Table of contents for Design Issue 2024 in Atomic Ranch

THERE’S A LOT ABOUT THE MAGAZINE INDUSTRY that has changed in the past two decades. Fact is, a lot about the world has too. Since this magazine was founded, there has been a Great Recession and a pandemic. The housing market had collapsed, then bubbled, then burst then climbed once more. The world has gone digital and social, yet now bookstores are on the rise again. And much like the houses we write about, Atomic Ranch has stood firmly and weathered the test of time thanks entirely to the community of modernists, preservationists and businesses that support us as we aim to support the community right back. It’s fitting that we chose our Design Issue to commemorate our 20th year. This issue was a new creation in 2016—just one of…

THE CHERNER ARMCHAIR isn’t just a piece of furniture—it’s a sculptural masterpiece that redefined what a chair could be. Designed by Norman Cherner in 1958, this iconic creation combines sleek aesthetics with groundbreaking craftsmanship, pushing the boundaries of molded plywood to new heights. With its flowing, organic form and distinctive, slender frame, the Cherner Armchair quickly became a symbol of Mid Century Modern chair design, blending comfort with striking visual appeal. Its story is one of resilience, ingenuity and a designer’s lifelong fight for equity in the design world. The inception of the Cherner Armchair was marred by corporate greed—a common pitfall in the cut-throat design industry of the era. Despite being commissioned to create this piece, Cherner was initially edged out of the narrative by Plycraft. He was told…

IN MANY PARTS OF THE MIDWEST, the land is mostly flat and dotted with cornfields. But the city of Columbus, Indiana, stands apart, dazzling with Mid Century Modern architecture created by the world’s best architects. Wander through downtown and you’ll stumble upon incredible examples of mid mod design by architects like Eliel Saarinen (father of architect Eero Saarinen), Harry Weese, Kevin Roche and I.M. Pei. Incredibly, Columbus has more MCM greats gathered up in one location than any other major metropolis. It even boasts seven national historic landmarks. And the story of how the small city (with only 50,000 residents in a 2020 census) became a mecca for MCM is just as remarkable. A Company Town In the Midwest, a single company might become a city’s biggest employer, helping shape…

IT ISN’T EVERY DAY that a designer is able to extend their talents across a variety of modalities, all while maintaining an outstanding quality that makes their work loved and respected for three quarters of a century. But Alexander Girard was no average designer. With a career spanning multiple decades and countries, Girard was able to deftly translate and even anticipate years in advance movements in the design world through many different mediums, making him one of the most prolific designers of the mid-century and beyond. In their newly released book, Alexander Girard: Let the Sun In, authors Todd Oldham and Kiera Coffee explore in-depth Girard’s life and legacy through extensively researched and thoughtful essays and descriptions as well as more than 800 illustrations—including several that have never been published.…

BUILDING MODERN Page 28 Interior design: Jed Splittgerber, homeowner. Architect: Cathy Sewell, Platform Architecture, platformarch.com. Builder: Nate Taylor, Elevated Construction, (801) 641-8189 or elevatedgcd@gmail.com. Paint: Exterior: Narragansett Green, front door: Miami Green. Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com. Exterior light sconces: Kichler, kichler.com. House numbers: Mod Mettle, modmettle.com. Courtyard chairs, firepit, backyard patio furniture, planters, chimney block color/pattern: Project 62, target.com. Chimney: Basalite Ground Face #705 Color Blocks, basalite.ca. Globe lights: Schoolhouse, schoolhouse.com. Two lights over the kitchen island: Flos, flos.com. George Nelson Bubble lamps: Herman Miller, store.hermanmiller.com. Kitchen tile: Clayhaus, clayhaustile.com. Hall tile, bathroom time: Modwalls, modwalls.com. Primary bathroom tile and shower floor: INAX, inax.com. Plumbing throughout (except for laundry room): Hansgrohe, Hansgrohe-usa.com. Dining set: Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son, CH-33 chairs with Eames Walnut DCM, chairs on the ends,…

PRODUCING THE PAGES of the Atomic Ranch, the nation’s only Mid Century Modern design and architecture magazine, has been our distinct pleasure for the past nine years. And it is with a mixture of awe and appreciation that thanks to your readership, followership and patronage Atomic Ranch has been in the business of sharing, celebrating and helping to preserve Mid Century Modern design and history for 20 years. Founded by Jim and Michelle Brown in 2004, Atomic Ranch was always a passion project. “Among our early features were relatives—Jim’s brother and his wife, who allowed us to shoot their ranch without knowing what we were up to—and all manner of contacts made through a network of enthusiasts and advertisers,” Michelle says. And it is still a passion project today. Atomic…

