Every spring, homeowners get the urge to throw off winter doldrums and freshen up their homes. If your home needs a bit more than just some spring cleaning this year, you may have decided it’s finally time to remodel.
Answer These 3 Questions…
1. Would you like to give your home a clean, uncluttered look?
2. Do you yearn for a home that’s more sleek and sophisticated for entertaining?
3. Would you love an open floor plan and larger windows, maybe even a whole wall of glass?
If you answered yes, then the update your home is waiting for just might be the leap back to Mid-Century Modern design. Yes, really! Many people think the 1950s as the era of ugly pink and black bathrooms or gold-flecked laminate kitchen counters, and that’s all. But it also was a time of “less is more” minimalist design, featuring bright open spaces, sleek lines, gleaming finishes, indoor/outdoor integration. Instead of “I Love Lucy,” think Le Corbusier or Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, the chairs of Charles and Ray Eames, or the sculptural lines of Scandinavian furniture.
Walls of Glass
The “modern” home of a half century ago often featured an oversized picture window that let light stream in but also let heat leak out. Today, you can have elegant floor-to-ceiling windows that are so energy efficient you can fill your home with light and save money on your heating and cooling bills. An updated version of the sliding glass patio door of the 50s and 60s is a glass door that can withstand the harshest weather but folds away to completely open your family room or kitchen to the deck or patio on a sunny summer day.
Photo courtesy Pella Windows & Doors
Color and Patterns
Using colors and patterns from the past can take your home design as far back as you want to go! Retro style often features bright colors like lime, turquoise, or orange. But you can achieve the mid-century look using black and white or warm earth tones, with some bright accents.
If you want to add just a splash of mid-century modern, try tile in a pattern that is a blast from the past. Geometric patterns in the bath or a glossy glass mosaic backsplash in the kitchen look fresh and fun. The best thing about the 21st century versions of these products is that they’re made with the latest in lower maintenance finishes and often use reclaimed and recycled materials.
Photo courtesy Lunada Bay Tile
Fun Fixtures and Sleek Finishes
One of the easiest ways to add a fresh mid-century modern look is with light fixtures. Globe pendants and spiky starburst chandeliers instantly set the tone for the room. Warm, natural wood cabinets with smooth paneled doors and simple hardware are the highlights of this kitchen style. You can finish the look with touches of chrome and glass and add furniture pieces upholstered in leather (and maybe one colorful molded chair, just for fun).
If you think you might want to try some retro updates, the clean, sophisticated level of mid-century modern simplicity looks 21st Century fresh. And we’re always ready to design an exciting new look for your home, no matter what your style preference. Let’s talk!
