MrMartha's Mid Century Design Primer

MrMartha has been transforming some very uninspired mid century spaces into something he hopes is going to be quite special.
As the new house was quite literally a blank canvas -- wimpy dead white walls with bad paint job, semi neglected tile work, badly chosen replacement light fixtures, and really zero percent creativity evident -- in anything done during the past 30 years.

Just how to bring the space back to a vibrancy, how to show off the mid century bones (and bells and whistles) that attracted MrMartha to the residence in the first place, has required some real thought. MrMartha will share photos of how the new place is coming together soon...but for now, lets focus on general mid century design trends.

The idea of MidCentury design seems to sort of congeal into a lump in most peoples minds (or at least those who think about it), fusing things that were actually popular within a span of about 30 years. The broad term refers to design between the late forties and the mid seventies.

(MrMartha's definition of mid century does not include the styles of Moderne or Art Deco, while they happened in "mid century" in terms of the calendar, they really are separate, stand alone styles.)
The apex of classic mid century design to MrMartha is circa 1962-65 -- but still has to include many, many icons that were designed much earlier, or still to come in the future.

Just like the fashions of 1955 were radically different than those just 10 years later in the late 60s, what was considered shockingly modern decor around 1953 would have seemed comical and frumpy by 1966. Times, trends, fashion, technology, and sophistication all changed radically in that turbulent period, and interior trends reflected it all....and, as with anything involving fashion, it did so in both tasteful, and very tacky ways.

To map out a design plan for a "current take" on the best of mid century, is walking a fine line in some very wide shoes. Things designed only a few years apart can seem very divergent and clashing when displayed together....but objects from the earliest years of mid century design (let's call that Post Moderne) really can co-exist with the height of 60s mod, and everything in between can be combined, if they are selected with care and sensitivity.

For MrMartha's own piece of mind, in trying to assemble the right formula of objects, MrMartha made some arbitrary divisions to determine what the identifiable trends and styles were, within the overall style umbrella of the full era.

Read More to learn more about MrMartha's take on the evolution of the styles, and some great photos of period interiors.



50's Modern: Took traditional furniture forms and stripped off some of their fussiness -- sofas lost arms, design details got simpler, fabrics were nubby tweeds and brightly printed barkcloth. Objects often took their shapes from an organic base, and nontraditional materials like Fiberglass began to find their way into the living space.

The buzz word for the most severe version of this look is "Atomic" decor -- though some call it Kitsch, if the decor focuses on the more outre' aspects of the aesthetic -- or Retro if it combines styles and trends from across all of mid century design.
And, just as Tomorrowland at Disneyland seemed outdated and arcane soon after it was built, so did many aspects of 50s Modern. For an easy timeline of this trend, think about the evolution of the Ricardo's couches during the 'I Love Lucy' series.

(yes, that is Liz Taylor)

60's Modern: This is the classic "Danish Modern" aesthetic. Simple spare and thin forms, design decisions often outweighing considerations of comfort.

Pendent lights in bullet or globe shapes were often seen. Boomerangs, jet wings, and that ultimate "Century 21 Worlds Fair" icon, Seattle's Space Needle, were all inspirations for furniture and objects -- designed for, and representing, the projected speed of life in the Jet Age, as things sped towards a future that was still expected to be just like the Jetsons.
This particular look is illustrated well in the office sets of "MadMen" which capture the whole idea of it with breathtaking correctness.


60's Contemporary: Consider this sort of the filtered down vernacular of "High 60's Modern". that doesn't mean it was bad, but a lot of this look did disintegrate to that lowest common denominator "Levitz" look.
The best examples of this style were quite wonderful...MrMartha likes to refer to this style as "Haute 60's".


For a quick mental snapshot of the style, picture Laura and Rob Petrie's ranch house in New Rochelle, from the original "Dick VanDyke Show". For the upper end luxe version of this look, Betsy and Don Draper's redecorated living room on "Madmen" hits the mid century nail right on it's vintage head.


