We’ve been busy this week reviewing some great books and gift ideas for the design lover in your life. These are perfect for any occasion but we hope our list helps you with your last minute holiday shopping too!

Design*Sponge at Home

I can’t put this book down. I think by far it is my favourite of this year. I get butterflies in my stomach just going through it because it’s FULL of great interior design eye-candy, easy DIY projects, before and after photos and snippets of information on various iconic furniture pieces and designers. I want to rearrange my entire house after reading this book!

It’s definitely a beautiful book inside and out. Kudos to Grace and everyone at Design*Sponge for putting such a great book together!

$23.10 Buy now

100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life by Jonathan Adler

This is THE fun and whimsical feel-good interior design book of the year. Though it’s not as slick looking as the Design Sponge book, Jonathan Adler’s sense of humor shines through and you’ll find yourself laughing out loud at some of his proclamations. He’s loaded this book up with drool-worthy mid-century modern furniture, architecture and iconic references (anyone who gives Rosalind Russell’s Auntie Mame a full page in his book is okay by me!).

“If you’re willing to sleep in an hotel bed, you’re comfortable using things others have used before you.” I love this attitude! Perfect for the vintage thrifter and mid-century modern collector.

He makes interior design feel less daunting as he encourages you to look at the things around you in a different way. This book is about finding your style and not being afraid to show it!

$14.57 Buy now

Atomic Ranch Mid-Century Interiors

This is a must-have book for any mid-century modern fan. The book goes indepth highlighting eight mid-century modern houses, their renovation challenges, and the ownder share tips they have learned along the way.

As you’d expect with anything put out by Atomic Ranch, the photography is beautiful, and it’s written with a passion for mid-century modern rancher living.

$26.40  Buy now

Danish Modern

Firstly, we have to say that any book by Andrew Hollingsworth is worth getting. His writing is educational, friendly and he’s extremely knowledgeable about his chosen subject.

Here he goes indepth with Danish Modern furniture. He gives the avid collector and enthusiast a base knowledge of the history of Scandinavian design and designers, tips on locating, purchasing and collecting Danish Modern furniture. All wrapped up in a beautiful book full of gorgeous photography.

This is definitely a fantastic resource for anyone interested in this genre of furniture.

$26.40  Buy now

Mid-Century Modern Flash Cards

We’re lucky to have someone post these fabulous cards on our site or we may not have come across them in time for Christmas! Hone your skills and impress your friends with your quick-draw ability to spot an Eames LCW from a Cherner Chair!

The illustrations are adorable and we think these are great stocking stuffers!

$49.99  Buy now

Modern Doll House Coffee Table

Whoever thought of this is a genius! A beautiful toy for your child that you don’t need to put away all the time, and a functional piece of furniture for you to enjoy! You may not be able to get one in time for Christmas but it would make a fabulous gift any time of year.

$650  Buy now

Modernism Magazine Subscription

Magazine subscriptions are one of my favourite things to get – it’s a treat that lasts all year round and it doesn’t cost much to give. Modernism magazine is a great one if you’re interested in modernist furniture, art and architecture. We can’t recommend it highly enough. The articles are well-researched and the photography is exceptional.

Get 20% off when you use LUSHPAD as a discount code.

$19.96  Buy now

Eames Blocks

This is great for big and little kids alike. Build your very own Case Study No.8 House in your livingroom, or better yet, show off your kids’ knowledge of iconic mid-century modernism by letting them build it next time you have guests over. The set consists of 36 blocks using child-safe inks and made in the USA.

$150  Buy now

Factory Blocks  

If the Eames Blocks are a little too pricy for you, the next best thing is the House Industries Factory Blocks. Like everything House Ind. makes, this is a quality wooden toy made in the USA and a budding typographers dream!

$70  Buy now

You don’t have to live with the scratches and nicks in your vintage furniture anymore because we’ve compiled a list of surprisingly easy, at-home fixes to make your mid-century, um, modern again.

Minor scratches

For light to medium colored wood you can make a paste from the meat of a Walnut or Brazil Nut and rub into the scratch. The oil will darken the scratch to help conceal it and the paste will level off the scratch. Buff with a cloth and that should repair the scratch.