POUL HENNINGSEN (1894–1967) was a Danish designer, architect and cultural critic whose groundbreaking work in lighting remains iconic. Born in Copenhagen to renowned writers Agnes Henningsen and Carl Ewald, Henningsen grew up an intellectual, shaping his creative and critical approach to design. Initially trained as a functionalist architect, Henningsen shifted his focus to lighting in the 1920s. In 1924, Henningsen began his lifelong collaboration with the Danish lighting company Louis Poulsen. His most famous design, the PH lamp series, was introduced in 1926. These lamps featured a revolutionary three-shade system that diffused light evenly and reduced glare, creating a soft, comfortable light ideal for homes and public spaces. The PH lamps became symbols of Danish Modernism, emphasizing functionality, affordability and elegance. Henningsen’s role extended beyond design into writing and cultural…

THE HOME TOURS we feature in Atomic Ranch are the heart and soul of every issue. Our editors feel a connection to the wonderful homes and homeowners they’ve found and shared within these pages. Here are just some of the remarkable homes and stories that have made a lasting impression on our team as well as you, our dear readers, as evidenced by your letters, comments and emails to us. Photos by Jim Brown Me & Mr. Jones When it comes to their 1951 house, Alex MacDowell and his wife Kristin Kozlowski are definitely all-in. They took a trip to Mendocino, California, for all-heart, vertical-grain lumber milled from old-growth redwood sinker logs—the kind they can no longer harvest. They have painstakingly replicated the original stain on the home’s marine-grade plywood…

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS “The biggest challenge in working on [Mid Century Modern homes] is integrating new design into the house while respecting the integrity of the existing architecture. We spent a tremendous amount of time driving through the community noting and studying restored houses as well as ones that were just completely butchered. The hope is that in the end you’re successful and your design adds to [the home’s] timelessness.” —Architect Christian Navar, from “Riffing on Cliff,” Summer 2007 “Collections are authentic when they come from real passions, history, interests and travels. If those aren’t your father’s coins in that frame or if you didn’t stumble across that set of Fiestaware in a barn sale on a sleepy Saturday morning, then things can read as just ‘stuff.’ As with all…

WITH THE CURRENT POPULARITY of Mid Century Modern as a cultural period, you only have to look as far as the art market to get a pulse on what’s trending. “Modern artwork and design pieces are very hot right now,” says Ian Anderson, fine art associate specialist at John Moran Auctioneers. “Prints and multiples are always coveted, particularly by big-name artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Miro, Sam Francis and Alexander Calder. Abstract art by women artists is seeing a major boom. Artists such as Alice Baber and Agnes Pelton are achieving increasingly higher record-auction sales in the last few years.” John Moran Auctioneers has become a go-to source for Mid Century Modern art and furniture. John Moran was a successful antiques dealer in the 1960s. In 1969, he decided…

FIND MORE MCM DESIGN INSPO ONLINE A 1961 FRANCIS GASSNER-DESIGNED HOME IN MEMPHIS When this MCM home in Memphis, Tennessee, designed by Francis Gassner came on the market, Ben Lewis and Ilene Markell knew it was a gem meant for them. MAKE YOUR MCM GUEST BEDROOM MULTIPURPOSE Don’t let your guest bedroom sit unused! Try these tips for a dual-purpose room that has Mid Century Modern flair. SPOTLIGHT ON VINTAGE SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE SHOPS If you love vintage Scandinavian Modern furniture, finding a reliable source for it is a real treasure trove. Take a tour of three vintage Scandinavian Modern furniture shops that mesmerized us. MODERNIST INDEX: THE BARCELONA CHAIR AND STOOL Learn about the history and design of the Barcelona chair and stool designed by Ludwig Mies Van der…

/ LAST LOOK / DANA JENKINS AND COLIN DAVIS BOUGHT their 1966 split-level home in Chamblee, Georgia, with the goal of saving a house that had clearly been quickly and cheaply remodeled. The kitchen, while in good shape, was a particular sore spot for the homeowners. The white Shaker cabinets and beige granite simply did not complement the architecture of the home. “Having been flipped, there were some elements that were clearly rushed during construction,” Dana explains. “Our main motivation for changing the look was honoring the style of the house.” As fans of Mid Century Modern design, the inspiration behind the kitchen design came naturally for the homeowners. “We always had a general idea of the design we wanted, but we drew inspiration from the timelessness of kitchens in…