Design

Find Your Style: Mid-Century Modern

by Emily Henderson 1.19.17

Welcome to another ‘Find Your Style’, where we take your results to our less-than-perfect quiz and help you figure out what being your style really means (if you haven’t, take that quiz!). This time we are talking to you ‘Mid-Century Modern’ folk (our first week was “Scandinavian“).

When ‘Mid-Century’ came back into fashion, say 15 years ago, many people thought it would be a fleeting trend. Like bolo ties, scrunchies or hypercolor tee-shirts. My neighbor in the East Village at the time certainly did because she put a Saarinen table and two tulip chairs on the curb, riddled with trash. They were all broken but it didn’t stop this hoarder from dragging those heavy ass originals up my 5 story walk-up (the base turned into my dining table with our “custom” top seen here). I requested quotes for having them repaired but my waitress budget wouldn’t cover it.

So I lived, unable to give up these broken classics their proper repair. Four years later I bought my first major investment, a Mid-Century sofa for $700 shipped down from Portland (which I regret selling).

It was deep and wonderful, with original fabric that was invincible.

Five years later, I decided I should sell her and begin a new sofa relationship with this handsome strapping dude.

I still miss the blue sofa (good news! I’ve ordered a new blue sofa!!!)

While all of those photos are full of vintage, one of a kinds, our friends at Target sponsored this ‘Find Your Style’ series and we are showcasing their Mid-Century inspired vintage pieces below (and in the video):

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This video series with Target, is more about teaching what ‘Mid-Century’ means and how to find the pieces that will work for your style. Buy vintage if you can, but if not, we have options for you.

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For those of you who are into it, think about this:

1. Choose really simple boxy furniture, with wood detailing, in a teak-toned finish. The more streamlined the better.

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2. Fabrics that are tightly woven without a lot of fuss or glam. This isn’t the time for sequins, nay the fabrics are simple and the patterns are graphic, with a geometric motif.

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3. Look for pottery and accessories that have geometric texture, but with some handmade detailing. I LOVE that lamp and have used it many a time. Vintage Mid-Century pottery lamps exist, but are harder to find in colors that are easy to mix in with today’s decor. Finding a pair is extremely hard to find (thus why these Target lamps are so great).

4. Chrome and gold are both big in midcentury – and you can mix them if you do it intentionally, all over the room (and not just randomly one piece of chrome amongst a lot of brass/gold). You know that I love that mirror and have used it in the last 10 projects that we’ve done. It’s VERY good (it’s in our master bathroom right now).

Watch the video to see this room in action (produced by my handsome husband, Propeller Media): Mid Century Modern Target Vignette Video

Now, if you can find the real deal, vintage pieces that are 50 – 70 years old and in working condition then BUY THOSE. Part of the charm of buying Mid-Century is having it be old and unique.

But if you don’t have that luxury of a flea market, and you want the look without the “looking time”, then there are options out there for you that do a great job of giving you what you want, without the price point or the time spent shopping.

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