Ultra Swank - Retro Adventures

motel

Stylish Mid-Century Hotels & Motels

Why do even the most standard Hotels and Motels look so much better in mid-century America? It would seem that generally they cared much more about the looks and aesthetics, and making the guest feel right at home. They were often themed and the color schemes could have been copied straight from a Eames chair. Large, buzzing, sometimes Googie inspired signs, advertising a plethora of...

Nostalgic Postcards of American Roadside Attractions – Part 3

According to Wikipedia, a roadside attraction is a feature along the side of a road, that is frequently advertised with billboards to attract tourists. In general, these are places one might stop on the way to somewhere else, rather than being a final or primary destination in and of themselves. The modern tourist-oriented highway attraction originated as a U.S. and Western Canadian phenomenon in the...

Nostalgic Postcards of American Roadside Attractions – Part 2

Nostalgic, classic, vintage and timeless yet again. So vivid, futuristic and warm but also gloomy and grey at the same time. Postwar suburban America was certainly a time of change – a time when the automobile was the spotlight of modern living. You could go anywhere in your Oldsmobile, Chrysler, Chevrolet or Cadillac. How about a trip to S.S. Kresge to pick up new sofa?...

Nostalgic Postcards of American Roadside Attractions

Nostalgic, classic, vintage and timeless. These are words that comes to mind when I look at postcards depicting roadside American attractions such as motels, diners, drive-in theaters, bowling alleys and outdoor shopping centers. It is definitely an era gone-by now and I am sad never to never really have experienced it. I am sure many of you have fond (or maybe not so fond) memories...

Swank Style Surprise Discovered
Written by Guest Writer in Interior

Swank Style Surprise Discovered

I had the occasion this past summer to stay in a Motel 6 here in the U.S. for the first time in many years. I was most pleasantly surprised at the new look of the room. It was simple, utilitarian, but perhaps best of all, something new in that it reminded me of mid-century America with a bit of a nod to Deco, 1950s “Space-Age”...

Swedish Googie design
Written by Christopher in Architecture

Swedish Googie design

I recently discovered a Swedish website that featured abandoned and disused places, buildings and what not. One of the locations was one of those old motel / restaurant / bar establishment thingies that was a common sight along the Swedish highways up to the 1980s. The interesting thing about this place is the design. It looks like nothing I have seen before, at least not...

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