David collects mid-century designs and is the owner at โBoomerang For Modernโ, a vintage store in San Diego. Today, he will guide us through his collection and passion for mid-century modern design.
MCH: Hi David, tell us a bit about your collectionย and yourself.
D:ย In 2009, my architect friend,ย Jonathan Segal purchased a parcel in San Diegoโs โLittle Italyโ community andย had it subdivided into three. He built his home on the largest and offered meย one of the smaller ones, which I chose the smallest of the remaining two. Heย designed the home with my input and let me design my kitchen and bathrooms.
The footprint of the house is 24โx25โ and there are three interior floors and a fourthย floor roof garden with great views of downtown and the bay. The house has wonย numerous local and national awards for its innovative design solutions.
MCH: You have some greatย pieces, how long have you been collecting mid-centuryย modern designs and how this passion started?
D: I started collecting mid century modernย in the late seventies, even if Cara Greenberg hadnโt yet coined the term.
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In the living room:ย Noguchi dining table, Laverne โTโ dining chairs, Henningson โPH Contrastโ lamp
I hadย grown up with colonial so the shapes, materials and colors were very new andย refreshing to me. I loved the hunt in thrift shops, garage sales and swap meetsย and there were really great things to find then.
Though, I wish I had been betterย informed then as I know I must have passed on many things Iโd kill for these days. So obviously, this is not a fad or trend for me, Iโm in for good.
READ ALSO: Before and After: Karen, John and their Eichler Home
MCH: How does it feel to live surrounded by such iconicย furniture? Do you treat them inย a special way or just use them as common furniture?
D: We live veryย easily with our collection. They are all carefully chosen with a focused eye forย comfort as well as design. We definitely use the pieces as they were intended butย do treat them with respect.
On the Noguchi Coffee Table:ย Jerome Kirkย โFirecrackerโ kinetic sculpture
MCH: Which itemย doย you like the most and why?
D: It has to be dividedย between the incredible 10โ by 3โ weaving by John Smith and the kinetic tabletopย sculpture by Jerome Kirk. The weaving was salvaged from a 1960โs bank buildingย and used as a โdisplay onlyโ piece in a dark, creepy, immense used furnitureย warehouse in LA.
I used to stop by every time I made a shopping trip to LA. Forย years and years, they refused to sell it but one day I stopped by and they wereย closing for good.
Above:ย early sixties mobile by โDiakonovโ
It was their last day and I was finally victorious. The kineticย sculpture came via a local art dealer. I contacted the artist who lived in Berkeleyย who wrote me the kindest letter letting me know of its provenance. He also sentย along a book with this sculpture pictured inside.
Above: George Nelson Sling Sofa
MCH: Where do you source the piecesย of your collection?
D: Most ofย the collection has come via referrals to local estates. By way of my business, Iโmย lucky enough to get many wonderful things directly from their original owners.
In the bedroom: Nelson CSS wall unit with a Swag-Leg chair. On the wall, a Nelson Spool clockย
MCH: Is it difficult to keepย mid-century furniture in a good status?
D: Just like any piece of good furniture,ย regular cleaning, oiling, vacuuming is usually all they take. I have restored a fewย things but try to use a light touch and donโt overdo it.
I like the fact that theyย are indeed old and have a history. I donโt want to erase that character. Though,ย tattered, stained and abused donโt cut it in our house.
READ ALSO:ย Long Dune by Hammer Architects โ Danish Simplicity
Above: Higgins Rondelay painted glass screen. Surfboard table,ย Sofaย Compact andย screenย all by Charles Eames
MCH: Is there any designer/architect from the mid-century periodย that inspires you?
D: Being a good Californian, how can I not be totally inspired by the work of Charlesย and Ray who have done SO much to bring good modern design to so many.
MCH: If you had an unlimited budget, which piece would you likeย to own?
D: Why not go for the topโฆa Noguchi Chess table with its original chessย pieces of course.
Do you live in a mid-century or modernist-inspired contemporary house and want to be featured on MidCenturyHome? Contact us with some photos and a short description of your house at:ย info@midcenturyhome.com
Above: Van Keppel-Green, Richardย Shultz and Harry Bertoia
