40 Of The Most Interesting And Beautiful Old Things That These People Have The Pleasure Of Owning
InterviewMid-century modern style refers to the design movement of mid-20th-century interior, product, graphic design, architecture, and urban development. Today, MCM is recognized as a significant design movement by scholars and museums around the globe, and it’s impossible not to see its appeal.
There’s even a whole community on Reddit that introduces itself as “a community for enthusiasts of mid-century modern design. From Charles and Ray Eames to Paul McCobb and Adrian Pearsall.”
Created 11 years ago, back in 2011, the "Mid Century" subreddit is an online destination for examples of mid-century modern design, from furniture to interiors that take our breath away.
Below we wrapped up some of the most interesting examples, so pull your seats closer!
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Before And After Lane Acclaim First Edition Cocktail Table, From 1959! This Poor Thing Survived 6 Decades Of Abuse Before It Found Its Way To Me. That's Twice As Long As I've Been Alive. Crazy!!
I’ve Spent Years Collecting Pieces And Moving Them Around From Rental To Rental Or Hiding Them In Storage. They’re All Finally Together In My First House
Thoughts On The New End Table I Made?
To find out what an expert thinks about the mid-century modern style that has been gaining a lot of popularity lately on Instagram, we reached out to Dr. Lori Verderame, a Ph.D. antiques appraiser who’s an internationally syndicated columnist and an author with 30 books to her credit.
Dr. Lori explained that the mid-century modern style is the characteristic look in design of the late 1940s through the 1970s, so basically it is the design of the 1950s and 1960s. “Mid-century modern design, known as MCM, has become more popular and valuable over the last 20 years,” she said.
It’s In And It Works And It’s Perfect!
Vintage Radio I Bought Today. Looks Perfect With My Thrifted Horse Figure
Been A While Since I Un-Painted A Piece! Fully Restored Brasilia II Petite Buffet With New Tapered Legs. What A Glow Up!
“It features space-age forms, new state-of-the-art materials, the fusion of natural and manmade elements, organic and geometric shapes, bright and bold textile designs, and bright colors. Materials like lucite, chrome, bakelite, and fiberglass are integrated in our homes and fashion,” Lori told Bored Panda.
I Snagged This Edwardian Dress Yesterday. It’s Just Too Stunning Not To Share
I hope you also enjoy sharing your home with the ghost of the original owner... <.<
My Vintage Cycling Outfit And The Vintage Bicycle (1958) That I Restored Myself
My Wife Found This Coffee Pot At The Thrift Store. Yes, That's A Candle Heating It
We asked Dr. Lori if furniture and design items from the MCM period are valuable, and she confirmed that it’s definitely the case. “Furniture by big names in the mid-century modern movement like George Nakashima, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames, and others continue to bring big money from collectors,” Dr. Lori explained.
Moreover, the antiques appraiser argues that mid-century modern furniture and design accessories will only increase in value over time, “as long as these vintage pieces are kept in good condition and are free of damage.”
Green Desk
I Drove Five Hours To Pick Up This Beautiful Hot Pink And Chrome 1950's Table & Chairs
We had a table like this growing up, the chairs were red though. Very cool
Mandatory Isolation Finally Gave Me Time To Get My Living Room Sorted
Finally Getting Around To Showing Off My Dream Home. I Grew Up Driving This Neighborhood Saying Someday I’ll Live Here. Dream Come True
So Cool
Easy Like Sunday Morning
Found My Dream Desk Last Week! Peter Løvig Nielsen For Dansk Flip Top Partners Desk
While the desk is gorgeous, I want to talk about that lamp! I love it!🥰
Ge Fridge From Early '50s. Still Going Strong!
My Luck Has Truly Been Bananas. Broyhill Brasilia Set. Couple Bought A House, Previous Owner Left It, It “Wasn’t Their Style”, They Wanted It Out. $100 For The Set
60 Years Of Nicotine Buildup Goes Bye-Bye! Fully Restored Dixie Petite China Cabinet. Thing Thing Was So Gross, Tarred, And Rough To The Touch I Didn't Even See It Has That Great Vertical Cherry Veneer On The Top Drawer!
