The period between the 1930’s to the 1970’s saw rise to one of the most iconic interior trends, Mid-Century Modern. It changed the face of architecture and design and has left a lasting impression all over the world today. Heavily influenced by Brazilian and Scandinavian architects, this era was defined by it’s inclusion of nature, but with considerable reliability on big advancements in technology. We love to use mid-century antiques in our schemes and so we thought we’d share our thoughts on how you can use it in your own home. 

People may wonder why this antique furniture works so well in modern 21st Century homes, which I put down to the rise in demand for minimalist, open plan spaces. Mid-Century items definitely lend themselves to this, with low level, open styling being a prominent design feature. The trend is built on the premise that everything should be sleek and functional creating a clean cut space with purpose and flow, something that is as relevant today as it was in the 60’s. 

The global success of American brand West Elm is a real testament to the relevance of Mid-Century design today, seeing rise to millennials incorporating this style in their homes. Their product ranges include lot of pieces noticeable for their Mid-Century characteristics such as thin tapered legs, teak wood and stand out occasional chairs. It’s actually not at all surprising that Mid-Century era stood the test of time as it produced simple, well-designed pieces that are functional and durable.

One of the great things about this trend is it’s versatility and ability to mix with other styles. It’s less likely that someone would want to opt for a completely Mid-Century home with every piece matching. Instead a more adventurous approach would see sleek Mid-Century pieces intertwined with modern items to give an eclectic feel. I love the juxtapositions created where the use of organic and manmade materials create stark contrast throughout a space mixing dark woods, plastics and metals.

We were recently photographing a newly completed Cotswolds project and I just love the mix of new pieces, bespoke pieces and sourced antiques. Using antiques in a modern home is a great way to bring the space to life, adding history and an eclectic feel that couldn’t easily be achieved by buying everything new. 

Sources: Dining Room | West Elm | Mid-Century Modern