It’s too cold for an evening walk, too frozen to garden, the garage sales don’t start for another four months and Marsh Monopoly is really starting to get on my nerves! It’s winter time in Indiana, and I’m bored.
My solution? Time to give the family room a make-over!
Preferring that the projects I undertake don’t become outdated before I get them finished, I have never been one to jump on the latest fad. I do however watch trends which, unlike fads that come and go quickly, can stay with us for many years. Strong for the past five years and still trending are the designs from the late 1940s to the early 70s that we now refer to collectively as MCM (Mid-Century-Modern). Running the full gambit from streamlined and sophisticated to kitschy, funky and fun, I decided this was the way to go.
A major factor in my decision to go MCM was the “blend-ability” of the style with other genres of decor. Changing out a room from it’s existing look to MCM doesn’t have to break the bank if you start with what you have. My first concern was the considerable expense of a new sofa. But, with a little experimentation I found that the simple lines of the sofa I purchased two year ago took on a 60s look when I added a Scandinavian style cocktail table and a pair of Eames chairs.
Painted furniture is right at home in an MCM room but with a much more subdued look for 2015. Rooms don’t scream for attention this year, instead they subtly invite you in. Avoid the pink, orange, yellow and turquoise furniture pieces that have been so popular in past years. Instead use soft gray, taupe, whitewashed and “bleached” furniture. The exception to this muted palette is ebony, which has become this years strong neutral color. The process of ebonizing is the same process used in past years for black painted furniture with a finishing coat of wax for a more sophisticated look. Ebony chests, side tables and entire dining room sets lend themselves well to mid-century decor, especially when accented by brass and glass architectural pieces, lighting and mirrors.
Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames and Arne Jacobsen are names that have become synonymous with the MCM movement and their pieces make a wonderful addition to an MCM room. However, they can be a little pricey. To help you stay within your budget, shop the second hand stores where you can often find a deal, or take a look at reproduction furniture. But, a word of caution! If you go with repro, shop carefully as there can be great disparity in the quality depending on the manufacturer.
Now for the fun part……COLOR! Color has gone from furnishings and walls to accent pieces for 2015. Clusters of throw pillows and groupings of framed prints bring a room to life and add that kitschy touch that makes a room POP! Area rugs in bright geometric designs of the 60s and 70s are available from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand and not only complete your look but define your living areas.
Your home should always reflect your personality, not the dictates of a designer. Don’t throw out something you love out because it doesn’t follow a set theme. Case in point: My husband’s favorite chair really didn’t fit my new room, so I slipcovered it. Voila! He has his comfy chair and I never have to look at that ugly brown plaid fabric again! Until next time……….Linda
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-429-7887 or lkennett@indy.rr.com