MID CENTURY MODERN DECOR

Mid century modern decor:  what it is and why we love it!

 You've read the blog, you've seen pictures of our house, you know that our hearts belong to mid century modern.  This is no summer romance, this is true love.  Let's see why...

 A significant design movement of the previous century, mid century modern refers to architecture, industrial design, fashion and interior design which was conceived between 1945 and 1965. 

 Mid century modern is a blending of function, comfort and style.  Pretty much all of the mid century modern furniture that I've seen is informal, in fact the upholstered pieces are sometimes referred to as lounge furniture and are generally lower to the ground than most sofas and chairs.  The also lack extra embellishments such as ruffles or skirts and tend to me quite tailored.

 Authentic mid century modern can be quite pricey, but because it was generally so well made and durable it's not very difficult to find.  MCM has a minimalist sculptural quality and can  make a huge statement with just a few pieces, in fact I would say it's a big mistake to to add to many, or  overly fussy, elements to a mid century room, as they distract from the purity of the style.

This post is barely an introduction to mid century modern influence, we will be devoting an entire week to the subject later on....there is so much to talk about. 



The Gods of mid century design:  George Nelson, Edward Wormley, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames and Jens Risom as seen in Playboy Magazine July 1961.

Do you love mid century modern as much as we do?  What are your favorite pieces?

Have a beautiful weekend everyone!
YANCEY

BAUHAUS

Bauhaus...simple perfection

 There are no doubt as many ways to approach a creative endeavor as there are outcomes.  One way is to approach it like a sculptor might approach a slab of marble....carve away what isn't in order to reveal what is.  I can imagine Michelangelo working in this way.
Another way is to begin with an idea which is perfect in it's simplicity and slowly design around it until it becomes....better.  Arguably Steve Job's approach to technology design.
Then there is Bauhaus....bridging the gap between art and industry, mass produced using a minimum of material, an absence of ornamentation...simple perfection.

 The most influential movement of avant-garde art, design and architecture of the 20th century, the Bauhaus objective was to unify art, craft and technology.

 Obviously, the subject of Bauhaus requires a week of it's own (or really much more), but to get you started here are a few of the heroes of Bauhaus whom you may recognize...Joseph Albers, Johannes Itten, Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

 "I want to imbue others with my delight in the endless possibilities for new color experiences"  Josef Albers

 "God is in the details"  Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

I have found examples of Bauhaus influence on fashion, jewelry, graphic design, and of course interior design...all of which will be shared when we offer Bauhaus as a muse of the week.
What's your opinion of Bauhaus?  Did anyone see the MoMA exhibit on Bauhaus?

Have a beautiful day.
YANCEY

Black Vampirey Apartment Rocks the Night

A Sensual Ravishment - Converted YMCA Locker Room

OK, so this apartment has been widely posted, but I can’t think of a better way to start an interior design story about vampires than to share this décor. I’ve had pictures on this in my design archives for years, but unearthed them recently for our Vampire Week Muse.

What makes this apartment a great muse for Vampires?

What I am loving here is a conspicuous absence of windows, the shiny, shiny black walls and ceilings, the dramatic way light plays off this shine, like lamplight on a rainy Parisian street. I love the bold red as accent color, the animal prints, the luxury and comfort of chases, and the dramatic way art leaps off the wall.

Does this say modern Vampiress or what?!

If you want to see some videos on this apartment, here’s the link: http://www.behance.net/gallery/the-black-apartment/123184

Bloody Awesome! Hope you enjoy.

Shine On! Braxton

Page Down for a Slideshow of Drac's Castle and a Game of Vampire Bingo

Bran Castle - Home Decor by Vlad III

Step into Dracula’s Lair - Original Muse for a Modern Vamp Line of Fashion and Decor

Bran Castle is one of several castles associated with “Dracula”. Built in 1377 on a trade route on the border of Transylvania, the castle was stormed and occupied by Vlad III (the source of the Dracula legend) in 1459. WARNING – I know our generation is generally, unfortunately fairly desensitized to violence, but if you research Vlad III, beware, as he appears to have been a very nasty piece of work, aka “Vlad the Impaler” (not in a good way) : ) - among other things.

The castle is a now a museum and tourist destination in Romania, with an open air peasant village at its base.

I thought it would be interesting to share pictures of this castle so you could see the actual domicile and interior décor and grounds that Dracula might have occupied, as a jumping off point for a more modern interpretation of vampire décor and fashion in our posts this week.

A beautiful castle. There are apparently 2 others associated with Vlad III, but this is perhaps the most picturesque.

Hope you enjoy!

Shine On! Braxton

Wow! Looks like a movie set!

Awesome!



A secret passage!



The Grounds...



Bad, Bad Vlad III