15 Essential Ingredients for a Mid Century Modern Style Home
Interior Designing Quotes
from local interior designers
1. Hairpin Legs
When it comes to Mid Century Modern, a hairpin isn't a hairpin. It's actually a classic style of furniture leg that looks minimal yet sculptural. Any piece of furniture with this style of leg will look right at home in a Mid Century Modern style home.
2. Butterfly Chairs (Preferably Under Timber-Lined Eaves)
This classic outdoor chair can be seen on a stylish balcony near you. The butterfly chair combines good old fashioned comfort with the simple, but expressionist form Mid Century Modern is famous for. Sit under your timber-lined eaves for maximum effect.
3. A Plush Shagpile Rug
These days, shagpiles seem like a relic from the style-challenged seventies. Actually they were around before that, and were a key feature of many Mid Century Modern designs. Incorporate a white (or neutral) shagpile carpet with your timber armchairs and teal feature colours and you'll be channeling Don all the way to Madison Avenue.
4. Dark Timber and a Statement Colour
Dark timber. Try to find an image in this list that doesn't contain it. Cherry, teak and walnut were all the rage. Oh, and by statement colour we mean, of course, aqua or teal. Because, obviously.
5. Starburst Clock & Flying Ducks
Starbusrt clocks come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing is for certain. If you want the Mid Century Modern Style, you need to add some pizzazz to your timepiece. The '50s and '60s were an aspirational time, you see.
6. An Arco (Style) Lamp
It doesn't need to be a real Arco
7. Wood Panelling
Like dark timber furniture, dark timber paneling is bound to brings warmth and texture to your Mid Century Modern design. Today's maroon feature wall is yesterday's brooding timber paneled wall. It sets the perfect scene for sipping a dry gin martini, don't you think?
8. Timber Arm Chair
The timber arm chair is possibly the most quinasencial Mid Century Modern fixture. And the best part? You have a solid (but stylish) surface to rest your beer on.
9. Textured Walls
Failing wood panelling, be sure to incorporate texture in your walls in some other way. A rough render, painted brick or stone should do the trick.
10. Eames Chairs
It doesn't matter what style you choose - the dining chair or the devilishly luxurious recliners. Any of the infamous Ray and Charles Eames designs scream MID CENTURY MODERN! An Eames chair
11. A Low Lying Sofa
A sofa that has a stylish low back is not only uncomfortable, but a key stylistic choice of the Mid Century modern era when, apparently, people hated their backs and comfort. All that said, they do look incredibly stylish. So screw comfort and get your hands on one of these smooth sofas.
12. A Bureau
A bureau in a dark timber with stylish Mid Century Modern legs is the perfect place to sit your well aged Scotch and crystal tumblers. Try hanging a starburst clock or decorating with a globe for extra credit.
13. A Globe
Ah yes. Mid Century. Finally air travel was becoming affordable. But not affordable enough for people in track suit pants to spill their in-flight meal down their faded tee. Flying was still a classy affair. And classy individuals would keep a globe around so they could explain to their less affluent friends where they were jetting off for their next two week vacay. An essential in any Mid Century Modern scheme.
14. An Egg Chair
The Jacobsen classic is probably best known as the rotating seat of choice for menacing super villains. But it's fun to live out your own villain fantasies in an egg chair
15. All of This
Yeah. Just do this.
About the Author
Brodie Norris runs Lunchbox Architect, a website featuring one exceptional, architect-designed family home every weekday.
Interior Designing Quotes
from local interior designers
