One of the iconic features of Mid Century Modern homes is decorative concrete block.  Because the block was not structural, it was typically used for privacy screen walls rather than as part of the home itself.  The blocks had an open design so they allowed air and light to pass through while providing privacy and decoration to the space.  Below are examples of the block designs and their applications.  Some of the block styles are still available through Superlite Block, among others.

It's common during divorce proceedings to sell the family home and furniture to pay off debts, so you may end up going from a large house to a small apartment.  Or you may be lucky enough to keep your home, but it just doesn't look or feel the same with half the belongings removed.  Several sites have suggestions on how to proceed.  Step One:  Discover your true style.  From there, you can create a home that identifies who you are--your personality, your likes, your hopes & dreams.  By jumping right to this step, you won't fall into "reaction" decorating.  You know, like "my ex hates orange so I'll paint every room orange".  Choose colors, patterns, and textures that speak to you.  Don't worry about what's trending or what someone else might think, just pick what you like.  Step Two:  Start with the bedroom.  It's important to turn the space into your own private sanctuary, starting with amazing new bedding and, if the budget allows, a new bed.  Do your other rooms one at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed.
 

Serious coffee lovers are now setting up coffee stations in their homes.  Here are a few tips for setting one up:  1) Choose the room--if you only have coffee in the morning while you're getting ready for work, set up the station in your bedroom.  If you drink coffee throughout the day, set up a station in or near the kitchen.    2) Choose your  coffee machine--coffee makers have come a long way since Mr. Coffee.  You can still use a standard drip machine, a manual pod machine, or, if you really want to treat yourself, get an automatic coffee machine that will take care of everything for you, including cleaning itself.   3)  Consider your water supply--either have a faucet nearby or plumb the coffee maker directly to the pipes.   4)  Consider the electricity--make sure you aren't overloading a circuit by adding a coffee maker  and blowing a fuse every time you brew a cup of coffee.  5)  Make sure you have enough counter or cupboard space for coffee, cocoa, tea, cups, spoons, sugar, sweetener, creamer, and spoons plus any additional goodies like biscotti or brownies.  If everything is nicely organized in one location, it will make you feel pampered and it will allow guests to help themselves.
  

We last spoke about the Wright House at the end of the year, when its demolition was delayed and it was then sold to an anonymous benefactor who planned to renovate it and open it up to the public. 

The historical status of the home was to be voted on by the city yesterday, but the owner needed more time to put together plans for a complete renovation of the property.  The owner has promised to restore the house to its original appearance when it was first built by David's father, Frank Lloyd Wright, in 1952.  

It is considered a significant property because of its spiral design and the raised living area that allowed for more cooling in the Phoenix summers.   Below are photos from a public showing just before the sale of the home.  You can see the distinctive circular architecture and custom detailed concrete blocks. 

Last time we looked at the STPB blog by Pam of Retro Renovation.  She also has one called "Mid Century Modest" in which she claims the real mid century gems are very modest homes, but laments that most people like the "high falutin' ones".  Today we'll look at Mid Century Modern mansions from Bel-Air, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas.  They're well-known because of famous architects, famous owners, or because they've been seen in movies or TV shows.  Next time, we'll look at the modest ones and see if Pam is right. 

According to Jack, a Vegas realtor, although Mid Century Modern did exhibit simplicity and clean lines, it wasn't as much about design as it was about a new way of living.  Sliding glass doors became popular as a way to merge the indoors with the outdoors.  It was also the beginning of opening up spaces between rooms for a more open floor plan.  The homes below are very iconic--you can almost visualize Frank Sinatra strolling out by his pool. 

Of course, you don't have to be the owner of a Mid Century Modern home to have a pink bathroom.  You can go with any shade from a soothing pastel pink  to a vibrant hot pink.  There are fixtures, wallpaper, tile, and accessories available for either a completely pink room or just a few splashes of color.      

Some cooks say they actually prefer small kitchens because they're more efficient and there's less walking than in a large kitchen.   The key to making your small kitchen efficient is to utilize all the space you have and eliminate any pots, utensils, dishes, and small appliances you don't really need.  Be sure to take advantage of the vertical space with racks or open shelves. The good thing is that whenever you'd like to remodel, you can change the paint, flooring, countertops, and backsplashes for very little cost.