Top of the Range: Molteni Stoves

It was the master chefs of the 1920's who helped direct the development of Molteni stoves, a brand name synonymous with high quality, prestigious and expensiveprofessional stoves and rangehoods. Founder, Joseph Molteni crafted his ranges on the advice and specifications of master chefs and for decades, Molteni stoves and cooktops have been uitilised in some of the best kitchens of the industry.

Recently however, Molteni has moved into domestic home kitchens, offering the household some of the most beautiful and efficient stoves available. They are made to last and apart from the A grade performance, come in a variety of striking colours and gleaming finishes. From the glistening gold knobs to the smoothly opening drawers and fine accents, Molteni reeks of craftsmenship and attention to detail.

Molteni Classic range

Strictly For the Luxury Kitchen

Molteni stoves are big, therefore they not for every kitchen and they are, as you would expect, hand-wringingly expensive - the home range having been designed primarily for the luxury kitchen. However, if you are fortunate enough to have both the room and the funds, they would be a fantastic acquisition.

Molteni craftsmen boast an emphasis on attention to detail, durability and state of the art technology. The solid steel stoves are virtually hand made, having been manufactured one at a time, according to customer specifications.

The Coolness of Smeg Fridges

Smeg is an innovative, Italian based company specialsing in high quality home appliances for the trendy, moneyed set. Their vintage designs are reminiscent of the 1950's and 60's yet incorporate top engineering and the latest technology.

Founded in the 1940's, Smeg is a family owned company, under the guidance of Roberto Bertazonni, who had the vision to employ some of the best Italian architects (such as Mario Bellini, Guido Canali and Renzo Piano), to work for the business. Smeg's strength was to see appliances as something more than utilitarian objects - with Smeg function and form work together and one is not overshadowed by the other. One of the more iconic objects in Smeg's range of products is the iconic retro refrigerator..otherwise know as The Smeg.

Liberace Fashion

Fun Times with the King of Kitsch
Strangely, I've never thought of Liberace as a fashion consultant or even remotely fashionable for that matter but perhaps there are those out there who do and if you're one of them (please, seek help!), this book purports to "swing open the closet door" on Liberace's extensive wardrobe in order to give us some sartorial guidance on the "fine art of extraordinary dressing for ordinary occasions". Tempted?

Vintage Pan Am Bags

Reproduction vintage Pan Am travel bag, wash bag and passport cover

Flying High
Established in 1927, Pan American was at one time the largest international air carrier in the States. The airline began as a  began as a mail and passenger service between Florida and Havana and grew to be an innovator and major International force in the airline industry.

Peaking in the 60s and 70s,  the airline boasted millions of passengers, flying in 150 jets to 86 foreign destinations. Its slogan was The World's Most Experienced Airline, designed to instill confidence and familiarity in passengers.

Back in the days when air travel was largely the province of the affluent, possessing an airline bag was something rather special - it meant you were an air traveller and thus one of the fortunate few who could afford to fly. After the arrival of the jet age in the late 50s, the first Pan Am airline bag, the Orion (above), was given away to jet -setters in the 1960s. The perfect size for on board travel.

Robot Cushions

Those wide-eyed 50s style toy robots have developed some trendy cachet recently - to the point where they're appeal is now considered mainstream. Fans can acquire anything from designer retro robot wallpaper to cushions. Ah, our consumer society is so quick to capitalise on the shifting sands of retro fads. But I digress...check these beauties out from Ferm living. ...

Ferm Living toy robots

Messenger Bags

Fossil Combat Men's Messenger bag

If you were a student in the 1970s, male or female, it was almost obligatory to wear a messenger bag, preferably with the strap draped diagonally across your shoulder. Only then we didn't call them 'messenger bags...we just called them 'shoulder bags'. Army surplus thick canvas bags were very popular and could be picked up for a few bucks at an army disposal store. Those who had a deeper reserve of funds to tap had nice leather ones with stylish stitching or maybe a pseudo school satchel with buckles. No-one had a handbag as such...that would have been considered very bourgeois.

