5 Inspiring Midcentury Modern Homes (2024)

Midcentury Homes

Midcentury Homes

Top Ideabooks

Before and After: Exterior Gets a Thoroughly Modern MakeoverHouzz Tour: Midcentury Home Reimagined From the Ground UpHouzz Tour: A Faded Midcentury Home Regains Its GlamourHouzz Tour: Opening Up a Midcentury Modern Time Capsule

Appears in

Houzz Tours

Midcentury Style

Midcentury Style

Top Ideabooks

Your Guide to Midcentury StyleHow to Improve the Comfort of Your Midcentury Modern HomeKitchen of the Week: Mad for Mod MakeoverYard of the Week: Midcentury Makeover Brings a Home Back to Life

Appears in

Decorating Styles

Architecture

Architecture

Top Ideabooks

How to Improve the Comfort of Your Midcentury Modern HomeThe Passive House: What It Is and Why You Should CareTour the House of Tomorrow and Elvis Presley’s Honeymoon Hideaway12 Pros Share the Top Sustainable Features They’re Using

Appears in

Latest From Houzz

See also

Green BuildingUniversal DesignExteriorsModern ArchitectureTraditional ArchitectureDesign DictionaryGreat DesignersKnow Your HouseThe Art of ArchitectureRoots of StyleWorking With an ArchitectDesign DetailsWorld of Design

Modern Style

Modern Style

Top Ideabooks

Your Guide to Modern StyleYour Guide to a Modern-Style Bathroom10 Minimalist Choices That Will Bring Calm to Your BathroomYour Guide to a Modern-Style Kitchen

Appears in

Decorating Styles

Modern Architecture

Modern Architecture

Top Ideabooks

How to Improve the Comfort of Your Midcentury Modern HomeTour the House of Tomorrow and Elvis Presley’s Honeymoon HideawayHouzz Tour: Modern Surf House Full of California CraftsmanshipCelebrate Richard Neutra’s Innovative Los Angeles Home and Studio

Appears in

Architecture

See also

Craftsman DesignRegional Modern

Gorgeous updates honor the original spirit of 5 great midcentury homes from California to Cape Cod

Becky HarrisOctober 17, 2011

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.

More

The term Midcentury Modern tends to be tossed around haphazardly (I’ve been guilty of this myself), so we’re going to look at some dazzling houses that truly embody the style. Most of the examples below have been recently renovated, to undo 1970s or 1980s renovations, to add on to the square footage, and/or to make them more energy efficient.

In each project, the designers honored the spirit of the original plans and details. And we have full home tours of each, which you may link over to and explore via the numbered titles.

User

1. 1950s William Wurster ranch: Architect Charles Delisle respected the history of this home in California's Portola Valley, keeping the spirit of the era alive via a mix of contemporary and custom pieces.

User

This new custom cantilevered cabinet plays with a classic midcentury color palette and blocky geometry, but has a fresh look.

User

A collection of ceramics is a nod to the history of midcentury pottery in California.

See the rest of this home

Hammer Architects

2. Midcentury Modern second home on Cape Cod: The original butterfly-roofed wing on the house on this site was designed by Henry Hebblin, who had studied with Eero Saarinen and worked for Alvar Aalto.

When Mark Hammer was hired to winterize the house and design an addition, he kept Hebblin's portion of the home and gleaned inspiration from the butterfly roof.

Tour another modern Cape Cod renovation by Hammer Architects

Hammer Architects

The final renovation was designed with sustainability in mind. The once seasonal home now serves as a year-round house, with portions that can be shut off and save energy when there aren’t guests, and makes the most of natural light. Most importantly, Hammer has created continuity between the midcentury wing and the new construction.

See the rest of this home | More about Cape Cod/Boston’s Regional Modernism

Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

3. Family-friendly Midcentury Modern: Pulp Design Studios was charged with creating a stylish nest for a young family. A soft modern approach full of vibrant color was the answer. The classicly open room is grounded with the dynamic Missoni rug and includes a classic Bertoia Bird Chair.

Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

A child’s size Cherner table and chairs is perfect for little modernists. There are so many classic child-sized pieces on the market these days that it’s easy to carry a midcentury aesthetic into childrens’ bedrooms and playrooms.

Learn More About Cherner Chairs

Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

The art arrangement is a variation on the classic modern grid, alternating horizontal and vertical rectangular frames. It's a nice way to keep the family photos on display in a tight, modern way.

See the rest of this home

Jenny Mitchell

4. Atomic Flair in the Blue Ridge Mountains: For blogger and vintage maven Jenny Mitchell, this house was love at first sight.

Her eye for atomic style and talent for finding thrifted treasures have resulted in a fun and cheerful home that blends old and new seamlessly.

While a self-described “minimalist-maximalist,” Mitchell knew that all this patio needed was two bright butterfly chairs to give it a big midcentury pop of style.

See the rest of this home

Gary Hutton Design

5. 1962 Custom Eichler House Renovation: Located on San Francisco Bay, this home’s original midcentury charm had been wiped out by a misguided 1980s renovation. Designer Gary Hutton was able to get his hands on the original plans and bring this home back to its original glory.

