DESIGN 2018 style series
design, defined
MIDCENTURY MODERN B Y S A R A WA R R E N D E R
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t the end of World War II, troops returned home, and husbands and wives found themselves in need of rapid access to housing. This sudden surge caused a demand for simple, multi-functional home and furniture designs. Design pieces encapsulated the light, airy feeling of post-war optimism, and were quickly embraced. Today, those same clean designs from 1939-1965 are still fashionable in 2018 homes. Several notable midcentury designers, including Ray and Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen, and Hans Wegner, created living room, dining room, and office furniture pieces that have become sought-after classics. Their aesthetic can be captured with just a few carefully placed statement pieces in your home.
Living Room: Eames Style
A quick online search of midcentury modern design will no doubt direct you to the husband and wife design team of Charles and Ray Eames. They combined art with science, creating sleekly curved pieces to provide ultimate comfort while capturing a fresh style which is still revered more than 60 years later. The classic Eames chair was designed by the duo for the purpose of comfortably watching television in the 1950s. While an original chair comes with a hefty price tag, choosing a chair with a sleek design and interesting texture will help your living room look midcentury chic. Opt for seating with a simple wood base and plush, colorful padding. 104
These visually appealing chairs pair perfectly with a coffee table constructed from smooth wood with a crystal-clear glass top. A simple centerpiece will enhance the clean lines in the room. Furniture focused on functional simplicity, flowing curves or geometric shapes, as well as a variety of textures, are key to successfully capturing the style. Dining Room: Saarinen Style
A good friend of the Eames team, fellow designer and architect Eero Saarinen is known for both his furnishings and for designing famous structures such as St. Louis, Missouri’s Gateway Arch, and the main terminal of Dulles International Central Virginia HOME Spring 2018