Retro Microwave

How retro...vintage-style microwave from Nostalgia Electrics.

The slick, streamlined designs of 1950s products still have appeal for retro fans,  who, like me,  are suckers for a nostalgia burst. For that reason the Nostalgia Electrics vintage style microwave caught my eye. Of course, microwaves didn't exist in the 1950s but if they did they could well have looked like this - lots of chrome accents, a curved handle and a twirlable dial control. 

Needless to say, behind the charmingly old-fashioned facade, the microwave has all the whizz bang features of a modern piece of technology - 800 watts, 12 pre-programmed features, 0.9 cubic foot interior..blah de blah. I'd never heard of this US based company before but, glancing at their website, they seem to be specialising in nostalgic small appliances and products that are "developed to excite consumers and retailers alike". Well, I'm not sure how exciting a small electrical appliance can get but I love the oval window.

Retro Knitting Patterns

The Knitting Revival

Retro Knits by Voyageur Press

Old knitting patterns have become very popular of late - mainly because there are some great retro styles to be found among them that just aren't available today.

Once upon a time, knitting was a standard activity for many women, however as more women entered the workforce in the latter part of the 20th century and were  pressed by time constraints and other distractions, the popularity of knitting receded. In addition cheap, mass produced knits made the labour intensive art of knitting even less appealing.

But...store bought machine knits just don't have the feel and look of a hand-knitted item. It's the blood, sweat and tears of working those needles over and over again that weaves a kind of history and individualism into the knit. In the 21st century the age old art of knitting has made a resurgence.

Craft Projects

Suzie Million's guide to retro crafts

A Hoarder's Delight
Ever wanted to make a bottle cap man? Or maybe a teacup lady flowerpot or a plastic flower pixie? Well if so, Retro Crafts might be the book for you. The author has compiled over forty kitsch retro craft projects to keep you busy on a rainy day.

People who love crafts and being creative may want to look into design classes from accredited online colleges.

We used to be a much less throwaway society - things tended to be kept and were often creatively recycled for another use.The fabulously named Suzie Millions (is that for real I wonder?) is an artist, author and craft enthusiasist, who has delved into  history and come up with some weird and wonderful projects.

Even if craft isn't your forte, it's fun just reading about what can be created with ordinary objects. Plus the book includes an inside peek at the authors intriguingly cluttered house, as well as a host of fascinating images from vintage pamphlets and markets.
 

Rotating Dials Watch

Retro Modern

Retro Modern watch from S-tech

The square-shaped modern watch with the interesting inner circles at right represents a stylistic fusion between contemporary design and retro disc mechanics...or at least the look of them. The triple rotating circles meet up to reveal the time in the little silver tab on the side.

It's quite a cool design but I'm wondering just how easy it would be to read the time in a hurry? The mechanism seems a tad fiddly but I suppose you'd grow accustomed to it. Caught my eye anyway...

Kitsch Kitchen

The Joy of Liberace

Was Liberace into cooking? Michael and Karan Feder's Joy of Liberace purports to contain recipes from 'America's kitschiest kitchen', which sounds enticing, however I'm wondering what a kitsch recipe might entail....

Saveloys in skirts poking through  pineapple rings? Pink marshmallow cake with red marzipan love heart embellishments? Nothing so restrained at that. Looking at the cover picture, it seems like the recipes are far fancier - grand pianos cakes with edible candelabras.

The book promises to be a visual treat full of edible extravaganzas with plenty of colour photos and step-by-step recipes put together by the culinary staff of the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

It's also an insight into the table tastes and food  penchants of one of America's most out-there entertainers. See, if you really must, 'Liberace's personal entertaining style come to life' but don't blame me if you suffer a sacharine overload.