Gary Hutton Design

Nothing brings out a midcentury home’s best like one of the best midcentury furniture and art collections around. Here we’re looking over a Nelson Marshmallow Sofa to an original Andy Warhol.

Gary Hutton Design

Saarinen Executive Chairs, a Florence Knoll table and a PH Pendant create the ultimate midcentury dining area.

Gary Hutton Design

Finally, a rare Eames game table with a large piece by Sarah Morris in the background creates a vibrant corner. As for the head on the table, I have no idea. Does anyone know its history? Please share in the Comments section. See more of this home.

More:
Modern or Contemporary: What’s the Difference?
Houzz Tour: Warm, Midcentury Makeover
Houzz Tour: When MoMA Is Your Next Door Neighbor

5 Inspiring Midcentury Modern Homes (2024)

FAQs

5 Inspiring Midcentury Modern Homes? ›

The Schindler House: A Mid-Century Pioneer

Designed by Rudolph M. Schindler in 1921, the Schindler House in West Hollywood set the stage for mid-century modern design principles. As well, its innovative use of space, interconnected rooms, and strong geometric lines paved the way for the mid-century movement.

What is the most famous mid-century house? ›

The Schindler House: A Mid-Century Pioneer

Designed by Rudolph M. Schindler in 1921, the Schindler House in West Hollywood set the stage for mid-century modern design principles. As well, its innovative use of space, interconnected rooms, and strong geometric lines paved the way for the mid-century movement.

What influenced mid-century modern homes? ›

Scientific advances made possible the use of new materials, from polyester to formica, and inspired a futuristic aesthetic. At the same time, Scandinavian Design, with its sleek lines and minimalism, became popular and came to influence the iconic look that defined Mid-Century style.

Who is the father of mid-century modern architecture? ›

The history of midcentury-modern architecture

Frank Lloyd Wright is undeniably the most influential figure on the period. Hallmarks of his buildings—site-specific designs, the consideration for flow between the spaces, and his dedication to the use of wood paneling—are all prominent features of midcentury-modern homes.

What city has the most mid-century modern homes? ›

–New York, NY ranked number one for the best city for mid century modern home buyers with a city score of 40.11 out of 50. –Palm Springs, CA offers the most MCM builds for sale per capita with 271.43 listings.

Who is the famous mid-century designer? ›

The Iconic and Famous Mid Century Modern Furniture Designers – George Nelson, Edward Wormley, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames, Jens Risom as published in the July 1961 Edition Of Playboy Magazine.

What is the most luxury house ever? ›

Most expensive houses in the world
HouseLocationPrice (in millions USD)
Buckingham PalaceLondon, United Kingdom4,900
AntiliaMumbai, India2,000
Villa LeopoldaFrench Riviera, France750
Villa Les CedresSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France450
6 more rows
Mar 14, 2024

What are the problems with mid-century modern homes? ›

MCM homes were not energy efficient and were prone to leaky roofs and drafty windows. They earned a reputation of being difficult and expensive to maintain, and contractors started to avoid building new MCM homes or remodeling existing ones for fear of expensive callbacks.

What is the 1950s house style called? ›

We shine a spotlight on the masters of this midcentury movement, which saw modernist design become a significant part of everyday life.

What state has mid-century modern homes? ›

Feel free to browse the mid-century modern listings that we know about that are available for sale around the country, from Los Angeles, California, Hawaii, New York, Florida, Palm Springs, Texas, and everywhere in between.

Who are the 4 fathers of modern architecture? ›

Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Louis Kahn are four of the most notable architects to date. Read on to find out more about the creative process of these four leaders of the modern era, and why their projects and practices are still influential to our modern times.

Who are the four great makers of modern architecture? ›

Four great makers of modern architecture: Gropius, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Wright. The verbatim record of a symposium held at the School of Architecture, Columbia University, March-May, 1961.

Who started mid-century modern design? ›

George Nelson: The Father of Mid-Century Modern Design.

What state has the best mid-century homes? ›

Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs has one of the highest concentrations of preserved midcentury-modern homes in the world, as the style's emphasis on indoor-outdoor living is perfectly suited for the area's desert climate.

What is the difference between mid-century and mid-century modern? ›

Mid-century modern design is characterized by the elements mentioned earlier, such as clean lines, organic forms, natural materials and functionality. So, while mid-century refers to the time period, mid-century modern refers to a specific design style that was prominent during that time.

What kind of floors are mid-century modern? ›

For a mid-century modern floor, you can expect to see warm tones as well as lighter colors, and some simple geometric patterns as well. This style features concrete looks, smooth hardwood, large vinyl tiles.

What is the most expensive famous person house? ›

Bill Gates. It took seven years and $63 million to build Bill Gates' 66,000-square-foot Medina, Washington, estate, named Xanadu 2.0. Now, it's estimated to be worth more than $130 million. The mansion property boasts some pretty cool features, like a 60-foot pool, a towering trampoline, and sand imported from St.

What is the most popular house? ›

One-story ranches are the most common house style in the United States, but Colonial homes, bungalows, and Cape Cods are also seen throughout the country.

What is the most famous mansion in America? ›

Second to the White House, Monticello is one of the most famous homes in America. The home was designed and built by President Thomas Jefferson and memorialized on the back of U.S. nickels.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 6067

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.