THE POPULARITY OF MID-MOD DESIGN
Attention to quality furnishings with classic colours
THE PIONEER FOR modern home interiors, mid-century modern design showcases high quality, detailed pieces that use clean lines. It’s a very specific style that began in Denmark during the late 1930s and was popularised elsewhere in the 1940-1970s. The use of teak, natural materials, rounded shapes and striking statement chairs are all tell-tale elements that have become synonymous with the time period.
Even though it has been over 80 years since the movement started, the style remains nearly as popular as it was in its prime. The attention to quality and details combined with classic colours and bold patterns are certainly a part of what makes mid-mod design so evergreen.
If you are looking at adding some midmod design into your home, there are a few ways to go about it. Whether you’re looking to recreate a period appropriate retro space or blend old with new, choosing the right Resene colour palette will make the most impact on your overall look.
Classic colours
During the mid 20th century, vibrant colours played a large part in setting the tone in the most stylish spaces.
The Auckland Art Gallery held a special exhibition of over 200 original and iconic objects from this popular period, all framed by dynamic Resene paint colours. Hannah Manning-Scott, the exhibition designer of Denmark Design, wanted to leverage period appropriate colour to create a space that complimented the displays.
“Denmark Design posed a unique challenge of bringing to life a catalogue of over 200 three-dimensional objects! It was a fine balancing act to create a changing rhythm to the exhibition and create a variety of spatial experiences and key moments,” she says.
The exhibition’s standout feature was a curved red room that made quite a bold statement in Resene Roadster. According to Hannah, it was inspired by the saturated interiors designed by Verner Panton — one of the key designers featured.
After earning permission from the Panton estate to reinterpret his patterns, Hannah and the team utilised a layering process. The base layer was painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat finish tinted to striking Resene Roadster topped with a clear high-gloss digital print compucut vinyl. The famous egg chair and swan chair were two other favourites spotlighted in the exhibition. They were framed by double strength Resene Jet Stream, chosen for being the closest colour match to the iconic SAS Hotel in Copenhagen designed by Arne Jacobsen in the 1960s.
Contemporary alternatives
If you were lucky enough to catch the exhibition while it was on display and are planning on displaying Danish antiques or replicas in your own home, you’ll have seen first-hand why these hues would make great options for a retro space. But what if you want to blend them into a contemporary setting?
For walls, soft greys like Resene Rakaia, Resene Concrete, Resene Eighth Ash and Resene Quarter Linen are all nice options for keeping things cool and neutral while offering more interest than just a simple white. Plus, they’re great for off-setting the golden undertones of classic teakwood. However, if you fancy a true neutral white to start with, Resene Half Black White, Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Half Alabaster are ideal as a blank canvas to build up a palette through painted furniture