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INTERIOR DESIGN MEETS INDUSTRIAL DESIGN IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY-HOMAGE TO THE TOASTER

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Fresh Eyes For Your Home

Interior design meets industrial designToasting bread began as a method of prolonging the life of bread. It was very common activity in Roman times, and 'tostum' is the Latin for scorching or burning. The first electric toaster was invented in 1893 in Great Britain by Crompton and Co (UK) and re-invented in 1909 in the United States. It only toasted one side of the bread at a time and it required a person to stand by and turn it off manually when the toast looked done. To circumvent the need for continual human attention, Charles Strite incorporated springs and a variable timer, and filed the patent application for his pop-up toaster on May 29, 1919.

 

When I married my husband 14 years ago, we blended our households. Lucky for me, he didn’t come with much furniture-but his toaster collection was another story.  Antique toasters, neglected and filled with old moldy toast, were packed away in two enormous boxes.  I went through those boxes one day and saw the most artistic forms-perchers, pinchers, floppers and swingers-all in need of some TLC.  So, we cleaned, we shined, we polished and we buffed and found a creative way to display them.  Voila, I now have a wonderful collection on my kitchen wall neatly displayed, a design statement  and definitely a conversation piece.

Don't shy away from showcasing the things that you love.  For creative ways to display your favorite collection visit http://fresheyesforyourhome.com/.





Comments(10)

Wendy Tomm
Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB
CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Well thats being creative now it's it.  Can't imagine how long it took to make a piece of toast.

Nov 22, 2011 01:45 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Wow, I never knew the history. And, what a creative idea.  You are so ingenious.  Love it how you can turn what seems like junk into art.

Nov 22, 2011 03:35 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Wendy-I think you had to stand over the toaster and wait for each side - it took a lot of attention that's for sure.

Debbie-that's it, junk into art-but in the right place and with the right presentation...

Nov 22, 2011 04:45 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Very cool idea Joanna..........I've used old kitchen utensils as wall decor.

Nov 22, 2011 04:56 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

This is a great decorative peice, Joanna.  I actually have a very old wine press that I have turned into a decorative peice in my house.

Nov 22, 2011 02:40 PM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Joanna - I don't think I've ever known anyone with a toaster collection, but I love this antique toaster display - very unique!

Nov 22, 2011 02:49 PM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Joanna--I know people with antique clock collections, but I have to say I didn't even know there were antique toasters.  What a wonderful way to display such a great treasure of history. 

Nov 22, 2011 06:00 PM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Roger- I bet egg beaters make a beautiful wall arrangement too!

Grant-wow, a wine press-I bet that could make a stunning planter or table.

Sally-There is actually an antique toaster museum somewhere in South Carolina.  Maybe you could arrange a trip.

Janet-I love antique clocks too, but my husband brought this crazy collection, and it was the toasters, or the marriage!

Nov 23, 2011 12:43 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Wow. I had forgotten all about it, but there's a toaster similar to the one in the picture somewhere in our family "junk collection." It's been years since I saw it - but since my relatives never toss anything, I expect it's still around somewhere.

Dec 07, 2011 03:58 PM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Marte-give it some elbow grease and  display it on your kitchen counter!

Dec 08, 2011 05:31 AM