Hollywood Post-Regency: Ah, now MrMartha is getting a bit arcane. The current rage for the generic decorating term "Hollywood Regency" which originally referred to a 1940s based theme, is at present, so all encompassing in its reach, it may as well be called 'black hat' -- it really be nearly anything (do an ebay search). There was a mid century offshoot of the original purer style. It took higher end designer furniture, often very sculptural, and added that trademark hollywood glitz.


Playing with scale was a hallmark of this vein of midcenturia, large sculptural clocks, gold and metallic details, swag lights that managed to be simultaneously whimsical and grave. This is mid century design gone over the top....either in a very good way.....or in a 'bad accident but I have to stare" way.
An offshoot of this style would be the big trophy homes in Palm Springs by architects like John Lautner with their amazing interiors.


70's Modern: MrMartha, having lived through this era with great disdain, finds it far too painful to discuss. For everything you need to know about 1970's decorating....watch an episode of "That Seventies Show" in syndication ---they nailed it!

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MrMartha's MidCentury Kitchen.....AFTER

MrMartha apologizes for not being more proactive with blog updates the past couple weeks.....but now that things are moderating and settling in at the new house, posting should return to a more regular frequency! Thank you to all the followers who have been loyal during this content drought, and a special thank you to those who have sent emails of inquiry and encouragement..

A MidCentury home has a great amount of style and an unmatched quirkiness, no question there. But, when largely intact -- with many original fixtures and systems -- it can be a bit like peeling a proverbial onion...one project exposes problems that lead to three other projects! That is certainly what has happened here. Luckily, MrMartha does not shy away from projects

MrMartha is pleased to note that the main kitchen is now past the paint stage.
READ MORE to see additional photos of the kitchen and learn more about the transformation.


All of the cabinets and integral trim have been done in the same subtle 'Latte' tone, with the ceiling painted in a lighter version of the same color. Given all the variation in the tile colors, it seemed the better option to just paint all cabinets alike, even though it may have been more correct (from a period standpoint) to have used different colors in the upper and lower cabinetry.

It was a bit of an archeological expedition to discover many of the paint colors of this kitchen's previous incarnations evident on inside drawer edges and other nooks and crannies....everything from a dusky pink, to a rather shocking salmon tone, to a deep forest green, have all been part of this kitchen's past. MrMartha cannot quite fathom what it must have looked like in many of those past color schemes!

Hammerite metallic paint was used for details like switchplates and for the trim strip between the tile work and the lower cabinets, it ties the newer stainless steel appliances together with the more vintage aspects of the kitchen, and helps unify things nicely.

The turquoise color on the walls has worked out well, though it required a lot of mixing and remixing of paint on the fly to get the exact right tone. In the end, it had to be assertive enough to balance off the yellow backsplash tiles, but not so strong as to totally take over the space. MrMartha feels he found an excellent balance. Adding some wonderful old MidCentury 'school cafeteria' chairs in a deeper turquoise, and matching that with a very simple gingham valance over the sink window, have added a nice note of punch and counterpoint to the wall color. Next will be deciding what to hang on the walls, and decorative accessories.

One note about the wonderful chrome and resin chairs....they were a find on CraigsList, and ended up costing $15.00 per chair! They look perfect in the space, are both a great scale and quite comfortable, proving once again that it's possible to be both very frugal and very stylish!!

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MrMartha Welcomes you to MidCentury Manor

Greetings after a bit of a hiatus during the move....
MrMartha has not actually fallen off the face of the earth, it has just felt like it.

Rocky the dog is getting used to his new home -- he is probably adapting a bit better than MrMartha at this point -- but things will continue to come together.....and none too soon, as this is starting to feel like an unsettling dream that one cannot quite awaken from.

The furniture and box moving portion of this adventure is complete, and MrMartha is surrounded by stacks of belongings yet to be unpacked, and furniture pushed helter skelter into the center of the rooms. But, this too shall pass!

