Time for teak

Here's a lovely teak sofa frame with the original rubber webbing. We want to get cushions made for it, but sometimes the fabric we pick is not what our customers would pick. So we're asking all you readers out there to let us know what you'd like to see on this sofa before we send it out to the upholsterers. Do you like solid or pattern? Vinyl or fabric? Piping or topstitching? Or would you rather make that decision yourself and save us a trip to Princess Perfect?

Right now the frame is priced at $300 as-is (no cushions), but if you trust Ethel to pick out the fabric, then we'll send it out.

UPDATE: Teak sofa frame has sold!

We also got in this teak coffee table/bench with the sexy tapered brass legs.
It does have a few dark spots,

but would make an excellent front hall boot bench, and if your front hall bench is as covered in bags and purses as Ethel's then you won't even see the marks! It's priced at $250.

Also new this week is this pair of end tables with magazine shelves below.


They're priced at $65 each or $100 for the pair.

UPDATE: Pair of end tables have sold!

UPDATE: White vinyl chair & vintage deco telephone have sold!

And if teak isn't your thing, then you might like this little grey side table with black metal hairpin legs.

It's not an Eames wire base table, but it's close! It's priced at $150.

See you at the store!

Farewell Liz...

This past Christmas I was given the book Furious Love, by Elizabeth Taylor. This book is about her life with Richard Burton, in all it's tumultuous, passionate glory. I haven't read it yet as I've been waiting for things to calm down at the store and the new condo to truly enjoy it. I think I'll start it tonight.

RIP Dame Elizabeth...

Atomic Desk

As you all know, Ethel is one of the only stores in Toronto that sells the magazine Atomic Ranch. In the "Ranch Dressing" section of the latest issue, there's an inquiry about a desk that looked very familiar to us. In fact, it's a desk that we will be putting on the store floor for sale as soon as there's room to set it up, but we thought we'd give you blog readers a sneak peek.

Designed by Peter Lovig Nielsen in the 50's and manufactured by Hedensted Mobelfabrik in Denmark, this gorgeous boomerang shaped teak desk is a true work of art and we can't wait to show it to you. Unfortunately, it's disassembled in the basement, as we're waiting for room to properly showcase it on the store floor. So, you'll have to be satisfied with some web pictures we found of the same desk.

Don't you just love the flip down door revealing the mod graphic mirror? What a great hiding place for your secret stash of scotch, or vintage Playboys! This desk is meant to sit in the middle of a room so it can be enjoyed from all angles.
With three drawers there's plenty of room for work stuff too.

Once we have it on the store floor and all assembled, we'll be pricing it at $1295, as there are some issues with the legs, but overall, the desk is in fabulous shape. We think, once it's assembled and showcased in the store, it won't last so come by and see it before it goes.

See you at the store!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Today is St. Patricks day, which means all things green, so we thought we’d highlight some of our favourite green things around the store.

Gorgeous Swedish glass vase

Collection of green tinged West German pottery

UPDATE: Both vases on the right have sold (small avocado green vase and textured vase)

Leaf shape Royal Haeger ashtray (Smoking isn't green, but this ashtray is sooo cool!)

Collections of Italian glass decanters, cocktail sets, goblets and candy dishes

1970's Tennis player print (Bjorn Borg perhaps?)

Green is one of Ethel’s favourite colours and not just on March 17th. Living the vintage life is one of the best ways to be green. All your furniture is well made and well loved and has zero carbon footprint. So come by the store and be green with Ethel!

See you at the store!

New Modernism Magazine is here!

It's a sign of spring when the new spring issue of Modernism comes in.

With features on the Kaufmanns of Fallingwater, Eileen Gray (hooray for Deco!), the Dansk designer Jens Quistgaard, and tons of gorgeous photos of all things modern (we're currently drooling over the Palm Springs house tour photos), this magazine will help you get into the mood for spring.

Plus, we have also have some Modernism back issues if you really need to get your mid-mod fix!

See you at the store!

Pink Boomerangs!

We’re continuing with our project cleanout and today we have a 4’ x 8’ sheet of vintage pink boomerang Formica laminate.

The popular boomerang pattern was first introduced in the 50’s and was originally called “Skylark”. It has since been reissued every few years in different colourways.
It’s currently available through Formica only in Charcoal, but the Aqua version is still available till they run out of stock.

This version is from a late 80’s reissue and is in pink, a colour no longer available. We think it would be perfect for a vintage style pink powderoom or even an Airstream trailer makeover.
As you can see, this sheet has been rolled up, but will flatten out with a little perseverance.

There is a few chips on the edge, but shouldn’t be a problem if you’re thinking of using this for a small job.

The price for the sheet is $50.

Come by the store and check it out.

See you at the store!

UPDATE: The laminate has sold!

Ethel's getting a facelift

Our apologies to our customers lately. The store has been a bit more messy and disorganized than we'd like and we know Ethel has higher standards than that!

So we're heading into spring with a new attitude and new store look.

For a while now, we've been plotting the store revamp and we are almost there. We're getting a new sales desk that will accommodate the growing interior design business side of things, and once the desk is in place, we know the rest of the store will follow suit. So bear with us while we rearrange, rejuvenate, renovate and give Ethel a much needed nip & tuck!

The good news is, all this work means we're clearing out even more furniture so there will be lots of deals to be had. Drop by the store and help us make room for the new and improved Ethel!

See you at the store!

Springtime Sneak Peek

Here's just some of the tasty treats we just got in for the weekend.

Three Royal Haeger USA Triple Step Candle holders, Melmac soup bowls, vintage Vegas dice clock.....

UPDATE: Vintage Vegas clock has sold!

UPDATE: Orange & white ashtray has sold!

UPDATE: Yellow Royal Haeger candle holders have sold!

Fiestaware disc pitcher, ball pitchers and creamers, coral ceramic salt and pepper shakers.......

UPDATE: Fiestaware disc pitcher has sold!

Teak Table lamp, West German pottery, and so much more.

In fact, we hadn't unpacked it all before we sold a few pieces already!

UPDATE: Teak table lamp has sold!

It's all so colourful and don't we need a bit of colour to brighten up this dreary winter? Ethel thinks so!

Come by the store and get your dose of springtime colours.

See you at the store!

New Atomic Ranch is here!

We just received the Spring 2011 issue of Atomic Ranch, and as usual, it's chock full o' midcentury goodness!

Featuring stories on a Palm Springs modern house, a profile of the Eames duo and their legacy of good design, modern landscaping ideas for people with pets, and lots of design inspiration.

So come by the shop and pick up your copy before we're all out. And while you're here, we still have a few issues of the last Modernism Magazine left too.

See you at the store!