Mid-Century Modern

Where it comes from

American and Danish design of the 1950s and 60s, built for smaller postwar rooms.

Mid-century works because everything is raised on legs, so the floor runs unbroken underneath and rooms read larger than they are. A remodel gets there through warm timber, low horizontal storage and a restrained palette with one saturated accent.

Lighting

Sculptural fixtures treated as objects — a globe pendant, an arc floor lamp. The fitting is meant to be looked at.

What breaks it

• Heavy skirted furniture
• Cool grey palettes
• Reproduction pieces mixed with visible modern ones
• Overhead-only lighting

Where to spend

Furniture height. Mid-century is defined by the gap under everything, which is why built-in storage to the floor quietly kills it.