A Mid Century Modern Journey

Mid Century Modern style has made a massive comeback, but did it actually ever leave. The appeal that it has always carried stemming from a sense of the nostalgic yet a hint at a future full of great possibility.

The period began following World War II.  Folks were celebrating an increase in theeconomy with new homes being built and many becoming first-time homeowners.

Homes were smaller and furniture needed to be functionalbut minimal, not like the bulky counterparts of the golden era. 

The Mid Century Modern Style grew out of examples fromBauhaus and Danish.  Designers wereexposed to a vast array of different materials thanks to technologicaladvances.

Designers used the materials in their raw form. Ratherthan hide the plastic chair or the steel table, they celebrated it.  Distinctive features of this furnitureconsisted of clean lines, geometric forms, minimal ornamentation, andfunctionality. There would be the combination at times of traditional, e.g.wood, versus non traditional, e.g. Lucite materials.

Each and every room in a mid century modern home had a purpose.  If something placed in that room was notserving any need, it had to go. Furniture pieces were multipurpose.  They could stack, fold even nest.  

The colors for this design went from the olives andneutrals in the earlier years to the bold bright colors in later years and alsowith blacks and whites in the mix. 

If you want to decorate your home in the MCM style andnot have it be ‘dated’ necessarily, it is best to pick a few staple pieces foreach room e.g. a sofa for the living room, and then choose other styles to workaround it that will compliment it.  It’sperfectly fine and cool to mix and match styles.

The designers in MCM times didn’t stray from the style,though they did mix and match textures, materials, and colors and forms.  Among the very talented were Herman Miller, GeorgeNelson, Charles and Ray Eames, Edward Wormley (and so many more) who are stillbeing followed to this day.  Their piecesare sought after and reproductions are inspired by them.

Many of the exact pieces created in 1950 continue to becreated today through companies, e.g. Knoll, some being more popular now thanthey were years ago.

The young generation today are, again living in smallerplaces requiring minimal pieces with greater functionality, and this furnitureserves that purpose. Plus, it is absolutely gorgeous. Am I right!?

(Harry Bertoia, Arne Jacobsen, Eileen Gray, Isamu Nosuchi,Verner Panton, Jens Risom)