The 1950’s house was a scientific triumph, designed in a laboratory and tested on inhabitants of all ages before being built for the masses. Never had homes been so thoroughly contemporary, with antiques and period styles entirely banished. Mid-Century Modern explores the interior decor of this seminal decade, concentrating on all aspects of a home's decoration—walls, flooring, surfaces, lighting, and, of course, furniture. Case studies examine beautiful present-day homes that exhibit mid-century style in an exemplary way, and suggest ideas for taking the 1950’s look—complete with collector's pieces—and mixing and matching it with elements from other eras.
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Book Description
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About the Author
Bradley Quinn FRSA is an author and curator based in London, where he has presented the work of leading artists and designers in exhibitions based on his books. Bradley is also the author of Chinese Style and Scandinavian Style published by Conran Octopus, and Techno Fashion and The Fashion of Architecture published by Berg Publishers. A journalism graduate, Bradley also completed a master's degree in History of Art at the University of London, and has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
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More About the Author
BRADLEY QUINN is a British author and journalist with expertise in fashion, architecture, textiles and design. His books include Techno Fashion, The Fashion of Architecture, Chinese Style, Scandinavian Style, Mid-century Modern, Textile Designers at the Cutting Edge, Textile Futures and UltraMaterials. Three of his books (The Fashion of Architecture, Designed in Sweden and Mid-century Modern) became exhibitions that toured internationally. Bradley Quinn was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2003, and lectures at institutions and events throughout the world today.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
81 of 82 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Could someone possibly put together a better tome on Mid-Century Modern interiors than this exquisite piece by Bradley Quinn? They'd have one helluva tough time trying.
This book is fairly short and slim, yet every single page and photograph has relevance. Each photograph is of some aspect of a home interior and is absolutely fantastic. Not a single wasted shot. I'm assuming that the majority of people interested in this book are admirers of 1950s decor and would like to incorporate elements of this into their homes. What is so wonderful about this book is that the pictures themselves are of contemporary homes that have been decorated in that Mid-Century style, resulting in achieving that look without appearing dated - certainly the effect that I'm striving for! You want elegant beige lounges or loud primary colored kitchens? It's all here. And you just gotta dig the living room on p.42! Wow - have red and yellow ever been used to such devastating effect in such circumstances? And this is just one example of many.
Although it's doubtful that people buy books like these for their text, I think in this case, they'll be glad they did. Quinn discusses at great length the various components that made up the Modern style, providing tremendously useful ideas for home decor. He doesn't get into tedious sociological analysis like so many of these type of books do. Instead, he goes straight to the interesting stuff - how mid-century modern arose within the history of design, the components of the architecture and the lifestyles of the homeowners back then. Each chapter is broken down into a different aspect of decor - color, materials, lighting etc. Why can't all interior design books be arranged in this way?
I can absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for '50s ideas for their home. I doubt I'd ever need to buy another book on this topic. Unless Quinn sticks in more pictures for a second edition.
This book is fairly short and slim, yet every single page and photograph has relevance. Each photograph is of some aspect of a home interior and is absolutely fantastic. Not a single wasted shot. I'm assuming that the majority of people interested in this book are admirers of 1950s decor and would like to incorporate elements of this into their homes. What is so wonderful about this book is that the pictures themselves are of contemporary homes that have been decorated in that Mid-Century style, resulting in achieving that look without appearing dated - certainly the effect that I'm striving for! You want elegant beige lounges or loud primary colored kitchens? It's all here. And you just gotta dig the living room on p.42! Wow - have red and yellow ever been used to such devastating effect in such circumstances? And this is just one example of many.
Although it's doubtful that people buy books like these for their text, I think in this case, they'll be glad they did. Quinn discusses at great length the various components that made up the Modern style, providing tremendously useful ideas for home decor. He doesn't get into tedious sociological analysis like so many of these type of books do. Instead, he goes straight to the interesting stuff - how mid-century modern arose within the history of design, the components of the architecture and the lifestyles of the homeowners back then. Each chapter is broken down into a different aspect of decor - color, materials, lighting etc. Why can't all interior design books be arranged in this way?