A fresh coat of paint in the main rooms will be happening over the weekend and next week, and then the actual settling in can start.

The bones of the new house are great, the vintage details, and even the quirky aspects being discovered, are all going to make this a fantastic place to live -- MrMartha will be sharing the process and transformation with you as it unfolds.

MrMartha also brought many plants and starts from the old garden, and those will get transplanted into the landscape here this weekend as well.

It will probably be a couple weeks before MrMartha's kitchen's are back up and functioning...but lots of great posts with recipes, food, and entertaining ideas will return to the blog soon....
MrMartha thanks you for your patience!

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Laura Petrie would LOVE both of them.....

MrMartha just survived a whirlwind several days of preparing for, and hosting, a Moving Sale last weekend... YIKES!! More about that little 'Comedy of Errors' to follow soon.

MrMartha does want to share with you -- two of the bathrooms in the new house... "new" -- as the photos will confirm -- being a relative term.

MrMartha is going to have a lot of fun transforming these spaces -- with just the most basic paint and ingenuity... as they say: a lot of paint and a little ingenuity will take you far (or is it the other way around?).

What the baths lack in the most current level of modern convenience -- like deep multiple sinks, and a large separate shower stall with multiple showerheads (Shower in the current house: MrMartha will miss you most of all !!) -- they more than make up for in functional charm.

How will this end up? Keep checking back.....MrMartha isn's quite sure, and Laura Petrie, if she knows, is keeping quiet for the time being....she just doesn't want anyone getting their big toe stuck in the bath faucet.

Read More for a pic of the second bath, and more of MrMartha's thoughts....

MrMartha will be following his own advice from the "Million Dollar Bathroom" post a few weeks ago....and will of course be sharing the completed results here......this is just a little BEFORE preview.....who says things were dull in the 50's?

Laura Petrie would feel right at home in either of these Mid Century Spas -- the epitomy in their era, of both ease (the abundance of tile), and elegance (the fashion forward -- for the time -- colors). But, the question is, how to keep the integrity of the period, and still drag them carefully forward towards the present day --

MrMartha has a rotating color wheel of paint chips clicking through his brain right now, for both baths.....deepest burgundy? the exact same blue of the fixtures? (probably not -- reinforcing the pink and baby blue theme would make that bath seem like a very sterile nursery!), taupey gray? the same Tiffany-ish blue as the bath in the current house? (MrMartha does love that color, and the pink/oxblood tile combination is exactly the same as the current house) .....or, as they would say in Monty Python --"and now, for something completely different".
If readers have ideas or suggestions, send them by email!

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Thoroughly (Mid Century) Modern MrMartha

MrMartha apologizes in advance that his postings will be a bit erratic over the next couple weeks --
MrMartha is relocating to a FABULOUS Mid Century Modern 1950s home, and that will limit ability to keep up the daily posting that MrMartha tries to maintain.

MrMartha has loved his current home, but is running out of new projects -- both with interiors and in the garden. So, difficult as it will be to say goodbye, the exciting new challenges of:
Decorating the fresh spaces,
Rehabilitating wonderful period details in the home,
Planning and realizing a revitalized garden (from a somewhat currently neglected and tired yard),
will soon be filling MrMartha's project book to capacity.

It will be wonderful to share all of that with the readers of MrMartha's blog... along with the Great Food, Style, and other content and tips you have come to expect from MrMartha...
please bear with MrMartha during this short transition period, and the future will be amazing.

MrMartha will be back to full speed quickly, with tons of new posts -
packed with ideas and suggestions.
Plus, of course, awesome recipes and entertaining ideas -- brought to you from MrMartha's TWO new KITCHENS -- yes, the new house has two kitchens, so MrMartha will have one for everyday cooking, and a second dedicated to entertaining and producing blog posts......how exciting is that? MrMartha is THRILLED!

PLEASE KEEP CHECKING BACK, you never know just what you will find on MrMartha.com --but it will always be interesting, useful, fun, and with MrMartha's definite point of view!

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