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Take a peek at this year's designer interiors at the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House.

Explore exotic woods like the acacia table above in Wood Story!

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Friday
Jan222010

Mid-century magic

Clean lines, natural and organic shapes, a muted earth-tone color palette, and an abundant use of woods such as teak, walnut, and oak are the hallmarks of mid-century modern design.  Peaking in the 1950s with great influence from Denmark and other parts of Scandinavia, this design movement has real staying power: furniture and accessories from the era are still quite popular, and can be very, very expensive.

I tend to search out mid-century pieces wherever I can, as prices vary drastically from region to region.  Two favorite pieces in my collection are a pair of wood and Naugahyde wing chairs from a flea market on Long Island - the seller found them in his mother's basement and had zero appreciation. The price was so low I don't even want to print it here.

On a recent trip to Chicago, we chanced upon a fantastic mid-century/vintage shop in Lincoln Square - the Ravenswood Antique Mart. What a treat! The store was massive, yet beautifully organized. Everything from the tiniest accessory to the largest dining table for 12 was assembled in a showroom style that allowed each piece to speak for itself while still completing a scene. Many items were organized simply by color, which created a stunning visual display.

 

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yellow-and-blue-accessories

 

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Whether or not you appreciate mid-century modern and other '50s vintage styles, it seems impossible to not appreciate this charming shop. If you are in the area, definitely check it out!

Reader Comments (1)

Hey, these are nice images for decorative stuff. Keep it up.

February 4, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterMike

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