Displaying posts labeled "Mid-century"

I recently discovered interior designer Holly Hickey Moore‘s work and I love her style. She is focused on creating vibrant, layered, and eclectic interiors. With every project, she strives to design a timeless living environment with multi-generational appeal. She is edgy (and a little rebellious), designing spaces that are complex and unique, yet intuitive and comfortable. She primarily works in New England and Texas but is looking to branch out to New Zealand (where her husband is from) and Australia (perhaps I could convince her she needs me as an assistant ;)). This home in particular I really like for its funky midcentury modern/retro vibe. To complement the architecture, the look is inspired by Palm Springs in the 60s. Accordingly, artwork and décor is bright, bold and beautiful. Restored vintage furnishings and lighting are mixed in with new elements. Additionally, the white walls act as a canvas for the colorful works of art, most of which are original pieces by the family members. The open floor plan and glazing across the back of the house gives a sense of being outside. Can I get a HELL YEAH for the tumbled block tiles above. !!!!!! (Photos: Casey Dunn, designs completed while Holly worked under Baxter Design Group)

It’s Friday. Time to escape the dreary grind of 9 to 5. My choice for a virtual weekend away (because I’m working all the way through) is this Scotland Island home available through Contemporary Hotels. The view, the modern meets retro vibe, the peace and quiet, the fact that it can only be approached by water. A touch of paradise.

I have always wanted to live in house with mid-century architecture, and I have a huge girl crush on Jessica Helgerson, so I absolutely had to share this home. This project was a thorough remodel of a 1950s house by prominent Portland architect Saul Zaik. We thoroughly reworked the interior floor plan, relocating the master bedroom and bathroom to the rear of the house, creating a mudroom, office, and laundry room, changing the proportions of a family room that had been expanded and was out of scale with the other rooms, upgrading the windows throughout, and vaulting the ceilings in the addition. (Photos: Lincoln Barbour)

This home, on Carnation Street in Silverlake, California is another doozy of a project by design firm Commune (I featured others here and here). Gawd they create the coziest yet stylin’ living rooms! And again, stunning colours and textures in the textiles they use. I can honestly say I would move in and not change a thing – except maybe make the kid’s room an office of cat hangout. 🙂

It seems the holidays are over and it’s time to get back to work. Nose to the grindstone, bum up. Excuse me while I escape the drudgery of the workaday on day one of my return by slipping between the pages of latest fab book to land on my coffee table. Down the long driveway, you’ll see it.

“… a book of pictures of modernist, mid-century New Zealand homes. The houses aren’t new, they’re old and lived in. They can be a little dusty, slightly worn around the edges and all have what antique dealers like to call “patina”. But they’re perfect in the minds of the people who live in them because of what they represent, which when designed, was a better way of living.”

Photographer Mary Gaudin, along with writer Matthew Arnold, hasn’t so much documented the architectural details of the homes but explored their being through her evocative images. It’s about house and site and home and life and aging and fulfilling promise. My copy is dog-eared already. So if you still have some of the money Santa gave you or even as a belated present to yourself then Down the long driveway, you’ll see it is a must.