Table Of Content
Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two. If the final aesthetic feels utterly now, it is because midcentury architecture was ahead of its time, says the owner of this Beverly Hills home. “The proportions—low, hovering—are all about inserting into nature and being minimal,” he notes. ” Mission accomplished in this living room, which features a marble cocktail table by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia and a quartzite wall above the home’s original brass fireplace. To say that this midcentury gem of a house has good bones is a massive understatement. Cynics, say your worst, we’d be hard pressed to find a naysayer of this three-bedroom located in Beverly Hills.
More Related Articles
Midcentury modern furniture often features slim silhouettes that work well in small spaces. For example, thin furniture legs and couches with clean lines can help a tight space look light and airy. In this small living room, a midcentury-inspired couch and chairs combine with a contemporary coffee table and pendant light for a modern blend of past and present. Mix and match textures to create visual interest within midcentury modern designs.
Mid-century modern living room ideas - 10 ways designers are bringing old-school style to contemporary schemes
You do want to keep some of those simple lines in there, but bring in curves and sculptural shapes too to soften the look and prevent a room from looking too stark. Freeform furniture and biomorphic shapes were big towards the end of the mid-century era (think the Noguchi glass coffee table). Unique lighting was where fuss and flourishes are allowed in mid-century modern style. You'll notice even in the most simple, stripped-back mid-century modern spaces, the lighting will be giving something special. And lighting is a great way to bring in a touch of the mid-century into other styles too. This dining room is a smorgasbord of styles, blending traditional with contemporary and mid-century modern.
Channel fluid lines and organic shapes
Their simple lines and materials can act as a stunning foil to more ornate moldings and keep a formal space from feeling too stuffy. Look for walnut wood furnishings with elegant tapered legs, pedestal tables, and interesting chair forms with brass detailing,' adds Bethany. Many of the original design elements that made this style popular in the middle of the 20th century remain just as popular today. But today’s midcentury modern-inspired interiors are often modified for current lifestyles with open-plan layouts, large kitchen islands, and modern appliances. A bright white midcentury modern exterior is the perfect backdrop for a lime green door. Geometric lines and a sloped roof add height and a warm wood front porch ties in with a low-profile wire fence.
The Most Famous Mid-Century Modern Furniture Pieces - Apartment Therapy
The Most Famous Mid-Century Modern Furniture Pieces.
Posted: Wed, 12 Oct 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
After World War Two, materials were gradually starting to become plentiful once more, and new technologies meant more man-made materials, so rather than furniture just being made of wood, synthetic materials started to come into play too. One of the easiest, most inexpensive ways to update your home’s exterior is to paint it. A chartreuse front door and window frames nod to the luscious plants in front of the house.
Mid-century modern living room ideas
This living room flaunts a leather sofa by Flexform, a vintage black leather chair (bottom left) by Joe Colombo, and a custom angular cocktail table. There are some iconic pieces of furniture that are the poster children for mid-century modern design - and the Eames lounger chair and ottoman is one of them. Combining innovation with simplicity, utility, comfort and quality, the movement has gained a cult following and continues to influence designers today.
A clean-lined ottoman that pinch-hits as a sleeper, a desk that doubles as a shelving system, or a coffee table with hidden storage are also boons for small spaces. Furniture should be practical, simple, useful, and livable—and skews toward smaller-scale and low-slung, height-wise. Midcentury modern design always kept utility in mind and the architectural principle "form follows function" might as well be its battle cry.
This minimalist Tokyo home features muted dark tones and natural materials, as well as bespoke furniture created by the studios who designed it together. BC Arquitetos designed this Brazilian apartment to look like an art gallery, filling it with decorative sculptures and classic furniture designs by Brazilian masters of the 1950s and 1960s. Wood is a key material choice for a mid-century modern living room – and if you want to replicate a true Mad Men aesthetic, look no further than wall panelling. Like Scandinavian design, the main purpose of mid-century modern style is to improve daily life. Furniture is therefore not only about stylish elegance, but also about functionality – it should serve a purpose and stand the test of time. This midcentury Palm Springs house is going way beyond the design playbook, and we’re not complaining.
Add a Mid-century must have: the sculptural chair
If you're planning to furnish with these iconic pieces, be sure to give them the space they deserve by opting for a minimalist living room layout which really shows them off their form, as done here by interior designer Jamie Nesbitt-Weber. With an emphasis on simple lines and purity of design, combined with the enduring beauty of wood, mid-century modern living room furniture has a timeless appeal, which sits well with other styles both old and new. Look to lighting for quick and easy midcentury modern decor ideas to integrate into your home. Funky pendant lights, like this saucer-shaped fixture, create a playful focal point for a dining room or eat-in kitchen. Wishbone chairs and a Saarinen-inspired tulip table further this dining area's retro touches.
A notable example is the Danish PS shelving system which incorporated adjustable shelving, sliding cabinets and drawer units in in one. Although its aim was to bring good design to the masses, Mid-century furniture has become extremely collectable today, fetching high prices for pristine examples. If you’re lucky enough to come across a tired original at a bargain price, with covering beyond repair, why not revive it for 21st century living? Vertical paneling and tall, narrow windows give this home a quintessential midcentury look.
With their streamlined, paired-back designs, this Ercol bench and these old ply stacking school chairs help keep this farmhouse feeling light and spacious. Upholstered chairs were often stripped of excess padding to reveal their frames, just as the art world was stripping forms back into abstract shapes. I started off in the world of journalism in fashion and luxury travel and then landed my first interiors role at Real Homes and have been in the world of interior design ever since. Prior to my role at H&G I was the digital editor at Livingetc, from which I took a sabbatical to travel in my self-converted van (not as glamorous as decorating a home, but very satisfying). A year later, and with lots of technical DIY lessons learnt I am back to writing and editing, sometimes even from the comfort of my home on wheels.
If the 1950s architecture of your home is strong and distinctive, a symmetrical layout will ensure that your scheme remains stylish yet cozy. Get the symmetry right and you can create harmony in every room in your house – and make small spaces feel bigger and tidier. Despite the development of innovative new materials such as plastic, fibreglass and laminates, timber sustained popularity throughout the mid-20th century. Furniture designers favored durable hardwoods, such as teak, cherry, maple and beech. Often reserved for special occasions, the dining room is a great space for adding statement wallpaper. This radical, stylised Starflower print, dating to 1967, has a kaleidoscopic quality undoubtedly influenced by the Op Art movement popular of the time.
If there's one style that's an absolutely constant in interior design trends it's Mid-century Modern. Sure, it might take on a slightly different look from season to season, sometimes it's more true to its 1940s roots and has a reel retro feel, sometimes it's more in line with the minimalist Scandi aesthetic. But our love of tapered legs, low-slung silhouettes and the sleek, less-is-more approach is going nowhere. The enduring style remains so popular that you can find authentic or reproduction furniture, lighting, and decor at any price point. Midcentury modern design blends well with other styles from coastal to bohemian to Scandinavian, allowing you to create a look that suits your interior style. A flat roof, mixed materials, and floor-to-ceiling window panels make for a stunning midcentury-style pool house.
Blending midcentury modern style with vintage decor and classic silhouettes creates a design that doesn't feel forced. Here, plenty of plush pillows and throws soften a clean-lined sofa, upholstered daybed, and pair of leather armchairs. A subdued color scheme of warm neutrals allows midcentury accessories, like an oversized sunburst mirror, to shine. You can add midcentury style to your living room with everything from lighting to furniture and decor.
