Table of contents for Design Issue 2023 in Atomic Ranch

WHEN HOMEOWNERS ANDREA AND MARK BRIMMER DECIDED they wanted to raise their family in a Mid Century Modern home, they knew that they would have to build it themselves. “We have both always loved mid-century design,” Andrea says. “For us, it brings back the joy and happiness of our childhood.” They purchased a two-acre lot surrounded by woods next to Lake Ponemah in Fenton, Michigan, to make their dream a reality. They sent an email to architect Karl Jasinski—a fellow enthusiast of MCM architecture and design—in the hopes that he would respond. “Literally one hour later, he replied to our email and attached sketches of both the exterior and interior of the home,” Andrea says. “He was clearly as excited as we were!” Andrea and Mark hired Elin Walters of…

Taking a Mid Century gem and making it your own involves a delicate balance of preserving those elements that give it character and introducing functional and style updates that reflect your unique needs. Add in a good dose of fun color and patterns, and you have this MCM home located in Issaquah, Washington. When the homeowners purchased the property, they knew they needed to make some changes to accommodate their growing family as well as reflect their personal style. They enlisted the help of the Modernous interior-design firm (modernous.com) to help them incorporate these updates without sacrificing the soul of the original design. The house was designed for the Robertiello family in 1960 by the Kirkland, Washington, architectural firm, Cummings and Martenson. Known in and around Kirkland for their projects,…

Mid Century MOBLER WHEN JULIAN GOLDKLANG STARTED sourcing Mid Century Modern furniture pieces from Europe more than 10 years ago, he was just learning the ropes. “I went over to Europe and was fortunate to meet some vintage dealers who helped me establish a network,” he says. In the years since, he and his wife and business partner, Desiree Myers, have developed a thriving business. “We’ve both always had a passion for all things vintage,” Julian says. For him, it started with restoring cars from the 1950s; for Desiree, it was vintage clothing. “The business really took off when we met because our shared love of the era helped it thrive,” he says. Today, their vintage expertise has grown and their business specializes in Danish Modern style. “There’s just a…

We demand a lot of our Mid Century Modern kitchens. They should be sleek yet serviceable, ample yet organized and, of course, reflect your personal style. So how do you balance it all? Interior designer Christine Turknett says it’s all about unifying your elements and, like any other room, choosing your focal point. “When designing an MCM kitchen, I focus on mixing clean lines with warm tones and color palette,” she says. “The combination between the colors and the motifs in the space tie it together and gives the kitchen a distinct identity that reflects your style.” Building on a motif is a great way to concept a unified design—even for design novices. “For example, the backsplash may contain colors and shapes that I try to mimic in the tone…

LAST LOOK WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF to build a space that embodies a style and a mood, you take it. Award-winning designer Charlene Threatful of Lush Interiors (lushinteriors.com) recently undertook a project that breathed new life into a once scant living room in Calgary, Canada. The clients expressed a desire for a space that would serve as an entertainment hub, complete with a fireplace and bar, all while being functional for a family. Drawing on her love of MCM design, Charlene was well-equipped to infuse the space with a classic yet fresh look. “It is such a timeless design, and we love working with all the different [MCM] design elements, from lighting to tile and millwork. It’s so creative,” Charlene. The shape of the space served as a muse.…

ATOMIC KITCHENS Have you ever wondered what choices an architect would make in their own home renovation project? Architect Rick Chesmore and his wife, Kristen, live in a 1958 Snow White model home developed by Bell and Valdez in Lake Hills, the first planned-unit development of MCM homes in Bellevue, Washington. But it needed some major modifications to make it fit their lifestyle. “We have performed four different remodels over the past 30 years, doubling the size and removing walls to achieve more open spaces for entertaining and modernization with newer finishes and materials,” Rick says. Let in the Light Rick needed a solution to improve the home’s lack of light. Even though there are a few skylights bringing in natural light, more light sources were required. “We didn’t have…

