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Old Radios, More or Less

1/22/2014

4 Comments

 
PictureMore- Cozy chair by the fireplace, old radio on the mantel.
Minimalism--a term referring to styles displaying pared-down design elements--is a popular trend in home décor. It is in one word--simplicity. Everything must have clean lines; be clutter-free, sleek and simple. 
The concept
strips a household to the bare bones. It suggests austerity to me,  I can see only one advantage. A look so understated, that it defies time, might at times, serve a purpose.
Most of us can recall a decorating trend from the past we now find laughable. The yellowish-brown shag carpeting that wilted underfoot in the family room, the dark faux wood panels that heralded the den, or the pink mini-roses wallpaper slapped up in the bedroom. It's understandable how an new idea could develop to buck the backlash of a timeworn trend.

Picture
More- Cushy pillows, a fluffy soft throw, another old radio (console), and Fuzzy in the window.
Minimalism offers stone cold hard granite, sleek stainless steel, concrete and lacquered surfaces to create a modern aesthetic. More (as I'm referring to an older aesthetic) or (maximism as Russ refers to it) offers warmth, softness, and a pleasant comfy surrounding. An ascetic, I'm not; I have to admit I love comfort.  And, I don't think of myself as old-fashioned.

I have an anti-gravity chair, a Keurig K60/K65 Special Edition Brewer and an iPad. But to be truthful, on a foggy, chilly, winter evening,  I'd much rather lounge in an overstuffed chair with a cup of slow-brewed tea and a good book. I want the reassurance of things familiar--like an old friend. I want to turn on the old radios and listen to music I've heard before. I want to know that in a world--where change happens at such a fast pace,  at times it seems almost possible to get thrown off--that some things are still predictable; that they haven't changed.

 Minimalism is full of adjectives that seem to me  to be antonyms of what creates a home. I'll take old radios, warm kitties, soft blankies and sink-in-so-deep-you-get-lost plush chairs over minimalism-- any day.

Till next time,

Regards,

Sue
phlog's blog

What do you think? Are old radios a good decorating idea?
4 Comments
Roger Powell
1/22/2014 11:13:52 pm

I'm on the Facebook ARF group. I repair/restore radios and have been doing so for 25+ years.
I have seen a trend change in the last several years of people decorating with antique radios.
Even seems like the younger generation is really involved with collecting radios now.
I have young couples bring their radios too repair, rep ain't...etc. they trend more to the "retro" look.
I draw the line at cutting cabinets or chalk painting...this I will not do.

Reply
Sue Webb
1/22/2014 11:32:42 pm

Ding, ding, ding, ding. Thank you, Roger! You are the first person to respond to one of my blogs. I am truly appreciative. :) Now, I'll sit back down--was jumping for joy--and reply. Yes, I do believe there is a renewed interest in old radios. I think people have come to appreciate how truly special and magical they were. They fascinated, entertained and amazed people. They heralded a whole new era of entertainment. I not only value the electronic wizardry that accomplished this major milestone, but also the quality of the product, the originality of the design and the beauty of the wood. There will never be another Golden Age of Radio. I'm glad we have some left to cherish. Regards, Sue

Reply
Russ
1/23/2014 06:18:37 am

Me Too!

Russ
1/25/2014 12:10:10 am

I think that I can get a few more radios in there.




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CUSTOM DESIGN BY SUE WEBB  06/2013       Redesigned by Russ Webb     Approved by Fuzzy   Updated:  Pretty much all the time, but I forget to change this date
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