Lastest restorations complete.

Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving!  It was pretty quiet for us unless you count the washing machine giving up and shopping for a new one, a water leak not long after causing us hassle to dry out but luckily my inventory was spared.  So I have been busy around the house and thankful things have been pretty slow as I am sure folks are out shopping retail.  I had time to get my little projects completed including the rocking chair, which I just put the final touched on today. She is stunning!  I photographed today and sent my listing to Chairish.  If you are regional or can meet me for delivery, the etsy listing is live.  I can quote shippers for you if you need it.  

The perfect piece for a covered porch or sun room! Eclectic and Boho lovers will style it up with a Kantha or Kilim!  

When shopping vintage, I know what you will find. This chair had 2 areas of broken weave....it's now repaired. The upholstery was gross and there was an issue with the seat frame....it's now repaired and better than ever.  This chair is as comfy as it looks! 

My side project little wire bench is also complete.  I stripped a bad paint job off her (PAIN IN THE BUTT) and then added a gloss black enamel finish, new rubber feet caps and my custom cushion featuring the Schumacher indoor/outdoor fabric.  It is so adorable!  I can see this fitting a toddler perfect and what a cute bench to use in a photo shoot for the holidays or even Valentine's Day!  I can ship in 24 hours or less. 

Super cute wire bench revamped for another life. At the foot of a bed, under a vanity, prop for photo shoots....many uses! The details have been taken care of for you.

The Hundevad piece is a little wider than the Lane hutch and provides even more storage. Danish Modern is always hot. 

I just sold the Lane Rhythm hutch that was in my booth so I am currently featuring the awesome Hundevad Teak 2pc unit at my best price.  I will warn you the top part will only fit in a full size truck or van.  I am available to help deliver but only if our Vanagon is in a happy mood, no snow or salt on the ground, etc.  It is currently in the shop for winter repairs and inspection so out of commission at this moment.   As of last Friday when I made the swap, the Cathrineholm bowl is still unclaimed!  Add this $50+ valued piece to your collection by making a $200 purchase with me at the Fleetwood Antique Mall!  I have awesome gifts and some great restored furnishings waiting for you.  My local market can be kind of depressing and while I love shipping my items all over the country, it would be a super surprise to find some local MCM fans who appreciate great design and quality restored goods right here in my area.  If you are reading and have any friends who are looking for items to furnish their homes, please send them my way!  I work with interior design pros all over the country and would love to work with more local folks!

Current view. My pair of blue Heywood chairs moved to Texas.  This orange chair is sad and would love a new home too! Priced at my lowest price at the mall for self service customers.

Yesterday was the closing of the Richard Redd Scrapbook Exhibition that I was fortunate to be able to attend last month.  I got to claim my 2 original framed prints and take them home.  I took a few minutes to chat with him and meet his sweet Pomeranian who never leaves his lap.  I told him that my college did not have much of an art department but I did take an acrylic class as an elective after I switched majors.  And I said I 'stuck it out there' since I did not want to transfer.  He told me in the 1950's when he was a student at Lehigh University (where he taught and chaired the Art Department years later), they only had a 2 person art department and he 'stuck it out' as well.  Amazing how your heart leads you where you need to be regardless of what you study.  In my case, my accounting and bookkeeping career is very much useful to me as I would really be sunk if I had to hire someone!  haha  My interests in preserving the stories and histories of the small artists and especially the local and regional artists that I come across in my picking travels is always the main goal.  Sometimes it is hard to find out a lot like in the case of the Bethlehem woman who I have the beautiful floral paintings from, but in the funny way life is, I just happened to revisit google for Mr. Redd's story just in the nick of time to experience his final exhibition and was so thrilled to be able to add a few pieces to my personal collection.  I do occasionally keep items I am smitten by and tend to keep those with trees in them.  haha  The pieces I selected are very much nature inspired! <3 Now to figure out where to hang them!  I also made a donation to the scholarship in his honor that will be started for art students at Lehigh University.  Your support of my business allows me to give back to the museums and organizations that aid me in my research and being able to contribute to this cause was important to me. <3 

Have a great week and I am sure many are getting ready for the holidays!  I have many performances coming up in December with the 2 ensembles I play French Horn with and it is a busy and exciting time of the year! 

xo Malissa

Flokati- it's a rug, it's a throw, Vietnamese silk lanterns.

