my life forever. Yet change is good. Deciding to make changes, no matter how difficult the journey through them, and actually following through with those decisions, is the key. When you know without any doubts that you are forging in the right direction, it is merely owning the challenges every step of the way. Moving forward. Moving onward. Never doubting yourself. That, therein, is personal growth. Onward, indeed.

So for a blog that covers the world of fashion, interior design, nature, life’s events and city inspirations…onward with the goal of inspiring with ponderings and inspirations of living a beautiful life. Although the blog posts have lessened, the desire to share has not faded. That passion will never fade.

Thank you for being a part of the journey thus far. Onward to inspire…

Onward,

Kristin Abrahamsen

“You must do the things you think you cannot do” – Eleanor Roosevelt

The Striking & Enduring Appeal Of Harwood Floors

November 13, 2016November 13, 2016 ~ Kristin ~ 2 Comments

Hardwood Floors: Distinctive Interiors With Wood Appeal

Hardwood flooring. Perhaps there is no other interior flooring that not only imbues floors with color and luster but also adds character, warmth and a spacious, visual appeal. Considered one of the most desired and treasured part of a homes décor, hardwood flooring seems to evoke interior richness with a timeless, classic appeal. If wood floors last a lifetime and gain character with age, for certain the newer hardwood flooring options of distressed and hand-scraped hardwoods also will also offer an appealing timeworn appearance.

Hardwoods can vary from blond to black, depending on the type of wood and the finish. Of course, hardwoods also vary in durability, grain patterns and color. The most common hardwoods for solid wood floors are red oak, white oak and maple. Preferred for their hardness and durability, oak, maple, and cherry are among the most common. However, exotic woods such as mahogany and Brazilian cherry are prized for their distinctive striking appearance over durability. Personal design choices, indeed. Of course then there is the style of the wood flooring. Narrow strips (that seem to create the illusion of space), wide boards (which can impart a rustic appeal) and the distinctive, geometric design of parquet floors (which are often found embellishing more formal interiors). All present different effects within an interior. Choices. For those of use fortunate enough to have original hardwood, with its timeworn appeal, we can merely relish its beauty and appeal within our own personal spaces. In a visual appreciation of hardwood flooring within the interior world, a compilation of collected images awaits…

Glistening Hardwood Flooring: Interior Delights

Hardwood Flooring Delights: Interior Spaces

Wood Flooring Finishes Within The Interior

Hardwood Distinction Within The Interior

Beautiful Interest Within The Interior: Hardwood Floors

Glossy And Visually Spacious: Hardwood Flooring

hardwood-floors-p-12 — Interior Appeal With Hardwood Flooring

Personalized Space: Atop A Vintage Wood Floor

Consider the beauty of wood flooring. Distinctive and timeless, the natural wood flooring surface will live on in the world of interior design. My personal love affair with wood floors has endured over time and will surely remain my coveted flooring of choice. For those that prefer the underlaying of carpeting, beauty can also be found in quality fibers underfoot. Yet for me it is the glossy and natural appeal of hardwood flooring that seems to present the perfect backdrop, along with the painted walls within an interior, which sets and presents the decoration of a space and personal display at its best. Onward in appreciation of hardwood floors within the interior. Whether old or new, wood endures with timeless distinction…

Onward,

Kristin

“Like the walls of a room, the floor is a background: It should not furnish the pattern, but set off whatever is placed upon it” – Edith Wharton

Studded Style: Classic Nailhead Trim In Interior Design

September 5, 2016 ~ Kristin ~ Leave a comment

Interior Appeal: Studded Embellishments Of Nailhead Trim

Nailhead trim. A timeless added detail and enduring element of furniture design that spans interior design. Dating back to the period of 1560-1643 with the arrival of what it referred to as French Country furniture era during the reign of Louis XIII in 17th Century France, nailhead trim on furnishings endures to appeal. Beyond a visual appreciation of the studded design of the nailhead and its embellishment to classically styled furniture, a nod to the past will certainly only broaden historical appreciation for a classic element that remains a constant in interior design today.