!960's Fender Rhodes "Student Piano"
My Grandfather's Coat
After Finding This Chair On The Curb Almost 4 Years Ago, I Finally Had The Means To Have It Reupholstered! Made In Denmark By Madsen & Schubell, It Reclines :)
Found This Set Of Giovanni Travasa Eva Chairs From The 1960’s And Had Them Transported To Portland. I Can’t Find Another Vintage 3-Piece Set In The World. I Paid $500 And Now I’m Afraid To Sit On Them!
Hers And Hers Lounge Chairs
Trying To Convince My Husband To Put An Offer On This 1952 House (Minnesota)
In this situation, just ask forgiveness not permission.
Fully Restored Teak Chest! I Don't Know Who Glopped 2 Thick Layers Of Paint On This Beauty, But It Wasn't "Mint" To Be!
Picked Up The Keys Today For This Beauty, I Can't Believe This Is Our House!
Purchased In 1962 And Packed Away In An Attic Until Now
Bought This Ladderax, With 3 Drop Down Desks, Brass Finishes, Glass Cabinet, And A Drawer For The Shocking Price Of $40. I'm Screaming And Will Never Be This Lucky Again
I scream too, out of jealousy and now excuse me, I go to a quiet corner to sob.
Any Info On This Beautiful Pool Table?
Goodbye To This Beautiful Home My Grandpa Built
Just Picked Up This Drexel Playpen Sofa, $249
My Cool $10 Midcentury Lamp From Marketplace! One Of My Favorite Finds
Wife And I Just Moved Into Our Dream House A Couple Months Ago. Things Are Coming Together
I Am In Love With This Dress. I Can’t Wait To Be Able To Wear It Out More In The Spring/Summer. From The 1970s
Gunne Sax - they made about 90% of all dresses worn to every 1980 prom in the US.
1950s Dior By Bulova Watch
My Old Lamp Sitting Atop Of My Old Radio Sitting Atop Of My Old Dresser
A Few Weeks Ago I Posted My Thrifted Broyhill Sofa- Here’s The Final Result With All My Retro Finds!
In-Laws Were Planning To Give This To Goodwill
I Grew Up Going To My Grandmothers House Until The Hoarding Got Too Bad. She Just Passed Away And My Family Has Been Cleaning Up - I Just Saw This Room For The First Time
This Is Easily My Best Estate Sale Find Ever! I Bought A Vintage 1963 Drexel Secretary From Their Declaration Line With Perfectly Working Tambour Doors. Also Cat Approved
When You Spend 2.5 Years Of Your Lives Meticulously Designing And Constructing A 'Mini Modern House' And It's Stunning - Annie Kampfe And Cliff Donnelly
A Weekends Worth Of Work On My Paoli Platform Rocker, Gonna Make A Matching Footstool Later
Scored This Beauty Today! Howard Miller Model 622237
I have a stardust clock similar to the one behind. A weeding present given to my parents
Just Look At My Free Roadside Find Today!
Since You Guys Liked My Good Friday Look, Here's My Easter Sunday Vintage Look, Complete With Straw Hat Graciously Gifted By My Boyfriends Grandma!
After Years Of Loving Mcm Design, I’m Happy To Finally Have A Living Room That Reflects It In My First Home
My Real Eames Lounge Found For $50
Johnson Carper Ronda Saved From Teal Spray Paint
Recently Refinished This Dixie High-Low Dresser
I Saw The A. Quincey Jones’ Smalley Residence On Ig And Had To Share
Scored This Super Fun Desk Today!
Reversed The Pinterest Job On This 1960s Platform Sofa. Built New End Tables, All New Straps, Foam And Upholstery
Scored This Contour Lounge Chair For $15 On Marketplace. Has The Original (Faded) Receipt Of Sale Stuck On The Bottom
I can feel the comfort just looking at it! A blanket and a great horror novel? See y'all in a couple of days!
Found The Person That’s Been Buying Up All The Clocks 😂
For daylight savings, I'd sooner post a "clocks are one hour ahead of schedule" sign than change them all back.
Teak Built In Wall Unit In Abandoned Home
Saw This Subreddit And Thought ‘These Are My People’ So Here Goes :)
Found This Beauty For Sale In My City. Built In 1965 And Kept Almost Original
I’m On A Mid Century Roll! 2 Weeks Ago I Found A Starburst Clock And Today This Gorgeous Table Lamp!
