Our Picks of Mid Century Modern Contemporary Furniture

It’s fair to say that the Mid Century trend is here to stay. We all love the drama of ‘Madmen’ and that romantic hark back to the glamour of the 50s and 60s. With the fashionable silhouettes and colours in the high street and that unmistakable interior feel, we’re seeing it’s influence all over the pages of those in vogue. Whether the reality of the time was really that way, or it’s our modern interpretation that actually adds the charm, I find myself wondering; why do we covet the looks that our grandparents and parents would discard and how can we achieve something that is modern whilst picking up on the seemingly timeless appeal of the period?

Perhaps the popularity of the trend is, as with so many design classics, in it’s simplicity. The subtle tapered angle of a table leg or a corner that’s been ever so slightly smoothed off can be enough for us to feel that the inspiration of the piece was taken from the Mid Century. It’s often just that, a feeling, rather than something so obvious. Good design should after all be felt, not told.

We don’t have to make our homes look like the set of Madmen to take part in this trend. Unlike the glossy pages of magazines that change issue to issue, we curate our homes over time. Although they do evolve with our tastes, we tend to live with our furniture and make it part of our home and the memories made there. And most of us don’t want to change our look just because trends dictate. I sometimes like to look back at a piece that I might overlook if I was seeing it for the first time now but that I know I once loved.

How to realistically achieve a look like this could be seen as challenging. As vintage has become so prevalent there is the question of is it even modern to be ‘Retro’ anymore? In the real world, scouring car boot sales and finding that iconic design classic in a skip is for most, unachievable. I love the idea of filling my home with these eclectic finds but really I want something that’s new, that’s mine and that more importantly won’t smell like old jumpers and have woodworm. I want fresh design and contemporary newness for the key pieces, and to build on that with accessories. If you invest in the key elements, clever accessorising is the way to keep your style evolving with the trends.

True style is, and always has been about putting together a selection of things that work for you. It’s your edit of all the items on offer and all the influences that are available to you. What we love about the Mid Century trend is that you can buy into it as little or as much as you like. We have created a range of products that take small cues from the era but are unmistakably modern. By blending quiet details and versatile finishes you can get the look, in keeping with your style.

Here are our favourite picks, showing how you can play with colour and texture to get a feel for the Mid-Century:

This look is about colour and texture; Teal, White and Walnut straight away conjure up the mood of the Mid Century Era. The walnut doors and drawers of the Assi Walnut and White Gloss Sideboard are just a subtle nod to the trend. To keep it modern the carcass of the sideboard is white gloss, which coordinates perfectly with the Assi White Gloss Extending Dining Table. Both the table and the sideboard have the same style of leg. This consistent detail allows these pieces to sit together without looking like a ‘set’. The Eames Style Dining Chair in any combination of Teal, Aqua, Cool Grey, Black and White will complete the look. Teal is an unmistakeably Mid Century hue but is also a warm sophisticated jewel colour in it’s own right. Follow the look through to the living space with the Assi Walnut Coffee Table. It’s a nice touch to add something in the living space to tie in with the dining space.

The previous mood is warm and rich but the Mid Century style can also be fresh and clean. This look is perhaps more subtle and takes inspiration from shapes and silhouettes of the time, keeping colour minimal in a simple statement. With the Ellie White Oval Extending Dining Table, it’s all about the shape. A soft edged oval with a tapered chrome legs, it’s designed to be a flexible versatile piece. For chairs I personally love the Eames Style Dining Chair in Mustard Yellow. The slightly retro shade gives a cheery pop of colour to a quiet muted scheme. If all yellow is too strong, it can be softened with White or Cool Grey. The colour palette of the Eames Style chairs gives you a great opportunity to pick up on an cent colour. I chose the yellow wallpaper here but you can pick out a colour of a feature wall or accent paper and work with that. If you prefer the tactile quality of an upholstered seat the Lena Quilted Dining Chair would work with this look. The tapered chrome leg and back that’s not too high keep the room feeling informal and welcoming. The centrepiece of this look is the Assi White and Grey Gloss Sideboard. The colour and details bring the look together and provides a perfect blank canvas for layering up and displaying accessories. Cool Grey and White Gloss with slightly angled legs and perfect proportions, it adds another dimension to the room.