If you have kids, their crayons will come in handy! Find a crayon that matches as closely as possible to the wood you’re repairing. Work the crayon in to fill the scratch, then use a hot dry rag and a blow dryer on high to melt and buff the crayon to a smooth finish. If you can’t find a crayon at home you can pick up a proper furniture patching wax stick at your neighborhood hardware store.

For mahogany or cherry wood, applying Iodine will mask scrapes and scratches. Wipe dry with a cloth after application. Can be applied as many times as needed to match color of wood.

Dents

This is a little more of an ambitious repair, but can be done if you’re careful. For wood that has a varnish you’ll need to either remove the finish or prick tiny little holes with a pin in the area to allow moisture into the fibers. Jam a moist cloth in the dent and then cover with a towel so you don’t damage the surrounding areas with the steam you’re going to apply with a very hot iron. The steam will be released into the fibers and they should plump up fill the dent. Lightly sand and touch up the area as needed, then polish and wax or oil depending on the finish of the wood.

Watermarks

If the marks are whitish in colour – that’s a good thing because the water has only affected the varnish and they should be very easy to repair.

Try these varying degrees of fixes. Keep trying until you find the solution that works.

1. Use a little rubbing (denatured) alcohol on a lint-free cloth and try rubbing the spot out.
2. Use camphorated oil on a lint-free cloth and try rubbing the spot out.
3. Use turpentine on a lint-free cloth and try rubbing the spot out.
4. Using a small amount of toothpaste with “brighteners” will act as a mild abrasive. Rub in with your finger or a small cloth pad. Try to keep the rubbing motion along the direction of the wood grain. The stain should eventually disappear as you rub.
5. Sprinkling some table salt on the watermark then rubbing with a cloth moistened in mineral or lemon oil should start to take the spot out. Repeat the process using salt and vinegar if you need stronger results.
6. Buff and polish to finish.

If the water damage is darker in colour that means the moisture has entered into the wood and the whole area will need to be stripped and re-finished. I’d advise getting an expert to do that unless you’re particularly handy or you don’t mind having a strategically placed pile of magazines or an ornament permanently covering the mark.

Candle wax

Scrape as much off as you can, then lightly iron with a piece of paper towel. Change towel regularly so it keeps absorbing the melted wax. Once you’ve removed as much as possible, use some Dryel drycleaning fluid and rub over the area with a cloth to remove the remaining bits of wax.

Worn Leather

Worn or faded leather can be fixed using natural cleaners such as saddle soap or neatsfoot oil. Bear in mind neatsfoot oil will darken natural color leathers.

If your leather has a colored finish to it, you should contact your local auto repair shop to have them match a liquid leather product to your piece. Aniline dyed leather is more difficult to repair because it is translucent and will more readily show repairs. If you’re in doubt contact a local repair shop.

Punctures and Tears in Leather

This is detail work so be prepared. Using a needle, gently lift the flap of the tear, and with the tip of another needle apply a minute amount of contact cement. Carefully smooth out the edges and wipe any excess glue away. Leave for an hour or so then apply some leather conditioner – being careful to not lift up the edges of your recently repaired tears.

The leather conditioner plumps and softens the leather and makes the repair almost invisible. Perfect for the piece of leather furniture the cat has decided to use as a scratching post. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee these tips and you use them at your own risk.

Let us know if you have any other quick and easy furniture repair tips in the comments section below!

Pitt says he was inspired by the geometry and lines of Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and the attention to quality craftsmanship that Frank Pollaro brings to the partnership. Here’s a brief look at some of the pieces Brad and Frank have designed together. To me, they feel uninspired, uncomfortable and overly-designed – and very Italian. Although I don’t mind the rectangular glass and metal table, the whole series feels like form has been put before function, but maybe it doesn’t matter when your pieces are selling for $45,000 plus… Read the article at Architectural Digest and read Pitt’s Q&A.

