Shelterpop

The Return of the Roadside Motel

Phoebe Assenza — 2010-10-05T13:57:00 00:00

Filed under: Famous Homes, Design, etc, News & Trends, Cool Homes

As the mid-century modern revival hits its stride, the best motels across the country are making a stylish comeback -- thanks to some forward-thinking designers.

Before airline travel was so accessible, families hit the road when it was time for a vacation. Catering to huge numbers of car travelers in the 50s and 60s, restaurants and quirky roadside attractions sprouted up along a newly connected interstate highway system. Everyone needed a place to sleep, and the "motel" was born -- inexpensive, short-term accommodations designed expressly for the traveling motorist.

Photo: Courtesy of The Postcard Inn

The one- or two-story block-style buildings, with guestroom doors looking over the motel's parking lot, were remarkably useful during the American road trip's heyday. But as the average American joined the jet-set, road trips took a back seat to resort vacations, and many of these mid-century structures were literally left on the side of the road.

Today, with relatively stable gas prices, the hassle of airline travel and our general tendency to revisit old pastimes, the Great American Road Trip is back. And in tandem with this motoring trend, dilapidated, woebegone motels are getting some fresh face lifts, making way for some of the best motels we've seen.

"We've seen more young people taking road trips in the past year than ever before," says Doug Kirby, founder of Roadside America. "They share their roadside discoveries and pictures on the web and with their iPhones," he explains, so the popularity of the road trip just keeps on growing.

Since American road warriors are the new leisure class, there is a breed of boutique motels that have popped up to meet the needs of the sophisticated car traveler. Think: luxurious trimmings, modern hospitality and a commitment to the preservation of the motel's mid-century charm. Let's take a tour of the best motels, shall we?

The Jupiter is on the edge of downtown Portland, Oregon. Photos: Courtesy of The Jupiter

The Jupiter, Portland, OR

A speakeasy called "Sam's Hideaway" once sat on the edge of Portland's downtown area, catering to a handful of local politicians, "with an emphasis on 'discreet'." Next door to Sam's was a seedy motel, so you can imagine both establishments shared a decidedly salacious heyday. When Kelsey Bunker and Tod Breslau, a lawyer and restaurateur, respectively, discovered the motel in the earlier part of this decade, it had long been in a sad state.

The two business partners worked with local designers, Skylab, and used the motel's original structure to create what is now a party-centric destination for Portland visitors, and a laid-back hangout for locals.

The 80-room Jupiter pairs clean, minimalist design with splashes of color, and the original parking lot has been transformed into the bamboo-edged "Dream Tent" space, with removable ceiling panels, greenery, loveseats and free WiFi. As for Sam's Hideaway, it's now the Doug Fir Lounge, which pays decorative homage to the Pacific Northwest's forests and serves as a sleek space for live music and Saturday night revelry.

The Postcard Inn, St. Pete Beach, Florida. Photos: Courtesy of The Postcard Inn.

The Postcard Inn, St. Pete Beach, FL

When B.R. Guest Restaurants took over an old Travelodge from 1957, they didn't touch any of the building's architecture, but they did raise a ceiling or two to create a bright, airy, surf-themed guest experience at The Postcard Inn On The Beach.

"It's definitely a more laid-back atmosphere than you'll find at other motels in the area -- the kind of places where the bedspreads in the rooms are the same floral fabric as the curtains," says designer Tara Oxley.

Oxley was inspired by the local surfing community in St. Pete Beach and worked with local surf photographers to curate the inn's art collection. She also sourced furnishings and décor from local designers as much as she could. All of the genuine mid-century lamps in the rooms and common areas, like the lobby and library, came from Janet's and the Wagon Wheel, two thrift stores in town.

Photos: Courtesy of The Ace Hotel.

The Ace Hotel, Palm Springs

This rundown, 60s-era motel in Palm Springs shared a block of land with a Denny's restaurant and a local dive bar called The Amigo Room before the Ace Hotel group transformed the grounds and turned it into their newest location.

