Modern furniture is livable and warm
Find a balance between new and futuristic
Q: My husband goes on and on about the modern interiors on Mad Men. He would love our home to be designed with cold plastic furniture. To me, all that futuristic stuff looks as if it belongs on Mars. I want comfy furniture and don’t want to live on a TV set. I keep telling him about when Jennifer Aniston broke up with Brad Pitt, she said, “Now I can have a comfortable couch.” What can I do to strike a balance between our contrasting styles?
A: Thankyou! I needed a good laugh! Remember that book, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus? There was definitely a lot of space-age furniture in the Swinging ’60s. In fact, you reminded me of how my brother and I used to spin ourselves into oblivion on two bright orange mid-century swivel chairs that we thought were from the Starship Enterprise, but actually came from my parents’ first apartment. I get that you don’t want to feel as if you’re living on a TV show set or that your home, at any moment, could launch into the skies above Cape Canaveral.
The good news is that modern furniture has been updated and is much more livable and warm. The lines have softened and the colour palette more neutral and natural. I thought this photo from Hudson’s Bay would provide inspiration, as well as satisfy the tastes of both you and your hubby.
These pieces have the same sculptural quality of the furnishings from the Mad Men sets, which means that they can free-float in a room. “The nice thing about the Denmark sofa and chair, and Patrik occasional chair (featured in the photo), is that they look great from 360 degrees,” says Arren Williams, creative director of home for Hudson’s Bay.
In other words, you don’t have to worry about staring at the ugly back of a sofa or feel the need to arrange your furniture against the walls. Moreover, while the lines of the chairs and sofa in this room are clean, they’re not boxy. Notice the slight curve of the sofa arms.
The mix of woods also helps to warm the space. To satisfy your husband’s need for ’60s decor, shop for bentwood chairs and light-toned wood sofa legs. Then mix in some chunkier pieces like the three dark-stained stools, which are carved from oak beams.
Throw a few pillows on the sofa, anchor your mid-century, modern-inspired furniture with a soft rug, and you’ll strike a balance that will align Venus with Mars.