What do you think of Brad Pitt’s foray into furniture design? Do you like it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Swedish furniture designer and architect, Bruno Mathsson, built two summer houses between 1960 and 1965, that have slowly decayed into disrepair. Mikael Olsson has photographed both houses over the past decade. Below are some images from Mikael Olsson’s book, Sodrakull Frosakull. If you’d like to see more, you can find his book online here: Mikael Olsson: Sodrakull Frosakull

 Besser Vibrapac

Photos: The Mover

Knud Blach Petersen & Herbert Jensen Villa House

Photos: Julian Weyer

The Twitchell House by Paul Rudolph

Stunning photographs by Chris Mottalini of derelict modernist homes designed by Paul Rudolph.The Twitchell House, The Michaels House and The Cerrito House shown below are all included in Mottalini’s series After You Left, They Took It Apart: Demolished Paul Rudolph Homes.

Photos: Chris Mottalini

The Michaels House by Paul Rudolph

 Photos: Chris Mottalini

The Cerrito House by Paul Rudolph

Photos: Chris Mottalini

Turkel House by Frank Lloyd Wright

This fabulous two-story Usonian automatic home by Frank Lloyd Wright fell into disrepair and has been beautifully restored by its new owners. You can read about the restoration here.

Photos: Peter Beers

Coast Modern is a great new independent film out right now that documents West Coast modernism all the way from Los Angeles to Vancouver.

Intimate interviews and unprecedented access to architects in the documentary include Arthur Erickson (Vancouver), Fred Bassetti (Seattle), Henrik Bull (Berkley), Michael Folonis (Santa Monica), Dion Neutra (Los Angeles) - son and partner of Modernist pioneer Richard Neutra – , Barbara Bestor (LA) and others. They all share their insight into the Modernist Movement, and its relevance in our lives today.

Legendary photographer Julius Shulman is also be featured along with the photographs that brought world attention to the work that has been done in Southern California. His photographic career spanned 70 years and he is known for creating one of the most comprehensive visual chronologies of Modernist Architecture.

Dwellers in modernist houses are also interviewed; from renowned hip-hop producer DJ Greyboy who inhabits an 1950s Edward Killingsworth-designed house in LA, to a Vancouverite who restored a vintage Ron Thom house to its original luster. They talk about how the space that one lives in influences their life, and how the light and space of a classic Modernist home can work in synergy with the natural environment. The modernist houses themselves take centre stage, shot in high definition: the open plans, simplicity of form and integration of into their enviroment awe and inspire.

Coast Modern is now showing in select theatres. Check for your city here.

Sign up for our newsletter if you want to be notified when it comes out on DVD!
It will definitely become a must-have for any modern architecture lover.

Author and designer Kyle Schuneman takes you through the transformation of small apartments in a wide range of styles in his book The First Apartment Book: Cool Design for Small Spaces. It’s full of great photography, budget-friendly inspiration and crafty decorating tips that even the klutziest of us can pull off.

It came to my attention last month when I heard that it mentioned LushPad as a resource for used designer and mid-century modern furniture. Of course I had to take a closer look!

Styles highlighted in the book include the Artist, the Bohemian, the Preppy, the Roommates, the Collector, and the Rebel. Also included are Cheat Sheets to help you build your own style from the ground up.

Two of my favourite tips from the book:

• Use Tempaper - a temporary wallpaper that’s easily removed so it’s great for rental apartments – to brighten up a room.
• Find the perfect rug for your dining room. Make sure the rug is low pile and a washable material like cotton. Width is especially important. All the legs of your chairs should fit on the rug, even when pulled out from the table.

It’s a great book if you want new thoughts from a fresh mind on how to decorate your space, or if you’re looking for the perfect house-warming gift for a friend. You can find it on Amazon here.

Give-Away!

Leave one of your own decorating tips in the comments section below and we’ll choose one comment at random to win a copy of The First Apartment Book: Cool Design for Small Spaces. We’ll draw for the lucky winner on October 31st, 2012.

UPDATE: Patricia Terlaan wins our copy of The First Apartment Book: Cool Designs for Small Spaces. Congrats, Patricia!