Our journey of preserving a 1955 eichler home in south land park hills + telling the current state & past history of mid-century modern in the Sacramento, California region.
I grew up in Beaumont, CA, near Palm Springs -- where I spent a great deal of time in the late 60's and 70's. My love for modern and mid-century run deep.
I now live with my husband and two young children in Sacramento, CA. We have two mid-century modern homes, one of which is an Eichler.
Thanks for stopping by :) *clinking virtual martini*
Looking for some great vintage MCM gifts this holiday season? Buying vintage is good for the planet, you know: reduce, reuse and recycle! Even if you're like me and deck the halls with matzoh balls, Hanukkah is right around the corner -- so here are some great resources for you to consider:
Deco the Halls, December 4-5, 2010, in San Francisco. Reportedly the largest Deco and Modernism sale in the country. There will be 150 dealers, a vintage hat fashion show, an interesting lecture, and an exhibit of 20th Century purses. I've been to this show in the past and have enjoyed it. Bring your wallet!
Midway Antique Mall - the great folks at GoogieTime are using more space and have turned several areas into a mid-20th century haven. Be sure to stop by the Dean Martin room! And read this fantastic post by lovely and delightful Erin of Bows & Sparrows for more pix and intel.
Mimomito - Our pals at Mimomito have their fingers on the pulse of thrifty finds around town by vigilantly scouting out local shops, thrifts and scouring Craigslist -- so you don't have to! See their awesome post on Etsy finds under $100. Does it get any better than this? I think not.
Sacramento Antique Faire - coming up this December 12th. You can find a ton of interesting items under the Capitol City freeway every month. This last Spring, I found a couple of lunchboxes for our collection at the faire. Erin of Bows and Sparrows did a great write up on her website recently. Check it out.
Oh, and: Santa baby, a 54 convertible too, light blue.
If you made dinner at home, perhaps you would have picked up a turkey from American Poultry Company and some rolls from Muzio Bakery. If you forgot to pick up some candy or adult beverages, no worries -- Tower Drug is open *and* they deliver!
Perhaps you'll be heading over to Hughes Stadium for the City Championship Football Game between the C.K. McClatchy High Lions and the Sacramento High Dragons. (Spoiler alert -- the Lions won that year!)
Feeling like dining out? You have lots of choices around town. The menu at Rosemount Grill and Cocktail Lounge includes whole Pacific baby lobster. How about some roast domestic duckling at Hotel Sacramento? Baked Virginia Ham at the Hotel El Rancho as you enjoy music for dancing by Ernie Hecksher and His Orchestra? Not interested in the usual Thanksgiving fare? Boitano's has the usual stuff plus spaghetti raviolis. Don't know what time to bring your brood over for Thanksgiving Dinner? Bring 'em any time between 12 noon and 12:30 A.M. to Frasinetti's!
And -- don't forget to head to Downtown Sacramento to do your shopping the day after Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so I bid all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and leave you with a little piece of Thanksgiving in Sacramento, 1949. Let's take a trip in the way-back machine! "Places to take the family for Thanksgiving dinner":
Many familiar players here: The Chuck Wagon, Robert's Fish Grotto, Frank Fat's (the original location near the Capitol -- still in biz -- respect! Redo by Sacramento MCM architect Sooky Lee, I must add).
Sacramento County Historical Society is working to construct a full-sized animated circa 1910 holiday display. The display will be at the Roos-Atkins building, 1001 K Street, in downtown Sacramento (next door to the Crest Theatre). This building was designed by noted Sacramento architect Harry J. Devine, Sr. in 1946.
The premiere for the display is November 26 at noon. The display will remain operational until January 8, 2011. Detailed information can be found here.
The display will use the Gaffney Display Company animated figures used in the windows of Breuner's department stores for decades -- in a new display created by local artists. Here are some vintage scenes of the Bruener's displays via my Flickr pals (and real-life friends):
This outstanding home in South Land Park Estates was designed by Sacramento architect George Muraki around 1956 for his family. After being unjustly fired from the California State Department of Employment and interned with other Japanese Americans during WWII, Muraki became a prominent Sacramento region architect and Sacramento City Planning Commissioner.
This home features a central enclosed atrium that provides wonderful natural light. The current owners have updated this mid-century modern home into a comfortable family home that they share with their three children.
See more information and pictures about this home here.
You may recall my previous post on the planning process and before picture. Thanks to the great work of our friend and contractor, John DiDomenico, the bookcase looks awesome!
This bookcase is in our MCM ranch where we live -- up the hill from our Eichler neighborhood.
I happen to love the bookcase both ways -- with and without the color panels -- and think the flexible system is perfect for our needs. We can change them out or repaint them as we wish. We put a number on each panel so we know where it belongs in the sequence.
Right now we're enjoying this playful punch of color!
