It's Not Just Any Hardware Store

A few years ago I saw a photo on face book that stuck with me. It was a trailer at the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show.  The trailer was gorgeous but what caught my eye was the sun umbrella in front of the trailer.  It's shape!  It's color!  Oh my!  I had to know where that beauty came from and how.  In the comments someone said that it was from the Palm Spring True Value Hardware store. True Value? Yes.  I tried to find one at the local store but they are privately owned and carry different inventory. I resolved to visit the Palm Springs True Value.

*photo from fb show ad

I spot the umbrella at the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show this week and it floods back just how much I love that umbrella.

Sheryl and I visit with the guys from Kaplan Real Estate and they give us the Palm Springs True Value Hardware store scoop.

 Field trip!  Sheryl drives and I navigate and it works well.  We get in the rig and I pull up my map. Oh nooo, it is 52 minutes from the show.  We had planned a late lunch, a Trina Turk visit and a stop at British Invasion.  This can't be right! Oops, I had my map on walking!  We pretty much had a full blown panic attack.  Five minutes via car and we are there. 

 The color choices include an aqua and orange combination.  Perfect for Huaka'i Annie.

 They even have original flamingos.  Their gift ware department is vast, trendy and varied.

I'm flying on Allegiant Airlines and all y'all know how mean and miserly they are regarding luggage and fun.

The good news is that I know where to get the pagoda umbrella, Sheryl could give it a ride back to Lynden and they carry these umbrellas on a regular basis.  Sheryl and I met the charming owner, I think he was touched by how giddy we were with his inventory. He had a gorgeous selection of outdoor furniture.  I am still laughing about him leaning in and telling me quietly that he sold $300,000 in pillows last year.  You go!

Among other things I purchased a t-shirt for Hubby.  Best hardware tee I've come across, ever.

This concludes the Palm Springs Series.  I have posted a lot about this trip but bear with me, I saw a lot of pretty.  When I am in the trenches restoring a trailer my goal is to get out there between projects and see some pretty! This was a successful trip.

*Reminder: I do not get paid to write this drivel, I've never had a sponsor, because whose blog is it?

That's right.  I am just giving out shopping tips here and you are welcome.

Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show Part II

Overwhelming! There were so many beautiful trailers in Palm Springs for the Modernism Week Show that it's difficult to write a post in a brief, concise manner.  I shall try.

First of all, this Holiday House. There are no words, it was a crowd favorite and my favorite. Not just because of the trailer though, but because of my conversation with the owner. He has a Curtis Wright also and we were giddy to meet and share what little we know about Curtis Wright trailers.

 The circles on the back splash, on the room divider and on the light fixture showed Sheryl and me that this trailer had a thoughtful designer.  Sheryl pointed out to me the power of three.  It takes three design elements to tie it together and make the others pop.

 The blanket rack is something I want to remember.

We toured a Curtis Wright Model 5 and I had a good visit with its owner too.

 Hubby and I are considering our table options for our CW Model 6 Flagship and I liked the free standing dining set in this CW.

Bob and Jacyn were showing their Airfloat. I think they have the most amazing Modernism Week wardrobes of all. They were again, dressed up and smiling.

 I love the Airfloat and their nod to a nautical theme.  Sheryl did too and you can see she is pointing excitedly at something cute or clever. 

 I was paying attention to bathrooms because we have one in the CW.

 This wood floor is a great idea for a wet bathroom. It's nice to have something besides the metal shower pan.

 I like the tile giving the metal a bit of pow. It's Rene's picture.  Thanks hon!

Built in liquor and a bow tie shadow box, both brilliant.

A drop leaf table is another table option.

 I'd like to put wood valances in the CW and these were pretty.

 Cobalt blue stove, a great design and pop of an unusual color.  Just because stoves weren't produced in that color at that time doesn't mean that a trailer owner shouldn't do it.  It is the owner's trailer and they should do what works and makes them happy.

 The porthole in this bathroom door was gorgeous and a great way to let some light into a small bathroom.

 I took a lot of pictures of light fixtures.  Vintage lights are hard to find during a restoration and were one of my most difficult decisions while restoring Huaka'i Annie.

