Lately I’ve been on a mission to find inspiring rooms free of the ubiquitous tulip tables, matchtstick legs, fiberglass chairs. And can I tell you, it’s been very difficult! So seeing this French inspired rustic kitchen felt like a breath of fresh air for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love a leather Eames Lounge just as much as the next design-obsessed girl, but personally I’m ready to be inspired by something new and different. The spirit of midcentury modern design was innovative and daring for its time, and I get the feeling that those iconic designers would not be impressed if they knew we were still stuck in the midcentury in 2015. What do you think, have you had enough of midcentury modern? Or do you find it timeless and still relevant?
Orange tree and car prints – The home in our inspiration picture may be inspired by designer Karen Fabian’s family home in France, but it’s actually located in Newport Beach, CA. These prints evoke the feeling of California summer perfectly, while incorporating the color palette of yellows, blues browns and greens.
Copper double boiler – One easy way to give your kitchen that je ne sais quois is with French cookware like this copper and porcelain bain marie. In addition to cooking delicious food, they look beautiful on pot racks or open shelving.
Apron – While I don’t typically wear an apron in my daily life, the traditional feel of this kitchen makes me want to don one and master an extravagant French meal.
Antique wood shelf – Old, antique woods that have been visibly worn down over time are very effective at giving a space character, especially if you live in a newly built home.
Antique brass drawer pull – These may look like they belong on ancient library card catalogs (remember those?) but you can actually find them at Home Depot!
La Cornue stove – This dreamboat of a stove may be a splurge item, but the way I see it it multitasks as both an appliance and a statement piece of furniture for the room.
Citrus kitchen soap – Citrus and olive oil kitchen soap, because Dawn wouldn’t feel quite right in a French manor.
*Inspiration photo by Karen Bianchi for My Domaine.
I love that stove in the inspiration photo. It not only adds color, but it’s a beautiful and functional piece for the kitchen.
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As I’ve been looking for furniture for my new house I’ve seen an increase in buying and selling of the French provincial style. I don’t think it’s the end of MCM though. Clean lines and tapered legs will always be in fashion. It’s like a red lip or blue jeans. The thing with French interior design is that they would update a part of the house here and there through years and it ends up being a mix of styles. Mid Century furniture goes well with a mix of styles.
Great observation Mollie, I didn’t know that about French design!
I love this kitchen. I need a warmer, more rustic looking home that I can snuggle up into. The midcentury modern look has been too overdone for my taste.
Cristina! We talked about this at dinner last night. Great question you’ve posed. I’m definitely seeing a big shift away from modern and towards more rustic/historic details in kitchens right now. Maybe I’m a sucker for trends, but I’m loving all the copper and wood and old stoves right now. Love your inspiration board. As for mid century, I think good design never goes out of style. Those classic pieces designed by Eames and Nelson and Sarineen will always be works of art in my book.
I don’t know if mcm is played out, but I prefer this style to live in for sure. We are building a new house and the style is quite like that of the house in the picture; also got a laCornue stove and I agree that it’s not only a dream to cook on, it also adds beauty to the room.
Really happy to hear that stove cooks as well as it looks. Definitely adding it to my wishlist.
When you live in a house from that era, mid-century interiors just feel right. I collected so many pieces when we lived in our old house with terrazzo floors and sliders opening to the pool deck. It felt a Shulman photo and I loved it. I still like it, but when we built our house a couple years ago, I was ready to move on. We incorporated a few mid-century elements that made sense: a butterfly roof (rainwater-catcher) over a carport instead of a big garage taking over the front facade, a modern staircase, the furniture has clean lines but a bit more heft. I think if you live in a mid-century house or in Palm Springs (like kellygolightly.com), it’s here to stay.
My home was built in the late 50s so it definitely has the mcm architectural style going on. I think the home’s style inspires some of the decor I incorporate. I don’t do everything mcm style though. I think a mix is more comfortable and keeps it from looking like a Mad Men episode. I think the key is to pick things that are minimal but timeless and can be mixed with different styles.
I have loved MCM since I was a child. My grandparents’ house was done in the late 50s and growing up it just felt like home. It may have gone out of style for a while and it may again but I’m sure that it’ll come back again if it does.
I am bored with MCM. It’s everywhere, and as you said, you had a difficult time finding things that weren’t. I don’t think I’ve seen one trend that’s overshadowed everything quite like this. I realize it will take some time to shake out, but I think designers and retailers are already in search of the “big thing”. BTW, am in love with that classic French kitchen. Owning a La Cornue is my dream!
Honestly, I love the mid-century modern look. Yes, its everywhere and I still believe its on trend but I’m also a firm believer in buying and investing in peices you truly love rather than buying just to buy becasue you saw it on a blog or a magazine. My home is definitely a mix of styles and im ok with that even if its not one trend.
Love this cozy, rustic yet polished look. Couldn’t agree more. MCM is everywhere. Time to be unique and true to your own style!
Still love MCM, although I prefer a mix myself! It’s funny, when I went to the Bauhaus Museum in Berlin it kind of felt like walking through a DWR store. The styles they created are still classics at this point.
I had the same experience when I went to the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, it felt just like any furniture showroom today.
I just bought a red brick ranch Hallcraft home built in 1960. It’s a fixer-upper and at 1,290 square feet, I find that MCM furniture just fits better with both the style and the dimensions. However, I like to mix in different styles that one might not expect.
For example, right now I’m coming up with a mix of 1970s Glam and Chinoiserie for the master bedroom. In a certain sense this is really just a new spin on something that was done before and embracing a new trend at the same time. A lot of mid century homes often had what was termed at the time an “oriental” room. And now the trend seems to be heading towards a more glamorous 1970s vibe (or 1970s Boho Chic). So why not find a combine them to create a more unique and personal look?