Mad For Mid Century

If you're a Mid Century product of Florida, like me, you probably grew up in what's fondly known as a "ranch style house".  Our friends over at Wikipedia define the ranch abode as " a domestic architectural style  originating in the United States. The ranch house is noted for its long, close-to-the-ground profile, and minimal use of exterior and interior decoration. The houses fuse modernist ideas and styles with notions of the American Western period working ranches to create a very informal and casual living style."   In addition to the above, the Florida ranch house  usually came in pastel colors with what we call a "Florida room".  This is kind of like a family room with lots of windows. 

Modern Living Room design by Atlanta General Contractor Cablik Enterprises

 Although not as grand as the house above, my childhood home shared several elements.  Our Florida Room ceiling had a similar wood treatment and it also had a stone feature wall.  We had lots of green and brown and that EXACT furniture.  The authentic flooring would have been terrazzo, like ours.  I never knew it was cool then but now it's all the rage.  Think about it, there are lots of these houses still around!  Mid-Century has firmly established its niche in design history and has left its mark on our culture.  We've got MadMen, Modernism Magazine, the website Atomic Ranch and numerous blogs. If you're looking for that 50s vibe in the kitchen, keep it simple.  Door styles were just flat and were either a warm wood finish or painted.  Guess what? Wall ovens with a separate cook top were much more common in the typical Mid Century kitchen.  Today most homes have ranges.Throw in a little atomic patterning and you're there.  If you are really embracing this you can get the vintage look for your refrigerator.Elmira Stove Works has introduced the latest addition to its retro Northstar collection, the French-door refrigerator.  By combining iconic 1950s-style with the modern amenities of contemporary appliances, this new model is larger capacity than previously available in the line.  It comes in a full-depth model as well as counter-depth.  You don't have to get red.  It comes in nine standard colors OR you can even get it custom-colored (for a price, I'm sure). 

The Gilded Age Amidst The Palms

UPDATE 1/24/13 After I wrote this post, local reporter Christine Davis delivered some very interesting and  juicy tidbits regarding Whitehall! Here's what she had to say:

Mary Lily (Henry's wife)  supposedly moves plates around, so a guide told us once. The story goes she was poisoned! You can read an intriguing account of that theory here.

There's another bizarre story about her that is always denied. It has to do with her being "kept" by Flagler before they were married.  From what I remember when I was doing the research, the guy who reported this killed himself.  He wasn't taken seriously, although it was said he was a serious historian.  I can't remember his name. I asked Mr. Ponce about both incidences. he said his dad was an undertaker so he doesn't believe in ghost stories, and he said Flagler would never had put Mary Lily up at the Seagull Cottage.   It was on the lawn of the hotel, and far too visible. He says it just would not have been done...I recently enjoyed a fabulous blog post by the talented Linda Merrill of Surroundings.  Through her blog, she can show you homedecor and make you feel like you’re right there in the house! In this particular post she featured famous homes of the Gilded (Downton Abbey) Age. Read her post here.   With a nod to her, I thought I’d give you a little taste of the Gilded Age, Palm Beach style!  It has been ages since I visited Whitehall a.k.a. The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach.  So, in keeping with my new year’s resolution to infuse KFL with some local flavor, I give you Whitehall.Whitehall was constructed in Palm Beach in 1902 by Oil magnate Henry Flagler as a wedding present for his third wife Mary Lily Kenan (37 years his junior ;).  It sits on the banks of the Intracoastal across the street from our famous Breakers Hotel which is located on the ocean side.  Besides being massive, this private home boasted modern plumbing and electricity.  In fact, Thomas Edison was one of the original electrical contractors! (And you thought he just sat around in his workshop and played with light bulbs.) Whitehall also supposedly had the only telephone located in the Master Bath! This is a story of  the neauveau riche.  Flagler, born in 1830, was the son of a minister who was savvy enough to partner with John D. Rockefeller and Samuel Andrews to found Standard Oil.  Voila a bazillionaire is born!  He also established the Florida East Coast Railroad with train service from Jacksonville to Key West.  Incidentally, when approached, Mr. Rockefeller wanted nothing to do with the project, “Why build a railroad for a bunch of mosquitoes?” he said!  Good thing Henry didn’t listen. You could say he fathered the tourism industry in Florida by making our corner of Paradise accessible.  Speaking of accessible, once you got here, the only means of transportation on the island were boats and something called a bicycle chair.  I really wanted to show you the kitchen but sadly it did not survive the transition from home to hotel to Museum.   Mr. Flagler was a patron of young unknown artists and actually founded an artist colony in St. Augustine.  So much of the art found in Whitehall is the product of this venture. 