Retro Televisions

Musical Christmas TV.  From Mr. Nostalgia

Novelty TV
I never realised just how many kitsch retro TV products there are out there until I did a casual Amazon search of "retro TVs". True, it's not something I've given much thought to in the past...

Surely these gems will one day be sought-after collectors items? Take, for example, the battery operated "wood, resin and plastic" musical 1960s style TV in the picture at right, which apparently displays an enchanting array of illuminated rotating Christmas scenes, set to classic songs of the season. At $134.99 those scenes would need to be riveting watching, although when I think about it, there's a good chance they're  better than anything on real TV.

TV NeckLace

If that doesn't appeal, how about a retro TV necklace on an 18 inch sterling silver plated chain? This is something I could be tempted to wear...well, probably. I'm impressed by the 70s styling.

TV set Necklace by Sour Cherry

 Anyway, enough of that. Let's get to ...

Real Retro Televisions

Predicta Chalet

Predicta Meteor

If you're looking for real working retro reproduction televisions, take a look at Predicta TV - they have the most amazing looking collection of retro style sets I've ever seen.  I have no idea how they perform on function but for form, it's an A+.

Some of the TVs feature a striking styling that is very retro futuristic, yet they are apparently based on real designs from the mid 20th Century. Predicta was an iconic television made by the Philco company and according to Wikipedia is the one most people think of as  "the classic 1950s TV set", despite the fact that it proved  too radical a design for the domestic market, causing the company to fold in 1960. Of course now, original Philco Predictas are highly collectable.

It may be iconic in the US but I'm unfamiliar with the brand and the 'detached picture tube' style, so for me, it's something of a revelation. Modern Predictas, with vintage styling but modern electronics,  are now made by a Wisconsin company called Telstar Electronics and the attention to detail in the reproductions is reflected in the higher price tag, which according to the FAQ section of the website, is comparable to the average high-end TV.

There are 8 eccentric designs, many with hand crafted timber cabinets and brass fittings -Pedestal, Meteor, Holiday, Princess, Debutante, Corona, Chalet and Danish Modern. Far out. Also mentioned on the website is the fact that some vistors to the site are so astounded by the TVS they wonder whether it might be a fake website. It's not.

Original 1958 Philco Predicta TV. Source

Atomic Ranch House

Atomic Ranch by Michelle Gringeri- Brown

In the booming post-war period the American ranch house, with its sprawling dimensions and open plan living, revolutionized domestic living, not just for Americans but for people all over the world.

In her hardcover book Atomic Ranch:Design Ideas for Stylish Ranch Homes,  Michelle Gringeri-Brown explores in detail the rambling features of  US residential architecture from the 40s through to the 70s.

Gringeri-Brown showcases 25 homes through colour photographs and include before and after shots of the homes, a selection of useful design tips and an extensive resource index.

Atomic Ranch has received some seriously good reviews and is $26.40 from the Amazon Bookstore.

The 1950s House

That 50s Look

Retro Style, paperback by Marion Haslam

The 1950s ushered in the first post-war Great Age of Consumerism. Mass production and modernism meant functional, streamlined products in new materials and innovative designs and there was a kind of optimism about science, technology and the leaping developments of the 20th Century. Everything was boom, boom, boom.

1950s Tulip Chair by Eero Saarinen.

These days there's a lot of interest and nostalgia around the mid-twentieth century period and why not? Some remarkably spiffy designs emerged from that particular era. A 50s inspired chair or table, or even an appliance,  blended into a modern home can capture an aspect of a very special period of design, which, if it's your cup of tea, can be aesthetically uplifting.

Retro Style
Former Habitat buyer Marion Haslam has put together a book that looks at the design elements of the 1950s - anything from toasters to furniture - from a contemporary perspective. Haslam includes some workable projects in Retro Style , some of which seem to have had mixed reviews from customers. Most agree however, that the author provides an interesting text and some inspirational ideas for the 50s enthusiast. The book is now a few years old and out of stock at some online bookstores  but I guess when you're talking about the 50s, it's not like it'll be 'dated'.
The 1950s House
TV Lamps
Black Lady Lamps
Vintage TV Table

Retro Leather Travel Case

Andrew Marc men's travel case.

