TV Center Showplace (Kroehler, 1954)

Good morning!

I was flipping through Google Books this morning and got my socks knocked RIGHT OFF by this September 1954 four page ad in Life magazine for...well, a myriad of products, all of which I wish were belonging to MEEEEEE:

Under the banner of "TV Center, the new 'show-place' of your home", Kroehler, Glidden Paint, Admiral Television, and Mohawk carpet all got together to promote their combined services in one, GORGEOUS living room set up. I really don't even know where to begin-- this is pretty much exactly what any vintage loving, mid-century mad, red-blooded American male or female would like their living room to look like on its best day. The furniture is obviously SPECTACULAR (I never met a mod couch I didn't like), but the details are also worth spotting! Do you see...

The arrangement of pictures of famous monuments flanked by atomic age sconce lamps? Not the two rectangle, two square format. Note the quickening of my pulse as my tiny heart tries to beat out of my body for these light fixtures.

The PAIR of pyramid shaped knickknack shelves? PAIR? The weird sculpture and head on the credenza? The credenza? Pinch pleat drapes?

Oh my goodness, oh my GOODNESS LOOK AT THE COFFEE TABLE. Circular? Brass tipped? Glass? Two tiered? Ladies and gents, please be on a lookout for this in the tri-state area for me...I think I'm in love for the first time, more than ever before! The floral arrangement, ashtray, and cigarette box aren't half bad either.

But wait! There's more!

On the facing page, you can see that the wall across from the sofa is MIRRORED, the tv is just as boxy and sharp in design as everything else, and there are porcelain, lute playing Japanese musician figurines atop it. Yes, sir! And YES! Admiral, Kroehler, Glidden, and Mohawk-- you are ok in my book.

I don't think these sofas come covered in plastic, but boy I wish they did. I wish I knew who would still be able to plasticize my chairs, in this, the year of our Lord 2013. Yes, I will take my Joan Crawford-isms from here to the end of the world-- think about how many years it would add to the life of my already far-older-than-me furniture pieces!

GOLD. PEOPLE. GOLD. This forest green is the same color I eventually want for the flooring of the den-- it's a finished garage with a concrete floor, so I think we may end up going with some kind of tile. Just like ye olde 1950's tile, but without the asbestos (and, in my secret hope of hopes, WITH the shuffleboard court design).

There's that head again! See it under the bookshelf on the right? Ceremonial tribal objects are probably not the first thing you want next to you as you sleep on your Kroehler Sleep-or-Lounge sofa...who knows what kind of angered ancient spirits might come out of it as you sleep? I'm not saying but I AM saying.

The powder blue and tweed, I love. Also, that paper lantern.

So THESE are the people who paint over wallpaper! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to remove painted-over wallpaper?! Fifties' Laura Dern and her twin fifties' Laura Dern sister need to cut it out!

PS: Did you know how to pronounce the word of the day, Kroehler? I'm embarrassed to say that I've spent a lot of my life avoiding saying this word around other people. Or substituting "Broyhill" even when I know better. Well, no more!

Which part of this fifties' living room is your favorite? Would you adopt/have you adopted any of the vintage color schemes like this in your own home? Do you know better than to paint over wallpaper, unlike Laura Dern? Let's talk!

That's all for today-- see you guys tomorrow!