Friday, July 1, 2011

Chromed

The Villa Sibi is the setting for some chrome this week. Check out at this vintage set I bought recently, which includes a table and six chairs, a shelving unit, an arc lamp, a mirrored planter, coffee table, and stereo and speakers, all in 1:12 scale. Most everything is metal and the tables and shelving units have plexi inserts; the chairs are covered in leather. I don't have any pieces like this (with the exception of the arc lamp), so I was excited to win it on eBay. The set may also help solve a little mystery...I have two of the same arc lamps, and always wondered about their maker and if they were part of a set. Seeing them all together provides a bit of a clue...anyone know anything about this set?

Even though the Sibi has a post 90s minimalist aesthetic, the 80s chrome works I think!










I tried to fashion a clustered pendant light out of holiday decorations bought at a yard sale. Not entirely successful, but I enjoyed the detour!

Some real cluster lamps...
Lamps by Kathleen Hills

British-made ceramic cluster lamp on lightingstyles.co.uk
Then some cheap (.25!) decorations...


Credits: Chrome shelving unit, table, arc lamp, chairs, plexi magazine holder, stereo, speakers, and mirrored planter are all part of a vintage set; rug is handmade by The Shopping Sherpa; couch is minimodernistas; Barcelona chair is Reac; long planter is vintage TOMY; stereo table consists of two AG Minis tables; zebra print wall art is scrapbook paper; peacock wallpaper is from the Paper Source; pendant light is made (badly) by me out of holiday decorations. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, Lilu Shop on Etsy, random eBay finds, and beads.

The time it took me: 48 minutes
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24 comments:

  1. The Shopping SherpaJuly 1, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    I seem to recall my dining set came with gold "Made in Japan" stickers on them. I'd always thought they were from Concord miniautres originally but can't remember why I came to that conculsion. Having said that I have a very vague memory if seeing the arc lamps listed in a very old Dee's Delight's spotty catalogue, in the Concord Miniautre section: perhaps that was my clue? (Or perhaps I'm talking tosh!)

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  2. otterineJuly 2, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    That chrome set is a very nice find! The third picture looks so real.

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  3. PetraJuly 2, 2011 at 1:42 AM

    wow, this is a real 80s feeling. what a nice scene. i've never seen such furniture before. I'm envious again. btw i read in the last weeks, that the villa sibi is scale 1:16, i wasn't aware, but now when i look i can see it. have you ever tried to put smaller furniture in it?
    i'm allways impressed callsmall, that you are a fulltime-job mother of three and seem to have enought time for ebay surfing and a very funded blog and even some miniature events: esteem!

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  4. ElianaJuly 2, 2011 at 2:22 AM

    I love your blog. This room is amazing!

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  5. Beth LemonJuly 2, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    I love your lights. I think maybe they're just not hanging like you want because the wire is so thick. I bet you could swap it out. Those "flowers" are just styrofoam with a wire jabbed into it and dipped into paint. You could pull the wire out and hot glue in white string and dab paint in the hole. But to me, they look awesome. 48 minutes! Amazing.

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  6. callsmallJuly 2, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Hey, TSS! I agree that Concord is a very good guess. Some web searches have not turned up much yet. None of the pieces had a Made in Japan sticker. Let me know if you turn anything up!

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  7. callsmallJuly 2, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Hi, Otterine! Thanks! I do like these pieces, very fun. I've loved following your progress on the contest. Best of luck!

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  8. callsmallJuly 2, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    Hi, Oese! Yes, very 80s here. When I was living in the 80s, I didn't really take to the furnishings, but I like them now! The Villa Sibi is very versatile...I've used scales from 1:10 to 1:18 in it, and they all work well. I appreciate your kind words...I do juggle a lot with my family and work, which leaves me very little time for my hobby. I tend to do my hobby late at night, like this scene, and then I finish it early in the morning before I get the kids up. I keep my eBay searching to some favorite categories and that's it. I am sure I am missing things. And I don't go on German eBay often at all, which I miss ;)

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  9. callsmallJuly 2, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    Thanks so much, Eliana! Glad you like it!

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  10. callsmallJuly 2, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    You're sweet, Beth Lemon. It's such a crappy little light, but you knew what I was after. I probably spent 20 of the 48 minutes stringing the light together, and yes I totally agree that the wires are too thick. It was also tricky getting it to hang down from the ceiling. Thanks for your encouragement :)

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  11. Mad For ModJuly 2, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    It looks great. I really like the white sofa and barcelona chair added to the scene.

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  12. UnknownJuly 2, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    I love all your furniture so much. I'm generally a quiet lurker, but these required and audible WOW. I had been wanting to make some metal and canvas chairs that resemble your set.

    Your light does look a little off, but the idea is nice and I am certain that you will be able to nail it soon! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

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  13. callsmallJuly 2, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Thanks, ModMom's Minis! I do so love that Barcelona chair, and it fit right in! Minimodernistas' sofa is such a nice shade of white, too.

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  14. callsmallJuly 2, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    Hi, Lyssa! I do hope you make some of your own -- let me know if you do! Yes, the light is more than a little off ;) Don't know if I will come back to it, and this trial is likely destined for the trash!

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  15. NeomigJuly 2, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    Hi Chris
    Its a beautiful scene! Everything has been said before by Oese- so I'll just add, I'm green with envy!
    Best
    Neomi

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  16. Mini DorkJuly 3, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    Looks fabulous!!!

    I am curious about the chrome set. Years ago I bought these two end tables that look to be the same (you can see them in a thrown together room here http://modernminihouses.blogspot.com/2010/12/very-merry-christmas.html). They came in fitted white boxes, so I had hoped there were more pieces, but I never found any and stopped looking. VERY COOL set. Mine also had stickers on them that were hard to get off one of the legs. As TSS said, I believe mine also said Made in Japan. Glad you made it back safe, can't wait to read about your latest acquisition. :P

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  17. SandraJuly 4, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    I saw this set on eBay and considered bidding, but had no idea what to do with it. What you did is lovely!

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  18. PepperJuly 5, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    I think the cluster lamps look extremely effective. I love the chromed dining room set. A great Ebay find!

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  19. callsmallJuly 5, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    Thanks, Neomi! It is a cool set, and I really don't have anything like it. I hope to make more use of it again soon.

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  20. callsmallJuly 5, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Hey, Mini Dork! Those end tables look like they belong with the set, definitely. And, Concord usually comes in those tight white boxes, so perhaps TSS is correct on that. Thanks!!! I'll try to blog on my new baby soon ;)

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  21. callsmallJuly 5, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Hi, Sandra! I did consider not bidding, and did not go much above asking. I'm glad it worked out, though!

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  22. callsmallJuly 5, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    You're sweet, Pepper! You could have made an actual working cluster light in two shakes, I'm sure. ;) Mine needs serious skill like yours!

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  23. GigiJuly 6, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    You are so creative with the cheap Christmas ornaments. So cool!

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  24. callsmallJuly 7, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    Thanks, Gigi! I wish I could have refined it a bit, but time was an issue ;)

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