 Here's what it says below the photo: "Glimpses of the Flaglers' loving relationship are recorded in personal letters and candid photographs.  This ca. 1909 photo was taken by the Whiteall's resident organist, Arthur Spalding, who spent a lot of time with the couple and recorded many details of their private life."  Kind of creepy if you ask me, no?The second floor was devoted to private living space for the Flaglers as well as guests and staff.  In addition to the Master Suite there were originally 14 guest bedrooms, 13 servants rooms, 17 bathrooms and Mrs. Flagler's sitting room (yes you had to have one of those). 

After the Flaglers' deaths, a relative sold the estate to investors who built a large addition and turned it into the Whitehall  Hotel in 1925. By 1959 things weren't going so well.  The tourism industry was booming but there were also, by this time, many  hotels and resorts competing for the business.  It was at this time that Henry Flagler's granddaughter, Jean Flagler Matthews purchased the property and opened the The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Inc., a nonprofit corporation.  It has been open to the public since 1960.

 

Here's a link to that book

Upon exiting the estate we came upon the Flagler Kenan Pavilion featuring Flagler's private railcar, a.k.a. Railcar No. 91. He traveled in this car down to Key West via his Overseas Highway in 1912 to celebrate its completion.

Thanks for taking this little Sunday afternoon tour with me!  If you'd like more info on The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Inc., click here.     

ARCHITECT OF THE STARS STILL SHINES

I admit it.  I'm an NPR junkie.  From Morning Edition to All Things Considered in the afternoon.  I get my daily dose of news, arts and culture from Public Radio, mostly while I'm on the road.  Once in a while it's really really good.  That happened  this week.  I caught a story (here) about an architect who I'd never heard of,  Paul R. Williams.Perhaps if you live in, or have lived in, Los Angeles you have.  His work is not only notable and impressive but his story is also inspiring and intriguing to say the least.  Mr. Williams was black and he was an architect at a time when those two just did not go together.  In fact he was the first member of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) west of the Mississippi.  His grand daughter Karen Hudson has recently written a beautiful book, Paul R. Williams: Classic Hollywood Style   , about his life and projects replete with  foreword by reigning Hollywood design diva Kelly Wearstler.In one word Williams' style could be described as "diverse" or maybe "eclectic".  In any case, his work appears in both commercial structures such as The Beverly Hills Hotel as well as in around 2000 homes in and around the Los Angeles area.His designs range from Spanish Colonial Revival and English Tudor to Mid-Century Modern.  Known for spectacular entryways and grand curving staircases, the single element present in all his work was a unparalleled  attention to detail, whether he was designing a Hollywood mansion or a housing project.    Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1894, orphaned by the age of 4, he was a product of his inherent positive out look on life as well as a bit of luck.  Although one could argue that he created much of that luck himself.Williams is often referred to as the architect of the stars and he was.  He designed homes for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant among others. The irony is that at this time, early to mid-century, he was prohibited by law from even staying overnight in many of the neighborhoods he worked in.  In his mind, he felt his designs were opening the doors for future generations.  Williams developed a handy knack for rendering upside down.  This was so, being a black man,  he could sit across rather than next to prospective clients!  Despite these hardships he left his mark and he left his gifts as a legacy and reminder of how anything is possible. 