Last week, I headed out with my friend Laurie for yet another urban picking adventure. We make a day of it with the goal of heading to our favorite estate company and then thrifting and shopping the whole way home.  This trip did not disappoint and although I would say I am not really in spending mode right now, I got some great items at a relatively low cost which always is good!  The highlight of the trip is always a great view of Manhattan from NJ.  I find that shopping in this area gets me a different selection of goods that are not readily available in the more country area I typically shop.  

My favorite picks are the two Flokati rugs I bought home.  I already have one of my own, so both of these are listed for sale.  The Flokati is of Greek origin and is made of wool.  The pile is left long and it has a great shag.  They are used as a throw over a couch, bed or bench and as a rug.  They have some weight to them too.  These are both in excellent condition and have no stains or issues.  One is a larger rectangle size and the other is smaller and almost square.  Take a look and see if you can accommodate one.  They are great for MCM purists, boho and eclectic decors and more.  They add a real nice texture to a space and are a great neutral cream (natural wool) color. Both are listed in my etsy and chairish shops. Great holiday gift!

WIKI: A flokati rug is a handmade shag wool rug. Making flokatis is a long-time tradition of the Vlachs in the Pindus mountains. The natural color of a flokati rug is off-white, but they may be dyed different colors. The entire rug is wool, including the backing from which the tapered shag emerges. After the rug is woven, it is placed in the cold water of a river to fluff the shag. They continue to be handmade in the mountains of Greece and are regarded as desirable in American modern decor and children's rooms.

Next up, to go along with my recent Asian kick, which, by the way, is TRENDING right now!  I buy what I love, but so many times I come home with stuff and start poking around or get an email and whammo, there is my new found style, already being marketed and discussed in one of my markets!  I just got a mailing from F Schumacher, fine purveyor of fabrics, wallpaper and accessories that I have a trade account with and they are launching a fabulous fabric panel line all with beautiful Asian designs.  I do pay attention to current trends in the design world as that is how I stay relevant.   So I found some beautiful Vietnamese Silk Lanterns.  In Hoi An, they celebrate every full moon with a beautiful lantern festival in which thousands of silk lanterns are hung about town all aglow.  I picked up 3 of these lanterns, all with an inner bamboo frame system that collapse for easier storage and shipping.  They are VERY large and I find them very attractive in a grouping but am pricing individually.  The smallest one needs some glue and I have not repaired it yet so have not listed it.  You can find them on etsy.  

I get lost in this beautiful painting. The black background is actually green foliage and pink accents. It was amazingly done! 

I have worked through the art and ming tables I picked up the other week and most everything is live on etsy and chairish.  I hung the paintings in my living room for safe keeping while they wait for a home and I am in love with them.  The details are lovely and it really classes up my space.  I know whomever takes them in will love them just as much.  I added everything I know about the artist, which sadly, is not much.  Most of it from observation of being in her home and not necessarily facts about her art career.  

I just accepted an offer on the Adrian Pearsall Jacks end tables.  The kidney shaped cocktail table is still available.  I will hopefully be looking to bring some of the upholstered items from this lot home shortly.  I keep going round in my head about them.  For as much as I'd love to restore them and then list them for sale or even coordinate the restoration for the buyer, I really do not have the kind of budget to invest into them without having someone lined up to fund it.  I may just offer them as is for the buyer to do their own coordination.  I have a house full of items I have a lot of money invested into and they just do not seem to find homes fast.  It makes me sad but it is what it is.  I cannot tie more money up into things that sit for a year or more.  That said, if you really love them and want me to help you get them done, I will gladly and enthusiastically take on the project.  

As the push to the holiday season approaches, I will be trying to get through some back stock to list and may even thin some of my personal collections.  I did just list an amazing tension pole lamp that I was planning on keeping but decided since I have another to restore that can replace it, I will let it go.  Keep checking my Facebook and instagram for latest additions to the inventory as I usually post it there first.  

Heading out for the weekend so any sales that come in will be shipped Monday.  Have a great weekend!  xo Malissa

Fall Lookbook- Mad Mod World Vintage STYLE!