Now it's more like a resort than a motel, but the The Ace Hotel & Swim Club (a giant pool has been installed in its old parking lot) has tons of original mid-century pieces punctuating its clean and modern redesign. An original terrazzo floor was unearthed when they stripped the diner's linoleum floors, so they shined it up and kept it where it was. And the original vinyl booths -- they're now reupholstered with leather. The refurbished Amigo Room is now the hotel's bar, and since it's been a mainstay watering hole in the area for years, you're likely to see a real local ranch hand saddle up beside you while you're sipping a Kiwi Caphirina at the bar.

Photos: Courtesy of The Thunder Bird.

The Thunder Bird in Marfa, TX

As Marfa, Texas becomes one of the country's most important arts and cultural epicenters, it makes sense that one of its older motels would get a careful and stylish redesign.

This horseshoe-shaped structure is all about light, air and privacy. Original touches like handmade textiles and an international collection of art add warmth and coziness to an otherwise stark and minimal concrete and wood structure. Functional vintage pieces like record players in the rooms, a "vinyl library" and old typewriters pay heed to its mid-century roots, while the cowhide rugs and locally-sourced pecan wood furniture add authentic Texan anchors to its ambiance.

Here's another mid-century modern motel that has us drooling -- Acapulco's Hotel Boca Chica.

And now that you've got motels on the brain, check out these great stories from other AOL sites:
Confessions of a Motel Maid
It's Time to Reconsider Motel 6

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A Backyard Makeover in Brooklyn

Phoebe Assenza — 2010-09-27T14:17:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Projects

How two Brooklyn residents made the best of their weathered, wooden patio space.

It doesn't happen for many apartment hunters, let alone apartment hunters in New York City, but Molly Berta and Jarrod Gorbel lucked out: They stumbled upon a clean, roomy living space in a great neighborhood that doesn't cost a fortune. But the real draw -- it has an outdoor space that is bigger than a postage stamp. A lot bigger.

The large, outdoor patio has made Molly, a fashion marketing manager, and her boyfriend Jarrod, a musician, both the envy and most celebrated barbecue hosts among their friends. Their apartment, located in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, had a slightly rundown outdoor space when they moved in, but it was full of outdoor entertaining potential. Molly quickly devised an inexpensive design strategy, planning a day trip upstate to visit a few thrift stores.

Jarrod and Molly relaxing on the patio. Photo: Lucy Hamblin

"I didn't want it to look new and fancy, full of matching clay pots, because the patio itself is bit weathered," Molly says. She decided to work with its worn wooden planks, picket fence and pattern block walls, "instead of against it."

The end result is a warm, inviting, yet clean and minimal, decidedly rustic space. Molly used vintage canisters, crates and even an old-timey cooler as planters, alongside larger functional pieces, like a chaise lounge and picnic table, that she bought new from West Elm.

"(The vintage pieces) looked like they had already survived 10 winters in New York, so I thought they could handle a few more," she says.

Here's the patio before she began the makeover. It didn't look like an obvious place to hang out, but Molly had a vision.

A look at the old patio. Photo: Molly Berta

And here's a view of the new patio. Now that's a transformation! It's easy to see why Molly and Jarrod are the envy of all of their friends. Molly let the rustic charm of the patio work for her, adding lights and lanterns along the aging fence and arranging lots of fresh greenery around the perimeter.

"I wanted it to look and feel inviting, relaxing and BBQ ready," she says. But she had to do it on a budget, so she incorporated many things she already owned. Take the vintage tricycle she found a few years ago in Austin, TX; it's now a decorative prop on the patio, adding some depth and character to one of the deck's corners.

Photo: Lucy Hamblin

No need to buy new chairs. These yellow and green, heavy-duty plastic chairs were left behind by the previous tenant. Molly cleaned them up and mixed them with the other colorful furnishings.

She also strung Christmas lights around the deck's perimeter for easy, day-to-night transitions. It wouldn't be an outdoor space without greenery, so Molly added lots of it. "I get all of my plants from this store called Graceful Gardens in Williamsburg," she says. "They always have plants I've never seen before and original floral designs." Figuring out which plants will survive year-round outdoors is tricky, she says. Right now, there are lots of succulents and tomato plants.