Historically, the use of decorative nailheads served as not just decorative form but in function in furniture making. Beyond a mere decorative trim, nailheads were used to hide areas where the upholstery was tacked into the wood frame of the furniture object. Who knew? Form and function. Nailheads would thus aid in holding the upholstery in place attractively. Decorative concealment in craftsmanship, indeed. Since the 15th and 16th centuries trims such as gimp (braided trim) would be used by the upholsterer in conjunction with decorative nailheads traditionally made of brass or copper. 17th century France used nailhead trim on the ornately carved wooden seating with period upholstery coverings such as brocade, velvet, tapestries and leather. A studded pattern of design that has never faded from the world of interior design…

France's Os de Mouton chair: Marked the Introduction Of Nailhead Trim — France’s Os de Mouton chair

The French Os de Mouton chair is the most well known design from the 17th century. The French word “Mouton” refers to sheep. Thus the shape of the chair legs suggests that they resemble the legs of a lamb. It is interesting to note that the arrival of this chair marked the beginning of upholstered backs and seats using nail head trim.

Beyond the French link to this hidden design of form and function in craftsmanship, designing with nailhead was favored with old Dutch, Spanish and English furnishings. During the 1800’s famed English furniture designer William Morris and the American designers Stickley Brothers during the 1900’s would also favor this medieval-style nailhead trimming with leather and Baroque tapestry. Designs from the past always inspire design through the decades. As with the nailhead trim, classics always endure. Although the use of nailhead trim is commonly linked use with leather-upholstered sofas, chairs and ottomans, the trim has since studded the world of interior design with modern yet timeless appeal. Both classic and modern takes on this timeless trim are certain to inspire…

Nailhead Embellishments: Interior Delights Of Classic Appeal

Studded With Classic Details: Nailhead Trim

Stylized In Classic & Modern Appeal: Nailhead Trim

Studded Appeal In Interior Design: Nailhead Trim

Nailhead Inspiration: Patterned In Classic Style

Consider the patterned distinction of nailhead trim. Patterns in nailheads have gone far in decorating our interior spaces in the decades that have followed since the 15th century. With timeless appeal the decoration of nailhead trim will certainly remain an embellishment in interior design. Timeless style with modern inspirations within the interior, indeed. Accentuating lines of design with sophistication, the nailhead trim design will endure to add visual interest and distinction to the surfaces of our interiors that it embellishes. Onward in enduring classic design.

Onward,

Kristin

First Impressions: The Entry Table

June 20, 2016June 20, 2016 ~ Kristin ~ Leave a comment

The entry table. A statement of its own, it is part of the first impression of the personal style of the home. A focal point, indeed. Providing options for display and self expression, the entry table grounds the space. The view from the entry matters not. Whether a sweeping staircase is on view or the table merely resides inside a small hallway, personal style and distinction paired with function is added to the space. The entry itself may be a small space, yet it is an important space. Leading guests inside one’s home to experience the interior and the architecture found within, the entry and its table is key in providing a first impression that is vital from a guest’s perspective. After all, a functional entryway that is stylized to match the personality of the home’s decorator engages those that enter and may even cause a wish to linger…

A foyer (fwa.je in French) is described as a large, specially designed hall or corridor surrounding a main hall. Yet a hall that is furnished large enough to accommodate those that gather and enter within. In a home, the foyer is usually a small entry area of room, near the front door, and often near a main stairway. Of note, the “foyer” was initially intended as an “airlock” space separating the heated, rooms kept warm with fireplaces, from the cold weather elements exposed from the front door. Serving as “A bridge between public and private spaces”, indeed.

The elegant, formal and notable entry foyer may have gone in and out of fashion with the world of changing design, yet its initial purpose and function with its formality will never fade from timeless design. The elegance of ushering in quests into the foyer will never loose its appeal. The entry is never a wasted space, but holding a grandness and elegance that will always live on in the world of construction and design. Yet if the world you reside within is missing this grand formal entryway, a wall is simply all you need. Create the state. In style. The options are many, the style is yours. Own it boldly and present to the world the unique version of you. At the current moment. For as time evolves, we do, too. Onward in creating a personal statement….

Visual Appeal: The First Impression Entry Table

A Timeless Fixture Of Function: The Entry Table

Entry Table: Purpose & Function With Stylish Display

Entries: The Useful & Decorative Entry Table

Visual Appeal At The Entry: The Entry Table

Colorful & Bold Appeal: The First Welcome; The Entry Table

First Impressions Of Welcoming Impact: The Entry Table

The Entry & Its Focal Point: The Entry Table

Rethink how your entry is on display to those that enter its domain. How you layer and stylize your entry table is personal. Again, form and function. Yet decorating the foyer with an accessorized entry table of personal style will certainly add appeal. Whether a true foyer or a simple hallway with a doorway, it is more than a space that you simply pass through on your way to somewhere else in a home. It is the first impression. The first and last. Make it welcoming. Make it your statement. Personal style, indeed.

