Mid Century Modern » Book Review http://mid-century-modern.net Online source for your mid century modern life style Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:15:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis http://mid-century-modern.net/julius-shulman-los-angeles-the-birth-of-a-modern-metropolis/ http://mid-century-modern.net/julius-shulman-los-angeles-the-birth-of-a-modern-metropolis/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2011 03:26:07 +0000 admin http://mid-century-modern.net/?p=3155 Last month I posted a review of a documentary film on Julius Shulman, “Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman.” Since then, two books on Julius Shulman were published: Julius Shulman: The Last Decade by Kehrer Verlag and Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis by Sam Lubell and Douglas Woods (Rizzoli [...]]]> Last month I posted a review of a documentary film on Julius Shulman, “Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman.” Since then, two books on Julius Shulman were published: Julius Shulman: The Last Decade by Kehrer Verlag and Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis by Sam Lubell and Douglas Woods (Rizzoli New York, 2011). I obtained a review copy of the latter (courtesy of Rizzoli New York) and would like to share what I thought of this beautifully bound book.

© Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis by Sam Lubell
and Douglas Woods, Rizzoli New York, 2011.

Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis presents a collection of photographic works of Los Angeles where Shulman lived and adored. Shulman beautifully documented the transformation of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas in the 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s through his lens. This book introduces images of Shulman’s lesser-known and never published before photographs of Los Angeles and its surroundings – many images in this book consist of photographs of factories, constructions sites, and commercial buildings.

© J. Paul Getty Trust, Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis by Sam Lubell and Douglas Woods, Rizzoli New York, 2011. Mobil Gas Station, Smith and Williams, Anaheim, 1956.

The book consists of five chapters: City, Development, Houses, Living, and Work. The “City” chapter presents streets and buildings of downtown Los Angeles – many of the landmarks still exist today. In the “Development” chapter, Shulman documented how the area’s unspoiled landscape and farmland transformed into commercial centers, freeways, and residential developments. The “Houses” section, you see modernist and other styles of houses by both well-known and lesser-known architects. Everyday lives of people in Los Angeles in the 1930’s to 1960’s are seen in the “Lives” chapter. The “Work” chapter presents post-World War II Los Angeles and America at large. You can see the images of both the industry buildings and its workers in offices, construction sites and factory assembly lines.

© J. Paul Getty Trust, Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis by Sam Lubell and Douglas Woods, Rizzoli New York, 2011. Drive-in dining at the Googie-style Tiny Naylors, designed by Douglas Honnold at Sunset and La Brea in Hollywood, 1952.

When I hear Shulman’s name, I tend to focus on his most published images featuring the mid-century modernism architecture such as Pierre Koenig’s Case Study House No. 22, Richard Neutra’s Kaufman House, John Lautner’s Chemosphere, etc. In this book, I was introduced another side of his work – lesser known, but equally remarkable.

Book Summary:
JULIUS SHULMAN LOS ANGELES: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis
By Sam Lubell and Douglas Woods, Foreword by Judy McKee
Rizzoli New York
ISBN: 978-0-8478-3548-5
Hardcover / 240 pages / 180 b/w and color photographs / 12″ x 10″
PRICE: 60.00 US / $69.00 CAN / £39.95
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 2011

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]]> http://mid-century-modern.net/julius-shulman-los-angeles-the-birth-of-a-modern-metropolis/feed/ 0 Neutra by Barbara Lamprecht http://mid-century-modern.net/neutra-by-barbara-lamprecht/ http://mid-century-modern.net/neutra-by-barbara-lamprecht/#comments Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:33:55 +0000 admin http://mid-century-modern.net/?p=3024 My first encounter with Ricahrd Neutra’s architecture was the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, California. My husband and I made a day trip to Palm Springs while visiting his grandparents in Long Beach. Only a several hours to spare, the Kaufman House was to me the “must-see” place among all the  great things in Palm [...]]]> My first encounter with Ricahrd Neutra’s architecture was the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, California. My husband and I made a day trip to Palm Springs while visiting his grandparents in Long Beach. Only a several hours to spare, the Kaufman House was to me the “must-see” place among all the  great things in Palm Springs. I could only see the place from the street, but I was very impressed with its looks. I wanted to know more about the work of Richard Neutra – I thought “Neutra” by Barbara Lamprecht was a perfect place to start for a novice like me.

The Kaufmann House by Richard Neutra

Born and raised in Vienna, Richard Neutra (1872-1970) emigrated to the United States in 1932 and settled in California. The “Neutra” book introduces the background and view of the architect, then features 22 works of Richard Neutra selected from thoughout his long career. A presentation of each work includes an overview of his work, floor plans, and photographs (mostly black and white). Although the descrptions for these works may not be in depth, they are written concisely. For a novice like me, the amount of text and graphics are just adequate.