After a summer of outdoor parties, Molly isn't retiring inside anytime soon. Time for a fire pit and some marshmallow roasting!

Photos by Lucy Hamblin

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Our Picks: Top 5 Flea Markets in the Country

Phoebe Assenza — 2010-08-30T11:40:00 00:00

Filed under: Fun Stuff, Design, etc

Brooklyn Flea

Our favorite places for antiquing, thrifting and finding all things vintage.

Those of us with a soft spot for nostalgia or a pirate's-level enthusiasm for buried treasures know there are few greater joys than whiling away a Sunday at an overstuffed flea market. If it weren't for these indoor and outdoor bazaars brimming with vintage finds, my sister and I would have a lot less to brag about. (Her most recent gem: a collection of 50s-era table lighters found at the Long Beach Antique and Collectibles Market. Mine: A faux-Victorian nightstand made in the 70s, scored at New York City's Chelsea Flea Market.)

From the coast of California to the borough of Brooklyn, these are the best places to find your new favorite things.

Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire

The Most Picturesque: Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire, Alameda, CA

Because of its stringent vendor rules (all items for sale must be at least twenty years old), and the scarcity of quality antiques shows in the Bay Area, the Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire draws a regular crowd of high-end antique dealers and serious collectors. The show's co-founder and organizer, Alan Michaan, even stresses that it shouldn't be called a mere flea market. But that shouldn't scare off the casual shopper; there are still plenty of bargains to be made among its 800 booths of vintage stereos, 60s-mod dining room furniture, classic Barbie dolls, and of course, much more.

"You can find something for one dollar or one thousand dollars," says Michaan, who also runs a nearby estate sale and auction in conjunction with the monthly show. The Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire is situated on a postcard-perfect stretch of the San Francisco Bay, on a former naval base's landing strip. The faire and estate sales take place the first Sunday of every month, rain or shine, even on holidays such as Easter, and the auction previews happen the following Tuesday and Wednesday.

Long Beach Antique and Collectible Market

The Most Fun: Long Beach Outdoor Antique and Collectible Market, Long Beach, CA

Right in the heart of Southern California's patio-living culture (nearly smack-dab between Los Angeles and Orange County), the Long Beach Outdoor Antique and Collectible Market (mentioned earlier) hosts a huge assortment of outdoor furniture, garden ceramics and statuary. Lynn and Donald Moger have managed the show, which takes place once a month at Veterans' Stadium, since 1982, and they also enforce a 20-year rule, so you know the bounty of Fiestaware and 50s-era Pyrex bowls aren't recent reproductions.

Lynn is most proud of the creativity her show inspires, and she says that she's seen "an old railroad cart purchased for use as a coffee table and vintage file cabinets converted into a bedroom dresser." One of its best perks? "Real restrooms!" The Long Beach Outdoor Antique and Collectible Market takes place the third Sunday of every month, rain or shine. Because of its sunny beach side location and popular beer vendors, the show has a decidedly street fair feel, and locals come by each week just to walk around and soak up the sea breeze.

Brooklyn Flea

The Coolest Newcomer: Brooklyn Flea, Brooklyn, NY

As the borough continues to rival and perhaps surpass Manhattan as a real estate hotbed and cultural epicenter, Brooklynites need a quality flea market of their own. After opening in 2008, the Brooklyn Flea has become the preeminent spot to score vintage furniture, décor, clothing and handmade goods. Last winter, the show expanded to include two weekly events: one is outdoors in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, the other is inside a former Brooklyn bank built in the 1920s. The historic landmark, known as One Hanson, has limestone and marble interiors, intricate mosaics and is a marvel in itself.

"It has these beautiful, vast aisles you can get lost in. You might even forget where you are," says Brooklyn Flea's co-founder and organizer, Eric Demby. If you don't walk away with the perfect art deco vanity, you will leave with a full stomach. Food is a major focal point of the Brooklyn Flea, and you'll find one of the best smattering of tacos, cupcakes, lobster rolls, cannoli and Asian-inspired hot dogs in the country.

