smart?

We are smart. I am a self- proclaimed genius and Hooper's husband calls her his little idiot- savant. (awww) Why am I telling you this?...Because after we lacquered the furniture from Craig's List (Hoop's new vanity, dresser and headboard), I decided to research what we had, only to find that in original condition our furniture was listed on Ebay from $1500 to $1800. a piece. Brief Panic....I called Hooper, bigger panic... Have we altered history?... have we made a mockery of mid century modern furniture? ...Have we used our powers for evil?

 Turns out we bought a brutalist stlye piece that Lane furniture had commisioned an artist to design in the early 1970's.

 Want a cool history lesson? Here is a pic. like one of the pieces we bought...

Brutalist was a style that became popular in architecture after WWII. It started in England and quickly spread our way... comes from 'beton brut' which means 'raw concrete'.  The style began to take over commercial architecture and as all things do filtered into furnishings...

Kind of looks like our dresser...

 

Totally dig this home for sale in Wilmington... See the mid. century brutalist influence even today?...

So.... What have we done? We knew it was great when we bought it, we just didn't know HOW great.

We took some pretty cool furniture with a dated finish and made it current. Was this a bad thing? For the people that collect Lane mid. century modern furniture in original condition...yes. For the people that appreciate the georgeous lines but yet want a piece that will feel current in thier home today with a beautiful finish?...no.  Something that is considered an antique or retro is always at its hightest value in its original condition. But for us the piece in the best condition was the one we turned into the vanity. And it would not of worked in Hoop's bathroom in that finish. The other finishes had 'muddied' a bit and were not pretty anymore -- discolored in all the wrong places.

Lucky for you it's pretty now and still for sale!

 Want to own a piece of history? Call us, we'll hook you up...

 Bye,bye birdie,

~A & H

credit to: Lane, Orange Co. Government Center, Acumen Real Estate

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Write by: AN - Monday, November 8, 2010