The book concludes with “Life and Work”, a map of California, Bibliography and Credits. A wealth of information is included in this economically priced book. The book is a part of the  TASCHEN 25th Anniversaty Edition series.

About the Authour (from the publisher):
Barbara Lamprecht writes and teaches architectural history, concentrating on Modernism, and practices architecture, specializing in sustainability and small spaces. She contributes to Dwell, The Architectural Review, Architecture, Architectural Record and Fine Homebuilding. She is also the author of TASCHEN’s Neutra: Complete Works.

Book Summary:
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: TASCHEN America Llc; 25th Anniversary ed. edition (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 3836513269
ISBN-13: 978-3836513265

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]]> http://mid-century-modern.net/neutra-by-barbara-lamprecht/feed/ 0 HANDCRAFTED MODERN: At Home with Mid-Century Designers http://mid-century-modern.net/handcrafted-modern-at-home-with-mid-century-designers/ http://mid-century-modern.net/handcrafted-modern-at-home-with-mid-century-designers/#comments Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:01:12 +0000 admin http://mid-century-modern.net/?p=2791 HAND CRAFTED MODERN: At Home with Mid-Century DesignersHave you ever wondered what your favorite mid century modern designers’ personal living spaces look like? I have – I often daydream about visiting these mid century modern designers’ homes and having some tea or being a child of theirs and growing up in it (how cool is that!). I am curious to see how [...]]]> Have you ever wondered what your favorite mid century modern designers’ personal living spaces look like? I have – I often daydream about visiting these mid century modern designers’ homes and having some tea or being a child of theirs and growing up in it (how cool is that!). I am curious to see how they decorated their own spaces, what kind of books they read, what kind of knick-knacks they had on their shelves, etc… A San Francisco based photographer Leslie Williamson thought the same, but she didn’t stop there. She actually set out to photograph the homes of 14 mid century modern designers and architects.

© HAND CRAFTED MODERN: At Home with Mid-Century Designers by Leslie Williamson, Rizzoli New York, 2010

In Handcrafted Modern: At Home with Mid-century Designers (Rizzoli New York, 2010), Leslie Williamson shares the beautiful images of the very intimate personal and work spaces of: Wharton Esherick, George Nakashima, Harry Bartoia, Russel Wright, Jens Risom, Eva Zeisel, Vladimir Kagan, Irving Harper, Walter Gropius, Jerome & Evelyn Ackerman, Charles & Ray Eames, J.B. Blunk, John Kapel, and Albert Frey. Many of these homes appear in print for the first time.

© Leslie Williamson

Williamson successfully captured 250 intimate photographs of these designers’ homes exactly as they were lived in. If you are not familiar with some of these designers, don’t worry. Williamson has included a brief introduction and other tidbits of each designer before showcasing the photographs. Her photographs have a warm, natural feeling to them – they make me feel as if I was actually standing in the same space. I know a little bit about photography – I am very impressed that she captured all these astonishing images using only natural lights.

© Leslie Williamson

HANDCRAFTED MODERN: At Home with Mid-Century Designers will be a great addition to your mid century modern library. You will NOT be disappointed!

© Leslie Williamson

Photo Courtesy: © Leslie Williamson 2010
All photos are used with permission from the publisher

Book Summary
Title: HANDCRAFTED MODERN: At Home with Mid-Century Designers
Author: Leslie Williamson
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
Publisher: Rizzoli (October 12, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0847834182
ISBN-13: 978-0847834181

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]]> http://mid-century-modern.net/handcrafted-modern-at-home-with-mid-century-designers/feed/ 0 Make It! Hardware Store Decor http://mid-century-modern.net/make-it-hardware-store-decor/ http://mid-century-modern.net/make-it-hardware-store-decor/#comments Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:42:47 +0000 admin http://mid-century-modern.net/?p=2745 I was very excited when I got an email from Curbly, the DIY Design Community informing there was going to be a new Make It! book. Just by looking at the title, “Make It! Hardware Store Decor,” I knew I would just love this new book – I love hardware stores. This book is the [...]]]> I was very excited when I got an email from Curbly, the DIY Design Community informing there was going to be a new Make It! book. Just by looking at the title, “Make It! Hardware Store Decor,” I knew I would just love this new book – I love hardware stores. This book is the third book of “Make It!” series. I love all three Make It! the series (Mid-century Modern & Secondhand Chic). It’s almost like Curbly people know exactly what I’m looking for in DIY books.

Make It! Hardware Store Decor

Make-It! Hardware Store Decor takes inspiration from all things you can easily find at your local hardware store. It features 12 DIY projects using item you can find from the plumbing, paint, electrical and lumber aisles. Each project includes a material/tools list and step by step instructions with high-resolutions photographs.