Texas Antique Weekend. Photo: Stan Williams / elegantthrifter.blogspot.com

The Biggest: Texas Antique Weekend, from Fayetteville to Carmine, TX

Everything is bigger in Texas, and its premiere flea market is no exception. Texas Antique Weekend is a twice-yearly chain of shows that spans over 30 acres along Highway 237, at a midpoint between Houston and Austin. In April and October of every year, vendors from all over the country showcase items like Majolica ceramics, mid-century holiday decorations, small Victorian items, ranch oak furniture and basically everything else in between.

Stan Williams, author of The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details (Clarkson Potter; 2009) puts Texas Antique Weekend at the top of his personal list and described it this way: "If you want big, expensive items, they're there. If you want junk, it's there. It really has everything." Because of its massive size, diverse spread, and semi-annual schedule, there is no such thing as a casual visit to the Texas Antique Weekend. Whether you're a devout or amateur thrifter, make a shopping holiday out of it. Check the show's website for maps, events, dealer list, restaurants and lodging info.

The Treasure Mart

Honorable Mention: Treasure Mart, Ann Arbor, MI

Rather than wait until the region is sufficiently thawed-out to hold an outdoor flea market, the Ann Arbor-Detroit area is home to a year-round, three-story emporium of vintage goods. Not technically a flea market by design but thoroughly so in spirit, the Treasure Mart contains 8,500 square feet of delightfully curated and highly organized mid-century home furnishings, vintage clothing, costume jewelry, ceramics, dishware, and loads of small, inexpensive kitsch. Housed in a historic building that was once a mid-19th century planing mill, the Treasure Mart also has an outdoor area full of vintage patio furniture spanning a few decades. Visit TreasureMart.Wordpress.com for more details.

Still have flea markets on the brain?
Flea Marketing 101
What's Your Favorite Spot to Score Deals on Décor?
My Two Cents: 5 Ways To Stay Fabulous On A Budget

And if you haven't already, Enter our contest to win a gallon of paint (and a personalized color consultation with Martha Stewart's protege Kevin Sharkey!)

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One Modern Home, Made to Order

Phoebe Assenza — 2010-08-23T15:29:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, House Tours, Architecture

"We actually don't know what is 'the front' of the house. It's an ongoing argument between my husband and I. I think it's where the entry court is." Photo: Ruth Hasell

Two architects imagine the house of their dreams in sunny Southern California.

When Ruth Hasell and her husband Gary set out to build their dream home from scratch, they had a wide frame of reference to draw from. The two are both architects in Southern California -- a place with a rich history in residential design; the area has been a base for modern pioneers such as Frank Gehry, Richard Neutra and Donald Wexler.

With Ruth's background in designing homes and offices for clients in California, and Gary's career as a planner, designer and builder for Disney's hotels in Asia, what did the Hasells want when it was time to build a home for themselves?

"We wanted a modern house that was contextual, but not something that looked like all the neighbors' places," says Ruth. "Something 'California' that's appropriate to our climate and latitude."

Ruth Hansell

After five years of planning, obtaining permits, sourcing and building, the end-result is a stunning hillside ranch house -- but not a typical one-story bungalow. The Hasells were careful to make sure the home fits to the natural contours of the hill on which it is built, which meant they had to be "less concerned with symmetry and how it looks, and more concerned with how it feels; making it more experiential."

Below are photos and a guided tour by Ruth, so you can experience their modern homestead, too.

Ruth Hasell

"Here, you're looking at the entry from the garage. That bit of roof, which was made with standing seam metal is what adjoins the house to the garage."

Ruth Hasell

(Left) "We installed a 56-foot skylight here, which is one of two in the house. It illuminates the center of the house, and we get to watch the clouds pass throughout the day. Once, we saw a double rainbow that stretched across the entire house." (Right) "The whole roof is separated from the walls by windows around the edge of the house, so there is a patch of light in every space. The counter here serves as a natural gathering place for guests."

Ruth Hasell

"The sun moving across the skylights always puts a different pattern on the wall. At night, when it's really bright and clear, the moon casts shadows, as well."

Ruth Hasell

(Left) "This a view the of outdoor patio from the living room. There's an outdoor fireplace there, and my daughter, Ariel, says it's the best place for coyote watching." (Right) "We're not alone on this, but we like to use our things as part of the décor -- our books, our dishes. It adds color to a house and gives it dimension."

