Art Deco-rating 101

Let’s Art Deco-rate!

Okay, so last week we covered the rise and fall of an Empire, and by Empire I mean a Bus Station. Same difference.  This week I thought that I would switch it up and talk a bit about decorating…er… Art Deco-rating! Now, I won’t be directing you to dealers or high end furniture stores but I will be giving you advice on how to Deco-rate without breaking the bank. After all, I don’t have tens of thousands of dollars to throw at a high end dealer presented living room set and I don’t think I’m alone there. I do however, wish that I had tens of thousands of dollars to throw at  high end dealer presented living room set, so let’s be clear on that. I mean, I would LOVE this.

$18,000 for both...seems reasonable at only a years worth of rent!

 A main reason for my doing this is because I have seen so many people buy reproduction pieces at outrageous prices, not to mention sub par quality. Yes, Art Deco is coming back in a big way and that makes it trendy, but wouldn’t you rather own a small piece of genuine history, something that’s got soul? Why I love Art Deco furniture and décor as much as I do(apart from style) is in part due to the fact that these pieces were built to last lifetimes, not a few years. Now, those close to me know my secret but now I’m going to share it with the rest of you. Two words: Craigslist & Kijiji. To my American friends: Kijiji is like Craigslist, but better. I’m sorry you don’t have it…

What’s really great about Art Deco is that it hasn’t hit antique status yet. This means that prices aren’t yet astronomical unless you’re hitting up dealers or stores like The Art Shoppe. What’s more important is that with these buy and sell websites, most people just think they’re selling their grandparents junk and that it holds little value. These are the people you want to encounter.

My first success in this realm was when I was looking for a set of dressers for our bedroom. After searching through the bowels of Craigslist, I found a pair for $60. Yes, that would be both dressers for $60. Did I mention that included cross-town delivery? I was absolutely floored. Don’t get me wrong, they were in horrible condition and needed major TLC, as you can see.

Scratches, paint splatter...she had seen better days.

This one fared no better....

Circa 1940, these are a great example of what is known as Waterfall Style. They feature soft, rounded edges and simple streamlined details that inspire movement. I saw the potential in them and decided to execute a full-blown restoration. Using a sheet sander with a 60 Grit paper, I stripped these dames down to the grain.

Grain and bear it!

Once that was complete, I smoothed them out with 220 grit followed by two coats of stain in Dark Walnut and two runs of semi-gloss polyurethane to seal the deal. I sourced out some original Art Deco pulls ($15), cleaned them up and there you have it.

Like a phoenix from the ashes!

Cat cameo bonus!

 Check out this link. Not quite $30, but for $300 this is a real beauty.

 Now, these babies are for keeps but I was curious to see how much they would fetch for in the open market. Re-listed at $400 a piece, I was contacted by two eager buyers. To their dismay, I said they had already been sold. It’s perhaps unfair to get one’s hopes up but I was curious! Needless to say, it was certainly a testament to the value of furniture restoration. After the original cost of $30 per dresser and approximately $30 on materials, they cost me a total of $45 each; talk about a profit margin!

Our home is a mix of Art Deco and Mid-Century (hubby’s favourite) and we’ve done quite a few restorations since, you can see Adams favourite chair below. All of the items here were found on either Craigslist or Kijiji and I’ve included the prices for your bewilderment. 

Stunning Danish Mid-Century Teak Chair: $35

Even the smaller décor pieces can be found for unreal prices.

c.1929 Solid Brass Statuette of a Woman Dancing  $40

Streamline Moderne Chrome Lamp w/Milk Glass Shade $45/Pair

 Craigslist ALERT!!!!! Art Deco Dresser for $30!!!! A real fixer upper - great details!

There are even times when you’ll find a piece that doesn’t need a lick of restoration and looks amazing. Honestly, I still can’t get over the price of this one; the details are just stunning! All we need now are nightstands…Summer mission?

Late 1920's Double Bed $100 + Cat Cameo Bonus!

Amazing details!

 
Well, here is a steal for one nightstand, check it out for $30! Kijiji baby!

 

While using a search term like “Art Deco” is a surefire way to find what you’re looking for, I prefer to use “vintage” plus whatever item you’re seeking i.e. Vintage Dresser. I do this because it generally means that the seller isn’t aware that what they’re putting up for sale is Art Deco, which usually means a lower end price and results in the “OMG look at the deal I got!” euphoria. Win!

