The Royal Treatment

'There just isn't any frost to defrost.' You can't communicate any clearer than that quote from a three-page ad touting Frigidaire's 1959 fridge. Read further, though, and things take a little turn for the unusual. For instance, describing the door shelving we're told, 'No groping. No exploring. Snacks, milk, pickles, and cold cuts are instantly yours.' Hmmm—if not 'yours', whose, I wonder?

On the final page, shown above, we learn that a filigree-like pattern printed on the doors ['new Lacework Styling, yours in a choice of six* colors'] makes this appliance 'the most feminine refrigerator ever.' To this point, the model's imperial headgear would support that notion, too.

*In case you're curious: Turquoise, Charcoal Gray, Mayfair Pink, Sunny Yellow, Aztec Copper and Snowcrest White.

April Showers, Part 3

Did you know that the word squeegee can be traced back to the 19th century verb squeege, which meant 'to press'? Why this striking shower enclosure should trigger that thought, I can only guess. The design is simplicity itself—three glass panels hinged together, to fold open or closed as the bather chooses. samo.it

Off-Kilter Kitchen

Once again, I've got to hand it to my subconscious: The focus of the past few days on lopsided designs has been strictly inadvertent. But it's been fun, so let's continue to mine that vein with these appealingly primitive cabinets and worktables. The Mint collection doesn't look like it would withstand the demands of a busy kitchen, but as a starter set, it would be fine. Cooking is, after all, an out-of-the-box endeavor. rauzas.com

Artfully Composed

The Tara series of fittings is known for its precise proportions. I find this image of the latest addition to the collection—a three-hole, wall-mount faucet—most enjoyably off-center. Tweaking the installation by setting both handles off to one side demonstrates that there is indeed order in disorder. dornbracht.com

Ooh La La!

Even though I'm a cooktop-and-wall-oven kind of gal, come our next kitchen remodel I'd happily—even ecstatically—change my ways for this knock-out of a range. Christened 'Inspired by Marcus' [the Marcus in question being Chef Samuelsson], the 36-inch model can accommodate a griddle, charbroiler, or a 12-inch French top [Yes! I mean Oui!]. Also French are the doors, which dictate a radical new look for the appliance; to me, it's simultaneously revolutionary and restrained. This color is called Infused Copper; there are five other hues from which to choose. It's a culinary collectible, too, with only 200 of these beauties to be fabricated this year. bluestarcooking.com

Dinner Time [Warp]

Dinner [and a tasty looking meal it is] is almost on the table. So why are Pop and the kids messing around outside in the rain? Some things haven't changed since 1959, I see.

But the Missus doesn't seem perturbed about her MIA family at all. She has her mind on other things—like snagging an extra baked potato for herself, maybe. I do hope she remembers to switch that pot holder to her right hand, which appears poised to pull the roast out of the oven. The impossibly spotless oven.

This 'Keyboard Range' was made in a size that by today's standards is an oddity: 40 inches. Although there was obviously room for them, adding two more burners to the appliance was an option never acted upon. Curious.

Balancing Act

It could be said that the Kult vanity certainly has a leg up on the competition when it comes to its own style. [Should it have been said is another issue altogether.] The piece is pretty much a one-liner. Asymmetry is a noble design goal, but tricky to achieve. Perhaps without the distraction of the rococo mirror [and the heinous faucet] the cabinet's redeeming qualities could be better appreciated. lacev-mobilacev.it