Ruth Hasell

"This is the master bedroom. We positioned the bed facing east, so we wake up to spectacular sunrises."

Ruth Hasell

"We used different species of wood for different parts of the house. The floors are in what's colloquially known as 'tiger bamboo,' an eco-friendly, sustainable material with a lively pattern, which is a nice contrast to the concrete walls."

Ruth Hasell

The cabinets are made of walnut, and the structural beams throughout the house are made of Douglas Fir.

Ruth Hasell

The master bathroom was constructed with all-natural material like stone, concrete and glass.

Ruth Hasell

"All the main rooms have large pocket doors that extend the space to the surrounding outdoor decks," says Ruth, who wanted to incorporate the outdoor spaces into the living spaces.

Ruth Hasell

Top: A view of the house with the pool, day and night. Bottom: A view of the house from the green space behind it.

Ruth Hasell

From left: Laundry room, staircase leading to Ruth's office and a meeting area for Ruth's clients, which also has a great view of the pool.

Ruth Hasell

In a borrowed Japanese style, the Hasells had most of the storage, "...built in. Less need for Ikea," Ruth says, "and [it] leaves space for a few featured pieces."

Ruth Hasell

The Hasell family's inaugural Thanksgiving in their new home, with a few guests -- wish we'd been there ourselves!

Still smitten over this house tour? Come check out another top notch home from our design crush (and Martha Stewart's protogé) Kevin Sharkey! And scroll to the bottom for an amazing opportunity to win a personal color consultation with Kevin!

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Color Diary: The World of Purple

Phoebe Assenza — 2010-08-23T08:43:00 00:00

Filed under: Color, Design, etc

Photo: Kevin O'Shea Designs

Purple is not just for little girls. And it's not just an accent color. What we learned about using this wedge of the color wheel at home.

I've always been obsessed with purple. I preferred it to girlie-pink when I was a kid, even as an aspiring fairy princess. In high school, when I was old enough to art-direct my own bedroom, I had my dad paint the walls a deep lavender to contrast my all-black IKEA bedroom set (this was in the 90s, when black furniture was somewhat the rage.)

I've always thought purple and its various hues, like violet, orchid and plum as The Thinking Girl's pink. But after a few years with a lavender sleep chamber, I felt I'd grown out of the entire purple wedge of the color wheel, and have since switched to pale blue for the accent walls in my apartment.

"Up until a few years ago, people thought of purple as kind of childish," says Lauren Nelson, an artist and interior designer based in Boston, Mass. "My clients would only consider it for their kids' rooms."

But let's remember that Tyrian purple dye was rare, expensive and highly coveted by ancient Romans, before it became the signature color among European monarchs. So, the color has a regal history, too.

It now seems that purple, in all its variations, is making a comeback in fashion and interiors.

"We're using it as a grounding color for rooms now, instead of just an accent color, like on a pillow or a throw," Nelson says.

Not sure if you're ready for pansy-purple walls or an aubergine sofa? New York City-based interior designer Kevin O'Shea offers the following insight on how he decorates with purple:
o. Combine purple with a pop of bright yellow. There is something harmonious and cheerful in the contrast.
o. You can also use purple in all-white environments. A dark purple cashmere throw on an all-white bed is a simple way to elevate the sense of richness and luxury in a room.
o. A purple lampshade on a vintage chrome or nickel lamp makes a bold statement in a living room that won't overwhelm.
O'Shea says that purple also "lends itself to unexpected applications," and suggests painting the inside of a closet with a soft violet for "an unexpected touch of luxury." Or, change the walls of a powder room to royal purple for a "jewel box" feel.

As for me, I'm poring over swatches of violet as I prepare to repaint my kitchen. I think it will look fantastic against the stainless steel organizers I already have on the walls.

And for extra inspiration, we've assembled some of our favorite new items in delicious shades of purple:

Photos Clockwise: IKEA, Crate & Barrel, oly, Sur La Table, HUNTER, Crate & Barrel, Urban Outfitters

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