Atomic Ranch Summer 2024

editor's letter WHILE IT WAS THE EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL AND BAUHAUS MOVEMENTS that truly gave way to the modernist aesthetic, in many ways I can’t help but view Mid Century Modern design as an American movement. It’s profoundly intertwined with American history, influenced by post-war domestic shifts and forever changed the way we live, work and play. America’s Golden Era is solidified by stars in their Cadillacs playing golf in the desert, the optimism of Disneyland and the kinds of technological advancements that gave us the all-electric Golden Medallion homes and the Futuro House, for that matter. I’m sure many MCM lovers like me find it extra fascinating to see where Mid Century Modern history and celebrity intersect. That’s what makes this issue such a unique one. We take a trip…

curb appeal Mitch and Kim Ernst love the way their home complements the landscape. It isn’t the only Mid Century Modern home on the block in the Old Rockbrook neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska, but they’ve received compliments on the house for years. “There are six other flat-roofed, mid-century style homes on just our street alone,” Mitch says. “None by famous architects, but by individuals who loved the style and built themselves a home 70 years ago.” BEHIND THE DOOR Built by Jim Colby in 1953, the home was bought by Mitch’s parents in 1962 and passed down to them. Mitch and Kim updated the kitchen and bathrooms. “We did the demo, we did the prying (and the crying), the flooring, the painting and papering ourselves,” Mitch says. “Since there were…

What was once old can be new again. This is especially true of a 1960s-themed hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia, aptly named the Little Mod Hotel. Guests staying here can bask in the hotel’s mid mod aesthetic, complete with retro-style mini fridges, record players (boasting vinyl records, of course) and plenty of nostalgic style that make this hotel a truly distinctive Mid Century Modern gem. But while it feels timeless now, the Little Mod wasn’t always so charming. VINTAGE VIBES First a hotel, the location was converted into apartments in 1964, only to become a beautiful hotel once again when owner Bill Chapman decided to save it. “The hotel owner used to jog by the building all the time and thought it would be great to restore the hotel back to…

Jon Stroud grew up watching his father make beautiful furniture in his basement shop. His great-grandfather made decorative furniture, providing Jon with plenty of ideas to fuel his own creativity and imagination. It was only natural that woodworking became an integral part of his life from a young age. “I still have special pieces of furniture that were crafted by them, and I am especially thrilled to also have the original tools they used,” Jon says. Jon’s passions are obvious in his handmade Mid Century Modern-inspired wooden plant stands. Although Jon builds other home décor products—which is why his wife and co-founder, Jen, aptly named their business Beyond Atomic Designs—Jon’s masterful craftsmanship is especially evident in his uniquely designed tripod plant stands. Apart from watching his father and great-grandfather work…

Creating your dream kitchen is a balancing act. Juggling the needs of your family, maximizing space and including your favorite design elements can often seem like an impossible task. But for one lucky couple in the Los Angeles neighborhood of El Sereno, everything fell into place in extraordinary fashion. “Our clients wanted a fun, functional kitchen that was fresh and bright with thoughtful storage solutions,” says Gabrielle Aker of Aker Interiors, who took on the project in 2020. But before the fun began in this 1956 home, the layout of the kitchen would have to be reimagined. “We had spatial restrictions on either side of the kitchen that could only be resolved by remodeling the whole first floor, so instead we chose to meticulously design it to maximize the space,”…

ERICH MEAGER Erich Meager is the world's first and only ratiolaminartist. Based in Palm Springs, California, he creates layered works of art from precision-cut paper, wood, acrylic and metal. Inspired by concrete breezeway blocks, patterns in nature and designs from his geometrically-minded mind, Shadowtiles are his layered interpretations of geometric forms. You can see his work at The Kee Gallery, 2600 S. Cherokee Way, Palm Springs, CA 92264. Website: erichmeager.com Instagram: @erichmeager JILLIAN GAMBLE Jillian Gamble has been an art educator for the past 18 years and, since achieving her master’s in art, a dedicated studio artist. Her dream is to spread enthusiasm for the arts to her students and instill a feeling of joy in those who experience her lively paintings. Drawn to scenes of flora from the deserts…