I always try to keep up with current trends because lets face it, not all of you want a home that looks like you just stepped into the 1950's!  (Ok, I know there is a chunk of us that would like nothing more!!!!) In reality, not all of us are furnishing period homes.  The good news is mixing your furniture styles is very much IN for the fall season!  That means you can add pops of mid century in with your farmhouse or cottage décor and really pull it off.  Good news for my friends in PA that seem to always end up in farmhouse or shabby chic haven!  Good design is timeless and even if the 'experts' are saying it's tired and ready to move on, I have news for them....there are legions of folks passionate about the era and it's offerings so I do not feel they are on base with that prediction.  Only time will tell.  If you follow my shop, you will see I tend to walk the lines and will always say YES to something that I feel adds an interesting visual appeal or texture to a space, even if it is OUT of the era.  I do have many interior designer clients so having things that appeal to them is very important to me.

Color trends for this fall include BLUSH, which they tend to pair with deep dark colors or let's say my navy day bed!  I pictured this day bed in a space like a nursery or den.  Style that is functional and a great piece for a part time retreat. The cushions are brand new and very thick foam which is quite comfortable for lounging with a new baby or for an overnight guest. Day beds are trending now as well.  This one is better than new!  The beautiful velvety fabric is from Joybird's pet and kid friendly line as well.  All original details were recreated including the piping and tufting. All cushions feature zipper entry and the metal base features sexy hairpin legs.  This truly is a fabulous piece!  Swatches shown below are all fabrics from F Schumacher, which I am able to purchase for you!  Most are available in custom pillows as well if you are not crafty.  I would love to work with you and have access to everything they offer on the website.  I can order samples from them as well, and I definitely recommend that!

I have incorporated some other fabulous trends in this style sheet including VELVETS and FURS which add great texture to a space and are ON TREND for fall and honestly, they have been trending for a while. Mixing textures and patterns is a fabulous way to go and gives a great eclectic, boho or 'jungalow' style. This is another great way to jazz up the standard MCM piece.  Typically, mcm is very minimalistic and can get bland and sterile.  Your choice in popping colors, patterns and textures are really what makes it fit in with other eras and really softens the often hard, sleek lines of the design.  Accessories will really allow you to incorporate these pieces as trends change, and you know, they will!   A new coat of paint on the walls, some throw pillows and even a new area rug can give you a whole different look without spending a whole lot.  This is why investing in refinished vintage goods is the better option than say, Target's reproduction line.  Those things are made in china and not made to withstand 60 years of use.  With some love, these restored pieces will hold their value and will most likely become more valuable as the years go on. 

With this said, another great trend is woven and wicker goods!  I can see why!  As I worked on reweaving my Italian Ladder Back chairs I can tell you that I fell in love with the look.  The modernist shape of these chairs and cartoon exaggerated backs was almost humorous and because they have the same farmhouse chic style as a traditional chair, they can morph into a lot of different dining rooms and be accepted.  I left the black chippy finish alone but did add a clear coat over all the wood.  I felt that this aged finish was perfect for today's shabby trends and by all means, I am not an advocate of faux finishes.  In fact, I will be the first one to say there is nothing durable about a chalk paint finish at all!  Before you spend money on this, know that every woodworker I work with thinks it is a crap finish and will definitely cause you strife in the long run.  I made a set of 6 incorporating 2 natural chairs with the 4 black.  I think it also adds interest to the set! 

Woven accents also include textiles!  Just so happens I have been acquiring some fabulous pieces!  My new obsession is rugs....Persian, Turkish.  All hand woven, a bit shabby from age and in fabulous bright hues, they will add an exotic air to your space.  These pieces have been a mystery to me and if you have been following along, can have some maintenance involved.  Of all the things I have bought and sold, I will say that a good rug will cost you. The good thing is, they are heirloom pieces (just like any decent mcm treasure!) so if it is taken care of, it will provide your family with years of use and grace your floors with excitement!  I always here BLOND is OUT! Well, let me tell you, this fall's trends look fabulous with light wood and many natural and light finished pieces are showing in this fall's trends!  A great time to snatch up some Heywood Wakefield, that always presents well in a social setting!  Sleek, curvy and smart, it truly ebbs and flows in and out over the years but one thing is for certain, it is well made and a joy to refinish!  Most pieces found 'in the wild' have issues, but it can almost always be saved!  This collection of end tables were all trashed when I found them and now they are gorgeous!  I collect this brand myself so if you want to know more about it, I would love to help you along.  It is addicting and reminds me of school furniture, perhaps because they did make the old wooden school chairs we remember from our youth!  With all the darks coming back en vogue for wall treatments and accessories, now is a great time to add some lighter woods to your décor! They also look great with exotic designs, textures and bright colors!