Onward,

Kristin

Checkered in Classic Style: Gingham Fabric

April 19, 2016April 20, 2016 ~ Kristin ~ 4 Comments

Checks Of Classic & Modern Appeal: Gingham

Gingham. The pattern that never seems to fade. Granted, its appearance and reappearance into fashion proves that it is an enduring classic of crisp and fresh appeal. Fashion evolves and styles change, but the timeless checked pattern of distinction will always thread through fashion’s world. A classic pattern that returns with a fresh, modern spin, once again. Referring to “Striped cotton”, this timeless and classic pattern typically consists of “medium yarns in varying qualities and woven of plan cotton fibers”. Originally, gingham was a bright colored stripe. Who knew? Gingham evolved into the check pattern that has brought it to its iconic and classic status.

Ranging from medium to light weight and from very small to very large checked patterns, The iconic coloring and pattern is a balanced pattern, with no right or wrong side, since the fibers are colored before they are woven together. Gingham is most common in blue and white yet gingham would eventually gain its acclaim as a red and white pattern of delight. Of course, there are other colors that have arrived to the forefront that echo the classic checked style. And of this pattern of checked style? A look to the past…

The Iconic "Wizzard Of OZ" Gingham Dress — Judy Garland & The Iconic “Wizzard Of OZ” Gingham Dress

Perhaps the iconic blue gingham dress worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy from the Wizzard Of Oz remains as the most poignant American link to this checkered blue pattern. Yet this patterned fabric that has endured through time to transcend style that would include the mod 1960’s appeal and beyond, deserves a look back. To appreciate this classic pattern that appears in fashion archives since its inception in the world of textiles, a brief background of the pattern of checks….

During the 16th century gingham fabric was manufactured within the Dutch-colonized Malaysia and Indonesia, which excelled in their use of rich, color fast textile dyes that would produce textiles like gingham that wove bright colors through the fabrics. This checked pattern, known as “Malay ginggang”held the meaning of “With space between, hence striped”. It is believed that the term Gingham was introduced to the English language by both Dutch and French traders in 1615. Yet having claim to the word “Gingham”, evidence links that the Italians and Indonesians may have also had a part in the name that stems from the same root, meaning “Striped”.

During the 17th century this brightly colored textile of striped cotton-weave fabric was widely exported to Europe and colonial USA from India and Indonesia through the East India Trading Company. In the mid-18th Century, England’s textile mills produced the checked gingham cotton fabric using imported cotton and dyes. In fact, Manchester, England was the center of gingham fabric production. It is stated that there were 108 cotton mills in Manchester at the peak of its industrial boom. That is quite a lot of gingham to satisfy the rage of fashion’s call. Fabric of fashionable style, indeed. In America, cotton mills were also established to produce the fabric that was “All the rage” across Europe and in the United States- gingham!

Perhaps Gingham, which has links and symbolism to youth and nostalgia, will continue to evolve in fashion and in style within the 21st Century. What is certain is that although it may appear to go “in and out” of fashion, classics never fade. Always to return, the patterned print of checks will always find its way to fashion’s forefront…

One cannot mention gingham without the mention and visual nod to Brigitte Bardot. In 1959 Bardot married Jacques Charrier in Paris. Donning a wedding dress of pink and white gingham designed by couturier Jacques Estérel, Bardot made the French Vichy pattern highly fashionable with worldwide appeal. She is even said to have nearly single-handedly brought French glamour to the classic gingham pattern. Of course!

Brigitte Bardot (France/1959) Bedecked In Gingham

Another nod to the past of checked style…Gingham and Hollywood united and icons and stars such as Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn and other icons of style, such as First Lady Jackie Kennedy, would don the checked pattern of stylish fashionable statements.

Vintage Appeal: Gingham & Its Fashionable Past

Audrey Hepburn: Adorned In A Checked Pattern Classic

Marilyn Monroe & Jane Fonda: Gingham Appeal Of Hollywood Style

Fashion's Gingham: Evolution Of Style — Fashion’s Gingham: Evolution Of Style

Icons & Fashion's Appeal: Gingham — Icons & Fashion’s Appeal: Gingham

Fashion's Gingham: Always A Classic — Fashion’s Gingham: Always A Classic

Gingham Style: Magazines & Fashion's Style — Gingham Style: Magazines & Fashion’s Style

Modern Appeal: Gingham & Fashion's Fresh Perspective — Modern Appeal: Gingham & Fashion’s Fresh Perspective