The Art Deco era is known for is grandeur, opulence, and glamour. Art Deco-rating your home to reflect this isn’t necessarily reserved for the wealthy; all you have to do is dig, and be willing to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.

Until next time!

Matt

Riches to Rags - What Ever Happened to the Gray Coach Lines Terminal?

Bus Travel. It used to be the bee’s knees. Now? Not so much. Personally, I loathe traveling by bus; long lines, no guaranteed seating, the fact that you are on a bus... It all sucks. To boot, I’m one of those born and raised downtown Torontonians that never bothered to get his driver’s license. Now I’m 30 and well, if I want to travel somewhere that isn’t accessible by plane or train (My favourite being the latter; old soul, remember?)then my only option is good old Greyhound. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem as the places I tend to visit have airports and train stations, but my Fathers whereabouts have neither. Visiting Collingwood means the big wheels keep on turning and Proud Matty has to suck it up and take the bus. There is one saving grace to this otherwise lackluster experience, and that’s that I get to spend some time at the Gray Coach Lines Terminal, circa 1931. It opened on December 19^th to be exact and only 4 days behind its scheduled Grand Opening of the 15th. Only 4 days late? That’s unheard of these days. 

The Vision

Construction leading up to the grand opening, c. September 1931

All done!

The terminal was built to service the ever increasing need for mass transit to and from smaller cities and well, did they ever do it with style! Built at the height of the Art Deco boom in Toronto, The Gray Coach Lines Terminal boasted travertine walls, a vaulted ceiling featuring a wonderfully geometric skylight in vivid shades of blue, green, and purple, framed by five tiered chandeliers. All that, combined with the grand staircase with monel metal railings and an inspired glass window that lead you on your way up to the mezzanine lounge made for a truly remarkable coach terminal. 

 

Sadly, she no longer looks quite like she did. After a series of modifications in the late 1960’s followed by a botched "Restoration" in 1991, she was robbed of her glamour. While the skylight and four of five chandeliers remain intact (phew!), the mezzanine has since been closed to the public and the rails modified to feature glass paneling(Gasp!). The original wooden benches have been replaced with some pretty vulgar seating arrangements, with walls blown out for an expanded ticketing area and snack bar. They also ripped out the doorways to the Arrivals and Departures area that in my opinion, finished off the main room and rendered it complete. There used to be symmetry and style at the Gray Coach Lines Terminal, but that’s all gone now. Standing in there 83 years later, it feels as if it’s unfinished, defiled, and defaced; a truly beleaguered venue that merely shrugs at its past rather than celebrating it. Le triste.

The exterior hasn't changed a bit!

As you can see, the upper monel railings on the North (right) and South(left) sides were replaced with half transparent, half translucent glass, with offices now occupying what once was the mezzanine level. The staircase railing was modified to include glass panels for some unknown reason. Ugh.

At least the skylight remains vivid, 83 years later.

She hardly exudes the grandeur she once did. What a shame that they removed the centre chandelier....

There are whispers that the now named Toronto Coach Terminal's services will be relocating to another venue and one wonders what will happen to this old girl if that becomes a reality.  With the condo boom in this city, it’s not a stretch to assume it’s fate will land in the hands of a Real Estate developer which could (could being the operative word) be a wonderful thing. What I would love to see is a full restoration of the main building with original ticketing area being the concierge. Behind the re-produced Arrival and Departures doors would be hallways featuring historical photos and facts leading the way to the elevators. The mezzanine would be re-purposed as a lounge, cocktail bar, and restaurant giving the public an opportunity to revel in the beauty. The existing bus bay would be torn down and that’s where the residential tower would rise up to the skies. They could call it Coach House Condos or something equally catchy that pays some hommage to its roots.  It’s for these reason that when I do have to travel by bus that it’s a lot easier to deal with. I get to think about what this place used to be like, and imagine what the future has in store.

Note: All historical photos in this article are from the City of Toronto Archives, with present photos Copyright of Matthew D. Stokes 2014

Art Deco - A Tribute to Mom

Well, Happy Monday everyone!

I know, Monday has a bad reputation. It’s the worst day of the week, by far. That being said, Monday is the start of a new week which means there are all kinds of wonderful things that can happen. Say for example, the first themed post of Art Deco Divo!

At the tail end of last week, I was thinking intensely about what my first post would revolve around. Would it be a landmark? Some furniture? A cocktail? I decided to sleep on it for a few days and resolved that the idea would come naturally. Well, it did. In the spirit of Mother’s Day, the first post of my blog will feature an Art Deco tribute to my late Mother, Mary-Beth.

