Eight renovated mid-century homes that marry period and contemporary details (2024)

From a modernist villa inBeverly Hills to a flat in one of Brasília's iconic Superquadra apartment blocks, the mid-century renovations in this lookbook are a masterclass in updating a period home while retaining its distinctive character.

Originally constructed in the post-war period between 1945 and 1969, mid-century homes have proved enduringly popular due to their prescient emphasis on natural light, clean lines, open floor plans and humble materials such as wood, stone and concrete.

The renovations below see many of these original features retained and restored, supplemented with contemporary additions such as double-height ceilings and furniture by the likes of Tadao Ando and Mario Bellini.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring art deco homes, sunny yellow interiorsand serene bedrooms with striking natural views.

City Beach Residence, Australia, by Design Theory

Australian studio Design Theory looked to preserve the "considerable mid-century charm" of this home on the coast of Perth during its renovation (top and above), remaining true to the rich palette of natural materials found in the original design.

Contemporary furniture and lighting with gently curving forms were chosen to soften the rigorous lines of the original architecture and prevent the interiors from feeling like a period pastiche.

Find out more about City Beach Residence ›

Brandaw Residence, US, by 180 Degrees Design + Build and CBTWO Architects

A new double-height living room with a pitched roof and full-height glazing was added to modernise this 1960s home in Phoenix, creating sightlines up and out towards nearby Camelback Mountain.

Modernist touches remain on the interior in the form of plentiful wood panelling alongside finishes and furnishings in muted primary colours ranging from teal to mustard-yellow.

California studio OWIU retained several original elements during the renovation of this 1955 home in LA's San Rafael Hills, among them the glass-block walls and wooden ceiling beams, which were exposed from under false ceilings and sanded down to reveal their natural colour.

These were contrasted with more neutral contemporary elements such as pale oak flooring and walls coated in Venetian plaster, with assorted lights by Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson – one of the founding fathers of American modernism.

Find out more about Palermo house ›

Brasília apartment, Brazil, by Debaixo do Bloco Arquitetura

This apartment is located inside Brasília's historic Superquadra 308 Sul, the first "superblock" apartment complex constructed as part of architect Lucio Costa's 1957 master plan for the new Brazilian capital.

Local studio Debaixo do Bloco Arquitetura cut open the building's exposed concrete walls, opening up its layout to meet the needs of a modern family while preserving period details such as the building's distinctive white breeze-block screens andits granilite flooring.

Find out more about Brasília apartment ›

Malibu Surf Shack, US, by Kelly Wearstler

When interior designer Kelly Wearstler turned this 1950s beachfront cottage in Malibu into a bohemian retreat for herself and her family, she retained the original wood-panelled walls and selected finishes that were "hand-crafted, rustic and raw" to match the existing material palette.

The interiors feature abundant planting, alongside an eclectic mix of period-agnostic furnishings including a 1980s green marble table by Bellini, paired with a plaster-covered Caféstuhl chair by contemporary Austrian designer Lukas Gschwandtner.

Find out more about Malibu Surf Shack ›

Golden House, US, by SHED

Seattle architecture firm SHED had to make several aggressive interventions when renovating this 1950s building in nearby Shoreline, which was originally constructed as a family home but had previously been divided up to serve as a retirement home.

Working around the existing post-and-beam structure, the studio updated the interior to maximise views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound while enlarging the kitchen and reorganising it around a central island.

Find out more about Golden House ›

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Eight renovated mid-century homes that marry period and contemporary details (2024)

FAQs

Which style of residential house became popular in the mid century modern period? ›

Most modern homes built in this period are built in the Mid Century Ranch style which features a gabled roof. A True MidCentury Modern will have a low-slope or flat roof and highly stylized architectural features. Like we saw in Tudor's last month, the shape of a roof is what most often defines a style.

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What is the difference between contemporary and mid century modern architecture? ›

Contemporary design aesthetics do notably differ from that of modern and mid-century modern in that its colors tend to be starker and more saturated than the warmer, more subdued design colors of modern styles. It's also a bit curvier, as opposed to modern design's preference for straight lines.