Familiar things from your local hardware store...

The 78-page book is divided into four sections: Electrical, Plumbing, Lumber and Paint – just like the departments you see at the home improvement store. I love the idea of turning ordinary hardware store items into attractive/stylish home decors. My favorite is the “Posh Pipe Desk.” I wish I had known that Curbly was going to share this great idea sooner! I just made a desk out of a second hand table a few weeks before the book came out. Since my desk looks more like a dining table, I am actually thinking about making this Posh Pipe Desk and use my current desk as the dining table. I need a new dining table anyway.

Posh Pipe Desk

I also like the Eames Storage Unit inspired “Mod Slotted Steel-Angle Credenza.” If you’ve always wanted an Eames Storage Unit, but couldn’t afford one, this project will show you how to make your version of the Eames Storage Unit.

Mod Credenza

Make It! Hardware Store Decor is available in two formats: high-resolution PDF download (US$9.99) and perfect-bound, beautifully printed version (US$22.00). For more information, visit Curbly website.

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]]> http://mid-century-modern.net/make-it-hardware-store-decor/feed/ 0 Make-It! Secondhand Chic http://mid-century-modern.net/make-it-secondhand-chic/ http://mid-century-modern.net/make-it-secondhand-chic/#comments Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:28:10 +0000 admin http://mid-century-modern.net/?p=2718 I am a big fan of Curbly, the DIY Design Community. I get a lot of inspiration from their website on DIY projects. I especially love the DIY projects involving repurposing secondhand items, so their second issue of the Curbly Make It! series called “Make-It! Secondhand Chic” was just the perfect book for me. The [...]]]> I am a big fan of Curbly, the DIY Design Community. I get a lot of inspiration from their website on DIY projects. I especially love the DIY projects involving repurposing secondhand items, so their second issue of the Curbly Make It! series called “Make-It! Secondhand Chic” was just the perfect book for me. The 76-page book shows you how to create functional and stylish items using ordinary thrift store finds or things sitting in your garage, closet, attic, etc. I love the idea of repurposing, giving an unwanted item a second chance.

Make-It! Secondhand Chic

“Make-It! Secondhand Chic” is divided into five chapters: The Kitchen, The Living Room, The Home Office, The Bathroom and The Bedroom. There are 15 projects featured in this book including a “Filing Cabinet Kitchen Cart,” a “Suitcase Night Stand,” a “Platform Doggy Bed,” etc. Each project includes a materials/tools list and step-by-step instruction with high-resolution images.

Filing Cabinet Kitchen Cart

My favorite is the “Platform Doggy Bed.” Using an upside down table top? That is very clever! I’d like to make it for one of my five dogs (or I can make five beds!) who sleeps in my bedroom. I’ll make it with a set of hairpin legs instead so it will match my bed. This book gives me a whole new purpose of thrift shopping – not just scoring something I like, but also finding something I can make things out of.

My dog will love this!

The book is available in two formats: high-resolution PDF download (US$9.99) or print version (US$18.00). For more information, visit Curbly website.

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]]> http://mid-century-modern.net/make-it-secondhand-chic/feed/ 0 Palm Springs Mid-century Modern by Dolly Faibyshev http://mid-century-modern.net/palm-springs-mid-century-modern-by-dolly-faibyshev/ http://mid-century-modern.net/palm-springs-mid-century-modern-by-dolly-faibyshev/#comments Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:09:39 +0000 admin http://mid-century-modern.net/?p=2699 Palm Springs Mid-century Modern“Palm Springs Mid-century Modern” by a New York based photographer Dolly Faibyshev features a stunning photographic collection of mid century modern architecture in Palm Springs, California. The book includes 178 color and black/white photos of residential, municipal, and commercial buildings designed by mid century modern architects including Donald Wexler, E. Stewart Williams, William Krisel, Albert [...]]]> “Palm Springs Mid-century Modern” by a New York based photographer Dolly Faibyshev features a stunning photographic collection of mid century modern architecture in Palm Springs, California. The book includes 178 color and black/white photos of residential, municipal, and commercial buildings designed by mid century modern architects including Donald Wexler, E. Stewart Williams, William Krisel, Albert Frey, William F. Cody, and Richard Neutra.

Palm Springs Mid-century Modern

The book includes images of many familiar/iconic structures of Palm Springs such as the Kaufmann House, Frey House II, Tramway Gas Station, House of Tomorrow, etc. as well as many other hidden gems that are probably only known to the locals, Palm Springs architecture experts or frequent visitors.