Adding a fun bright pop of color to an otherwise neutral room is so much fun! I have selected some swatches from F Schumacher's collection of wall coverings to show you how fun this can be. Featuring some dark shades as the trends are calling for and also some basic neutrals.  We built our home in 2004 and the whole living room is tan and brown.  For me, accenting with bright colors makes my room feel pulled together instead of bland.  Throw pillows, curtains and chairs are my relief!  I choose bright colors for these beautiful Heywood Wakefield side chairs because I know there are many boring rooms that needs some color.  Because I also collect Heywood Wakefield myself, I can assure you I put much care into my restorations.  They are fabulous and fun and I cannot believe they are still here!  The blue pair has well over 100 <3s on chairish!  Because they are smaller, I can totally pack these for the bus and each chair would probably ship for around $60 cross country! 

No matter what your style, color and texture is universal to bringing it all together!  Have fun with it!  I would love to help you along in your decorating either with some new furniture or help you select some wallpapers or fabrics!  I represent Joybird and F Schumacher and can be your go to gal for anything you need!  Reach out anytime to discuss!   xo Malissa

A quick note to the locals!  My furniture featured at Fleetwood Antique Mall is now 50% off!  Come on out and grab them!  Cash and Carry please!  I would love to find them homes and redecorate the space for fall!  Send your friends! WED-SUN 10-6 14129 Kutztown Rd (Route 222), Fleetwood, PA 19522ots of new listings in the etsy shop too! 

This pair of late 1800's Empire side chairs are mahogany and have red velvet covered seats.  That can be swapped out and I would gladly help you with that! Reach out with any requests! 

Web site redesign launched!

I fell down a rabbit hole last week adding myself to Houzz.  I went to add the button to my web page and then decided to completely redo it entirely!  Please pop over and check it out!  I have hopefully made it better to navigate and used a different layout, which I really like.  I am still adding things, so not all of my customized pieces are logged yet but hope to get to that this week.  I also added my blog sign up form to page one instead of a splash page.  I had a few people express that they did not like it and I get it, but generally speaking, people won't sign up unless it is in their face!  ;)  Please reach out if you find something not working or something is just awkward so I can tweak it!  xo Web page link

I ordered some caning/weaving books which are coming today as I am having trouble figuring out how the weave was done in my dining chairs.  Hopefully one of the 3 books coming will address it.  If not, I will pick one that is in there and go with it.  I am anxious to get moving on them so they are ready to list.  

I just ordered chair glides for the 40/4 stacking chair set I have.  I know I lost a sale a while back because of the glide issue and I also did not directly deal with the customer or I would have bought them and sent them.  So I sourced the parts and will be installing them so they are ready to go and will not scratch floors.  If you like the commercial/industrial look, need a solid heavy and sturdy chair set for home or office, give them a look!  The chair has great history and is in fact the chair that all subsequent stacking chairs have strived to be like.  An ingenious design and a sleek look, the matched set of 4 will make a great add for your seating needs.  Check them out here:  40/4 stacking chairs by David Rowland

I am very happy to move a few items that have been here for a while over the last week. (and 2 bus shipments that have once again reminded me how REASONABLE it is to ship a chair across the country on the bus!!!)  I am also gearing up for a few auctions ending today that I plan on bidding on a few things so will see if I end up with anything.  I have a friend who is also interested in buying so I am able to spend the day on Friday hitting some sales with her in North Jersey.  I am very excited and it will be a fun day.  Maybe I will even come home with some cool stuff!  Keep your eyes on my social media!  

Looking for something?  With all of these sales I am hitting, let me know if you are looking for something specific!  I will certainly look for you!  It's hard for me to keep buying on my limited budget!  Regional and local peeps, this means you!  haha  In an effort to expand my regional presence, I have been mailing postcards out to Interior Design and photography pros in the area.  If you know of someone in Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery, Bucks, Lancaster, Lebanon areas who may rent furnishings for shoots or staging or even someone who may just need to keep my card on file in case something comes up in the future, let me know!  Working with professionals in my own area is a goal of mine for this year.  I love servicing the nation, don't get me wrong, but I feel there may be a need for my services here as well if people know about it. 

