Table of contents for Summer 2022 in Atomic Ranch

IN THE SUMMER, OUR HOMES “BREAK OUT OF THEIR SHELLS” AS MUCH AS WE DO —and man, is it a fun and exciting process! Maybe I’m just a lover of ceremony and ritual, but the process of “summer-izing” my home feels like therapy. Just as our wardrobe changes to celebrate the warmer weather, so do our living rooms and backyards: The patio cushions get dusted off, and our lemonade pitchers get ready for their season of hard work. And, while I eagerly await my summer travel plans to approach on the calendar, prepping and planning for summer parties and outdoor dinners are equally as exciting! It’s a chance to show off the hard work of our home projects to our guests and use our homes to the fullest. Speaking of…

INTERIOR DESIGN INSPIRATION CAN COME FROM colors, shapes, patterns and textures. In the case of this kitchen, the new style was inspired by tile. Homeowners Jason and Megan Coleman are also the owners of Clayhaus Tile (clayhaustile.com) and wanted the kitchen of their 1956 classic ranch in Portland, Oregon, to reflect their attraction to unique tiles. They hired Fraley + Company (fraleycompany.com) to design their dream kitchen. “They wanted to use their own handmade tiles for the backsplash,” says Joel Fraley, owner/designer of Fraley + Company. “The main request was an integrated seating nook, and the kitchen window is the perfect sunny corner for coffee or breakfast.” But before the new elements could be added to the room, there were some previous “remuddles” that needed to be dealt with. “The…

THE ENTRYWAY COURTYARD SITS 4 FEET BELOW THE DRIVEWAY TO CREATE AN OUTDOOR SPACE THAT’S ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE HOUSE. “THE VIBRANT COLORS FROM THE PLANTER BED ARE AT EYE LEVEL FROM THE BEDROOM, SO IT MAKES YOU FEEL AS IF YOU’RE SUNKEN INTO THE GARDEN,” MICHAEL POINTS OUT. “IT’S A GREAT LOOK FROM INSIDE.” WITH ITS ROCK FLOORING AND EAST-FACING LOCATION, IT’S ABLE TO STAY COOL THROUGHOUT THE DAY.…

HAM SALAD SANDWICHES YIELD: 12 mini-sandwiches INGREDIENTS 2 lbs. smoked boneless ham (fully cooked and cut into large dice) 1½ cups mayonnaise ¼ cup dill relish 1 tsp. coarse-ground black pepper 12 slices whole-grain wheat bread Butter lettuce DIRECTIONS Place the ham in a food processor and grind it to a fine, crumbled texture. Transfer the ham to medium bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise, relish and black pepper until they are evenly combined (refrigerate if you won’t be eating right away). Spread about ½ cup of the mixture onto a slice of bread. Top with lettuce and another slice of bread. Slice the sandwich in half to create two sandwiches. Repeat this process for the remaining sandwich spread. Serve chilled. MANGO MARGARITA POPS YIELD: 10–12 pops INGREDIENTS 2 cups mango…

As temperatures rise, so does the demand for stock tank pools. Scoop your supplies early in the season! • CountryLine 8x2-foot Galvanized Round Stock Tank, $599; tractorsupply.com • INTEX Krystal Clear Cartridge Filter Pump (1,500 gallons) for Aboveground Pools, $120; amazon.com • Inlet Strainer Kit, $45; Shop.stocktankpool.net • INTEX Aboveground Plunger Valves With Gaskets and Nuts, $60; amazon.com • RANNB Bimetal Hole Saw Triangle Shank Hole Cutter Attachment (2¾ inches), $8.78; amazon.com • HYDROTOOLS BY SWIMLINE Chlorine Dispenser, $10; amazon.com • Clorox Pool & Spa Chlorinating Tablets, $40; lowes.com • Clorox Pool & Spa Chlorine Test Strips, $12.98; lowes.com • Evob Pool Skimmer Net, $15.97; amazon.com…

Take the QR code to see these articles in full at atomic-ranch.com. Roundabout: A Circular Home Breaks the Mold A circular home called the Horizon House—designed by architect George Bissell in 1964—is a round gem in a neighborhood of boxy houses. The Best Summer Cocktails Summer calls for cocktails, whether sipping them by the pool for a solo “happy hour” or for a party you’re hosting. Serve in retro or retro-inspired barware for a fresh take on the cocktail—a mid-century staple! Here’s a roundup of fresh summer cocktail recipes from around the Web. Our 10 Favorite Pools Getting ready for summer means getting ready for pool season. As we look forward to catching more rays, here are some backyard inspirations—from California to North Carolina and from hotels from Miami to…

