If you're a design junkie or a domino magazine reader (or if your home, like mine, is bombarded with
West Elm catalogs on a daily basis), you're probably familiar with the term "Mid-Century Modern." But what exactly does it mean?
When: "Mid-Century Modern" refers to, no eye-rolling please, the design aesthetic that rose to prominence during the middle of the 20th Century.
What: The most recognizable features of the style are simple, clean lines that result in unpretentious, functional pieces (no flowery carvings or superfluous complexities allowed).
Who: Designers of note from the 1950s and 60s include
Charles and Ray Eames,
Eero Saarinen, and
Herman Miller.
Why: After a few decades of floundering, Mid-Century Modern is without a doubt the hot design aesthetic these days, which means that companies, such as
Design Within Reach, that offer reinterpretations and reproductions of the trendy look are sitting pretty.
Need more, eager student? What a brown-noser! Check out the slideshow for examples of Mid-Century Modern in the Hive.