Super Model Gingham: Enduring Style In A Classic Pattern

Fresh Appeal: The Modern Take On Gingham

Moden Gingham: Fashion's Evolution Of A Classic Pattern — Moden Gingham: Fashion’s Evolution Of A Classic Pattern

Gingham Style: Colorful & Vivid Checked Appeal

Timeless Blue & White Checked Fashion: Gingham

The "Guess" Models In Gingham — The “Guess” Models In Gingham

Of course, the dapper man bedecked in classic gingham… a visual nod of appreciation, indeed…

The world of entertaining and grand events of life are not without the inclusion of this checked pattern of timeless style. Checked style of celebratory appeal endures…

Gingham Style : The Dapper Groom & Groomsman

Entertaining Bliss In Checked Style: Gingham Delights

Of course, a visual appreciation of gingham outside the world of fashion and into the world of the interior. Gingham is certainly a statement of bold appeal when found within the interior. Interior, appeal, for certain…

Vivid Appeal In Checked Style: Gingham Interiors

Consider the classic pattern of checks. Whether it is a modern take on the timeless fabric pattern that adorns our fashionable world, embellishes events and celebrations or boldly proclaims itself within our interiors, gingham is worthy of appreciation. Now a modern classic with a historied past, indeed…

Onward,

Kristin

“The fabric of existence weaves itself whole” -Charles Ives

A Modern Classic: Milo Baughman’s 1960’s “Cube Chair” & Designs Of Enduring Impact

March 12, 2016March 13, 2016 ~ Kristin ~ Leave a comment

Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin: chrome lounge chair 951: 1968 T-Back Chair

A Milo Baughman Design Classic: The 1968 Cube Lounge T-Back Chair

“Contemporary is that which is stylish; modern is a set of principles”
– Milo Baughman

“Good design is enduring design” – Milo Baughman

A Pioneer In Modern Design: Milo Baughman (1923-2003)

Timeless modern. Milo Baughman (Milo Ray Baughman, Jr, 1923-2003) was a pioneer in modern design and a leader in late 20th Century modern furniture design. An iconic American designer, indeed.

Of course, the history of design always begins with the history of the designer…with appreciation of the links to the past which brings forth classic American modern style…

If design begins at an early age, for Milo Baughman, at the age of 13 it certainly did. As a young man, Baughman was assigned the task of designing both the interior and exterior of his family’s new house in Southern California. Imagine. A young, inspiring designer, indeed. While serving in the Army Air forces during World War II, Baughman continued with interior skills in designing officer’s clubs. For certain, design followed his path. After the war he returned to Southern California to study product and architectural design at the Art Center School of Los Angeles and at Chouinard Art Institute, which would later become the California Institute of the Arts. Baughman’s career would then lead him to design as an interior and custom furniture designer at the Frank Brothers furniture store, the first west coast all-modern specialty store until 1947. The world of American Modern design was emerging and Baughman was certainly a part of it.

Beginning in the mid-1940s until his death his death in 2003, his modern sensibitilties were brought forth in designs for various furniture companies. In 1947 “Milo Baughman Design Inc.,” was established. Baughman would soon be commissioned to design for Glenn of California and Pacific Iron. Baughman is credited at helping to place these companies at the forefront of a new California modernist design movement. The “California Modern” collection created for Glenn of California in 1948 used walnut, iron and formica and “put forth a distinctive Los Angeles style”. Baughman would design for many companies including Mode Furniture, The Inco Company, Arch Gordon, Design Institute America, George Kovacs, Directional, Henredon, Drexel, Thayer Coggin, Inc. and the Murray Furniture. Of note, the “The Milo Baughman Collection” of 1952 for Murray Furniture of Winchendon, Massachusetts, included Baughman’s 1948 desk design for Winchendon which would be included in the Whitney Museum 1985 exhibition “High Styles: Twentieth Century American Design”,” in New York City. For certain, credible appreciation of great style. In 1987, Baughman was honored even further with the induction into the the Furniture Hall of Fame.

Between 1951-1952, amidst Baughman’s design commissions, he and his wife at the time, Olga Lee, opened the Baughman-Lee Showroom, a custom design shop in Los Angeles, offering their services as interior consultants. Lee contributed hand printed fabrics, wallpaper, lamps and accessories to embellish Baughman’s furniture designs. Of interest, both Milo and Olga offered their services as interior consultants. Certainly an acknowledgement that design is a constant.

