Main picture: replica 1970s Trimphone in mustard yellow, Wild & Wolf £35; spot flower coaster, Orla Kiely ( sold as pack of 6), sale bargain; 1970s style pop-up telephone address book, around £5.95, various, online; Chippy original telephone seat/table in teak (see photo below also), £35 Ebay auction.
My Mid-Century Modern Home
These pages are designed to share and help formulate ideas for creating a mid-century modern home on a modest budget, with a few tips, examples and hopefully some inspiration too. As a starting point I begin by describing my mid-century modern interpretation and ideals, but I hope that they will serve as a springboard for creative, inexpensive ideas for your own mid-century modern interior.
Most of us have admired the gorgeous glossy magazine versions of mid-century modern and been exposed to the often smug interior design blogs showing off fantastic, impossibly perfect interiors filled with priceless originals and expensive Saarinen et al reincarnations. However for many of us such a look might seem unattainable or unaffordable; but don't be discouraged: mid-century modern is a highly accessible look as it suits most property types, whether large or small, happily mingles old with new and can be individualized in ways which would be difficult to achieve with more minimalistic modern-day interior trends. It lends itself perfectly to being created over time as it is the epitome of eclecticism. So don't be in too much of a hurry: take a room by room or bit by bit approach; take your time to collect and consider; create and colour; design and do; re-furbish and rearrange; make-do and mend. Your mid-century modern home will be the more meaningful and homely for it.
I like to think of my mid-century modern style as a harmonious medley of mid-century and mid-century modern comfortably co-existing with carefully considered contemporary effects : 50s classics through to 70s avant-garde mingle with 21st century pieces forming an eclectic mix of old and new: a carefully garnered collection of teak, warm golden oaks, glass, ceramics and textiles, pared down in places but warm where needed; understated backdrops punctuated with pops of colour and pattern; a spattering of quirky effects and fortuitous finds. Mid-century treasures which were junk shop finds sit alongside the simplest of objects like a nicely turned piece of wood raised to the status of statue; plants positioned on sunny windowsills bring the outdoors in, and potted monstera (cheeseplants) enliven a quiet corner. Frequently the most modest of items makes the biggest impact: a painted mid-century wooden toy re-invents itself as a characterful ornament; vibrant 70s curtains add joy and a dash of daring to a room scheme; a cushion handmade from original mid-century fabric provides a splash of colour, comfort and joy all at once; and last but by no means least, familiar childhood books provoke nostalgia and help set the scene.
In my book, though, the ideal mid-century modern home should not present as a ‘blast from the past’: day-to-day living dictates that some modern pieces and accessories must mingle in as well and in fact good taste demands it! Blending in mid-century elements and colours with more contemporary effects and accessories doesn’t dilute – and shouldn’t detract from – a mid-century modern scheme: one's house is a home, not a museum, and achieving a balance between the two brings the best of both worlds and a home that looks lived-in, not just looked-at.
As for my house, it is still very much a mid-century modern home in the making : I am busy collecting, updating, decorating, changing... But that is all part of the fun: the very eclecticism of a mid-century modern interior means that it can be added to over time, as new and different pieces are introduced or improved on: it is an organic process which can't be rushed; as such, it is entirely feasible to achieve it on a shoestring budget.
Most of us have admired the gorgeous glossy magazine versions of mid-century modern and been exposed to the often smug interior design blogs showing off fantastic, impossibly perfect interiors filled with priceless originals and expensive Saarinen et al reincarnations. However for many of us such a look might seem unattainable or unaffordable; but don't be discouraged: mid-century modern is a highly accessible look as it suits most property types, whether large or small, happily mingles old with new and can be individualized in ways which would be difficult to achieve with more minimalistic modern-day interior trends. It lends itself perfectly to being created over time as it is the epitome of eclecticism. So don't be in too much of a hurry: take a room by room or bit by bit approach; take your time to collect and consider; create and colour; design and do; re-furbish and rearrange; make-do and mend. Your mid-century modern home will be the more meaningful and homely for it.