NEW TO HOUZZ!  Click the widget below and visit my page!  I'd appreciate if any of my past customers would leave me a review to get me started! xo 

MadModWorldVintage Featured on Houzz

Thank you for your time and enjoy your week!  xo Malissa

UPDATE!  I had success at my auctions last night! The following will be available when I get them picked up!  

Danish Teak open bookcase! It is amazing! Can you see an awesome collection displayed here?! 

Another amazing piece! Glass top dining table featuring lucite legs and brass details.  27" tall by 52" diameter. 

I also got a cool champagne ice bucket on a stand and some mod serving pieces from another sale that I will be picking up on Friday!  I have a great north jersey picking adventure with a friend this week! Totally looking forward to it! 

Projects in the works, Pyrex and Retro Fest in MD

I am in the middle of restoring the Broyhill Brasilia set of dining chairs and boy are they beauties! I love the fabric I chose with the deep walnut finish.  Two chairs are finished, 2 more need seats done and structural issues tended to.  I hope to have them finished and listed in the next week.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, please reach out as I can do a private listing for you.  These chairs were pretty rough when they came to me and I uncovered the original seat fabric.  They were in a less than stellar storage situation and quite frankly, they were pretty gross.  I stripped down to the plywood and replaced the foam and cotton, then covered in the beautiful PURE WATER fabric by Joybird.  It looks so pretty!  Here is a sneak peek!  

The first 2 chairs are finished!  They cleaned up very nicely!  Some more work to do on the last 2 but hopefully will have them done this week.

Next up, I also spent some time cleaning the Zenith made Eames shell chair I bought!  A little scared of the fiberglass, it really cleaned up much better than I expected!  It is such a lovely color, GREIGE.  The rocker base came from Modern Conscience and boy is it nice!  Very well made and very sturdy.  I am thrilled with it!  I am not ready to part with it just yet…..it is a nice compact size and fits in a smaller space, unlike any of the other chairs I have tried to keep and realized they were too large for my intended area!  The good news is, I am planning to visit my friends again real soon and there is another shell there I could buy so I am thinking of picking that one up to do for sale.  I will keep you guys posted,  It was black fiberglass with black vinyl upholstery.  It was in decent shape but may have some gluing to do on the upholstery.  I am really smitten with the rocker base and glad I went with the Modern Conscience piece as the black hardware just makes the piece, in my opinion!  What do you think?

PYREX AND RETRO FEST!   I will be participating in the PYREX AND RETRO FEST hosted by JoRetro Vintage Market in Havre De Grace, MD….OCTOBER 8th.  I have the flier pinned to the top of my Facebook page with the link to the event info.  Facebook.com/madformodmalissa  I hope to meet some friends at the event!  It should be a fun day and looking forward to spending the afternoon in this cute bayside town.  I plan on taking my 3 totes of pyrex items, a very cool cosco cart, and a bunch of my wholesale items like the Indian Kantha Quilts, throw rugs and kitchen towels.  If you want me to bring something for you, please shout!  I will do whatever I can to accommodate any requests.  We are expecting as many as 30 vendors and of course, JoRetro is open for shopping!  Jolene has many fun things planned and many super exciting items coming in!  There will be pyrex jewelry, stickers and more.  You should definite plan to attend!  A great day trip from DC, PA, NJ and MD.  Please look over my shops and let me know if I can bring something for you!  EVENT LINK  This is an outdoor event.  Please pack appropriately for the weather!  Food and vintage vendors galore!

Mall update:  I revamped my booth again yesterday!  The kitchen set has sold and I am putting it on the bus in the morning.  :)  Yea!  I moved in the turquoise Carsons club chair….the last piece I have from that awesome set which is in impeccable condition!  Priced at $300.  Also on display is the limed oak top side table with hairpin legs.  Its is gorgeous!  Stop by and see them!  Extravaganza is still going on tomorrow in Kutztown and always lots of yard sales in the area!  Sunday, it moves to Adamstown but we are only a 1/2 hour away with much better prices!   

Thanks for checking in!  Things have been moving fast and I am adding lots of small items to the etsy shop as fast as I can in between all of the packing and restoring I have been doing.  Shop early for the best holiday gift selections!!! And don't forget to stop by the ebay shop featuring many items from my wholesaler, Primitives by Kathy, hand selected by me to fit my eclectic shop! xo Malissa