Shabby Chic and Mid Century Modern

A Surprising and Delightful Trend in the Making!

 

As I indicated in my first post, I am a lover of all thing Mid Century Modern (MCM).  At first glance, it seems an odd pairing, Shabby Chic and MCM.  I shouldn’t have doubted it myself, as there must’ve been a reason that April and I had such an appreciation for each other’s sense of style.  Both draw greatly from the past US and European influences; both enjoy color, often on a backdrop of white.  Beyond that, these two are completely dissimilar.  Metaphorically, I think Shabby Chic is to MCM like peanut butter is to chocolate.  Their distinct differences provide a respectful and beautiful balance, not to mention a unique and withstanding partnership.  Don’t just take it from me.  This you may have to see to believe!

Let’s move in slowly.  The most obvious example of Shabby with MCM is in the kitchen.  Painted cupboards and pastel dishware work seamlessly with MCM appliances.   

 

My personal favorite melding is below.  An Arne Jacobsen Swan chair and shag rug (blue, nonetheless) sitting atop white painted, wide planked wood flooring.  Not to be outdone by the sweetly adorned sideboard.

Eero Saarinen’s popular Tulip chairs and table certainly belong its Shabby surrounding.

Floral prints, like the wallpaper here, and ornate lighting is calmed by the straighter lines and edges of the sofa legs and Lucite coffee table.

The warmth of the MCM teak wood chair brings out the sense of quaintness provided by the wainscoting and painted sideboard. 

 

More wallpaper with whimsy makes complete sense with this retro leather chair!

Like MCM details in a Shabby Chic surrounding, much can be said for the opposite.  This is an example of a MCM home, complete with aluminum clad floor-to-ceiling windows and concrete floors keeping a clean, minimalist look, balanced by floral printed furniture covers and shaped table and chair legs. 

I hope I have convinced you that Shabby Chic’s floral, antique feel and Mid Century Modern’s urban and minimalistic feel pair quite well, in a peanut butter and chocolate kind of way.

No matter, combining interior styles can be intimidating, so I’m including some tips to making Shabby Chic and Mid Century Modern shine as a pair!

• Use simple shelving to showcase your favorite Shabby Chic pieces.
• Mix Shabby Chic floral fabrics in neutrals with MCM neutrals for a monochromatic, yet textured look.
• Combine any Shabby Chic and MCM accessories.  The frilly elements of Shabby Chic work well with the more sculpted shapes of MCM.
• Combine painted wood furniture pieces with natural look wood, metal or Lucite pieces.
• Create a beautiful contrast with a rug in one style next to a furniture piece in the other style.
• For walls, juxtapose Shabby Chic wall décor with MCM wallpaper, or vice-versa.
• Or, simply add just one element of MCM to your Shabby décor, and see if you find they have a home together.

In writing this I’m realizing these styles have another commonality, rather important.  Pieces in both styles are readily found at thrift shops, so this is your opportunity (potentially inexpensively) to make this trend come to life for you!

Look forward to more posts from me combining Shabby Chic and Cottage styles with some modern elements.    

Erin

   

Erin Here, Hello!

I am grateful to have the privilege to introduce myself today as the third blogger of Shabby Pine Cottage and fortunate good friend of April and Wendy.  Although each of us plenty different, we have a distinct common tie.  What binds us, beyond enjoying a “cuppa” tea daily, is our passion for discovering what comforts us, keeps us, and just simply helps us get through the requirements of daily living (thus, the sanity breaks involving kettles of tea!).  

You will find me the complete and total lover of all things Mid-Century Modern (or  MCM).  It started with a little magazine called Domino (some of you may remember, though unfortunately no longer published).  Its contributors were genius at combining styles in a broadly appealing way.  Shortly after, I was enticed to make my first modern purchases, a set of Harry Bertoia wire chairs and a large hanging Noguchi lamp.  Pairing them with a round, wood Crate and Barrel dining table, I completed my first eclectic design schematic!  Every day thereafter, I loved sitting at that table, feeling so proud of myself.  

Harry Bertoia Wire Chair, Circa 1952

My excitement over MCM décor was further propelled by nostalgia.  My grandmother had many Heywood- Wakefield furniture pieces.  Many of you may be familiar with their beautiful champagne colored finish!  Now, they have been handed down to me (the only one in the family interested in this “old stuff”).  Every day I sit at my new/old dining table, thinking how cool it is that my dad sat at this table every day while growing up with his family.  As many of us do, I imagine past eras as more romantic and sweet than they may have actually been.  I picture my dad and his three sisters, along with my grandparents sitting nicely to a well-prepared dinner, each taking his turn to talk about his day with responding words of support and encouragement.   

My dad might laugh at that notion!  Truthfully, it was probably more like today.  My romanticization and reality parallels probably end with every evening sitting down for dinner together (we’ve managed to keep that tradition for now).  It’s more like kids squirming in their seats to a frantically prepared meal while doing their best to make the others laugh with inappropriate sounds and dinner talk.  I think that they think dinnertime is a forum to try out their performing arts skills (i.e. things they learned at school from friends that day)!  Either way, undoubtedly, these moments bond our family, much like they always have through time.

We all need those things in our lives that make us smile each day and help us remember all things good.  I hope you, too, have those things, whether new or old, big or small, physical or simply a memory.  I will share some of those things of mine, along with my lovely and funny compadres.  Please feel free to share with us, as well, or simply just read.   

Erin