I recently bought a vintage copy of the Ladies Home Journal Book on Decoration off of Etsy, copyright 1959. It’s always humorous to peruse a tome such as this because (A) a lot of it is really good, and (B) a lot of it is really bad.
The badness is pretty funny. Take this quote:
It’s been a long time since ashtrays were considered “necessary” accessories. In fact, I challenge you to try and even find an ashtray on store shelves anymore. I tried to find one for a client last year and had to resort to hitting a head shop because I didn’t have time to rummage around a bunch of vintage stores. They’re practically a relic.
Although I kind of like the drama of this room, how funny to see twin beds sharing a single headboard. I mean, if you’re going to shove the beds together, why not just get the king-sized mattress and save yourself the hassle of double bed-making work?
Who among you can look at these Dutch doors and not think, “I-I-I am Mis-ter Ed”?
I see this and think, you couldn’t find one other fabric you liked?
If this closet didn’t slap you awake every morning, I don’t know what would.
I’m divided on this shot. On the one hand: creepy clown doll and frumpy bedskirts. On the other hand: PB Teen-like lounge cushions and mod storage/display units. I can’t quite figure out the age of the person who’s using the space…
Love this bed+nightstand, but seems awfully “table for one.”
I guess everything’s better when built-in, as in these built-in side tables with storage:
I’m digging on the palette here:
Quoting the book, “Japanese lanterns, long an established and delightful feature of alfresco evening entertainment, have now come indoors to add a piquant note to the casual and informal room.”
Très piquant!
Here’s a sweet little breakfast area:
Seems like every mid-century kitchen had green cabinets, no?
Fun!
My great aunt used to keep stacks of 50s-early 60s magazines in the bunkhouse at her cabin. I have lots of memories of paging through those magazines and listening to the creek that the buildings fronted. That would have been in the 70s which apparently, to my horror, has become another quaint era.