Sometimes it takes becoming a visitor to a familiar place to do and see things you never had the chance to do before. The Gropius House in Lincoln, Massachusetts, was a place I always wanted to tour while living in New England. Often times, on my trips to Walden Pond or the deCordova Museum with my children (toddlers at that time) I would slow down to check it out. On one occasion, I actually stopped only to find it closed, which by the way, didn't stop me from walking its grounds. Now, years later, I enjoyed an afternoon tour of the home of Walter Gropius: architect, art educator and founder of the Bauhaus School of Design.
Having founded the Bauhaus School of Design and appointed to Harvard University's Graduate School of Design in 1937, Walter Groupius and his wife Ise were friends to many celebrated artists and craftsmen. Most of them were frequent guests at their Lincoln, Ma. home. Besides the amazing architectural features of this house, hearing about the people who visited it was one of my favorite segments of the tour. I saw the room where Frank Lloyd Wright spent the night, gifts given to the Gropiuses by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and museum quality art and textiles created by other notable artists adorning the walls of the historic residence.
Unable to take photos on the inside I managed to snap a few from the outside. Take a look:
Another favorite part of the tour was the roof deck off the Gropiuses' daughter's bedroom, which is stunning both by its color and its design (which casts the most perfect shadows on the privacy wall).
Last week I popped into Modernaire's new location in Oakland. After years in Berkeley, owner Bruce Crawford moved his carefully curated mid-century wares to a large, well lit space on Telegraph Ave. Living in a mid-century home, I'm naturally drawn to stores that represent the era, but what impressed me most about Modernaire was its wide array of accessories. Clocks, lamps, bowls, art and even a free standing fireplace were artfully displayed and available for sale. Any one of the items offered would be perfect for adding detail and personality to a space, mid-century or not. Take a look: 
