When is too much Mid Century Modern a bore?
by Barbara Schwab
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I recently started following the facebook site/ blog “Mid Century Modern”. I have enjoyed seeing many beautiful things there and interesting commentary. We have shared their blog on our facebook page. The pictures of beautiful mid century homes with wide open interiors and furnishings by titans of mid century and Danish modern design are to die for and I can look at them all day long (and often do).
Chairry on the set of Pee Wee Herman's Playhouse bear's a strong resemblance to the ugly knockoff papa bear chair I was thinking of. Photo by- TimRicePhoto.com
I am not a true believer. I am a design snob in my own way, but not a purist. I love Mid Century Modern and particulary Danish modern furniture and have joy in my heart when we find something by Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Kofod Larsen and Greta Jalk to add to our collection. I also love Shaker furniture, Craftman pieces, and an occasional antique. I find it hard to have an exclusive style – my business is MCM and I love it – but the way I live in my own home is way more eclectic.
My own take on a Mid Century modern interiors today is that a little mix up makes it fun and creates a style of your own. I don’t want to live in a snapshot of the I Love Lucy apartment set. Some may. I may fantasize about my perfect mid mod house, but would I really want to live in it? Those who live in glass houses…
There is a lot of really ugly mid century modern design out there. I see a lot of MCM pieces in the local thrift market that we frequent looking to steal a real Papa bear chair. I am also always hoping to find a fabulous teak credenza. Almost always what we see is ugly, beat up, with veneers waving. Not all the love in the world can save them. People who want to revive these by painting them and enjoying them in their home, well, more power to them. Recently, the MCM purists were ranting on the “mid century modern” facebook page over painting a MCM piece, which actually led to establishing a new facebook page where the painters could post without verbal abuse. Some pieces are a sin to paint, others it the only way to revive them. Some should never be revived and should be burned on account of ugliness. To many kitch MCM items in one room is ugly, PEOPLE. Too much of an MCM color scheme in one small room is really ugly. It was ugly then and it’s ugly now. A little bit of MCM camp is a fun thing- too much and you have Pee Wee’s Playhouse.
Oops, my design snob is showing.
Ultimately you may think what I like is a bore, and I may think what you like is over the top. I say go with what makes you happy.
My excitement about the revival of mid century modern interiors today is to incorporate the most beautiful objects, especially furniture that has elegant lines with bold architectural features, a judicious use of color, varied textures, and dramatic spaces that combined create a very personalized space to live in.
You will enjoy creating the Mid Century Modern look that creates your fantasy and I will enjoy seeing them posted, and continue with the creation of my own.
Carry On.
The Pitcairn house by Richard Neutra has many elements of what would be my fantasy house. I would need a lot more art around me, books, and some pops of color would be welcome. They have the real papa bear chair by Hans Wegner that I want. Source: The Wall Street Journal.
Another interesting feature are the flea market finds, posting bragging rights for finding a Papa bear chair in a flea market for forty dollars, the problem is that the papa bear chair they found is the ugliest knock-off I’ve ever seen.
Chairry on the set of Pee Wee Herman's Playhouse bear's a strong resemblance to the ugly knockoff papa bear chair I was thinking of. Photo by- TimRicePhoto.comI am not a true believer. I am a design snob in my own way, but not a purist. I love Mid Century Modern and particulary Danish modern furniture and have joy in my heart when we find something by Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Kofod Larsen and Greta Jalk to add to our collection. I also love Shaker furniture, Craftman pieces, and an occasional antique. I find it hard to have an exclusive style – my business is MCM and I love it – but the way I live in my own home is way more eclectic.
My own take on a Mid Century modern interiors today is that a little mix up makes it fun and creates a style of your own. I don’t want to live in a snapshot of the I Love Lucy apartment set. Some may. I may fantasize about my perfect mid mod house, but would I really want to live in it? Those who live in glass houses…
There is a lot of really ugly mid century modern design out there. I see a lot of MCM pieces in the local thrift market that we frequent looking to steal a real Papa bear chair. I am also always hoping to find a fabulous teak credenza. Almost always what we see is ugly, beat up, with veneers waving. Not all the love in the world can save them. People who want to revive these by painting them and enjoying them in their home, well, more power to them. Recently, the MCM purists were ranting on the “mid century modern” facebook page over painting a MCM piece, which actually led to establishing a new facebook page where the painters could post without verbal abuse. Some pieces are a sin to paint, others it the only way to revive them. Some should never be revived and should be burned on account of ugliness. To many kitch MCM items in one room is ugly, PEOPLE. Too much of an MCM color scheme in one small room is really ugly. It was ugly then and it’s ugly now. A little bit of MCM camp is a fun thing- too much and you have Pee Wee’s Playhouse.
Oops, my design snob is showing.
Ultimately you may think what I like is a bore, and I may think what you like is over the top. I say go with what makes you happy.
My excitement about the revival of mid century modern interiors today is to incorporate the most beautiful objects, especially furniture that has elegant lines with bold architectural features, a judicious use of color, varied textures, and dramatic spaces that combined create a very personalized space to live in.
You will enjoy creating the Mid Century Modern look that creates your fantasy and I will enjoy seeing them posted, and continue with the creation of my own.
Carry On.
The Pitcairn house by Richard Neutra has many elements of what would be my fantasy house. I would need a lot more art around me, books, and some pops of color would be welcome. They have the real papa bear chair by Hans Wegner that I want. Source: The Wall Street Journal.