Mel and I were cruising Craigslist when we came across this large metal piece that I thought I could add feet to and turn into a room divider. Back when we found it the color was a chalky white. I changed the color to earth tones like green, brown and tan when we were using it to decorate a room with a Danish/Mid-Century Modern style. Little known to most of you is that I also decorate in the Danish or MCM style. Since I’ve started this blog I’ve been torn about also blogging about this side of our style. If this is something you’d also be interested in please let me know. Here is a sample from our master bedroom.
Back to the divider….we wanted to use it for a room with an art deco decor so I gave it a face lift. This divider comes in three sections and is made of heavy steel. The guy we bought it from said they took it out of a home built in the 50’s. He said he couldn’t see it just going to the scrap yard.
The first thing I wanted to do was paint the whole thing a dark brown (almost black). This way it could go with many different settings. I wanted to spruce it up a little bit so I went to Office Depot and picked up a set of paint pens. The set comes with gold & silver. These pens are great because you can use them on so many things. I used them on the restoration of the umbrella stand. I created a lightening strike design (I remembered seeing retro lamp shades with the same design so I ran with it). I like the results.
I was using it to divide the diner from the living room but with the Idaho Motel sign coming into the house I had to change its location. I decided to use it as a wall decoration instead of a divider.
Retro room dividers are very hard to come by, at least in my experience. If you see one that you like jump on it. They are a great way to create a space and add some style to the room.
Hepcats Haven 
I say yes! Show us your bedroom! 😉 Really, I mean your Danish/MCM! To me it all kinda blends anyway.
The room dividers are FAB! I have been hemming and hawing over this one room divider for about 2 years now, actually I can’t believe the store still has it. It’s kinda darker though and I usually go more for the lighter blonde look. I peg it more at mid 60s, as it has the orange and turquoise colors and almost a laminate look on the bottom instead of real wood. It’s hard to describe, but it is super cool. I guess I just haven’t wanted to part with the $500 they are asking for it yet, and then the Mr reminds me “Where would we put it?” 🙂
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Hey Sara,
That’s 1 for showing our MCM! Lets see if everyone else feels the same. You should go in and make an offer on the divider if they have had it that long. Also, sometimes they offer layaway. I am sure you could find a use for it if you did purchase it. Thanks for your comment and have a wonderful night.!
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Well kiddo, you know what my answer’s going to be….definitely SHOW IT! So it’s different from your atomic/50’s design of the rest of your place? It still blends beautifully and you’ve done (of course) a spectacular job with it and it’s a very nice compliment to your total home. It’s absolutely as breathtaking as the rest of the place so no more holding out! Do it! I’ve wondered why you never have.
To Sara….Hepcat is right – go into the store & make an offer on that room divider (which sounds smashing!) and start LOW! If it’s been there that long, 1) they’ll part with it for anything they can get, or 2) the owner is stubborn & won’t budge (we have one of those at the store where my spaces are) & it will sit there forever. But definitely go in with at least a half-off offer and go from there. Let us know how it goes!
~Vic~
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P.S. Does this mean the Motel sign is in the house now????? HooBoy, can’t wait to see!
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Yes it is in but there are a few more things I need to do to it before I show it.
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Thanks Vic.
I think I will start to work in the items to my blog. It may be too much if I do it all at once.
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Yeah, maybe I will just give them an offer of $250 or so and see what happens. The most they can do is say no! Now I just have to talk the Mr into it! 🙂 It really is pretty cool, it has this darker brown laminate (real shiny and wood looking) on the bottom half with white diamond laminate shapes embedded into it. Then a planter in the middle portion. Then the 3 metal bars that go up to the ceiling from the planter with the orange and turquoise shapes on the bars. Its soooooo hard to explain, it probably sounds bizarre from my description, but it really is neat. I will let y’all know how it goes!
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Yeah, let me know. It never hurts to ask so go get it! Send me pics when you get it.
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I will definitely let you know if it works out. I will probably post pics on my blog, No Pattern Required, so I will let you know if/when it is going to happen. Right now I post on Thurs and Sat, and I am deep into my Mom’s condo reno story on Thursdays and Saturdays I usually post e-Bay finds…..so it could be awhile!
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I look forward to an update and I hope you’re able to get a good deal. Your blog is great, you and your team of writers cover so many facets of Mid-Century life. I look forward to exploring it.
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