I like to think of my mid-century modern style as a harmonious medley of mid-century and mid-century modern comfortably co-existing with carefully considered contemporary effects : 50s classics through to 70s avant-garde mingle with 21st century pieces forming an eclectic mix of old and new: a carefully garnered collection of teak, warm golden oaks, glass, ceramics and textiles, pared down in places but warm where needed; understated backdrops punctuated with pops of colour and pattern; a spattering of quirky effects and fortuitous finds. Mid-century treasures which were junk shop finds sit alongside the simplest of objects like a nicely turned piece of wood raised to the status of statue; plants positioned on sunny windowsills bring the outdoors in, and potted monstera (cheeseplants) enliven a quiet corner. Frequently the most modest of items makes the biggest impact: a painted mid-century wooden toy re-invents itself as a characterful ornament; vibrant 70s curtains add joy and a dash of daring to a room scheme; a cushion handmade from original mid-century fabric provides a splash of colour, comfort and joy all at once; and last but by no means least, familiar childhood books provoke nostalgia and help set the scene.
In my book, though, the ideal mid-century modern home should not present as a ‘blast from the past’: day-to-day living dictates that some modern pieces and accessories must mingle in as well and in fact good taste demands it! Blending in mid-century elements and colours with more contemporary effects and accessories doesn’t dilute – and shouldn’t detract from – a mid-century modern scheme: one's house is a home, not a museum, and achieving a balance between the two brings the best of both worlds and a home that looks lived-in, not just looked-at.
As for my house, it is still very much a mid-century modern home in the making : I am busy collecting, updating, decorating, changing... But that is all part of the fun: the very eclecticism of a mid-century modern interior means that it can be added to over time, as new and different pieces are introduced or improved on: it is an organic process which can't be rushed; as such, it is entirely feasible to achieve it on a shoestring budget.
Making Mid-Century Modern Your Own
Chippy telephone seat in teak, findable in secondhand shops or on eBay (ours was £35) or scour second hand shops. The cupboard below houses shoes which don't fit on our hall rack; the top edge panel slides out to reveal a telephone/memo board with a wipe-able surface - my favourite feature!
Home |
Using a simplistic backdrop and collecting as you go, decide what colours work for you and your home; intermingle carefully considered present-day pieces with whatever iconic items or design classics you manage to snap up or acquire, blending in with or adding to those pieces you already own. The beauty of mid-century is that nearly all families will already have some pieces - be it a kitchen table or an ercol chair; a pair of hand-me-down curtains or a mid-century vase; a glorious lampshade or a teak coffee table. And not forgetting, of course, those kitsch elements no-one else thought to lay claim to, but which in your hands will look astonishingly effective when judiciously positioned in your mid-century style home. So a good rummage 'back home' may result in a few useful additions to your collection or in the rediscovery of treasured childhood things you had almost forgotten about.
With a bit of patience, a discerning eye, and a little resourcefulness and creative thinking, mid-century modern on a shoestring budget should be not only do-able but positively enjoyable. Whilst a typical mid-century modern backdrop (e.g. plain white walls with a contrasting wall) might be used as a starting point along with a few pieces of teak or Danish-style furniture to establish an authentic look, the finishing touches can be very much your own; this will possibly be the most enjoyable part and can evolve with you and be continually added to. Between stylish 1950s fabrics and daring 1970s florals, mid-century ceramics, glassware and other collectables, you will have great fun searching and choosing; add into the mix the enormous choice now offered by contemporary artists who have embraced mid-century or mid-century modern style, and you will be spoilt for choice. Perhaps you yourself have skills in this area: in which case, you may be able to knock up a painting in a mid-century style, or make your own cushions out of 1950s fabric remnants; perhaps you are just good at getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure first dibs at car boot sale bargains. Whatever your particular skill, make full use of it! See our Room Ideas pages for ideas on how to go about it The fun you will have will be in subtly personalizing your space and finding your mid-century modern! |