Table of contents for Fall 2021 in Atomic Ranch

Imagine piling into the family station wagon late on a Saturday morning for an excursion spent exploring new model homes. No, you aren’t looking to buy. Instead, like millions of Americans during the booming, optimistic years after World War II, you are eager to cross the threshold into the home of tomorrow. Dr. Robert Frost and Mrs. Amelia Frost may have started off their day in much the same manner when they stepped inside what would later be called The Frost House. Located in Michigan City, Indiana, the abode was an oddity even then in 1964, with its flat roof and prefabricated aluminum and baked-enamel finishes, described by the current owners as an industry first. The Frosts must have been quite taken with the abode, Karen Valentine, one of the…

1. PIECES OF HISTORY. One of the best ways to implement Mid Century Modern design in your home and to understand it is by collecting period pieces that demonstrate the vision and craftsmanship of the time. Whether you get sizable furniture pieces or tabletop-size items like Ben and Ilene’s peppermill collection by Jens Quistgaard, you’ll glean insights into design and can use them as styling points for your interiors. 2. BOOK SALE. Ben has amassed a large collection of period books on architecture and design, and several of the choices in the renovation were inspired by houses designed in the 1950s and 1960s. Besides specialty booksellers and design shows, many of his books have come from estate sales and thrift shops, as well as a favorite source: library book sales.…

Cool Stuff: Throw Blankets Be ready for cooler temperatures with a few well-placed throws that you’ll love to look at as well as use. Curb Appeal: Front Yard Foliage Nothing says fall like leaves’ transformation from one color to another. We’ve gathered up some ideas for trees that will complement your home’s mid mod style and bring a touch of fall to your yard. Get the Look: A Blast from the Past Looking for Mid Century Modern inspiration? Check the mid century sources! Here’s a 1960s flat, and we track down similar objects available today to recreate the look—plus or minus that rooster. Follow us online on Facebook , Pinterest and Instagram daily! Project House Inspiration: Scandinavian Modern Influence What exactly is Scandinavian Modern anyway, and what does it have…

After purchasing the home in 2016, Karen and Bob immediately began getting The Frost House listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a process that took four years to complete. Read along to discover how Karen was able to turn her Mid Century Modern home into a landmark designation and how you might be able to do the same. 1. Start by reaching out to your city’s historical society. They should be able to link you to contacts on the state level. Karen met with a member of the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Committee. This member was able to connect Karen with contacts at Indiana Landmarks. 2. Committees and boards that approve a home’s application only meet so often during a year. Thus, it is important to work with a…

The influences and influencers of Mid Century Modern architecture are as vast and varied as the structures created during that cutting-edge period in building design. Every country, region and city showcases its identity though its architectural landscape, and the Pacific Northwest is a prime example. A new book, Paul Hayden Kirk and the Rise of Northwest Modern, is a comprehensive profile of the region’s architectural history with a focus on the impact of mid century architect Paul Kirk. “Kirk was the most prominent Seattle architect of his time,” says author Dale Kutzera. “Known for his many homes and medical clinics, Kirk combined the simplicity of modernism with the sensibility of Japan. My book is the first on Kirk and tells the story of regional modernism through his vast body of…

In 1947, Charles and Ray Eames set up shop in Venice Beach, California. Their studio, Eames Office, would become a beacon of thoughtful, useful and beautiful design for over 40 years. This photograph was taken on the sidewalk outside that studio that year: the two lovebirds goofing around, pinned down by chair frames, while on a break from a photoshoot. It was a photoshoot for an ad of a certain chair made of plywood, which when mass produced in 1946, laid the foundations for the future of modern design. Although most famous for their furniture, Eames Office also produced films, photographic arts, museum exhibitions, books and even toys until 1988. Since then, the building on 901 Abbot Kinney Boulevard has been occupied and reimagined by several design firms and production…

Balance is crucial to an effective room design. And to ensure the success of Project House Austin, designer Christine Turknett, principal at Breathe Design Studio, is dreaming up the details while the home is still in the process of being built by builder Michael Wray, owner and founder of MidCentury Custom Homes, LLC. Christine’s take on Mid Century Modern style will include just the right balance of color, pattern and shape. “Rooms are like a capsule wardrobe; you want everything to work together,” she says. PLAYING WITH PATTERN AND COLOR The Project House is made up of two spaces: the main house and the casita. “We gave them different identities but overlapped them with an aesthetic tie,” says Christine. The casita will have a retro feel, complete with period colors…

THE DEN, OR LODGE AS THE COUPLE CALL IT, HAD A TIME-CAPSULE GIFT—THE TAMBOUR PANELING FOUND IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE HOME SHOW IT WAS A LOVELY, WAXED CEDAR. UNFORTUNATELY, AT SOME POINT IT WAS PAINTED. “ILENE AND I REALIZED THE CHANCES OF REMOVING ALL TRACES OF THE PAINT WERE VERY SLIM, SO WE DECIDED TO CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE PAINT COLOR AND MAKE IT A GLOBAL DESIGN ELEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE HOME,” BEN SAYS. For a long time, Ben Lewis and Ilene Markell dreamed of owning a Mid Century Modern home. Ben, a retired U.S. Navy musician and trumpet player, fell in love with Mid Century Modern style in 1986, when he picked up a copy of Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s by Cara Greenberg. Flipping…

Norfleet Estates was part of the eastern expansion of Memphis in the 1950s. While a small lake adjacent to Mikkelsen’s home was probably a neighborhood selling feature initially, it was later filled in as the development advanced over the decades. The first parcel of land sold in the late 1950s; however, the last lot in the area was only finally built on as recently as 2020. The neighborhood has an eclectic mix of classic Southern homes and stately properties, cottage-style dwellings and MCM homes, like Mikkelsen’s. “Every house is unique, and it makes it a beautiful neighborhood to walk through. There's something for everybody here.”…

When architect Thomas Wall, of Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design, renovated his 1969 St. Louis home, he spent plenty of time reworking and redesigning the bathrooms. He focused especially on making the master bathroom feel like one you’d find at a luxurious resort: “One thing my wife and I decided we were going to do was try to make our bathroom as elegant and exciting as possible,” says Thomas. To capture that 5-star hotel feeling, Thomas incorporated floating double vanities, a shower room, a freestanding tub, clerestory windows and a wall covered in a calming and elegant mosaic. Want to get a similarly stunning look in your own bathroom? Check out some of these tips from Thomas. “Color does not need to be overwhelming to make a statement… you can…