Here are some facts to keep in mind when choosing your front door material: Your front door sets the tone for your home. It affects curb appeal and determines how much work you put into maintaining your front entrance. That’s why it’s important to not only take the style of your door into account, but its material as well. Our Project House Austin front doors are sponsored by Escon Doors. This company’s Mid Century Modern line offers fiberglass doors in retro styles and colors that are durable and will fit into any MCM aesthetic. “MasterGrain’s unique NVD (silicone casting) technology produces the most genuine look of real wood in fiberglass without the negative aspects of wood or steel,” says Escon Doors’ General Manager Gerry Levya. Wood vs. Fiberglass Wood •…

There are more than 300 listings on short-term rental sites of homes that are available for vacationers looking for a Palm Springs getaway. Nathan Wilson and Matt Garbauska's home is one of those properties. "The home is built for entertaining; and, without us living there full-time, it would feel terrible to leave such a work of art just sitting there with no one to appreciate it," Nathan says. "I think it’s the kind of house that just makes sense to rent out." For any homeowner, welcoming guests can be a stressful proposition. But, if those guests are strangers—and the house is a mid-century showplace with many vintage and one-of-a-kind elements—that's something else entirely. Nathan and Matt are happy to share their meticulously styled mid-century gem … as long as guests…

Project House Austin: The Final Reveal Page 28 For more about Christine, visit breathedesignstudio.com or follow her on Instagram @breathedesign. For more about Michael, visit midcenturycustomhomes.com or follow him on Instagram@midcenturycustomhomes. Main bedroom bed and nightstand: Article; (888) 746-3455 or article.com Main bedroom chair: Kardiel; (877) 844-4988 or kardiel.com Kids' room furniture: Nico & Yeye, (866) 612-9393 or nicoandyeye.com Kitchen counter stools: Lumens; (888) 532-2974 or lumens.com Paint: main house, upper kitchen cabinets, bar, mudroom, guest bedroom: “Pure White”; lower kitchen cabinets, lower mudroom cabinets: "Supreme Green"; bar cabinets, butler's pantry, mudroom tall cabinets: "Connor's Lakefront"; laundry room: "Secret Cove"; pink bathroom: "Blushing"; toilet cabinet: "Comfort Gray." Eichler siding stain: "Amber Pine." (800) 474-3794 or sherwin-williams.com Casita kitchen appliances (refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave): Elmira Stove Works; (519) 669-1281 or elmirastoveworks.com…

If you see house numbers as that finishing touch for your exterior, check out Atomic Avocado Designs. This family-run company is based in Phoenix, Arizona. You can also find it—along with its array of curb appeal pieces and retro signs—online (atomicavocadodesigns.com and via etsy.com). The company was founded, and is owned, by Holly Whittington, who spent 20 years in the funeral industry and made the drastic transition from funeral director to sign designer in 2019. Curb appeal is all about creating an immediate, dynamic presence and reflecting the homeowner’s style from the outside in. “Our designs capture Mid Century Modern ideals. We do this by offering a variety of colors and customizable options,” Holly explains. “I initially had a vision of the type of curb appeal I wanted for my…

Our Project House Austin window sponsor, Ply Gem, offers vinyl, aluminum-clad wood, aluminum and wood composite options. “All our windows are made to order and can be configured to meet the specific energy performance requirements for all climate zones and local building requirements,” says Ply Gem’s Vice President of Marketing Steve Hoffins. So, how do you choose the right window material for your home? Here are some tips to help you narrow down the perfect fit: 1. CLIMATE. Choosing a material that can withstand the climate you live in is the first thing to take into consideration. “In the north, where a project might require wood, aluminum-clad windows are a great choice. These windows offer the traditional look many homeowners are looking for while offering the durability and performance of…

Picture yourself poolside … or, better yet, floating in your own private pool. For most of us, this is a dream that resides exclusively within the frame of a Slim Aarons photograph. This vision might feel out of reach because of your space or budget. But, with a little DIY stock tank pool magic, I made this dream a reality, delivering private pool luxury for under $1,000 in my Austin, Texas, backyard. Stock tank pools, also known here, in the South, as “cowboy pools,” have been a hot commodity for the past several summers as we’ve all spent more time making the most of our backyards. Made of galvanized steel, stock tanks are used for watering cattle and are designed to keep water cool on hot days. This makes it…

“ The Gateway to the West is a celebration of the western expansion of the United States and was conceived by Saarinen as a gift to the American people. ” Eero Saarinen, a Finnish-American architect and industrial designer, is responsible for some of our favorite, most recognizable and longstanding Mid Century Modern designs. His work with Charles Eames and the Knoll Furniture Company produced pieces that often grace the pages of our magazine; and the Tulip and Womb chairs have been an influence on all Mid Century Modern furniture since their production. If you’ve ever been on one of the millions of flights going through Dulles International Airport or the TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport, you’ve experienced an Eero Saarinen design firsthand. Nevertheless, The Gateway Arch, located in…