TROPICAL MEETS TRADITIONAL

 Here in my little corner of South Florida the pendulum has swung , of late, to more contemporary designs in the kitchen.  This means less ornate with clean lines.  I love it but I realize it's not for everyone.  What if your whole house is more classic and traditional?  Your kitchen should always work with the architecture and theme of your home.  This is exactly the case with a job I am working on now.  This Florida home has a kitchen open on two sides, the dining room and the family room.  Here's what it looks like now.She's selected appliances which are slightly different and will be integrated into the new plan.  Because the kitchen is smack dab in the center of the home there is not much natural light, so no dark finishes.  We have about 95" to the soffits.  Last but not least, because the kitchen is so open and visible we need WOW!If you blend the tropical locale of this beautiful home with its traditional decor you find that  British Colonial or Bermuda Style is the perfect solution.  During the reign of  Queen Victoria, British subjects stationed in the British Colonial outposts of the Empire that included Singapore, East Africa, India and the British West Indies, brought with them their language, principles of government, architecture and furniture. There was just one little issue, climate.  Certain details had to be modified to accommodate the heat!  Some of these details were the use of light airy fabrics, lots of  big tall windows and high ceilings.  In addition to this they had to take advantage of local resources like mahogany, cane and bamboo.  So here's what we're gonna do!1) MOVING ON UP- We're going to remove the soffits so we can take advantage of the  high ceiling.2) LET THERE BE MORE LIGHT-  We're going to add lights above cabinets, wherever possible and more efficient fixtures in the ceiling and under the upper cabinets.  Cabinets will be a combination of medium and light stains with some cane detailing. 3) X MARKS THE SPOT-  You will frequently see the X motif as a part of the BC style so we are incorporating it into the design.4) A LUSH TROPICAL ISLAND- This tropical island has to grow.  We have the space to make it bigger and more funtional but we don't have the space to add the columns or legs that would make it look like a piece of furniture.  Instead we'll raise it off the floor and add some furniture feet and moulding.5) CROWNING DETAILS- Nothing says traditional like crown molding, columns and pilastersSee  a working elevation below.  Notice with the X detail, less is more equals WOW.  We're still fine tuning the details but I'll Keep you posted!  

NAUTICAL ZEN KITCHEN

Ta daaaaa!  Another beautiful kitchen is complete, and yes it’s white with Shaker doors.  Surprise!  Not.  There were two main challenges about working in this home.  First of all the architecture is very unique and is an integral part of the space.  It’s comprised of posts and beams, angles and open lofts which remind me of a ship.  The second challenge was a lack of unity with way too much going on visually.  The existing kitchen had three different types of counter tops, two different types of cabinets and more stuff than space.  In addition, hinges and drawer slides were failing and paint was chipping.The homeowners came equipped with the most valuable of traits, an open mind.  They were willing to see their kitchen and laundry area in a new way.  Every step of the design process we would ask ourselves “does this unify and simplify”?  Think “nautical zen”!First off I decided to make peace with the posts and beams.  The layout remained the same and we didn’t even change the door style or color!  What we did was improve the fit and function.  Using all white counters unified the space and allowed the blue granite back splash to be the star of the show.  Here are some “before” pix and “after” solutions which will pave the way for smooth sailing in this new kitchen.

          

SANCTUARY IS ASIAN, ARCHITECTURAL & AWESOME!

So here I am.  It's another hump day.  I'm checking the email under the delusion that I will catch up with my inbox when BAMMM I get this awesome press release from Ad-Maven Lori Dolnick of Frank Advertising.  Wowser!   I LOVE this new cabinet hardware collection, Sanctuary,  by Top Knobs, Inc.  It's modern, Asian, architectural and everything I long for (almost).   You can see the whole line and download a catalogue of your very own here.  Just one question, where can I get that door?   Isn't it stunning?  I'm going to have to put Brendan to work on it.  It looks like a must have for our new showroom.