Tag Archives: mid-century modern design

Design Notebook: A Roundup of Quirky Mid-Century Modern

19 Jul

It occurred to me recently that some of my posts on quirky and eccentric interiors may make some of you interested in what I think is quirky.  Now, mid-century modern decor can often run the gamut from retro to ultra-cool (think Mad Men), but I prefer a more interesting look.

It’s often a mix of MCM pieces with some contempo/neo-trad thrown in for good measure,  tastefully mixed prints and patterns, and the home owner usually just has an eye for collecting vintage pieces with a bias towards MCM.

So, here’s a round-up of Quirky Mid-Century Modern homes:

Let’s start with this living room.  With its Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, it has loads of color, yellow Foo Dogs, a glass coffee table and a zebra print rug.  You can never go through with zebra or cowhide.

via estate eclectic

I clearly never tire of Eames.  Here’s a yellow Eames RAR Rocker in a colorful living room, with mostly yellow accents.  It’s an adorable mix of mid-century modern and vintage pieces that make this space great.

modernica, via desire to inspire

This space leans a bit towards retro, what with that orange refrigerator, but I love the color and playfulness of a copper Poul Henningsen Artichoke Lamp and William Platner Table and Chairs (orange!).

via porterhouse designs

This is quirkiness subdued.  Yellow Panton S Chair + white secretary desk + cute floral accents?  Very understated.

via hosue of anais

Finally, there’s Kyle DeWoody’s apartment that was recently featured in Vogue. That was the inspiration for this post.  It’s certainly not everyone’s taste, but her eclectic NYC home has pieces I’m sure everyone would love.

via vogue

So what do you folks think about quirky mid-century modern decor?  Yay or nay?

Modern Classics: Hans Wegner Shell Chair

3 Apr

Also referred to as CH 07, the Hans Wagner Shell Chair is the newest addition to my shop and the newest addition to my Modern Classics  selection, over at rexkelly.com.

hans wegner shell chair

This three-legged beauty was designed in 1963.  When it was first introduced, it didn’t sell well and production ceased after a few years.  But in 1997, renewed interest in the chair led to re-production, and well, here we are.

This chair is perfect for lounging; it’s frame crafted from form-pressed plywood, with real wood veneer, in addition to foam-cushioned seat pads upholstered in gorgeous Italian leather.

In addition to loungin’ around, the chair works as an accent chair, side chair  (in the bedroom), and even in twos, threes and more.

Here’s the CH07 in Ty Pennigton’s home…

via elle decor, photo by emily followill

Lots of plywood in this living room, featured in a 2009 issue of Living Etc.

Living Etc (via Flickr)

image via steelcase.com

In this little corner, alongside a small side table, and lamp, the CH07 has a very classic, elegant look to it.

image via studio:christansen

Love the this graffiti work by Doze Green, don’t you?

via New York Times, photo by laurie lambrecht

A room at The Morgan Hotel.

via Marie Claire Maison, photo by fabrice lambert

In this mod living room, a trio of the shell chairs and a white Arco Lamp, are pitch-perfect.

image via studio:christansen

My replica Hans Wegner Shell Chair is true to the original design and features American walnut plywood and black leather cushions.  Available in Walnut w/ Black Leather, retails for $795.

 

hans wegner shell chair

House Tour: A casa di Teresa

6 Mar

Well I’m not fluent (or semi) in Italian, but I’m pretty sure this home belongs to a nice lady named Teresa Sapey.

This fabulous apartment at The Plaza in Manhattan has a rather storied past; namely that though it’s beautifully designed, she barely, if ever lived in it.  (She bought it in July 2007, then it was back on the market later that year, 45% below original asking price, OUCH!)  Anyway, the apartment was eventually sold in 2010, and let’s just hope that the new owner doesn’t muck it up in something worthy of a litany of “Um….No” posts.

So here’s what the apartment used to look like.  It reads like she sort of picked everything out of a catalogue, but I have a feeling that if she had bothered to live in the apartment for awhile, then it’d look much more homey.  But it’s got some great pieces.

