Midcentury Discoveries

I seem to have developed an affinity for all things Midcentury at the moment. I have a few Orla Kiely bits, an obsession with The Grand Budapest Hotel aesthetic and I'm determined to incorporate retro typography into my life/site design somehow. There's just something about the colour combinations that were used from about the 50s-70s (okay maybe early 80s at a push) that fascinates me. Perhaps it's a nostalgia thing, it's not a period I actually experienced first hand but after seeing bits and bobs from this time in my grandparents house as a child, it brings about a certain sort of familiarity now. It's now the time of year where I like to wander around various markets and fairs and wonder if it's possible to fit a random piece of furniture into my imaginary house. This was kickstarted a few weeks ago by a visit to Dulwich College for the Midcentury Modern show. Although it's a place for serious aficionados with money to spend, I did manage to find some little bits that would be the perfect addition for any rented room, plus inspiration for future eBay/Freecycle trawls.

As soon as I stepped into the entrance hall, I knew I'd hit the jackpot when I was greeted by some 50s travel posters by Travel On Paper. Vintage ads seem so far removed by what we're bombarded with today, they're like works of art themselves and they tend to be bursting with positivity. Although these originals were pretty pricey, I'm hoping I can find some smaller versions elsewhere or even the perfect coffee table book filled with them. I also came across James Brown, a London based illustrator and printmaker in a similar vein, who specialises in that eclectic mix of fonts and retro layouts. The fact that he produces initial prints is a bonus. Another stall of note was Theo, purveyor of cushions, plates and general knick knacks to make any room individual. Seeing these hand-crafted rugs by Beldi also made me want to book a flight to Morocco to leave asap, take a look at the owner's home here and try not to cry a little.

The next Midcentury show takes place in Haggerston on May 11th, the perfect way to spend a Sunday especially if it's warm It is a little bit torturous looking at all these sorts of things and not having a home to call my own, I guess this is why I'm so experimental with what I wear because it's the only thing I can really put my stamp on at the moment. The plan is to collect a few little bits I fall in love with every so often and hope that one day it will be a part of something much more exciting.