While some photos are identified in captions (these sites also are mentioned at the end of the book with location information), many photos do not include any information. I have visited Palm Springs, but I am far from being an expert. With my lack of knowledge, I could not identify many of the residential buildings in this book. However, I truly enjoyed these photos of unidentified structures, because these were the buildings I did not get to see while visiting Palm Springs.

Color or black/white, the images in this book are crisp and stunning. Even though these images were taken at present times, they have a “vintage feel” to them. Ms. Faibyshev also did a great job presenting distinctive architectural features of mid century modern buildings of Palm Springs in all of her images in this book. This book will be a treasure for any mid century modern enthusiast.

Book Summary
Title: Palm Springs Mid-century Modern
Author: Dolly Faibyshev
Format: Hardcover, 128 pages
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. (June 28, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764334611
ISBN-13: 978-0764334610

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]]> http://mid-century-modern.net/palm-springs-mid-century-modern-by-dolly-faibyshev/feed/ 1 Kid Made Modern by Todd Oldham http://mid-century-modern.net/kid-made-modern-by-todd-oldham/ http://mid-century-modern.net/kid-made-modern-by-todd-oldham/#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:06:42 +0000 admin http://mid-century-modern.net/?p=1899 Kid Made Modern by Todd OldhamDesigner Todd Oldham’s book Handmade Modern has been a great source for me when it comes to mid century modern inspired DIY projects. Even if I am not planning on making anything, I like to flip through the pages time to time. Handmade Modern came out in 2005 and I had been wondering if he [...]]]> Designer Todd Oldham’s book Handmade Modern has been a great source for me when it comes to mid century modern inspired DIY projects. Even if I am not planning on making anything, I like to flip through the pages time to time. Handmade Modern came out in 2005 and I had been wondering if he was going to introduce us with some new DIY craft ideas – he did, this time for kids. Kid Made Modern, a new book by Todd Oldham is filled with a wide variety of kid friendly art and craft projects inspired by mid century modern design.

Kid Made Modern by Todd Oldham

The 192 page book features 52 fun and easy-to-follow projects inspired by many iconic mid century modern designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Isamu Noguchi, and Alexander Girard. This book is perfect for any school age children with all skill levels. Some are simple enough for kids to do by themselves and some are fairly challenging that require adults’ assistance. All projects have easy to follow instructions and appropriate photographs. Most of projects can be done with inexpensive supplies and/or ordinary household materials.

Fort of Cards Project

Kid Made Modern is not only a creative craft book, but also a great educational tool. The book introduces youngsters to art and design by integrating sections called the “All About” pages that explains the fundamentals of art media and techniques. There are sections on mid century modern designers that inspired the craft projects as well. If you are a parent, this book will provide hours of creative fun for your child. If a project is too complicated for your child, why not join your child? It will be a good bonding experience for you and your child.

Learn about Designers

Todd Oldham has successfully introduced the readers a concept that good design was for everyone by coming up with brilliant mid century modern inspired DIY books for both adults and kids: Handmade Modern and Kid Made Modern – what’s next? I have five dogs and two cats, so I’d like to see a DIY book dedicated for pet stuff. Call it “Pet Made Modern” – what do you think?

*****************************
Special thanks to Sara at AMMO Books

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]]> http://mid-century-modern.net/kid-made-modern-by-todd-oldham/feed/ 0 DIY With Make It! Mid Century Modern http://mid-century-modern.net/diy-with-make-it-mid-century-modern/ http://mid-century-modern.net/diy-with-make-it-mid-century-modern/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:54:42 +0000 admin http://mid-century-modern.net/?p=1737 Do you need more mid century modern inspired DIY project ideas? I found a perfect how-to book called “Make It! Mid-Century Modern” published by Curbly, the DIY Design Community. This 76-page book contains 12 original projects inspired by iconic mid century designers such as Charles Eames, Alexander Girard, and George Nelson. Make It! Mid-Century Modern “Make It! [...]]]> Do you need more mid century modern inspired DIY project ideas? I found a perfect how-to book called “Make It! Mid-Century Modern” published by Curbly, the DIY Design Community. This 76-page book contains 12 original projects inspired by iconic mid century designers such as Charles Eames, Alexander Girard, and George Nelson.

Make It! Mid-Century Modern

“Make It! Mid-Century Modern” is divided into six chapters according to designer: Charles Eames, Alexander Girard, Alexander Calder, George Nelson, Piet Mondrian, and Eero Saarinen. Each chapter includes designer’s background and DIY projects with user friendly step-by-step instructions and pictures.

One of the easy projects

If you are looking for a simple, easy, yet stylish DIY project, this book is perfect for you. Most of the projects featured here are small and not time consuming. The instructions are very well written with appropriate pictures. The book is available in two formats: high-resolution PDF download (US$9.99) or print version (US$18.00). For more information, visit Curbly website.

or try something more challenging...

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