Table of contents for Design Issue 2019 in Atomic Ranch

1. As the name says, this sleek beauty sits long and low. The perforated sliding steel doors allow media use without blemishing the look. Dang Long and Low, $1,999. (844) 425-8368 or bludot.com. 2. Clean lines meet rich cherry wood in this classic modernist piece that would work in many areas of the home. Catalina 1 door on either side of 3 drawers buffet in cherry. To find a retailer, (802) 222-9282 or copelandfurniture.com. 3. This low-rise credenza keeps your media hidden while adding a touch of ’60s fun to the room. Color pop media cabinet, $1,347. (877) 844-4988 or kardiel.com. 4. Brass and fabric accents add dimension and pop against warm walnut in this modern storage solution. Collen media console, $1749. (855) 855-9784 or joybird.com.…

The “Alohaus” or “Swiss Miss” homes of Palm Springs, California—built by the Alexander Construction Company and designed by Charles Du Bois—are nearly as famous as the town itself. With their iconic rooflines reminiscent of a Tiki apex or Swiss chalet, they stand in stark contrast to the rugged mountainsides visible through their numerous clerestory windows. In a town known for its Hollywood connections and with homes as famous as the stars and star-chitects—especially in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood—the dramatic A-frame rooflines of these homes still stand out. Built in 1958, this particular Du Bois masterpiece has a storied past and a bright future, exactly the kind of lore necessary to turn a house into a celebrity. A HOUSE WORTH SAVING In 2018 Todd and Lezlie Wallin spotted a Du…

FURNITURE DESIGNER ROBIN DAY GREW UP SURROUNDED BY Britain’s thriving furniture industry of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. He studied at High Wycombe School of Art and worked as a draftsman in a local furniture factory before winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London. Despite his education, he is considered to be mostly self-taught, as the RCA offered few courses in furniture design at the time. World War II broke out just a year after he finished his formal education, drastically limiting his work options but also dramatically influencing his design ethos. Robin is quoted as saying, “Why should there always be new things? I mean, people’s bodies don’t change or the requirements for a chair supporting a human frame. I think there should be better things. You…

FEW ARTISTS CAN SAY their work has caused a riot—but this can be accurately claimed by Eileen Gray. Born in Ireland but raised in London, Eileen was among the first women to be admitted to the Slade School of Fine Art. She studied painting in 1898 before taking on an apprenticeship in a London lacquer workshop. Eileen continued studying lacquer work and cabinet making, establishing herself as a leader in this highly specialized medium. She moved to Paris and took to designing screens and decorative panels, a hallmark of art deco design, but it was her all-white lacquered boudoir that started a riot at the 14th Salon des Artistes Décorateurs in 1923. MODERNIST PIONEER Having opened her own gallery in 1922, the facade of which she designed herself, Eileen found…

A new wave of creativity has come to Detroit, Michigan, and Kyle Huntoon is leading the way as the owner and lead designer of Hunt & Noyer Furniture. “Working in Detroit is especially important to me,” Kyle says. “It has a rich history of Midcentury Modern design, largely emanating from people who began their careers at Cranbrook Academy of Art … Detroit breeds design and I’m excited to be a part of the legacy.” ORGANIC ORIGINS Previously, Kyle was a civil engineer in Washington but, as a fourth-generation woodworker, he found himself drawn to furniture making. “Growing up, I visited my grandparents’ home and was always in awe at the incredible furniture there that had been created by Huntoon men before me,” he says. “After I began collecting furniture in…

In 1941, the completion of Thomas Hull’s El Rancho Vegas along Highway 91 delivered the first blazing drop of casino glamour to Nevada soil. Followed by the Last Frontier, the lucrative hotel-casinos sparked mogul Billy Wilkerson to build the ultra-modern Flamingo Hotel and Casino. And thus the Las Vegas strip began its journey to stardom. In his book, Greetings from Las Vegas, Peter Moruzzi discusses the architectural transformation of Las Vegas from a bare highway to a Midcentury Modern paradise. MORE & MORE MOTELS In the aftermath of World War II, many Americans sought refuge in the glitzy distractions of Vegas entertainment. Motel chains sprouted everywhere, and as demand grew, so did competition. These modernized buildings sported giant signage with mascots and colorful slogans to lure in many a weary…

