A Mid-Century Primer

Mid-Century modern style is more than just retro looking fabric and bright avocado colors in the kitchen. While many of us are familiar with the gorgeous furniture that came out of the time period and could probably even pick out a mid-century styled house in a line-up, are you familiar with the actual thoughts and processes of the style? The elements that characterize it? What it was really all about? If you are thinking about incorporating this style into your own home or have been lucky enough to purchase such an architectural gem, you might want to read this little mini-primer on the style to get caught up, inspired and excited.

So what is this thing they call Mid-Century modern, anyway?

Mid-Century modern is a style that involves the fields of architecture, interior design and product design and spanned a time frame of the 1930s to mid-1960s. With elements that started as early as the Bauhaus movement and the International Movement, organic forms and less formal ideas most characterize the style. Designs and elements from Scandinavia also heavily influenced the style. Mid-Century modernism effected residential architecture heavily, the goal of the movement being to bring modernism to the masses. The number of new houses being constructed after World War II created the prime opportunity, and most of the public eagerly got behind the new style. Creating many super stars of design, most notably in residential architecture and furniture design, this style is now revered and sought after.

Characteristics:
Organic in form and shape
Less formal design rules
Simplicity of shape
Democratic design (or, design for all)
Natural shapes and elements
Ample windows in residences "bringing the nature in"
Open floor plans
Post and beam construction (which allowed for many walls of glass to be utilized)
Function valued and studied
Needs of the average family considered

A Few Major Players:
Furniture design: Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen
Residential Architecture: Richard Neutra, Joseph Eichler
Lighting design: George Nelson
Commercial Architecture: Eero Saarinen, Louis Kahn
Product, industrial design: Russel Wright

Serious about Mid-Century modernism?

Don't just rely on your instincts. Do the research on famous designers, what the movement was all about and check out case study houses (experiments in American modern residential architecture that helped spurn the movement on and inspire the masses). Not only will you be able to create beautiful-looking spaces, but you'll also be able to create spaces that reflect the spirit of modernism in the way it was intended to be represented.

Photo credit: Eames Chair, George Nelson Bubble lamps, Richard Neutra Kaufmann house, Alvar Aalto stools