I can absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for '50s ideas for their home. I doubt I'd ever need to buy another book on this topic. Unless Quinn sticks in more pictures for a second edition.
72 of 85 people found the following review helpful
By Martin A
Format:Hardcover
What I liked about this book: It is well organised and it has lots of well-chosen, well composed, colorful and clearly printed photographs..
If you want inspiration and ideas, the excellent photographs will give you what you are looking for. Only one picture contains a human figure - the others let you concentrate on the design and the furnishings, with no distracting sign of any occupants.
Where the book falls down....
I found the writing is very heavy going.
On the dustwrapper, it mentions "Bradley also completed a master's degree in History of Art at the University of London".
It seemed to me that the book reads like a master's degree dissertation in which the writer's aim is to show his professor that he has thoroughly mastered the subject - rather than a book aiming to inform and entertain a general reader interested in the subject.
I'd read a paragraph and think "that sounds impressive - but what does it mean?" Then I'd read it again more carefully. At a third reading, I'd give up, not knowing whether it meant something profound or whether it was impressive-sounding but essentially meaningless.
A typical paragraph:
"The new styles of furniture took centre stage with the distinctive shapes that continue to typify the look today. While mid-century furniture is often recognisable by its balance of form and function, its impact resulted from its ability to convey the dynamics of lived experience in static form. Mid-century designers regarded furniture as tactile art intended to cradle the human form. Although the use of new materials and techniques pioneered a change of direction for furniture - with moulded and glued plywood, and plastics reinforced by fibreglass, among the exciting developments - the forms continued to take shape in relation to the human body. Designers used furniture to articulate the tension between movement and stillness, which can never be separated from the human body. Consequently, 1950s furniture often expressed a body-consciousness unknown to other traditions."
"... the dynamics of lived experience in static form." Huh?
".. to articulate the tension between movement and stillness, which can never be separated from the human body". Does this actually mean something that can be expressed in simple words? Dunno. Beats me.
The text is not always linked to the pictures. Descriptions of stylish objects in text, without linked illustrations are hard to follow. As just one example:
"In Isamu Noguchi's hands abstract art became applied art, In one of his sculptures, wood and glass were moulded into an arrestingly curvaceous silhouette that caught the eye of George Nelson, who identified the shape of a table in its form. An American manufacturer shared Nelson's view and in 1944 collaborated with Noguchi to transform the design into a coffee table. Organic in style, Noguchi's Coffee Table was manufactured with two wooden legs that interlocked to form a tripod, which supported a plate-glass top 2cm (3/4in) thick. Both parts of the design were reversible: the tabletop could be placed upside down or back to front, while the mirror effect of the tripod's design enabled it to maintain the same profile even when turned upside down. Needless to say, Noguchi's considered balance of sculptural form, design innovation and durable function inspired other designers of the period to pursue abstract shapes."
On checking the index, I found that there is actually a photo, earlier in the book, in which a part of such a coffee table is visible.
I recommend this book for its masses of interesting, clear and well-composed and chosen pictures of mid-century design. If you are like me, you'll finish up skipping over the text and enjoying it simply for its illustrations, which I found inspiring and first class.
Added 5 October 2010:
"About the Author" states "Bradley (...) has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society." This seems to be an error and would have been very surprising had it been correct - Fellows of the Royal Society are distinguished scientists.
If you want inspiration and ideas, the excellent photographs will give you what you are looking for. Only one picture contains a human figure - the others let you concentrate on the design and the furnishings, with no distracting sign of any occupants.
Where the book falls down....
I found the writing is very heavy going.
On the dustwrapper, it mentions "Bradley also completed a master's degree in History of Art at the University of London".
It seemed to me that the book reads like a master's degree dissertation in which the writer's aim is to show his professor that he has thoroughly mastered the subject - rather than a book aiming to inform and entertain a general reader interested in the subject.
I'd read a paragraph and think "that sounds impressive - but what does it mean?" Then I'd read it again more carefully. At a third reading, I'd give up, not knowing whether it meant something profound or whether it was impressive-sounding but essentially meaningless.
