Nov 17, 2011

The Prairie Barn




I know, I know - hardly mid century.  But there is nothing more beautiful, more elementally modern in both form and ornament than a prairie barn.  A collection from my travels in Alberta the last few months. 

CPR barn - near Vulcan

patchwork barn - Mile 34

raise the roof - near Milo

barn exoskelton - Mercoal


red barn (1918) - near nowhere 


log barn - near Edson


CPR barn - near Champion

griege barn - near Vulcan



ventilated barn - near nowhere


bird's barn - near Milo

arched barn - near Evansburg

barn face (see it?) - near Carmangay


LP

Nov 13, 2011

Speaking of Time Warps

I'm finally getting out of my time warp and have started Tweeting (my mom taught me how last night). I'm sure I will be a complete nimrod starting out so please be patient. 


I was out for dinner last night at Cassis Bistro in Calgary (which is divine) and was thinking I should tweet it, but couldn't figure it out on my phone.  Sigh... I'll get the hang of it. 


Find me at mcmcalgary


LP

Nov 11, 2011

Let's do the Time Warp Yeah...

I have a bad case of the 'newies' right now.  Every house we've gone into lately is new or recently renovated with thoughtful space planning with the perfect shade of gray on the walls.  I find myself dreaming about how nice it would be to have an open concept main floor, or proper lighting in the living room, taps that don't drip, a basement without Egyptian-themed wallpaper and a bathroom I'm proud to show off (curses to you, El Pinko).


My biggest frustration with restoring a house right now is the time warp factor.  I've consciously resisted painting the fir wood panelling in the living room  and the trim in the bedrooms in order to preserve the original character of the house.  We've even held onto the nautical themed light fixtures in the hallways.  (Apparently the original owners owned a property on a lake).  Add to that my obsession with thrifting... 


Regardless, whether new or old, every single thing that is brought through my slightly obnoxious nuclear yellow door, is time warped back to 1950.  And not this 1950... 


 Cocktail Hour at the Spencer Residence in Santa Monica (1950) (Julius Schulman)


Yah, this one looks about right... 


1954 Interior (Midcentury Home Style)
So I'm officially torn.  Do we tear down some walls, paint out some trim?  If we try to keep what we have, what can we do to make it less oh so 50 years ago? 


LP