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What are the problems with mid century modern homes? ›

Aside from the heating and cooling costs, the homes tend to be uncomfortable because of drafty walls and windows and cold pockets due to inadequate mechanical systems. Here are some tips to improve the comfort of your midcentury modern home without losing any of the design vibe.

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What does a mid century modern home look like? ›

Key Elements

The geometric lines of the house are regular and rigorous. Flat roofs are common, though modern ranch-style houses had gable roofs. Large windows. Sliding-glass doors and other expansive panes of glass allow light to enter rooms from multiple angles.

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What is a contemporary house? ›

A contemporary home is a house with design elements and features that reflect today's architecture style. Although similar to a modern home, contemporary houses come with common characteristics such as clean lines, natural lighting and a minimalist feel.

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What are mid century modern houses made of? ›

Influenced by the optimism of the post-World War II boom and by the exploration of a range of materials, including steel, concrete, and newly available insulated glass, the mainstays of midcentury-modern architecture remain appealing to this day.

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Can you mix contemporary with mid-century modern? ›

Elements to Tie the Décor Styles Together

You can utilize color, shape, and materials to transform your Mid-Century room into a contemporary room. We have selected a few pieces of furniture that will work with either discipline. Our first selection is the striking Tommy Bahama Ocean Club Bed.

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Are contemporary and mid-century modern the same? ›

Mid-Century Modern style furniture and accessory design with its natural colors and strong lines is not the same as Contemporary furniture and accessory design. The latter consists of the current design trends at that time in history. This makes it difficult to pinpoint all the features of contemporary design.

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What are the 3 characteristics of modern contemporary architecture? ›

Some features which distinguish contemporary architecture are the use of curved lines, living walls and rooftop gardens, non-linear shapes, asymmetrical designs, use of unconventional materials, sustainable construction, and use of eco-friendly materials.

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What city has the most mid century modern homes? ›

Featuring iconic MCM builds by the top architects of the period, NYC is home to more mid century modern buildings than any other city in the U.S. (5,937, to be exact). From the Seagram's building by Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe to the Solomon R.

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Why is mid century modern so popular now? ›

Midcentury modern is still in style, as its elements of functionality, clean lines, and natural materials are very popular in today's designs. "I appreciate the rise of multipurpose furniture, which was adopted in this design ethos and is something we still promote as designers today," designer Becky Shea says.

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Do mid-century modern homes have baseboards? ›

Mid-Century Modern homes feature clean, unadorned baseboards, with gentle curves to provide a simple accent rather than an eye-catching statement.

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What color is mid-century modern? ›

Combine organic, warm colors and sleek, industrial white and blue-gray hues with pops of red to capture the spirit of midcentury modern style.

What defines mid century modern style? ›

Mid century design features soft curves, modern shapes with minimalist materials that evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time gone by. It typically includes furniture pieces like armchairs, sofas and dining tables made from wood or metal frames with upholstery in bold geometric prints or solid hues.

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What architectural style came after mid-century modern? ›

Postmodernism in architecture

Postmodernism is an eclectic, colourful style of architecture and the decorative arts that appeared from the late 1970s and continues in some form today. It emerged as a reaction to Modernism and the Modern Movement and the dogmas associated with it.

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What kind of style is mid-century? ›

Midcentury modern can be considered a subset of modern design, defined as the style that became popular in the early 1900s. However, when compared to the traditional definitions of modern design, midcentury modern design tends to be unashamedly retro and often makes use of bright accent color to emphasize this point.

Why are mid-century modern homes so popular? ›

With large numbers of people moving to the suburbs, there was a demand for modern living spaces. Architecture and furniture prior to this period were often ornate, time-consuming to create, and more attractive than functional.

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Where are the most mid-century modern homes? ›

As we mentioned above, New York City is a mid century modern hotspot! Featuring iconic MCM builds by the top architects of the period, NYC is home to more mid century modern buildings than any other city in the U.S. (5,937, to be exact). From the Seagram's building by Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe to the Solomon R.

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