A typical paragraph:
"The new styles of furniture took centre stage with the distinctive shapes that continue to typify the look today. While mid-century furniture is often recognisable by its balance of form and function, its impact resulted from its ability to convey the dynamics of lived experience in static form. Mid-century designers regarded furniture as tactile art intended to cradle the human form. Although the use of new materials and techniques pioneered a change of direction for furniture - with moulded and glued plywood, and plastics reinforced by fibreglass, among the exciting developments - the forms continued to take shape in relation to the human body. Designers used furniture to articulate the tension between movement and stillness, which can never be separated from the human body. Consequently, 1950s furniture often expressed a body-consciousness unknown to other traditions."
"... the dynamics of lived experience in static form." Huh?
".. to articulate the tension between movement and stillness, which can never be separated from the human body". Does this actually mean something that can be expressed in simple words? Dunno. Beats me.
The text is not always linked to the pictures. Descriptions of stylish objects in text, without linked illustrations are hard to follow. As just one example:
"In Isamu Noguchi's hands abstract art became applied art, In one of his sculptures, wood and glass were moulded into an arrestingly curvaceous silhouette that caught the eye of George Nelson, who identified the shape of a table in its form. An American manufacturer shared Nelson's view and in 1944 collaborated with Noguchi to transform the design into a coffee table. Organic in style, Noguchi's Coffee Table was manufactured with two wooden legs that interlocked to form a tripod, which supported a plate-glass top 2cm (3/4in) thick. Both parts of the design were reversible: the tabletop could be placed upside down or back to front, while the mirror effect of the tripod's design enabled it to maintain the same profile even when turned upside down. Needless to say, Noguchi's considered balance of sculptural form, design innovation and durable function inspired other designers of the period to pursue abstract shapes."
On checking the index, I found that there is actually a photo, earlier in the book, in which a part of such a coffee table is visible.
I recommend this book for its masses of interesting, clear and well-composed and chosen pictures of mid-century design. If you are like me, you'll finish up skipping over the text and enjoying it simply for its illustrations, which I found inspiring and first class.
Added 5 October 2010:
"About the Author" states "Bradley (...) has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society." This seems to be an error and would have been very surprising had it been correct - Fellows of the Royal Society are distinguished scientists.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is filled with spectacular color photos of mid-century modern home interiors. Lots of ideas here for color schemes, furniture layout and incorporating mid-century aspects into any room of your home.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning photography and informative text
I am so glad I ignored those who complained about the text for this wonderful book. True, the author is clearly an art historian (hence "streamlined and functional" becomes... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Marion Avrilyn Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice Book
Great photos to show now and then mid-century modern styles & decor.
Includes all the classic names of designers. Good decorating ideas too!
Includes all the classic names of designers. Good decorating ideas too!
Published 9 days ago by zepherness
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great reference
Good resource for evaluating MCM styles, furnishings and colors. Definitely worth the price and even better as a retro resource.
Published 1 month ago by KDBilly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
Was a gift for my sister who is renovating a mid-century modern home. She loved it. I do too. Great pictures and information. Lots of ideas.
Published 3 months ago by MOMO TO THREE
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great photos
Photos are great but the text not so much. If you're looking for Mid-Century decorating ideas, it's a great sourcebook.
Published 3 months ago by Dog Friendly
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yummy
Love gazing at this book. Keep coming back to it for inspiration. It's a pleaser.
Not a tone of books like this that I could find.
Not a tone of books like this that I could find.
Published 3 months ago by Amy O
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great investment
This is a terrific reference for fans of mid-century design. The photographs are beautiful and the text is informative. At this price, it's a great investment.
Published 6 months ago by Fool4Jazz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
V e r y n I c e p I c tu r e s for t h i s book
Published 6 months ago by William P. Lauder
5.0 out of 5 stars
This ain't yur typical coffee table book
Martin A, your review wins the "Most fun to read" award. Although a couple of years too late, I read your review and agree that the text in a book should be appropriate for its... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Vivian
5.0 out of 5 stars
liked it
I actually like the writing. I didn't think I would, but I did. In particular the sections on American mid-century. Read more
Published 16 months ago by JAD
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