 

 I love me some orange and this little trailer was orange.  The Paul Kaplan Group had it on display.

 The best part of this trailer was again the people.  The Holiday House, the Curtis Wrigth Model 5, Bob and Jacyn's Airfloat, the guys with the Kaplan Group made the show what it really is and that is creative, friendly people.  I love our trailers but I love all of the wonderful friends we've made in the vintage trailer world even more.

And Sheryl! She's been my people since we met in the church nursery as babies. She was such a trooper following me around, pointing out design wows and getting excited for me.

The trailers were gorgeous and the people were great at Modernism Week.

The sunshine didn't hurt either.

Next up, the post show field trip.

Modernism Week Vintage Travel Trailer Show Part I

Modernism Week in Palm Springs is not a week, it is ten days.  Last year in February when I made our condo reservations I made them for February 17-22.  Hubby and I wanted to get inspired for the Curtis Wright restoration.  Dal Smiley told us it was worth the trip. It turns out that the vintage travel trailer show is actually the second weekend of Modernism Week.  I had planned to stay on and visit Sheryl so I was going regardless.  We had invited Jeremy and Rene and then I found out I had the wrong dates.  I could get a condo but we'd have to move every day to a different unit.  We decided to forget the show and just be poolside.

Hubby flew home and missed the show. Yes, I feel bad.  Jeremy and Rene ended up renting a car, staying on and driving home after the show. They got to PSP and got caught up in the hype.

I am telling you this long and painful story because if you want to go next year be very careful when choosing dates.  It's pretty hard to find the events and times the year before the actual show. UGH!

Brian and Melissa were there with their trailer.

I really appreciated the trailer owners that posted information about their trailer just outside the door.  It's impossible to talk to every owner as the show gets busy and there isn't enough time in the day.

 The rear pink bathroom in this trailer was spacious.  A bath tub and a vanity area to sit down and put on your make up is luxury in a trailer.

 Their built in bar on the way to bathroom was really sweet.

 I am going to pop all over in this post as it's going to be long.

I don't feel like I have to explain myself but just giving readers a heads up that I focus on different things than you may have at the show but it's my blog and my focus. Hah!

I loved this table setting.  My parents' dish pattern when they got married was the same as the coffee pot only in aqua. I wish Mom had saved them.

 Sheryl and I ran into Jeremy and Rene.  Again they are so photogenic.

Sheryl is too!

 I loved this Spartanette and the poster outside the door was great.

 I love a divider between the living room and the kitchen, a corner kitchen, pretty fabric and metal shelves.  Don't mind me, I'm moving in and taking over.

 The use of the original formica was clever in the bathroom.

 Having watched Hubby stain and finish the wood in our trailer I can appreciate the beauty of this trailer's wood.

Dutch doors?  Yes, please!

 Since I polished the metal on our Aloha I can appreciate all of the shiny metal I saw at the show. And the window trim, because that trim is a pain.

 I am also looking at all of the upholstery since my lessons.  The piping, the button, the tauntness of the material, all of those  details have a whole new meaning for me.

Hubby keeps reminding me that he is going to need my flooring selection for the Curtis Wright soon.

We love marmoleum and used it in the Aloha and in our bathrooms in the house.  I know what kind of flooring but there are many colors and designs to choose from so my work is cut out for me.

Some trailers have marmoleum on the floor and on the counter tops and on the table tops.

It's growing on me.

 It's pretty!

Justin and Anna from Flyte camp always use marmoleum in their trailers.

The teal in their Neutron is calling my name for the CW counter tops.

Hubby has always talked about doing a design in the marmoleum and here is a gorgeous example.  Justin did this in a Bowlus "Red Chief" restoration.

 All of the work in the Bowlus was done by Flyte Camp.  They have a new show coming on the travel channel this Spring. The window trim, the metal, the floor, the cabinets, the, the, the... you get the idea.  T'was stunning work!

I am going to have to continue later because there is just so much pretty to share.

Later, cabinet hardware, lamps, tables, and my favorite trailer.

Oh, and my and Sheryl's post show field trip!