Rocket City Retro, Mid-Century Style Florida Space Coast

Nichole and Billy Meyers

That stylish interior shot of a Space Age home featured in Kennedy Space Center's newly-released commercial, "One Day," is the real thing. It features authentic Mid-Century architecture, and those are authentic furnishings.

The commercial was shot in the home of Nichole and Billy Meyers, a thirty-something couple who collect 1950s-1960s-era pieces. The house is a sweeping, tri-level structure built in 1961-'62 and located in Cocoa's River Heights subdivision. It features one room of their home which has been finished -- as much as any avid collectors ever finish rooms -- and eventually the couple plan to complete the entire house in vintage. 'I am a purist,' Mrs. Meyers said. 'It will be 100% period.'

The inevitable overflow from their personal passion first spilled into a vintage furnishings store down in Eau Gallie which they ran for about a year, but now they've expanded into a larger venue in Cocoa Village: Rocket City Retro store, launched a few days ago at 9 Rosa L. Jones Place.

Mid-Century style describes architecture and furnishings design which is heavily influenced by streamlined shapes, experimentation with methods of industrial production and was frequently inspired by science and space travel.

Genesis of Billy Meyers' collecting bug began when he purchased his first home at age 20. A bungalow built in 1952, it featured all the typical design elements of the era: A house conceived as a system for living, incorporating passive solar heating and cooling, seamless indoor-outdoor living space, clerestory windows providing pleasant, indirect natural lighting, and a spare interior.

'It had the pink, grey and black terrazzo,' Mrs. Meyers said, 'It had site sensitivity -- the patio was built around a tree. The outdoors, was just another room.'

"It was not kitschy at all,' said Mr. Meyers, referring to a common misconception about collecting American style. With its open, uncluttered interior space and spare, distinctive furniture shapes, 'These houses are easier to clean. Less time spent on housework means more time spent with family,' said Mrs. Meyers, noting the couple have a 12-year-old.

Hand made tile table, late 1950s; Danish Modern table, 1962

The Meyers scour the Eastern Seaboard 'from the Hamptons to Key West,' Mrs. Meyers said. They are part of a network of pickers who repair, refinish, re-upholster and re-wire relics, which might be cherry-picked from estate sales, or sometimes found forlorn and threadbare in thrift stores.

Among their best customers are college kids who have good jobs, and are their late 20s to 30s. 'A lot of people come in because they have seen this type furniture in advertizements, and on TV,' said Mrs. Meyers. Popular items include everything from clothing, tube radios and record players, table furnishings to complete furniture suites.
"we are also getting a lot of retirees,' Mr. Meyers said. 'They're downsizing. They're moving into beachside communities and looking for those 1,500 sq. ft. houses. Not only is this the furniture they grew up with, and that they love, it also fits the scale of these homes perfectly.'


Generally, the Meyers say their customers are people who are looking for '...pride in workmanship and superior materials,' said Mrs. Meyers. 'Made-in-America brand names still hold value.' The Meyers said their customers don't want furniture which have been made in China. 'Our customers say, 'Hey, this furniture has lasted 50 years, it can last 50 years more, Mrs. Meyers said.

'The decision to buy vintage furniture is a decision to buy a certain quality,' Mr. Meyers said. 'It's as much emotionally driven as it is calculated purchase. It's good furniture, made to last.'

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More info:
Rocket City Retro
Kennedy Space Center commercial, 'One Day'

Rocket City Retro shop/ Mid-Century collection