There were so many fantastic submissions for the #ModernismProject's #abode challenge that I decided to pair my favorite shots with tips for achieving similar looks. If you're a lover of midcentury design or want to experiment with incorporating this style into your home, these images will inspire ideas for adding a modernist touch.
Actor Michael C. Hall — whose acting chops have been most ably demonstrated in the series Six Feet Under and Dexter, among other roles — has listed his Hollywood Hills home for $1.995 million. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house was designed by Hal Levitt, the midcentury architect whom celebrities adore — Jennifer Aniston and Steven Spielberg are just two of his many fans. Even more interesting, Hall's home was actually Levitt's primary residence for decades. Sadly, the property listing is likely related to Hall's divorce from Jennifer Carpenter in December last year.
Keep reading to take a tour of the house and to see why we think it's so special.
Photos courtesy The Agency
There is something stately and surprisingly versatile about this pair of Midcentury Copper Ring Lamps ($1,500). When it comes to statement lighting, I usually go for wildly feminine pieces, but the brass material and geometric silhouette of these lights give them a more masculine edge. I like the idea of using them to balance girlie elements, like a large-scale floral wallpaper. At any rate, the $1,500 price tag is more than a slight deterrent. Luckily, I've found a pair of similar pendants at Urban Outfitters.
Keep reading to see the light that will fulfill my '60s brass pendant fantasy!
Now that the rainy season is upon us in San Francisco, I'm buckling down to focus my energy into some postponed DIY projects this weekend. Since it doesn't look like it will clear up until the middle of next week, I'm going to see if I can slip in more than one. I was thrilled to find tutorials for stealing the look of products that are trending now, like block-printed fabrics, gold-dipped accessories, and glass lamp bases. If you're stuck indoors this weekend like I am, check out the gallery to get inspiration for your own DIY weekend!
Given his interest in architecture, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Brad Pitt's Malibu home, relisted in August for $13.75 million, is a total stunner. Now, new photos of the property are offering visual documentation of the beautiful design of Brad Pitt's 1962, four-bedroom, Pacific Coast Highway home.
Keep reading for more photos of Brad Pitt's home
Craving some inspiration in the form of undeniably cool midcentury design and homes? One of the current exhibits at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), California Design, 1930-1965: “Living in a Modern Way" is a natural fit for design lovers and midcentury modern design enthusiasts. The LACMA exhibit, which just opened this Saturday, is the first major study of California midcentury modern design. Featuring more than 300 objects including furniture, ceramics, metalwork, fashion, textiles, stereo and music components, and industrial and graphic design — the exhibition is a must see.
If you can't get to LA, check out some of the photos of items and homes featured in the exhibit.
Last night, Mad Men picked up its fourth consecutive Emmy win for best drama series, and I can't say I'm surprised. Last season kept me just as rapt as every other, and to say that I'm anxious for the fifth season to start is a bit of an understatement. Unfortunately, we still have at least a few months to wait before that day comes — the fifth season won't begin until early 2012. For now, I'm satisfying my Mad Men jones by dreaming of the fabulous furnishings that decorate the show.
I've rounded up a mix of vintage and new furnishings that reflect the clean lines, occasionally funky shapes, and overall elegance of the era. My absolute favorite right now is the Poet Sofa ($7,500, top row, middle right). Designed in 1941 by Finn Juhl for use in his own Charlottenlund, Denmark, home, this version is sold through Design Within Reach as part of the Onecollection, House of Finn Juhl. Made in Denmark, the sofa's cool shape and gorgeous gray-and-red color combination reflect a midcentury sensibility, yet it is timeless enough to exist through many future decades in the 21st century.
Another favorite is the Mark Shaw Editioned Photo-Couture at Bois de Boulogne, 1957 #1 ($1,800, top row, middle left). This chic photograph features a gaggle of models posing on a children's train in Bois de Boulogne, Paris. The image is actually an outtake from a 1957 article in LIFE Magazine titled "Daytime Suits." The models are outfitted in dresses designed by Dior, Laroche, Cardin, Lanvin-Castillo, and Patou. It's a perfect investment piece for the midcentury-obsessed fashionista.
Did something else in the roundup catch your eye? Check out all of the finds, both vintage-sourced and modern-made, by clicking on each image.
CB2's Neville House ($60) is beyond adorable. This miniature modern house is constructed from a mix of veneers and solid wood, and features the house of your dreams — only on a small scale. At just under eight inches tall, it may be the perfect way for those Mad Men-obsessed midcentury modern lovers among us to get our modern design fix without the mortgage. With an open lofted floorplan, floor to ceiling windows, '50s-style fireplace, and full deck, I'd move into this house in a minute. 
Can you see yourself using this tiny mod home as a décor accent at your casa? While I can appreciate it, I'd rather have the real thing. I can, however, imagine it in a sophisticated kids' bedroom as part of a play set. How would you use it?
Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member LAKR from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:
The new table works beautifully in our apartment. I love the way it reflects light and doesn't take up visual space in our 840 square feet of living space. When the sun sets and the western light comes in, everything glistens!
Have you been doing any decorating lately? Be sure to share photos of your own tablescapes in the Lovely Little Vignettes group!
Wisconsin retro decorators Joe and Heidi Kinder have created an unmistakably atomic-age look in their home, right down to the wood-encased black-and-white television set in the living room. While I love the detail-oriented authenticity of their home, I don't think I could ever give up my color set for a black-and-white version. After all, RuPaul's Drag Race just wouldn't be the same without all of the color-saturated costumes!
Make time to tour the whole home in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel feature.
