My love of Vintage Pyrex

<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of the first things I ever bought as an independent apartment dweller was a big yellow Pyrex mixing bowl.  I got it at one of those NYC flea markets that they hold on the weekends in a parking lot. It didn't have any chips, but was pretty scratched up and I used it mostly to mix bread dough.  I have always loved making my own bread and this little number was a score at $10.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Growing up, my mother had alot of older and more interesting sets, most of them blue and white or turquoise and white.  There was the occasional sunflower pattern or stray dish with circles on it, but for the most part she had the more traditional varieties. My summers were filled with bowls full of jello, macaroni salad, and marshmallow abrosia.  Strange to say, but I feel like most kids today don't get to experience alot of those kinds of memories. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I have always found extreme beauty in things that were made to be used.  I never viewed these bowls as anything less than useful.  As I became aware of more patterns and sizes, and types (the butter dish is a unique example) somehow the whole collection became more amazing.  William Morris once said </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"<span class="huge">Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."  Amen to that brother.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="huge">When contemplating new products for our shop at Pocono Modern, I had the idea to pay homage to the ridiculously hip Pyrex of the 50's and 60's by creating a kind of visual documentary.  The result is our new poster which can be seen below (click to enlarge):</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaSlcf8idrEfIyf4YCFj12SW0reY_NtKULn4hqh2KfvUgPJtwADPpWYin462Cnm3_o79EO62DL5VojzTNIqAP__qP9ZVFOj-KGQby_eYWPgpnlddkZbEefO_9h0sSdatekYpRDvQ3X1Y/s1600/pyrex.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaSlcf8idrEfIyf4YCFj12SW0reY_NtKULn4hqh2KfvUgPJtwADPpWYin462Cnm3_o79EO62DL5VojzTNIqAP__qP9ZVFOj-KGQby_eYWPgpnlddkZbEefO_9h0sSdatekYpRDvQ3X1Y/s320/pyrex.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="huge">Although most of us will never own all of these collections, I am proud to say that my big yellow bowl is perched on the top as a crown sits on the head of a king.  Now everyone can have some retro Pyrex in their own kitchen.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="huge"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">This poster is 11 x 17 and available through the Pocono Modern shop at </span><a href="http://www.poconomodern.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.poconomodern.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> ($16)</span></em></span></span>

My love of Vintage Pyrex

One of the first things I ever bought as an independent apartment dweller was a big yellow Pyrex mixing bowl.  I got it at one of those NYC ...

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The new rules of Retail Design

<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's no secret that internet retailers have been taking market share from brick and mortar stores over the last few years.  Recent numbers suggest that half of all merchandise is purchased online now as compared to about 10% a few years ago.  With that being said, large and small stores seem to be at a crossroads:  either they rebrand themselves every few years to stay relevant or they close up.  You may be familiar with JC Penney's recent re-launch including a new logo, new store design, and a new marketing campaign flaunting incredible customer consideration.  The commercials seem well timed around the election year antics where normal people go into 'angry mob' mode and start rebelling against the establishment.  All things considered, I applaud what JC Penney is trying to do.  Unfortunately, I feel they are ignoring some very basic principles of retail design.  If you plan on opening your own shop or mega store anytime soon I suggest you review the following guidelines for retail design:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1- Set the mood - There's a reason that stores like Anthropologie and Ralph Lauren spend alot of money on window dressing.  It creates an impression before you even walk in the door. If you don't have alot of window space you need to create a dramatic entry.  Most department stores ignore this completely.  You come in the store and you're knee deep in some department.  This is one of those bad habits that companies keep repeating.  User experience is everything in retail.  There's a reason that Abercrombie pumps that obnoxious cologne into the air right by the door.  You've got to grab people right at the gate or they're gone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2- Big stores are out - Sorry department stores, but your days are numbered.  You can't stock 150,000 products and expect to make money on each one.  It's not because it can't be done, it's because web sites can do it better for less money.  The most profitable brick and mortar stores are the ones that drive the most revenue in the least footprint.  You could fit 50 Apple stores in the average Macy's.  Which one do you think makes more money?  I was surprised to see that the new JC Penney store was the same size as the old one. I would have thought they would have focused on highlighting their best selling products in a fresh new (and more efficient) environment.  Instead they've just jumbled up their departments and created a bunch of new fixtures and displays.  The problem is that it's hard to make 200,000 SF look good in a store trying to compete in the budget friendly arena.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">3- It's better to have good product than discounts - I have never gotten a coupon for 50% any drink at Starbucks.  So why are they so crowded when nothing is ever on sale?  The answer is because they spend their money on creating a good product and not giving it back in the form of a sale.  Even Wal-mart can't give you an Ipod any cheaper than the Apple store.  People will line up for something that makes them feel special but it has to be something special.  If you read the labels of the clothes at most stores, it's amazing how few of them have natural materials.  I think the Wal-mart effect has run its course and people are tired of having to replace everything they own every 6 months.  There is a movement towards quality and it's hard to do that unless you focus on a core group of products.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">4- Invest in Design - Great retail brands have iconic images. I know it sounds like common sense but companies that invest in creating more interesting environments reap the benefits of more loyal customers who spend more per purchase.  It's no coincidence that when McDonald's created a new store design prototype featuring classic mid century inspired interiors that they launched a line of new burgers and salads that are comparably priced to a real restaurant.  Better user experience equals more money.  Time and time again, Good Design is Good Business.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">These four guidelines are just the beginning of what it takes to build a retail empire.  Whether your business is a day spa or a cupcake bakery, keep in mind that creating a great user experience has to be in the DNA of the design from the early stages.  Without it, you will find yourself struggling to maintain a competitive edge against your competition.</span>