My mother and I were incredibly close. I have fond memories of us sitting in the surf at our summer home in Florida, chatting about life under the stars. She was a remarkable woman, loved and admired by many, and wise beyond her years. She even knew I was gay before I did, and in her own way let me know at the tender age of 11 that it was okay to be a boy and like boys. We used to stay up late and watch James Bond and classic films, or on a sunny day in June she would tell the school she forgot that I had a doctor’s appointment and we would sneak away to golf. She loved life. We are a lot alike, her and I.

Other times, we would just chat like best friends while wrapped up in the haunting vocals of Billie Holiday.  She taught me all about jazz and cultivated my love for music. She encouraged me to do whatever my heart desired to do and taught me to believe fiercely in myself and my capabilities. Sadly, she died of a brain aneurism at the age of 36. That was almost 17 years ago. The good do die young, it seems.

We erected a bench in her name at a local park, and I still have some of her ashes. For years and years, I wanted to do more than hold onto her ashes and visit her bench, I wanted something permanent that I could see every day to remind me of my love for her, something that others could see and in a way, be introduced to her. The idea came to me last summer.

 A good friend of mine had just gotten a tattoo on his chest; it was the classic sailor heart tattoo with “Mom” inscribed on a ribbon.  It looked awesome on him, and it got me thinking. I loved the idea, but I wanted something incredibly unique, something personal. I decided that I would get a heart tattoo, but it would be Art Deco inspired and would say Mary-Beth instead of Mom. I stumbled upon a photo of an Art Deco apartment with the most amazing windows (see pic) and that was part of inspiration (you’ll see why). 

 I decided to start the design myself before going to my tattoo artist in order to best communicate my vision. You can see my original design, which was pretty basic, but it was a great starting point.

I then met up with my tattoo artist Chino who loved the idea and said that it was the first time in his 30 years in the business that he'd being approached to design something like this, nor had seen anything similar anywhere else. It was truly unique. He wanted a month to research Art Deco and prepare a design based on my inspiration. The wait near killed me but on Friday September 9th, 2013 I walked into his shop and he showed me this:

Honestly, I felt a lump in my throat and had to choke back some tears. It was breathtaking.  It was perfect and I knew that she would love it. A total of 9 hours went into this piece and it truly exhibited everything I love about Art Deco; it had amazing line work, it was elegant, it actually reminded me of a Film Studio logo that would be displayed at the beginning of a classic film. How appropriate, I thought. It wasn’t cheap, as no tattoo should ever be, but it was worth every penny.

Yesterday may have been Mother’s Day, but I look in the mirror every morning at my tattoo and am thankful for being able to have had such an incredible woman in my life, if only for the first 13 years. She will be with me forever, and immortalized in this beautiful piece of Art Deco body art. 

For those who love Ink, check out my incredible talented artist Chino's shop 

Black Widow Tattoo Arts

I hope you enjoyed today's post! 

Your Art Deco Divo,

Matt

Live from Toronto, it's Art Deco Divo!

Welcome to Art Deco Divo – Toronto’s newest blog about all things Art Deco, as curated by none other than myself, Matt Stokes. We’ll get into how my fascination with this period came to be at some point in the near future, but what I really want to share with you is what this blog is all about. 

Sure, Art Deco was a stunning architectural style, but there is oh so much more to it than that. Art Deco was a lifestyle…it touched clothing, accessories, furniture, art, sculpture…you get the picture. This period also brought on the birth of cocktail culture and was all about glamour…what on earth is sexier than that?

Toronto… or Hollywood North as it’s known to many these days, is an absolute gem when it comes to this amazing style and what I’m going to do is this: I’m going to show you some amazing architecture, I’m going to take you to the coolest bars that serve up the best Art Deco era cocktails in town, heck, I’ll even show you how to make them. I’ll buy beat up, vintage furniture and restore its former glory and I’ll show you how to do the same. Art Deco fabric, glassware, jewellery….why not talk about film why we’re at it?  I think I’ve made my point here, but this blog will show you not only Toronto’s Art Deco past, but how even today, its presence can be felt across the city. Yes -  Art Deco really is the bees knees.

While this blog gains some steam (and after!) please check out my sisters to the south @ArtDecoDivas www.ArtDecoDivas.Blogspot.com for an amazing taste of Art Deco in Hollywood, CA! We’ve got some joint ventures brewing that will be sure to tantalize, so stay tuned!

Your Art Deco Divo, 

Matt

@ArtDecoDivo