The Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch

The powder rooms

A few pictures from my grandmother’s house. Her house is so groovy even the bathrooms are cool! First, the master bath. Note the silve...

August 30, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

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Grandma’s rec room and wet bar

Even growing up, I knew my grandparents where sophisticated. They’re house was decorated like no other I’d ever seen, or, frankl...

August 29, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

Ungapatchked – grandma’s living room

First, a definition. “UNGAPATCHKA” describes the overly ornate, busy, ridiculously over-decorated, and garnished to the point of...

August 27, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

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Candle holder lions!

On the bric-a-brac shelf in my parents kitchen there has always been a plump ceramic lion candle holder. I never really paid much attention ...

July 16, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

Wow – groovy grandma’s wallpaper

This is the wallpaper in my grandmother’s kitchen in New Rochelle, NY. She and my grandfather designed the home, with my mother’...

July 10, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

Owls on high…. shelf

Have you ever noticed that if you spend so much time around someplace it becomes normal? And then only later do you realize how offbeat it i...

July 9, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

70s triptych

This triptych came from my grandmother’s apartment in Florida. It’s about 7′ square, with wood panels, and it’s heav...

April 27, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

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70’s Reynolds Painting

Another piece from my grandparents’ apartment in Florida. Circa 1973, this roughly 4′ square piece is by an artist named “...

April 26, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

“The Florida Room”

My grandparents, being proper New York Jews, started wintering in Florida in the early 1970s. By 1973, they decided to set down some roots a...

March 21, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

The Miracle In Alameda!

yeah is and and yeah some concern in our Some might say this comes from a “simpler” time – I say it’s from a more op...

March 10, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

Autographed LP – Duane Eddy!

As mentioned in a previous post – I had the chance to meet Duane Eddy and see him play at the Deke Dickerson Guitar Geek Festival. Of ...

March 6, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

Ring-a-ding ding…

Having problems reading the subtle hints towards passion from your lover? Your problems are solved! With these Bedtime Bells, there will be ...

March 4, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

Big eyed girl, you’ll be a woman soon…

As Maurice Chevalier said, “Thank Heavens for Little Girls” The kitsch world (and our house) is full of these big, sad eyed girl...

February 16, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

Grown man or teeny bopper, you be the judge

Not kitsch in a tangible way, but experiential – this Saturday I got to meet one of my guitar idols, Mr. Duane Eddy, at the Deke Dicke...

January 19, 2010 by MeshuggaMel

Swagtastic lamps

Ah, swag lamps. There’s just something inherently sophisticated about a lamp on the end of a chain, especially one that extends lazily...

December 3, 2009 by MeshuggaMel

Employee of the Month

The summer between high school and college, I was looking for a job – and through pure ignorance of the system, went to the local post...

November 27, 2009 by MeshuggaMel

Mad Maoris!

This is a postcard from New Zealand of Maori “warriors” ready for battle. For those who aren’t familiar with Polynesian hi...

November 19, 2009 by MeshuggaMel

People of the Orient

Nothing adds flair to a pedestrian home like the ceramic figurine. Delicate and painted in rich colors, they lend an air of sophistication t...

November 18, 2009 by MeshuggaMel

Fortress pay phone

Ever notice all those sad, forlorn, used-to-be-a-pay-phone locations? You know, in bus stations, or restaurants, or casinos, near the restro...

November 13, 2009 by MeshuggaMel

Nagel, Nagel, on the wall…

Nagel, Nagel, on the wall, what’s the best Duran Duran album of them all? I remember Nagel girls from college. As a shmoe from New Yor...

November 2, 2009 by MeshuggaMel

Wall Owls in 3-D!!!

How wise the owl. How stately in demeanor. How awesome in ceramic 3-D! These fine fowl sit regally on a burlap board, and are enhanced by th...

October 29, 2009 by MeshuggaMel