Any real estate expert will tell you that location matters. So, when a property becomes available in the exact location you’ve been watching, you’d likely make an offer to secure it. This is exactly how the story of Globe House begins. Seattle’s Lake Washington is a dreamy destination, with properties rarely making their way to market. Therefore, in 2020 when this home became available, it was apparent to the current owners they’d stumbled upon a truly special find. The lot itself was enticing as it has no street presence at all—the only evidence is the front of the garage. They hadn’t been specifically seeking a Mid Century Modern home, but they were looking for a home on the lake, and this sprawling 1957 home was rife with opportunity. Enter Paul…

WHEN ARCHITECT CELESTE ROBBINS OPENED UP her home for a neighborhood tour, she was struck by a theme in the compliments she overheard. “They were transfixed by the wall of windows, stretching end to end across the rear façade, that showcased the sloping ravine in all its seasonal glory and brought the intoxicating beauty of a Midwest spring landscape into focus,” she recounts. “To my delight, there was a kind of a buzz, a sense of enchantment and surprise. The visitors, making their way through the house’s open plan, expressed the same reactions again and again: ‘This home is so warm!’ and ‘I didn’t think that I was modern, but I could live here!’ That’s when I understood that I had captured something special, and that this vision of warm…

POSITIVE REWARD IS A POWERFUL THING. You hunt for that gem of a Mid Century Modern home and finally get one. Cue the enthusiast’s high. Comb the Internet and your local mid-mod shops for the perfect pieces to fill that home. Your pride and sense of accomplishment swells. Karen Nepacena took that momentum to another level when she bought her fixer-upper Eichler in Northern California and started the blog Destination Eichler to document her and her husband John’s hard work transforming and restoring that home to its mid-century splendor. It wasn’t long before Nepacena was being recognized for her impressive work on the home. Other MCM homeowners began to ask her for advice and suggestions for their homes. Soon, she left her day job and launched full steam ahead into…

THE FERVOR FOR FUTURISM during the post-war design boom is perhaps most distilled in Googie-style architecture. To appreciate its impact on the average citizen, look to Los Angeles and the buildings designed by Armet Davis Newlove Architects. Michael Murphy along with prolific architectural historian Alan Hess chronicle the journey from drafting table to drive-up in their book Googie Modern: Architectural Drawings of Armet Davis Newlove. “For the price of a hamburger or a tuna melt, ordinary Angelenos could be a part of the future at any Googie coffee shop,” Hess writes. Indeed, the firm’s specialty in coffee shops, diners and eateries such as Denny’s, Big Boy’s and Norm’s popularized the Space Age archetype. “Googie expanded the concept of Modernism in three significant ways: it is fundamentally democratic as part of…

Pairing Mid Mod styles with modern needs takes finesse. But Michelle Boudreau, interior designer and environment curator, rose to the challenge set by the owners of this beautiful Palm Springs abode. They wanted Michelle to merge MCM design with modern approaches to living. But perhaps more than anything, they wanted her to redesign the property with fresh styles and color palettes in mind. Hence, blue hues and a whimsical motif of circles flow through the house, splashing on walls and through hallways, and finding their way into every nook and cranny. MODERN MEETS CONTEMPORARY Built in 1958, the house sits in the historic neighborhood of Vista Las Palmas in Palm Springs. Renowned architect William Krisel designed the house and made sure to top it off with the signature Butterfly roofline.…

Many people would jump at the chance to stay at a luxury mid-mod rental or Airbnb. Not only would it be a unique experience, but the spacious layout adds to the relaxed, vacation feel of staying in a rental home. This is exactly the kind of experience that Lori and Justin Pecikonis provided their clients with during the height of the pandemic. BUILDING THE BEGINNING Lori and Justin are the owners of JRP Design & Remodel, based in Westlake Village, California. This husband-and-wife duo has been crafting and creating homes together for the past 20 years. Their passion for building started early. “Justin developed a profound passion for the construction process at a young age,” says Lori, “which initially took root through his fascination with Legos.” Justin adds, “I was…