The new rules of Retail Design

It's no secret that internet retailers have been taking market share from brick and mortar stores over the last few years.  Recent numbe...

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The Destruction of Sylvia Packard Middle School (and so much more)

<span style="font-family:verdana;">In many cases, your life is the result of a million coincidences that you are mostly unaware of. You can't pick who your parents are. You can't control the weather in your part of the world. You probably don't even have a choice as to who your friends are going to be in high school. They end up being the people who are most like you in terms of social standing, appearance, and financial status. With so many people in today's world searching for purpose and understanding, it's important to realize that the path you choose to walk in life is often not your choice at all. </span><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I grew up and went to school in a middle class neighborhood in Long Island. The schools were all sturdy masonry buildings with flat roofs. I loved school. I recently realized that I could remember every detail of each school I attended in my town. From the terrazzo floors of my high school to the golden bricks of my elementary school to the metal railings of my middle school. The floors were always waxed and shiny; the dull black science countertops always felt warm to the touch. All in all, these were sturdy buildings designed by competent architects with an eye for detail. Built in the 60's, all of these buildings are still standing today. At least for now.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">What I also recently realized was that these schools subconsciously provided me with a love for architecture; more specifically a love of place. With their large aluminum frame windows, generous natural light, and perfectly executed floor plans, these buildings made my young educational experience a pleasure. I remember the brick lined corridors of my elementary school and running my fingers along the grout lines as our class walked the corridors each day. The grout was tooled to be smooth and curved and perfectly fit young fingers without getting scratched. While I can't remember every teacher I ever had, I can remember every class room I ever sat in. I remember the pull down maps that opened as closed as needed, I remember the Eames-esque bent plywood chairs that we sat in, and I remember how the breezes filled the room when all of the windows were opened. We didn't have air conditioning or even a fan. There was nothing made of plastic.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Now while it sounds like I am romanticizing the experience (and maybe I am) this genuinely relates to the state of things in our society. Everyday I hear people say how our world is degrading around us. Values, Customs, Quality. Everyday we lose a little ground to the future. In the town that I grew up in, there was a vote last June to tear down the middle school that I attended. Of course, this came as no surprise to residents, as the school had been closed for more than a decade as a middle school. In recent years it had been rented out as a day care and for office space, but really the sad and inevitible conclusion was that one day Sylvia Packard Middle School would be torn down. And now this day has arrived.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">It would not be so sad if not for the fact that the Board of Education had made a choice some years ago that it would be better to build a new middle school than to 'modernize' the current one. The funny thing about that is that the old school (built in 1964) is far more modern than the new one. With its vaulted concrete bus canopy, it's custom aluminum window facade, curved masonry stair towers, and endless examples of craftsmanship, the comparison is not even close. You could not afford to build a building like this in today's market. The craftsman don't exist and the Architects don't spend this much time on Design. The following pictures are just a sample of the Building's elegance (double click to enlarge):</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexCxGu0-7HyyA7vBNWxvOEkJcTvwBh0KAmp_0UOU5gK5H5cWdXUKxcANsgSQhdxrEIe-_V9kqsk7mwQeZQuUTbNXn3wjMoQC8i6rcaXl6A6nygQpHlZPg8KRHXyC7WcCreoqrJ49Aa38/s1600/IMG_2324a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456471985823223746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexCxGu0-7HyyA7vBNWxvOEkJcTvwBh0KAmp_0UOU5gK5H5cWdXUKxcANsgSQhdxrEIe-_V9kqsk7mwQeZQuUTbNXn3wjMoQC8i6rcaXl6A6nygQpHlZPg8KRHXyC7WcCreoqrJ49Aa38/s200/IMG_2324a.