The beauty of leather is that it improves with age, not to mention the fact that it just feels, smells and looks better than its vinyl subsitutes.

Of course, one of the chief  disadvantages of leather is the price tag. Leather is no longer the standard material for bags and cases. It's a luxury item and at $125, the Andrew Marc's distressed retro calf leather travel case at right is pretty darn pricey, especially for what is essentially, a toiletry bag..

Still, cheap travel cases come and go but one like this will outlast the others by years, has a macho charm and will feel terrific every time you use it.

Retro Ice Bag

Problem with puffy eyes...? Try a retro ice bag which will not only reduce puffiness but make you feel like a vintage Hollywood diva at the same time. Smaller than it looks, the Hollywood ice bag can be slipped into a handbag for portability. - also  good for for lumps, bumps, tiredness, headaches, cramps, bruises and various other ailments. May be used hot or cold, depending on what you wish to use it for.

What Causes Puffy Eyes? 
Apart from lack of sleep, eye puffiness may be caused by stress, crying, allergy, irritation or infection (which should be treated). Basically the puffiness is a result of excess fluid accumulating in the soft tissue that surrounds the eye. A cold compress can smooth down the area and help disperse the swelling.

It's worth noting, that in addition to common, relative harmless causes, there are some rare but serious conditions that may cause persistent puffiness, particularly if accompanied by facial swelling, so do check with a doctor if if you are unsure.

Owl Rings

Jewel-eyed owl rings from Fashion Bliss

Retro brass owl ring from Treena Bean

Luck and Wisdom...
Traditionally in Western culture, owls are a symbol of wisdom as well as good luck -and don't we all need more of that?

Owl symbols date back to ancient Athens, during an inspiring age of wisdom.The owl appeared on coins and was  the Goddess Athena's (protectress of the city) own symbol.

Some archeologist's also claim the owl symbol dates back to the pre-Indo European Neolithic age, where the bird itself was worshipped as a Goddess.

Or Death and Destruction?
By contrast, the Maya and Aztecs considered the owl a symbol of death and destruction. Mictiantecuhtii, the Aztec God of death was often shown accompanied by owls. (wikipedia)

In Mexico there is an old saying "when the owl cries, the Indian dies". The owl then, has different meanings for different cultures but whatever the symbolism, it seems the owl has a powerful resonance in the human psyche and in recent times, the owl ring has returned as a popular accessory.

The ring above right, from Treena Bean, is nickel and lead free and made from recycled antique brass material.For a quirky owl, the one below is sterling silver and features an unusual setting

Midnight Owl ring from Eve's Addiction

The Chunky Charm Bracelet
Chunky Necklaces

A Child's Tea Set

Perfectly Princess 8 piece tea set

One lump or two Mrs. Nesbit..?
Few things are as evocative of a female childhood as a children's tea set. It conjures up images of summery days under shady trees and old-fashioned tea parties with dolls and teddies. Children of course, love to emulate the adult world and imitative play is an important part of the learning process. What a pity that when we grow up the innocent pleasure of pouring out cups of tea and coffee has to wear off...especially if we work in a cafe.

Summer Bugs tin tea set

Delicious desert toys

Strangely, in the post-feminine world, adult tea parties have made a comeback. Perhaps it's a recognition of the civilizing influence of a cup of tea in a decorative china cup, a cake and polite conversation. There's something to be said for it.

For very young kids of course, the appeal of tea sets never went away. Little girls (and boys too occasionally) have been playing with miniature porcelain tea sets since the 1700s. Perhaps in the ancient world, little Mesopotamian and Egyptian children  enacted a similar ritual with tiny clay drinking goblets. I wouldn't be at all surprised.

Tea party board book

Amazon Tea Sets...