1. Astrid 2 drawer in cherry. To find a retailer, (802) 222-9282 or copelandfurniture.com. 2. ButterFly box in white and aqua, $195. (561) 272-0770 or tedstuff.net. 3. Russell Wright® American Modern pitcher, $100. (888) 213-0800 or bauerpottery.com. 4. Kaleido tray set. For pricing, (833) 849-3025 or us.hay.com. 5. Color block pillow in mustard, navy and natural, starting at $75.Visit jillianrenedecor.com. 6. Boomerang-shaped reversible laminate necklace with silver oval, $89. (914) 200-3356 or smashfiredesigns.com. 7. Brisa 2000 ceiling fan. For pricing, (847) 680-9034 or matthewsfanco.com. 8. Gee Gee wallpaper in Sage, $81 per roll. (707) 746-1900 or bradbury.com. 9. Safari TV cardboard iPad® stand, $34.95. (877) 895-9453 or cbsafari.com. 10. “Under the Sea” glasses with gold-leaf accents, set of 4, $99. Visit shagstore. bigcartel.com. 11. 1950s turquoise magazine rack, $420. Visit…

TOUR THIS SACRAMENTO EICHLER Learn how to balance authenticity with freshness when renovating a local gem. REAL ESTATE HIGHLIGHTS Get the scoop on the latest and greatest Midcentury Modern homes to hit the market. Whether you’re hunting for your next fixer-upper or just curious about the stories behind some of the fascinating listings, you’ll want to browse our finds. OUR FAVORITE RETRO BATHROOMS From period pristine to modern redux, check out our gallery of fantastic mid mod bathroom spaces. WAKE UP YOUR WALLS Midcentury Modern artwork that anyone can collect? Yes please! Check out our roundup of affordable mid mod-style art. STORE MORE Get expert tips and editor’s picks for storage and organization finds and ideas that will keep your MCM home clean and clutter free.…

1. This open-ended sofa doubles a chaise, and its free-form shape is complemented by a matching ottoman. Kidney bean sofa & ottoman, $2,800. (877) 844-4988 or kardiel.com. 2. Since its debut in 1956, this striking design has been an eye-catcher—and surprisingly comfortable too! Nelson Marshmallow sofa. For pricing, (888) 443-4357 or hermanmiller.com. 3. Gentle curves on rich wood arm rests create an elegant look, while the back tufts bring a bit of fun to the design. The Tyler Loveseat, from $1,260. (714) 317-9342 or casaramodern.com. 4. Simple. Sleek. 1960s teak and wool sofa perfection. 3-seater Danish teak sofa, $3695. (604) 876-5215 or bydesignmodern.com. 5. Classic midcentury looks combine with top-grain leather in this sophisticated sectional with many seating options. Eliot leather sectional with bumper, $5349. (855) 855-9784 or joybird.com.…

When this 1963 John Harvey Carter house went on the market, Karen and Najib Benouar weren’t looking for a new home. The couple was just about to begin renovations on the 1910 Craftsman they shared with their two daughters, but something about the modern home sparked their interest, so they decided to take a tour. Architect John Harvey Carter was noted for his environmentalism, and this home reflects his appreciation for nature. SECOND LOOK Karen is an architect specializing in historic preservation and is active with the preservation group Sac Mod, while Najib works for modern furnishings and lighting retailer YDesign Group, so this modern home should have been an easy sell. Something about the home, though, made them feel it wasn’t a kid-friendly space, so they opted not to…

