Furnishing Modern Interiors With Mid-Century Style

The weather has solidly transitioned into the Seattle standard and the Holidays will be here before we know it! So let’s focus some attention on furnishing those modern interiors so they’re ready for relaxing and entertaining friends and family.

Finding the right Mid-Century piece for your modern space can be quite daunting, with all of the era’s furniture out there tempting you with its sleek style. Searching for that perfect piece to start your collection, or to complete it, can feel overwhelming. So, here’s a spotlight on some of the most well known designers and furniture pieces, as well as some great local sources where you can find the original vintage versions.

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman- Charles and Ray Eames 1956

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman have their origin in Charles and Ray’s investigations into molding plywood and a desire to improve upon a familiar fixture in many living rooms: the lounge chair. Citing the English club chair as inspiration, Charles said he sought to design a modern version of that chair, one that had “the warm receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.” Almost immediately, the design became an icon of American design. Today, these pieces not only live in museums, but continue to offer comfort and style to interiors everywhere.(hermanmiller.com)

Shelving System- George Nelson 1952

George Nelson was an American industrial designer and one of the founders of American Modernism. While Director of Design for the Herman Miller furniture company, Nelson and his design studio, George Nelson Associates, Inc., designed much of the 20th century’s most iconic modernist furniture.(Wikipedia) George Nelson’s iconic space saving shelving systems were designed to be used as either room dividers or displayed against a wall. The systems featured floating shelves suspended by pressure mounted poles.

Knoll Womb Chair-Eero Saarinen 1948

Eero Saarinen designed the groundbreaking Womb Chair at Florence Knoll’s request for “a chair that was like a basket full of pillows – something she could really curl up in.” This mid-century classic supports countless positions and offers a comforting oasis of calm—hence the name.(knoll.com)

Gondola Sofa-Adrian Pearsall Craft Associates 1952

Adrian Pearsall started Craft Associates in 1952 and continued throughout the 1960’s. His design influence has become iconic and synonymous with Mid-Century design. He sold the company to Lane in 1968 and while Paul Evans has been attributed to the Brutalist style, in actuality it was Adrian Pearsall.In the late 1950’s, the walnut designs started skyrocketing sales, taking Pearsall beyond all others in residential design. The company grew from 6 to 800 employees and was sold in 1968 to the well-known Lane Furniture Company. Pearsall went on to form another company while Lane eventually halted production and sales by the late seventies and closed Craft Associates for good.(craftassociatesfurniture.com)

Some local great sources for MCM furniture:

Funky Retro Cool

Stuff for the cool kids!

Sandy Gadd and Steve Peery
Find Sandy and Steve on Instagram @funkyretrocool
Email: funkyretrocool@gmail.com

Jacob Willard Home

Jacob Willard Home is your source for Vintage and Mid-Century furniture and collectibles, from barware to lounge chairs!

Owner: Karl Hackett
5600 Rainier Ave S
Suite-D
Seattle, WA 98118
Hours:Tuesday-Saturday 12-7

Find Karl on facebook facebook.com/jacobwillardhome
Find Karl on Instagram: @jacobwillardhome

Mid & Mod

Mid and Mod showcases some of the coolest Mid-Century and modern pieces in the greater Seattle area.

Mid and Mod
email:hi@midandmod.com

Find Brandon on Instagram @midandmod
Find Brandon on Facebook facebook.com/midandmod