An Eames La Chaise, Barcelona Chairs, Arco Floor Lamp and a C.Jere Sculpture + herringbone wood floors.  What’s not to love?

living room

the living room

Now, see, I want to like the dining room, perhaps if this was a wooden table and not this white one.  I do LOVE this lamp though.

the dining room

An Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair makes for good bedside seating, yes?

the bedroom

So, what do you think?  I’m not in love with it, but I don’t hate it either.

via Marie Claire Italy.

Who’s your favorite designer?

9 Feb

Over on Facebook, we’re talking about our favorite designers. Join the convo and let me know in the comments >>> Click Here!

Modern Classics: Arne Jacobsen Table Lamp

28 Nov

Just in time for the Cyber Monday and Holiday shopping seasons, let’s all give a warm golf clap to the Arne Jacobsen Table Lamp.  It’s one of the newest additions to my shop at rexkelly.com.

This is really one of the most beautiful table lamps you’re going to come across, not to mention one of the most uniquely shaped.  The AJ Table Lamp was designed for the SAS Royal Copenhagen in 1957, as was pretty much everything else in the time period of 1956-1960.  In fact, he designed the entire hotel, from the chairs -Egg and Swan- to these lamps, right down to the cutlery.

What makes this lamp different, of course, is its unique conically-shaped head.  That and the fact, that the base was originally intended to accommodate ashtrays.  Today, though, it’s another one of it’s unique design aspects.

The AJ Table Lamp fits right in amidst  the eclectic mix of midcentury modern furniture, magazines and flea market finds of illustrator Lisa Grue’s home.

image via bolig magazine

The AJ Table Lamp spotlights this cute little vignette.

image via aschergsgatan24

image via imgspark, via remodelista

In The Maidstone Arms in East Hampton is the Arne Jacobsen filled with pieces by the designer.

image via blog.livelikeyou

The gorgeous replicas that are now available in my shop, are true to the original design, with a tiltable fixture head that has a distinct asymmetrical head, allowing you to focus the softly diffused light anywhere on your desk.

Available in black, it comes with a cast iron stand, steel tube and a spun shade.  It’d make a great gift at only $299!

replica arne jacobsen aj lamp

Modern Classics: Finn Juhl No. 45 Chair

21 Nov

And let’s all give a warm round of applause to the newest addition to the Modern Classics:  Finn Juhl’s No. 45 Chair.

image via scandinavian design

Juhl is something of an anomaly, as he’s a self-taught furniture designer (and an architect by trade).  In 1945, he and Niels Vodder, a cabinetmaker, debuted several pieces from their collaboration at the 1945 Cabinetmaker’s Guild exhibition.  What brought these two notoriety and made Juhl a household name to design nerds, is that this chair was one of the first to feature upholstery separate from the wood frame.

It’s truly a gorgeous piece, too, with it’s curvy arms and long hindlegs.  It’s frame is constructed from teak or walnut and the cushion is upholstered in wool (though I’ve seen it in leather, too).

That’s Juhl’s Poeten Sofa in the background,  shown here with the No. 45 Chair and a lighting piece by Poul Hoenningsen.

image via roseland greene blog

image via philips de pury

A close-up…

image via kitka.ca

Well, the good news, as you may already know, is that I have replicas of this gorgeous chair in store, now.  The frame is constructed from American ash-stained walnut and comes with a wool-covered cushion, available in brown or black.

It’s really a thing of beauty, and a great deal at only $995.

replica finn juhl no. 45 chair

Click here to shop!

 

House Tour: An Arne Jacobsen Buff Lives Here

16 Nov

Let’s just say that Hans Emami feels about Jacobsen the same way I feel about Ray + Charles Eames; elated and enthused.

Anywho, a whole catalog of Arne Jacobsen designs finds itself at home in this lovely apartment belonging to Hans Emami.  For so much Jacobsen, you’d think it’d have a too-retro feel, as some apartments are wont to do, but no.  This apartment is homey, down-to-Earth and borders on slightly eclectic.

living room

In addition to his two Jacobsen Swan chairs, Emami has also has a bright orange Egg Chair in his living room.

living room (another view)

Orange Panton S Chairs I like…the bear rug, not so much.  Well, I’d like it more it were sans head.

sitting room

Shown here in the dining room are Jacobsen’s Ant Chairs (aka Series 7), with his Egg Dining Room Table…

dining

A glass backsplash, open shelving and black cabinets lend a restaurant-feel to this smallish kitchen.

restaurant-style kitchen

Not sure how I feel about the bedroom being so adjacent to the dining room…

bedroom

This home was featured in a 2009 issue of Skona Hem.