Yet of all of the associations with furniture design companies Baughman designed for, including himself, it is his association with Thayer Coggin, Inc. that Baughman is most acclaimed for. From 1953 until Milo’s death in 2003 the 5o year association of Milo Baughman and Thayer Coggin would bring forth to the world of interior design a timeless modern style with excellence of craftsmanship.

Milo Baughman & Thayer Coggin: Design & Craftsmanship United

A furniture manufacturer with a commitment to high quality and style (based in North Carolina and founded in 1953), Milo was commissioned to design the first line for Thayer’s collection of upholstered furniture. Thayer Coggin paired strikingly with the design vision of clean and modern designs of Milo Baughman to create American contemporary furniture that would endure as iconic modern design that still appeals today. Together they would collaborate on designs, engineering and manufacturing techniques that would in time credit them with the honor of creating a design category in residential furniture that is said to define the Mid-Century modern era of American residential furniture. Original design classics, indeed.

“Milo Baughman and Thayer Coggin worked together to define a classical era of modern furniture in America.
– Mrs. Royale Coggin Wiggin, Thayer Coggin President

“In a way, Thayer and Milo got their start together. Milo came here when the company was in its organizational stage. Thayer was looking for a designer and their relationship began with a handshake agreement.”
-Dot Coggin, Thayer’s wife and spokeswoman

As great style endures, it is wonderful to note that “Thayer Coggin, Inc. and the estate of Milo Baughman have entered into a lifetime licensing agreement, so that the design classics of Milo Baughman would forever be appropriately built by Thayer Coggin, according to their original specification”. Custom made to order and handcrafted by master craftsman by a family owned an operated company still headquartered in High Point, North Carolina. Great quality and style endures. Baughman is said to have achieved a look that is uncompromisingly modern, but which “never violates the timeless standards of classic good taste” (www.thayercoggin.com).

Of course, a nod to the vintage print advertisements that herald great style...

Vintage Print: The United Forces Of Milo Baughman & Thayer Coggin

Milo Baughman & Thayer Coggin: Design & Craftsmanship Of Modern Appeal

T-Back Cube Chair: A Milo Baughman Classic

Milo Design Classic (1966): Modern & Enduring Appeal

And of the chairs of distinctively modern Milo Baughman style….a visual appreciation of enduring design, indeed…

Milo Design Classic/1966: Interior Appeal

Modern Mix Of Interior Appeal: Milo Design Classic (1966)

A Design Classic Of Timeless Modern Appeal: Milo Baughman

Cubed Effect Of Open Appeal: Modern Design Of Milo Baughman

Open Appeal Of Modern, Timeless Design: Milo Baughman

Milo Baughman: Modern & Enduring Style With Chrome

Vintage Print Advertising: Milo Baughman & A Modern Mix

It is interesting to note that in his later years, Baughman would lecture and write on the benefits of how great design impacts the lives of human beings and the state of modern design. It is said that his lectures have defined and shaped the very discussion of those aspects for years to come.

“Furniture that is too obviously designed is very interesting but too often belongs only in museums” – Milo Baughman

Consider with appreciation the modern, yet timeless appeal of Baughman’s designs. The “relaxed and timeless quality” of Baughman’s uniquely American and trendsetting designs were and remain highly influential, modern and distinctive and will certainly endure and will continue to be reinvented and revived. An evolution of design, for certain. The “uncompromisingly modern” appeal that Milo offered still holds to the timeless standards of classic good taste. With the design philosophy that furniture should enhance the atmosphere of the space and improve the quality of life, Baughman’s impact lives on. His mastery of creating relaxed residential furnishings and his use of beautiful wood veneers & burled wood, glass, chrome, and lacquer and successfully combining those mediums paired with details and shapes of great design still appeal and offer a modern classic style…

Onward,

Kristin

Milo Baughman's Modern & Timeless Appeal — Milo Baughman’s Modern & Timeless Appeal

“When I left Art Center, I thought Modern design would change the world. Now, I no longer have such lofty hopes, but perhaps the world is just a bit better off because of it. In any event, good Modern has already proven to be the most enduring, timeless and classic of all design movements“- Milo Baughman

“With an ongoing interest in 1950s and 1960s design, a lot of my work has been reintroduced and been very well-received. Increasingly, architects are using these mid-century classics from the pioneer producers of this period. I understand because I admire these as well, but it’s a bit unfortunate for current designers with new interpretations of Modern. Going back to the ‘classics’ is playing it safe, which limits opportunities for new concepts in design”- Milo Baughman

Design, Onward….