Duquette DECO-dence!

Oh my, my, my, my, my. I flipped when I came across these old photos of Bullocks Department stores.

In 1935 Tony Duquette was hired by Bullocks to change their interiors to reflect the seasons. Because Los Angeles has no discernible seasons, it was Duquette's job to make it appear as if they did.

Upon seeing his work, legendary decorator Elsie de Wolfe uttered the fated words, "Who is this kid, I've got to meet him." De Wolfe took Duquette under her wing and sent his career soaring.

How's that for some Deco Glam?


images from here

Decodence!

I absolutely love Art Deco architecture. In fact that was one of the factors when buying our little 1939 Streamline Moderne house. With its geometric shapes, symmetrical or asymmetrical, nautical themes, glass block accents and vibrant colors, Deco architecture just thrills me.


Take for instance the historic Art Deco district in the South Beach area of Miami Beach. It contains the largest concentration of 1920's and 30's resort architecture in the world. Some years ago I had the opportunity to visit and was mesmerized by the rows and rows of colorful Art Deco hotels.

These gorgeous images of Miami hotels were photographed by New York-based interior designer, Lissette Carrera. Aren't they fabulous?

Perhaps it's time for some sun and fun in Miami Beach! No Autumn there!

image credits: Lissette Carrera via Flickr

Take me Back to 1939!

The Depression was still underway, Germany had just invaded Poland, but there were some amazing things happening in the US in 1939. Something I wish I could have experienced.

The New York's World Fair ran from 1939-40, and was the largest world fairs of all time. It allowed all visitors to take a look at "the world of tomorrow."

A special version of the Kodak Baby Brownie, made with a special faceplate in 1939 and 1940 for the New York World's Fair. They were sold at the fair and through dealers.

Then there was the San Francisco World's Fair, (The Golden Gate International Exposition) that ran between 1939-40. My grandmother is 99 years old and still reminisces about how magical the fair was. Imagine... she was 30 at the time.

The fair celebrated the opening of two bridges, the Golden Gate and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. I wish I was one of the people in this photo! Doesn't it look fun?

map of the Golden Gate Expo

Treasure Island, a completely flat, artificial island attached to Yerba Buena Island, was built specifically for the Exposition near where the Oakland span and the San Francisco span of the Bay Bridge join.

Tower of the Sun, Golden Gate Exposition, Treasure Island 1939
photo from Lynn Goldfinger collection

These are some "never seen" color photos of the fair that my grandfather had from his days of photography. Pretty amazing as I haven't been able to locate any colored photos of the fair online.

photo from Lynn Goldfinger collection

Throughout the run of the Fair, multi-colored searchlights shot up for one mile in the nighttime sky, and were visible for 100 miles around. The official program described the lighting effects as “chromotherapy.”

photo from Lynn Goldfinger collection

The Golden Gate Exposition captured Art Deco with its spectacular exhibits and pavillions.

The pavillions of 26 nations welcomed visitors from around the world.

Court of Reflections, Golden Gate Exposition
postcard courtesy of postcard.org

I was so fascinated by the design of the Art Deco period that I was determined to purchase a Deco house in San Francisco. Yes, this is our 1939 Deco house below. Now I can at least feel a part of that time!

my house built in 1939