Atomic Era Kitchens And Homes: Shaping The Modern Era of Design With Postwar Technology

Introducing The Atomic Era

What is meant by Atomic Era Decor and Design in kitchens? When you are searching for 1950's kitchen and home collectibles you will often see the term "Atomic Era" or "Atomic Age". In fact there is a magazine called "Atomic Ranch", http://www.atomic-ranch.com/ dedicated to this Mid-Century phase in home decor. But what do we mean by this term?

Postwar influences on Design

Atomic Era Design generally refers to the postwar period (second World War) when manufacturers were introducing into the home, products, materials and patterns influenced by the war effort and wartime research. The term also refers to designs influenced by "The Space Age" .

1950's Technological Boom

There was a technological boom as state of the art materials, plastic laminates, synthetics, fiberglass, latex foam was "shaping" American homes in the postwar years. Plastics could be molded into asymmetric and organic shapes. Wires and metals were constructed to form "hair pin" legs on furnishings and used commonly in modern sculpture like design throughout the home. Aluminum and chrome dominated cookwares, barware and leisure time.

Decorative Arts 50's

According to Charlotte and Peter Fiell in their superb book, "Decorative Art 50's (Taschne), "designers were inspired by a wide range of themes such as molecular chemistry, nuclear physics, sicence fiction, African art and abstract contemporary sculpture by such artists as Alexander Calder and Hans Arp. The spiky angular forms of the early 1950's gave way to more organic and biomorphic shapes as the decade progressed".

Shaping the 50's

You will see that during the 1950's textiles, coffee tables, end tables, dinettes, lamps, housewares, wall decor, accessories etc. were designed with amoeba or boomerang shapes, geometric patterns, space age designs, star bursts and abstract motif. Cookware, coffee pots, snack sets, punch bowls, serving pieces often were designed with 'leg" or platform bases which resembled rocket design....ready to take off into the future!

Books You Will Like On The Atomic Era:

Collecting The 1950's by Madeleine Marsh

Decorative Art 50s by Charlotte and peter Fiell

Retro Style by Marion Haslam

Fifties Style by Richard Horn

Retro by Suzanne Tochne

Atomic Kitchen by Brian S. Alexander

50s Decor by Collectors Compass Martindale

Hot Kitchen and Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s

Photographs courtesy
http://www.dowahdiddy.com/

http://www.kitschykoo.com/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Atomic Era Kitchen and Home Accessories Look Great With Black Painted Walls

Brown is out, black is in according to trendy designers everywhere.

Photo of dining room is courtesy of Benjamin Moore Paints. The wall is painted in black satin.

According to Nara Schoenberg of Tribune Newspapers "black walls are popping up in upscale shelter magazines, hipster design blogs and just about everywhere in between".

Black Painted Walls

"Black" which had always been considered a "Goth" color is now a "hot" color" Schoenberg reports in a recent article entitled "Paint It Black" . http://www.courant.com/features/home-garden/hc-tc-black-walls-1012-1018.artoct16,0,5491148.story
.

Getting that Metro Retro Look

Since I write about retro and vintage kitchen and home collectibles, I thought I would introduce to you some great metro retro kitchenwares and decorative home items that would look fabulous with a a black themed living and dining room.
I began my search my visiting some of my favorite "Mid-Century" and "Mod" inspired dealers of collectibles. Additionally I pulled out some examples of textiles and patterns that would look terrific l with black walls.

Mixing a Variety of Materials and Textures

When shopping for decorative objects for your home that work well with black walls and black furnishings vary the materials and textures. Focus in on metal, Chromes, Crystal, wrought iron, wire.

Adding Color

You can add some punch to your black inspired rooms by finding fabrics and wall decor which are colorful. Be on the look out for 1950s barkcloth textiles which will go great with your black themed decor. Vintage textiles can be used for accent pillows, wall hangings, drapes, tablecloths etc. Also consider buying some newly made textiles reproduced to resemble the original designs of the 1950s Atomic Era.

Geometrics and Abstracts For patterns, think Atomic Era designs such as abstracts and geometrics.




Dealers who Specialize in Mid-Century and Mod
http://www.modhaus.com/
http://www.dowahdiddy.com/
http://www.jennski.com/

Forums About Fifties Collectibles
Visit the http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/group/backtothefunkyfifitesretrocollectorsgroup

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Retro Turquoise Housewares For Funky Fifties Style Kitchens

When I am out shopping for kitchen collectibles I am always excited to find something that we had in our own kitchen growing up. Even if you have not thought about the frying pan or toaster cover your mom and dad used back in the fabulous fifties, you get a rush of memories whenever you spot these relics at flea markets or antique shops.

As I have written about in my book "Hot Kitchen and Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and also in my second book "Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes", the colors pink and turquoise are very popular among retro and cottage collectors.

At the Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, Connecticut, owners Cindy and Doug have put in many hours showcasing retro collectibles in the in house "Crusin Cafe". Cindy has a great collection of turquoise cookware in excellent condition displayed as props in the cafe .
While Cindy's collection is not for sale, buyers will find lots of dealers in this huge and popular multi-dealer mall who carry plenty of retro and vintage kitchenwares. My booth called "Kitsch n Stuff" is loaded with kitchen collectibles in all colors.

When buying these items, be sure to check for chipping, stains, rust and missing parts. As I have stated in previous articles, it is perfectly fine to buy a covered pot that is stained or worn inside, if all you want to do is use your retro find as a shelf piece, but the price should reflect the condition. On the other hand if you find cookware in super condition inside and out...... expect the value to rise. Now a $4.00 dollar tag sale item, may just become a $40.00 "retro collectible".

Also prices vary greatly in different markets. Metro areas or regions near big cities fetch a lot more for "turquoise kitchen and housewares" than in other areas.

The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford
283 Main St. (Rte. 44)
New Hartford, CT 06057
(860) 379-2290
Open 7 Days, 10am - 5pm

http://www.collinsvilleantiques.com/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com


Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.