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGAQuxcLcHouXVNl0iYh8-xIbqWVZU6wD9oWfhISDXlqLcG0oiSIv9JmKwXmfJ0q1Xamzpb2bMu5odYT4QBXODmIHuJHedbtIieqrCYSu-yEFvfS3dsM9R-0JcKDnDkNpQGitwmAi-Tw/s1600/IMG_2326.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456472184225962466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGAQuxcLcHouXVNl0iYh8-xIbqWVZU6wD9oWfhISDXlqLcG0oiSIv9JmKwXmfJ0q1Xamzpb2bMu5odYT4QBXODmIHuJHedbtIieqrCYSu-yEFvfS3dsM9R-0JcKDnDkNpQGitwmAi-Tw/s200/IMG_2326.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexCxGu0-7HyyA7vBNWxvOEkJcTvwBh0KAmp_0UOU5gK5H5cWdXUKxcANsgSQhdxrEIe-_V9kqsk7mwQeZQuUTbNXn3wjMoQC8i6rcaXl6A6nygQpHlZPg8KRHXyC7WcCreoqrJ49Aa38/s1600/IMG_2324a.jpg"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02fZWHOO2nVKfXzzH_y_4GoYkWXtQaROo3IDvFPAYC8g7HpXF53SktTllGY6u9UbdE36F-N_aEYBk-SZE1Wp86PB5SKQ56l4zLv_F_Gmoy1DmwYZ6247RqNodBeSqDEWzDL50Wp-LgoQ/s1600/IMG_2334a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456472478673911794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02fZWHOO2nVKfXzzH_y_4GoYkWXtQaROo3IDvFPAYC8g7HpXF53SktTllGY6u9UbdE36F-N_aEYBk-SZE1Wp86PB5SKQ56l4zLv_F_Gmoy1DmwYZ6247RqNodBeSqDEWzDL50Wp-LgoQ/s200/IMG_2334a.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 165px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P-wjTsn2dPBVsOwW6ocGiFN3fqmM63Qlo3CVuedKc5BlKgu5Pv56A92UmgVSBm8YLuWUy1rcpGpMHaY5B58IV7JtHYIozZaEthZ8JVbO9xJp6QqagIZBn5Qc5jxS0EwKsFvJk6oqwoE/s1600/IMG_2336a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456472656017597570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P-wjTsn2dPBVsOwW6ocGiFN3fqmM63Qlo3CVuedKc5BlKgu5Pv56A92UmgVSBm8YLuWUy1rcpGpMHaY5B58IV7JtHYIozZaEthZ8JVbO9xJp6QqagIZBn5Qc5jxS0EwKsFvJk6oqwoE/s200/IMG_2336a.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now take a look at the school that replaced it (designed by Wiedersun Associates):</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKk3I5Kr6lAH23wNV7P77RpTD3Sl2Z4OGshl7NMwsIAFc8bkDP0XEfsp6OTcVgqrzcZXy710mIYm2Noq788xPQC55kfRtPCsc1tYYUWDKXOj1IDTQkCMrr0rEzrn1SQ5CTMPVTQiW6Kk/s1600/711asu122a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456473134079989346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKk3I5Kr6lAH23wNV7P77RpTD3Sl2Z4OGshl7NMwsIAFc8bkDP0XEfsp6OTcVgqrzcZXy710mIYm2Noq788xPQC55kfRtPCsc1tYYUWDKXOj1IDTQkCMrr0rEzrn1SQ5CTMPVTQiW6Kk/s200/711asu122a.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 406px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">While we cannot save every building from the wrecking ball, we can do our best to appreciate the beauty of another's effort in the pursuit of passion. The Sylvia Packard Middle School was designed and constructed with an attention to detail that rivals the work of any great modern Architect. The scale of the building is both human and monumental. The concrete design is economical and poetic. The use of unit masonry as both a giver of structure and a delicate screen creates something bordering on magic when the light dances through it. Schools should not only be places where children get inspired, they should be inspiring. It is both sad and disappointing that the educators of the 1960's were more forward thinking about education than those who are making the decisions more than five decades later. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Looking back, it is easy to see that my passion for Building and Design was greatly inspired by my surroundings. What I can't understand is how we could build schools like this in the 1960's, but we can't build these kinds of buildings today? We have used our technology to engineer the quality out of construction instead of improving it. Instead of masonry, we have foam. Instead of drywall, we have acoustical tile. Instead of terrazzo, we have vinyl flooring. I can only hope that the next Renaissance is around the corner and that future generations will realize that beauty is essential to human happiness. For me, the Sylvia Packard Middle School represents a beauty in constructed form that can serve as an example, even if that example relates to that which should not be destroyed.</span></div></div></div></div></div>

The Destruction of Sylvia Packard Middle School (and so much more)

In many cases, your life is the result of a million coincidences that you are mostly unaware of. You can't pick who your parents are. Yo...

Read more »