“I felt that it was important to recognize that these iconic properties need to continue to live, to not simply be relics of the past.”—Principal architect Lorcan O’Herlihy The genius of midcentury photographer Julius Shulman is that he didn’t capture images. The LOHA team, led by the firm’s founder and principal Lorcan O’Herlihy, tread carefully but confidently. He captured moments in time. You’ve almost certainly seen his masterpieces, such as Case Study House No. 22, where two women seemingly float above Los Angeles in a glass box house, or Kaufmann House, Palm Springs, 1947, where a Richard Neutra-designed home is surrounded by a dusk that’s descending in a way so tangible, it’s like fabric. Over his nearly century-long life, Shulman, who was born in New York in 1910, became as…

If your room is a canvas, furniture is often the first splash of paint working toward a finished masterpiece. But scrolling through pages of loveseats and coffee tables can lead to artist’s block if you can’t find that perfect piece to jumpstart your layout. Laurie Badger—a customer experience efficiencies manager at Joybird, a custom furniture company—says custom ordering ensures you receive exactly what you want, or at least much closer to your vision, compared to ordering from a catalog or furniture store. “With custom ordering you can pick not only your fabrics but also your style and marry those two in a way that really defines your home,” she says. Rich velvety texture in a dusty pink accentuates the tufted back on this sofa to create a glamorous look with…

Art, stand-alone bars and reception desks get a mod interpretation at Atomic Pad, an online company owned by Vincent Dogat and located in Granada Hills, California. “For me, Midcentury Modern is about optimism in the future,” Vincent says. “The sentiment was that ‘tomorrow is going to be awesome,’ and it’s reflected in the design.” ACROSS THE SEA Vincent was born in France in the Midcentury Modern era. “The American dream was going strong in France when I was growing up,” he says. After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Vincent began to work in the Alpine ski industry, creating new concepts with a team of product designers. “That’s where I realized I wanted to create technically great products—but with my own designs,” he says. He met his wife, and…

Nordic Beginnings Marimekko, the Finnish lifestyle brand known for its exciting, colorful patterns, got its start inside a Finnish printing company in 1949. Its founder, Armi Ratia, began the company with the hope of creating vibrant and modern clothing for women who wanted their fashion to stand out. Ratia wanted Marimekko’s designs to offer liberating choices to a population whose choices were so often sorely limited. Two years after the brand’s beginning, a fashion show was held to display the versatility of the new patterns to the public. Shortly after the successful show, Marimekko opened its first store in Helsinki. “I really don’t sell clothes. I sell a way of living. They are designs, not fashions ... I sell an idea rather than dresses.” —Armi Ratia, founder of Marimekko MARIMEKKO…

1. Featuring a solid teak wood top, this 1960s Scandinavian piece has a sculptural quality, thanks to the unique design. Vintage Danish Mid-century Modern teak coffee table by Illum Wikkelsø, $1,100. (760) 509-5974 or aymerickmodern.com. 2. Produced today as the original was in 1949, this 3-legged unique design stuns with a circular brass inlay on the leaf. Finn Juhl Butterfly Table, $6,343. (800) 688-0974 or danishdesignstore.com. 3. With a pearl taupe laminate top and solid wood legs, this compact 1960s piece would also make a great plant stand. Vintage tripod small coffee table, $182.88. Visit etsy.com/ shop/SimplyModernGoods. 4. This beautifully organic piece is made from solid American walnut and each table is one-of-a-kind. Fuji A coffee table, $895. Visit organicmodernism.com. 5. The low table nests under the high table for…

Not everyone has an eye for quality structure and design like Glen Rosenbaum, the current owner and “curator” of this stunning Midcentury Modern home in Houston, Texas. “I was 16 when our family moved into the house in 1964, and I was attracted to the design from the outset,” he says. It was this appreciation for the original design by architect Arthur Steinberg, created in collaboration with his parents, that made Glen want to bring the house into modern times and make it his own. So Glen enlisted the help of architects David Bucek and Daniel Hall, both principals at the Texas architecture firm Stern and Bucek, to take on the project. OPENING IT UP To begin, the architects added a single-room second floor to serve as Glen’s custom-built, model…

