Atomic Ranch Winter 2022

AFTER A YEAR OF RENOVATING AND REMODELING OUR MID CENTURY MODERN HOMES, winter provides us with time to slow down and truly enjoy our spaces. Trusted contractors are replaced by loving family; floor plans make way for recipe books; paint brushes are put down; and glasses are held up. The projects don’t stop, and the fun is just beginning. Decorating and furnishing come to the forefront during the holiday season as we start to nestle in and open our doors to loved ones. From mornings in the kitchen to nights around the fireplace, the mid-mod home should be ready for any and all occasions. The homes in this issue remind us that there's more than one way to celebrate a mid-mod home. From an Eichler owner whose dedication to natural…

Copenhagen’s SAS Royal Hotel: The Original Home of the Swan Chair The SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen’s first skyscraper, was thoroughly designed by the renowned Arne Jacobsen, and some of its interiors are still preserved. Mid-Century Christmas Wrapping Paper Get ready for the season with gift wrap. Generic paper just won’t do, so we’ve rounded up eight mid-century Christmas wrapping paper picks to ensure your gifts have a stylish presentation. Scandinavian Modern Inspiration Project House Austin designer Christine Turknett’s relationship with Scandinavian Modern started with Ikea and became the inspiration for her design philosophy. Falling in Love with Fallingwater A student of two architectural eras, Frank Lloyd Wright crafted unique structures before and during the mid-century—none more famous than Fallingwater, the waterfall house. Learn more about this iconic home. Follow us…

curb appeal WHEN A MID CENTURY MODERN house speaks, you listen. Boulder, Colorado, couple Don and Kristina Bergal spent two years transforming their 1967 home into a steel, glass and cement modern minimalist marvel. Don Bergal credits his wife’s design, creativity and determination. “The house just spoke to her,” Bergal said. Boulder architect Kyle Lorenzen, who designed the house for himself, had tucked the home into a hillside high above the street. Over time, the original exterior, marked by a massive wooden staircase and heavy upstairs decking, had grown dilapidated and outdated. “Think of a big, clunky motel where all the rooms are off the hallway, and that’s what it looked like,” Bergal said. Nevertheless, the couple, intrigued by the big deck and windows, had a vision to open up…

modern makers Sheshawn Foltzer of She & Co (sheandco.com) loves bringing mid-mod furniture back to life and has been doing so for quite a while. She got her start when she was in the fifth grade, cutting her teeth on MCM when she took on a project with her stepfather. “We had an old, outdated dresser, and we went through the whole process of stripping it and refinishing it,” she says. “By the end, we had this piece of furniture that looked just great, and I felt this enormous sense of pride.” Today, Sheshawn works with all kinds of pieces in all states of disrepair. Every item offers its own set of challenges, but that’s what Sheshawn loves about her work: Every day brings something new. “Some of these projects…

atomic kitchens IT OFTEN TAKES LOOKING BELOW THE SURFACE TO see the true potential of a home. When husband-and-wife design team Eric Kottke and Julie Lunn of Constructive Builders first saw this Minnesota 1958 build, they knew that with a bit of work, they could restore the most charming features of the original mid-century design while bringing in some modern updates. “We immediately fell in love with the windows with lower awnings, the wood ceilings, the birch trees in the front yard and the view of the woods/pond in the backyard,” Julie says. While the home’s architect is unknown, Eric says they drew inspiration from the original design. “I really appreciate the cleaner lines and the concept of bringing nature indoors with Mid Century Modern design,” he explains. “I also…

FOR MANY, Mid Century Modern style has an inviting aura. Such is the case for Andrea and Mark Brimmer, a couple that longed for a custom dream build that reminded them of their childhood homes. “They both grew up in places with a heavy Mid Century Modern influence,” says Elin Walters, owner and principal designer of Exactly Designs. “The aesthetic takes them back to their childhood and makes them feel warm and happy.” For the new construction, the couple chose an idyllic spot that boasts 200 feet of frontage and 2 acres on Lake Ponemah in Fenton, Michigan. Renowned architect Karl Jasinski had recently retired, but when asked to design the home, he agreed, making it the culminating project of a storied career. Elin was also brought on immediately. “I…