All photos by Fredrick Sweger.

House Tour: A Mid-Century Loft Grows in Brooklyn

9 Nov

Lofts and big-open houses with homey appeal and splashes of mid-century modern are my absolute favorite; they have a timeless look to them and they’re usually chock-full of mid-modern goodies.  

Such is the case with this Brooklyn pad featured in New York Times, owned by Laurie Lieberman, an architect, and her fancy doctor husband, Edward Telzack (you can’t make this stuff up, folks).

the living room

 Lieberman punched out part of this paneled wall in the living room (love!) and replaced it with a countertop.  And get this…the panels above the countertop slide closed.  Apparently, she wanted to paint these panels white, but I’m glad she didn’t; hello, they’re gorgeous!

dining room

Blond wood dining room set is by Haywood-Wakefield…I’m not really a fan of blond wood.

dining room + foyer

A view of the kitchen that opens up onto a cute little patio.

kitchen

 Scandinavian furniture with retro-print textiles are in keeping with the simple, mid-century modern-esque style of this loft…

master bedroom

This home was featured in New York Times, visit for more pictures and more info on this home’s renovations.

All photography by Trevor Tondro.

Modern Classics: The Giogali Chandelier

17 Oct

Well, I love this piece.  There I said it.   This is, quite, frankly, a 180′ from the sort of pieces that I normally post in Modern Classics.  It’s opulent, it’s made of glass, and it’s just really gorgeous, it’s The Giogali Chandlier.

Originally designed by Italian architect, Angelo Mangiarotti in 1967, this pendant lamp is customizable.  It came with 150 Murano glass pieces and a 3-ring steel base, which owners could then customize by length or shape.  It’s truly a gorgeous piece and I think it’s going to be one of my new favorites (I already have too many, I know).

Here, three of my favorite pieces in perfect design harmony.  This lamp lends itself to the simple, organic curves of mid-century modern design, doesn’t it?

image via design sponge

The reproduction Giogali Chandelier that I have in store now, is a bargain at $499, though.  This gorgeous replica is true to the original, and is as contemporary now as it was upon its inception half a century ago.

A quality steel base supports a multitude of elegant glass pendants, which sparkle and reflect light gracefully about the space.

The Giogali Chandelier is a distinct piece that is perfect for both modern and traditional adaptations. Ideal for brightening up the home or office, this glass pendant is also suitable for use in commercial settings.

 

image via rexkelly.com

Have a great Monday, guys!

Modern Classics: The George Nelson Ball Clock

10 Oct

You know something?  The creation myth behind George Nelson’s Ball Clocks has to be one of my favorite ever.  Why, you ask?  Well because it involved creativity’s nectar, booze, and the genius of not one designer, Nelson, but four designers.  As the story goes:

“we’d had a little bit too much to drink- and the next morning I came back, and here was this roll (of drafting paper), and Irving and I looked at it, and somewhere in this roll there was a ball clock. ”  You put Nelson, Isamu Noguchi, Bucky Fuller and Irving Harper all together, get them drinking and drawing and this is the result?  Can’t be mad at that!

image via bijou kaleidoscope

There are rumored to be more than 100 clock designs in Nelson’s ouvere, but this is one of my favorites by far.  It’s definitely one of the most iconic of mid-century modern designs, up there with the Eames Plywood Chairs and the Saarinen Tulip Table.

Also, it’s just a lot of fun!

via carrie can, image by luis albuquerque

The Ball Clock adds a pop of color to this minimalist, mostly steel, kitchen…

image via house beautiful, photo by annie schlecter

image via los angeles magazine

By now you know what time it is (see what I did there?)  Just got in some gorgeous reproductions of George Nelson’s Ball Clock:

via rexkelly.com

Available in Multi-Colored and Walnut, this is an exact reproduction of the original design.  On sale for only $99!

And click here to check out other great reproductions of mid-century modern at rexkelly.com!

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