The Mid-Century Modernist

Bayramoğlu Resort Near Istanbul, Turkey

“HOUSE A 05”, recently submitted to our photo group by mete:

bayramoğlu is an old summer resort near istanbul. it was popular at 60s-70s among jetset and middle class families. here are some traces from late modernist houses. no info about the architects. all interior shots taken from outside.

I love the variety of patterns in that wall. Everything about it says mid-century modern. More pics below.

Filip's Flat: A Living Showroom of Design Classics

On Flickr, I recently came across Filip and his tastefully appointed residence beautifully shot by the owner himself. His home is a real-world gallery of the classics: a Florence Knoll sofa, Eames lounge, and Noguchi table in the living room, a Nelson bench and Bertoia chair in the hall. But there are less expected pieces too, like his extensive collection of Artemide lighting, including a Tizio, Tolomeo, and the avant garde Boalum which coils like a luminescent snake on the floor.

1950s California Modern by Julius Shulman

Shorpy.com posted a couple of classic 1950s interior shots by celebrated architecture photographer Julius Shulman. Above: Recreation Pavilion. Mirman Residence, Arcadia, California, 1959. Architects: Buff, Straub & Hensman. Some amusing commentary at Shorpy’s, including:

Please do not move cushions more than one-quarter inch from designated positions on the Recreation Pavilion Fun Grid. The Herman Miller benches will not be moved more than 21 bricks away from decking. Tennis racquets allowed on pillows only if propped at an appropriately informal angle, 35 degrees to the horizontal. Thank you.

1950. Cocktail hour at the Spencer residence in Santa Monica. A commenter says:

High ceilings, simple, sparse furnishings, even the fashions look contemporary. Usually there would be a grey brick fireplace and evidence of robin egg blue palette or chrome and blond furniture around for the fifties. This could be 2009 decor.

Exactly. We’re definitely returning to this aesthetic. That’s what I’m getting at when I say mid-century modernism is “both a historical milestone and a living, breathing ideal, reflected in much of today’s best design and architecture.”

Thanks for the tip, JLT!

Appartement de Maxime Clair

I’ve been following Maxime Clair’s Flickr stream for several weeks as gorgeous pieces of European design flow by. Today came shots of his apartment interior. It’s a well-considered mix of homey warmth and crisp modernism. The kind of home I want mine to be. And he’s been so kind as to identify the pieces in each room. Pictured here (names in French):

• Chair on left: Fauteuil Diamant, Harry Bertoia, Knoll, 1952
• Eames Segmented table et DSX chairs
• Chair in rear on left: Chaise Anthony, Jean Prouvé, Atelier Jean Prouvé, 1948 - Vitra, 2000
• Black pendant: ferruccio laviani, FL/Y Lamp
• Table lamp: Lampe Nesso, Gruppo Architetti Urbanista Citta Nuova, Artemide, 1965
• Sculpture on mantle: Bougeoirs Nagel, Allemagne, Circa 1970

Richard Powers and the Reflecting Pool

Remember when I said that a reflecting pool is what takes a beautiful home exterior shot to another level of beauty? Well, Richard Powers has mastered that art. His architectural photography is exquisite. Much of it captures exceptional homes with water features, and all of it is wall art worthy.

Mid-Century Furniture (and Playmate Delores Wells)

A reader tipped us off to this series of beautiful interior shots from the years when he read Playboy “for the furniture”. Surrounded by the plush blue rug, brick fireplace, and wall unit shelving is Delores Wells, playmate of the month for June 1960.

Please pardon my censorship (thanks to Picnik for the shapes — yes, that’s a Grizzly hanging out on the coffee table), but I thought it would be hasty to assume all my readers are appreciative of nudity, however tasteful. Those who want to enjoy the original, untarnished images can visit the source: Undead Film Critic. See the censored photos above at full size on Flickr.

Anna Weiss House, St. Louis

Fellow mid-century modernist Anna Weiss is a newcomer on the blog scene and her site promises to be a daily stop. Today she shares the brilliant remaking of the living room in her St. Louis, Missouri home.

Any house is a work in progress, but the big ticket items are complete — floors, walls, roof, electrical, and most appliances. The house has a very open floor plan, so the living room opens to the sitting room which is also the dining area.

Don’t miss her kitchen and nursery rehabs too.

Kitchen Illustrations from the '50s

This stuff comes from the period before modernism matured, but these illustrations from magazines like Better Homes & Gardens and Good Housekeeping at See Saw are too charming to ignore.

Dave Cuzner’s Oakland Townhouse

A fellow Oakland blogger Leah Hennen toured the home of another fellow Oakland blogger Dave Cuzner. Having run into Dave at various sample sales and museum exhibitions I expected to see a lot of mid-century modern charm in his place, but the beauty and style in these photos is still a bit shocking. Stumbling on Leah’s post invoked an embarrassing shriek of “Look at that incredible house! I know that guy!” that turned a few heads in the office this afternoon.

Tulip Table and Panton Chairs

“new dining table”, recently submitted to our photo group by m.bibelot.

More from Jasmine’s fantastic Bay Area home below.