^ designing with deb
Can I Get Mid-Century Mod On The Cheap?
he simple answer is: There is no simple answer. The term “Midcentury Modern” was part of a book title from 1984 (“Midcentury Modern: Furniture of the 1950s”)—something the author just made up to describe and sell her book, as the “look” was experiencing a resurgence at that time. And much like our fascina- tion with that look, the term stuck. It also proves the old adage that everything old is new again, as in the fact that the mid-century vibe is in its third incarna- tion—at least. Not that it has ever gone out of vogue; think airport furniture, Knoll T
office furniture, so many of the great designs that came out of that era were created for a post-war, anti-frill sensibility and have never lost ground. You add to that the 2007 premier of Don Draper and his band of “Mad Men” (and women) —bring on at least round three of the mid-century modern move. Now, there is a reason for my brief history lesson. As everything gains in popularity, no matter how many times it goes round, the market can become saturated, prices skyrocket, everyone has their version and price-point— hence mid-century modern on the cheap isn’t easy but can be curated with time and patience. There is the obvious Swedish big box store where every- thing is made of laminated MDF (remember: everything has its place). You also have many furniture makers jumping on board with their own offerings recreating the look. You can find a variety of pricing on both fronts. For trying to find the real thing: Never hesitate to make the trek to your local flea markets, vintage shops, garage sales, estate sales and on¬line sites. But as you know, with the mega interest created in recent years, people tend to know what they have and want to cash in on their heirloom pieces. This is where your patience and tenacity come in. Don’t be afraid to pick up (for a steal) those pieces that may have a little rust, some rips, blemishes in general, because with a little time and effort you can restore those pieces to their full glory. Now for achieving the look: Architecturally speaking, mid-century modern has clean, smooth, simple lines. You will find lots of wood, and not just in your furniture—on the walls or the ceiling. Mirror a wall in your dining room. Use white as the ultimate backdrop for those bright colors and graphic prints in the furniture fabrics. No skirts on upholstered furni- ture—don’t be afraid of showing a little leg. No—a lot of leg—peg legs. Take an existing cocktail table and add peg legs to it. These you can find at flea markets or architectural salvage places. When accessorizing, remember those amazing sunburst mirrors and clocks! Some kind of metal sculpture for your wall is a must. Keep it light and airy. If you can’t find or afford the real thing there are tons of fantastic reproductions on the market. The same is true with light fixtures—just the right pendant light, chandelier or lamps can totally set the mood of the space. Ashtrays of that era (don’t worry, the smoke smell is gone by now) make an awesome mini table sculpture. Set a rotary phone in a bright color on a telephone table from the era. And last but not least, a bar cart is a must, with all its accouterments: a drink shaker and funky little cocktail glasses. Most importantly, don’t forget to use your space. Bring on the skinny ties and the red lipstick!
Marissa has a green thumb, and we caught her garden just as it was beginning to bloom. More vegetables will fill out the grand garden box as summer continues, and the Starke’s frequent their DIY fire pit.
sounds of vinyl, noting jazz, British mod, and especially Jamaican. Johnny still owns his father’s original speakers and uses them to listen to his records. “Finding those records and bringing them back to life is such a big part of what I do with my records,” Johnny said. “They’re a time capsule, a perfect snapshot of the Fifties and Sixties. I feel like I am listening to these records with my dad again.” Marissa and Johnny plan to stay in the house for some time to come, not only because they hate moving, but because they made this house into something they love. Although Marissa would love to live in a grander, turn-of-the-century home with hundred-year-old trees lining a driveway, there are no plans to move any time soon. “This house just became us,” Johnny said. “I feel like this house was meant for us.”
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-Deb
Samantha is a freelance writer and editor in Kansas City. She’s a recent University of Kansas journalism graduate (go Jayhawks!) who can be found buried in a good book, travelling around the country or just wandering around Kansas City.
Deb Vogler has been creating her own brand of Comfort by Design for more than 15 years. She deals with all aspects of design, from budgeting, to floor plans (renovation or new construction), to furniture, to color at her full-scale design firm. Have a designing question for Deb? Send it to debvogler@msn.com.
25 vintagekc summer 2015
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