MID CENTURY

DESIGN PROJECT :: THE GAS PLANT BUILDING

Most people think of design as an interior process but sometimes our work takes us outdoors too. That was the case with our Furnish Me Vintage project.

The Gas Plant Arcade building located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg on Central Avenue was built in the 1920s and over the years it became the little ugly duckling on the block, in desperate need of a good makeover. 

Photo Courtesy of Furnish Me Vintage

Photo Courtesy of Furnish Me Vintage

And we can’t even blame it for letting its looks slip. This 30,000 square foot building was said at one time to have a chicken factory on the fourth floor!

When the new owners Jackie & Todd Wilson of Furnish Me Vintage bought the building last year, though, its time finally came to be transformed. Furnish Me Vintage is widely known for its vast selection of Mid Century Modern furniture so the outside of the building needed to reflect all of the fabulous finds that were inside. At the same time, we didn't want to take away from the industrial warehouse feel that it had always had.

Photo Credit: A Traveling Broad

Photo Credit: A Traveling Broad

So we kept is simple, a neutral gray that will withstand the lovely St. Petersburg sunshine, emphasizing some of the architectural elements with another shade of gray. 

Photo Credit: Native House Photography

Photo Credit: Native House Photography

We then added 30 linear feet of Brazilian Teak up the center to really take advantage of the height, and finally placing the signage atop the teak was the icing on the cake for us. 

Photo Credit: Native House Photography

Photo Credit: Native House Photography

The result was a beautiful swan of a building. We love it! They now have furniture on all four floors. They also have a functioning glass garage door for events and other fun things to come. We balanced it by designing custom mullions on the other side and finished it all off with some decorative sconces — the jewelry to a building that looks as beautiful as all the furniture it houses.

Photo Credit: Native House Photography

Photo Credit: Native House Photography

INSPIRATION: Mid Century Vibes

Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again... High Point Market was full of so much inspiration! Along with so much gold, one of my favorite things that kept popping up were lovely little nods to Mid Century Modern design. I've always been a fan of the clean lines, perfectly detailed angles, along with the perfect does of metals and wood tones.

I often indulge in the pages of Atomic Ranch, I love seeing all the ways that homeowners keep the MCM charm alive.

Image via Atomic Ranch

But let's face it, one of the hardest parts of working with a design that is period inspired is finding true period pieces. (And if you need multiples, forget it!) So I was pleased to find that there are some lovely options for new and current furniture pieces that are so well done they would fit perfectly in a MCM inspired home.

Here are a few that caught my eye:

So basically, all of these vendors have you covered if you are looking for some great pieces to add that MCM charm to your space!

INSPIRATION: 2014 Color of the Year - Radiant Orchid

Well, the new year has come and gone and in the hustle and bustle of the holidays Pantone released the 2014 Color of the Year...

radiant orchid. lisa gilmore design.jpg
An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.
— Pantone

Now, I have to be honest. At first I wasn't that thrilled about the announcement, not nearly as much as last years with Emerald. However, the color has definitely grown on me, and hopefully after seeing some of these images it will grow on you too. 

 

To me Radiant Orchid is just that, radiant. I feel if I were to use this color I would want to be just bang up in it, not regrets and full of life...

radiant orchid. 2 lisa gilmore design.jpg

Image credit 

Subtle colors with a radiant pop. I love the mix of modern and traditional in this image...

radiant orchid. 3 lisa gilmore design blog.jpg

Image Credit

Don't feel overwhelmed with this color, tone it down with grays, creams and wood tones and throw it on the floor. Show Radiant Orchid who's boss and keep it minimal in a rug pattern, however I promise that it will be a beautiful conversation piece...

radiant orchid. 4. lisa gilmore design blog.jpg

Image credit 

Paired with aquas and greens make a lovely combination...

radiant orchid. 5 lisa gilmore design blog.jpg

Image credit 

This is a nice casual pairing, I love how relaxed it feels...

 

Image credit 

Image credit 

Are you now craving more Radiant Orchid? Check out this segment, Lisa was featured on ABC's "The List" talking about the Color of the Year. For even more inspiration to get your radiant creative juices flowing, follow our Pinterest Board, where we have started pinning away!