Perched atop Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, a perfectly preserved relic from the midcentury era overlooks the cityscape and neighboring Mamala Bay. Called the Liljestrand House, the dwelling has graced a 1958 cover of House Beautiful and served as scenery for episodes of Hawaii Five-O. Bradley Cooper did a photoshoot here for GQ, and it has created ambience for Tommy Bahama and Saks Fifth Avenue shoots as well. When visitors tour the home today, many of them may not realize at first that at its heart, the Liljestrand House is a family home. FINDING THE LAND Betty and Howard Liljestrand came to Hawaii in 1937 and settled into their careers. Betty served as a hospital secretary, and Howard worked as a doctor. They had always wanted to build a custom…

RAISED IN AN ARTISTIC HOUSEHOLD AND WITH A FONDNESS FOR DRAWING FURNITURE, it was no surprise when Nanna took up courses at Denmark’s School of Arts and Crafts at the Museum of Decorative Art alongside her ceramicist sister, Inga Thing. It was there that she met Jørgen Ditzel, who had trained as an upholsterer. They were collaborating on pieces by 1944 and married not long after. Just a year later, the two were beginning to collect awards for their practical glassware, textiles and multipurpose furniture. ARTISAN PARTNERSHIP In 1946 the cabinetmaker and upholsterer duo opened a studio in Copenhagen, where the two continued their work designing furniture, ceramics, jewelry and textiles. One of their most famous and widely celebrated designs is the 1958 Ring Chair. With its unique bolster back…

Midcentury Modern is decades old as a style, yet it’s an ageless force in the design world. It continues to capture and inspire the imaginations of people around the globe, whether they inherited their appreciation from their grandparents or discovered and fell in love with the style on their own. Whatever their modernist love story is, many are so inspired that they’ve created entire livelihoods around it, allowing them to develop a craftsman’s level understanding of the aesthetic. The makers you’ll meet here are at the top of their industries because nothing makes them happier than following in the steps of designers who came before them and creating Midcentury Modern offerings for a new generation.…

Appreciation for mid mod design is a family trait at Smilow Design, NYC. The company has been owned and run by the Schoenfelder family since 1949, and each generation has brought the business to the forefront of Midcentury Modern design industry. Maia, Steven and Aaron Schoenfelder look to the past as they guide their company into the future. FAMILY HISTORY It all started when Mel Smilow—Maia and Aaron’s grandfather and Steven’s father-in-law—began to design and retail modern furnishings through his six stores. His daughter, Judy Smilow, grew up in an artistic community that embraced the vision of Frank Lloyd Wright, on the cutting edge of modernity at the time. Surrounded by her father’s work, she too fell in love with natural and modern design. “Judy, my mother and Steve’s wife,…

Florence Knoll, née Schust, shot to the top of the 1940s design industry, breaking through glass ceilings and other workplace restrictions of the time with relentless drive. She managed a company, lifted aesthetic standards and infused her beautiful designs with architectural precision. GETTING STARTED Florence, called “Shu” (a childhood nickname), by colleagues and others closest to her, was born in 1917 and orphaned in 1929. She went to art and architecture schools, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1941. Even though she was highly qualified to design buildings, Florence’s first employers sent her to the interior design department, assuming women were beautifiers, not thinkers or designers. Florence worked hard at these early jobs, and her work spoke for itself. Before long, Hans Knoll asked her to join the Hans G. Knoll…

WITH EXAGGERATED CURVES AND SWEEPING LINES, the TWA Flight Center greeted passengers with a glimpse of what was to come in their approaching journey through the sky. This elegant terminal at JFK Airport was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1962, but several decades later the space was sadly underutilized and in dire need of a refresh. Recently the iconic space has been beautifully renovated and now serves as the center of a first-class hotel!…