What is mid century modern design?

We hear this term a lot and especially lately - but what is mid century modern design?

It is an architectural, interior, product and graphic design that generally describes mid-20th century developments in modern design, architecture and urban development from roughly 1933 to 1965.

So why are we seeing it more and more these days? Well some may say that popular culture has made an impact.  Popular TV shows like 'Mad Men' has really helped bring this era of home design, decor and fashion in the spot light again.

 

Why is it so appreciated? Midcentury modern's emphasis on pared-down forms, contemporary patterns, natural materials and a seamless flow between indoors and out create a mix functional comfort and chic style. The look bridges the organic and the man-made, with one foot in the natural world and the other in brave new territory that still has the power to surprise us today. Clients are really like the 'throwback' feel and blending it with more current and organic styles. We love how all of these images look current and not like they are trapped in a time warp.

So what mid century modern decor elements are we seeing a lot of now? And how can I bring some of this 'mid century modern' style into my space?

When it comes to style be unique.  We always recommend bringing in pieces you love - if you love it, you will make it work. Never feel like you have to fully commit to one style and one style of decor only.  You can easily bring in mid century modern elements into your space without a total overhaul of what you already have.  Any time you start to mix styles, it's a good idea have a few elements of that style so that the overall look is cohesive and not random.

Definitely lighting.  Mid century modern lighting is huge right now.  It's a great way to make a statement.  Mid century modern lighting has a great sculptural element as well. This dining room with mid century modern lighting (and dining furniture) still looks current.  The organic wood beams add character and some texture and offer great contrast with the brass finish light and accents.  But the textured wall paper accent wall with oversized mirror makes this dining room big and bright - giving it a new and fresh look!



How can we keep this vintage light fixture look current? Think about placement!  Try adding a mid century modern light fixture in an unexpected room like a bedroom for instance. the mid century modern lighting in this room makes a bold statement and paired with a sideboard from the same era keeps a common thread in the room. The comeback of gold is also a nod to the mid century modern trend.  We are seeing gold in lighting but also decorative accents.

 

Mid century modern furniture classics are also very popular - dining chairs, armchairs, coffee table, bookcases and more are all being mixed into rooms of all styles. This living room corner below has a mid century modern bookcase and chair but the black and white clean contemporary styling and accessories makes this room look cool and current.



Colour was something that was popular during that era - rugs, tile, art, wallpaper and more....add some pops of colour and some great combinations of colour. You will also notice this was an era that wasn't afraid of mixing patterns and colour and texture!




 We are also seeing a resurgence of the shapes from this mid century modern era. shapes play a big role in this design period - take a look at the geometric patterns in fabric and art.  We are definitely seeing this trend in current day.



If none of these suggestions work for you - here's what we suggest! Have fun with your decor and don't be afraid to take a risk!  

Design shouldn't just look good....

Ultimately the the main goal of design is the esthetics - it should look good, but it is also very important to think about the practicality. Yes, being practical is not exactly glamorous or sexy but taking your lifestyle into account will save you some time, energy and hassle.

I remember when my husband and I moved into our first home, a designer friend of mine (yes, I do ask for second opinions) did a walk through and made some suggestions. One of her suggestions sounded like a great idea, at the time - she wanted us to remove the door from our front foyer closet and have a dramatic curtain installed instead, "this would add a real rich feel at the front door" she said - it was a unique idea but when I sat down and thought about it...custom curtains are expensive, at the front door it would get awfully dirty from salt, snow, mud etc...from front door traffic, my dogs would have a field day running their hairy bodies up against it and it would have to be out for dry cleaning constantly to maintain that beautiful look (which is both time consuming and expensive). I suppose we could put police tape around it to protect it from all of the above ....but that's not practical! In the end, we opted for the traditional door for the front foyer closet.

What I am trying to say from my personal experience is that design needs to look great and fit into your lifestyle. And, it is absolutely possible to have both style and smarts!

Right now, white furniture is really en vogue. Personally, I would love to have a living room with dark hardwood floors, a white shag area rug and a white sectional couch - but when I think about my life right now (2 dogs, a baby, a husband, nieces and nephews, and a revolving door of family and friends). A white couch would just be a target waiting to be hit, with wine, juice, spit up - you name it! So we came up with an alternative, a compromise if you will - we went with the dark hardwood, we still have a sectional couch and a shag area rug but in a mid colour tone (a cappuccino colour instead), our decor pillows are not custom made but are slip covered in a washable fabric (with spares, if I am not totally up to speed on my laundry duty). The look is still there, it is still a fantastic entertaining space for everyone to share and it is low maintenance.

Still longing for that white couch? Think about the fabric - leather is a great option for people who need to wipe up messes (from kids, pets and even husbands). Hardwood is easy to clean and practical for anyone with allergies. For decor pillows and throws look into washable fabrics.

Some great ideas for when you purchase furniture - look for easy clean fabrics like micro suede or leather, look for items that have storage (ottomans, side tables, dining tables, even sofas), take safety into account (mainly if you have children) look for pieces that do not have sharp edges, a large upholstered ottoman is a great alternative to a coffee table, colour (light and dark hues often show stains and pet hair, mid tones or small patterns are the best camouflage) and look for items that are durable.

When you do meet with a designer or a salesperson be sure to let them know about your lifestyle - it is really important - otherwise you could end up making a costly mistake!

Who am I designing for?

This is a very important question for designers. As a designer, it is really important to know what your objective is. Is the home to be used as a sales tool for a builder to sell homes? Is it for a client to sell their existing home? Or, is it for a client who wants to imprint their personal style in their space?

A good designer will be able to give their input about how they feel the space could or should look (maybe with some ideas about furniture placement to maximize space or some tricks on how to emphasize high ceilings) but it is just as important to also take the client's ultimate objective into the main plan and blend the two together. Some designers make the mistake of creating a look that appeals to the wrong demographic or create a look that reflects their own personal style on that of the homeowner or the clientel.

It is very important to make sure you research the target market for the product and create your decor plan based on those results. For example, if you are designing a home located in the country, you want the decor look to reflect nature and a chalet chic style not a sleek, modern city style you might find in a downtown condo. Another important factor is the age of the potential purchaser and which stage they are at in their life - downsizing, just starting out or a young family - their needs and wants will all be different and they will all be looking for different elements. It is important to decorate and design to appeal to as many purchasers as possible.

How can you tell if a show home is a success with the public? Direct feedback is one way but there are some signs to watch for - are the guests sitting on the furniture? If they are that's a great sign, it means they feel comfortable and can visualize themselves in the space. Are they talking about how they would place their furniture pieces in the home? Again, another sign of them visualizing themselves in the space. If a client spends a lot of time in the show home, that means that they feel comfortable and want to be there. A show home or a staged home is a key sales tool so it is important that it is done right from the beginning. You only have one opportunity to make a first impression.