Client Were Working For Has This Functioning Washing Machine From The 60s, An Absolute Gem
My mum had one of these - I just had an image of her putting bed sheets through the mangle before hanging out on the clothesline.
I Made A Reproduction Of Pete Campbell’s Triptych Giraffes From Mad Men Out Of Birch And Burlap (I Hope Replicas Are Okay Here)
Mid-Century Furniture Stores In La. Is This Even Real? Kind Of Wishing Nicholas Cage Discovered This As The Treasure Cave At The End Of National Treasure Instead. Unreal. All I Want For Christmas Is To Browse This Store Uninterrupted For A Day
My Favorite Piece Of Furniture!
Old Boss Wanted To Throw It Away, I Said I’d Take It!
Just Bought My Mid Century Dream Home
My Boyfriend Found This Vintage Sofa On Facebook Marketplace For $100 - We Were The Second Party To Inquire But Luckily The First People Never Showed Up To Pick It Up! We Deep Cleaned It And Restuffed The Seat Cushions. Crossposted On R/Thriftstorehauls :)
You absolutely scored with this. I can beat it though. We were second to enquire about my dog and as the first people never showed up, we got her. Your sofa is divine but my dog is even better!
Thoughts On The First End Table I Designed And Built?
**lamp Update** Thank You To Everyone Who Gave Me Advice On Changing The Inside Bulb On This Bad Boy!! The Result: A Three-Way Lamp. I Love Lamp
Hello Fellow Enthusiasts!
I’m 62, and this looks like the homes of a lot of my friends back in the day. My parents were older, so were still into post WWII colonial style. So I grew up with that instead of MCM, many pieces of which I inherited, including the solid cherrywood Lane dining room set—-60” round table with 2 extra leaves, pedestal legs, and extra thick original custom table pad, 6 matching captain’s style chairs, china cabinet, and hutch they bought from Strawbridge and Clothier in Philadelphia after my father got out of the Army in 1946—and have in my own home right now.
Picked Up This 1956 Kopenhavn Wall Unit For Free Today. Once In A Lifetime Score!
My Pa Repaired This Clock That Used To Be In My Great Granny’s House When I Was A Kid, And Gave It To Me For Christmas!
Hey Friends! Check Out This Rad Mcm Sectional Sofa We Picked Up! Great Color!
When Mid Century Meets Embroidery 😍
Got This Washer For 50 Dollars And It Still Works :)
You may want to consider replacing the electric cable. Things this age tend to have brittle cable covering.
My Fiance And I Finished The Remodel Of Our Bathroom In Our First Home! Featuring A Beautiful Credenza We Converted To A Vanity
I don't usually well receive drilling holes in things, but this is nice!
The Kuba Komet Was Made From 1957 To 1962 In Wolfenbuttel, West Germany - A 23-Inch Black And White Television, 8 Speakers, A Telefunken Phonographs And A Multi Band Radio Receiver
Best $50 I've Ever Spent
I Travelled All The Way To Dorset From London By Train To Pick This Up
My Office Was Going To Get Rid Of These, So I Asked To Take One Home
Hubby Upgraded Our Mail Box
Airbnb My Boyfriend And I Are Staying At! The Vibes Are *chefs Kiss* Immaculate
My Grandpa Has Lived In The Same House Since It Was Built In The Mid 60’s. While He’s Done Some Updating, He’s Never Gotten Rid Of The Original Intercom System
Check Out My Vintage Outdoor Furniture
Thought You All Might Like My Italian Made Gramophone
I have been looking for a nice bell Victrola for years. When I was a child, they were common as dirt nd unappreciated, so could be picked up for pennies. Never could get my parents to buy one. Once I was old enough to work and had my own money, their price had skyrocketed. I do have a circa 1925 suitcase Victrola I picked up for pennies, which works perfectly, and loads of era-appropriate records. Still would love to have a bell Victrola, though.
My Favourite Score In 2+ Years Of Collecting Is This Lamp I Got Today
Reminds me of the Forward Look..... a tidbit for the fellow car people
Thought You Guys Would Like My Ranch House Circa 1956
Bought This 1954 Mcm House After Years Of Diving By And Sending “Sell It” Vibes At The Property
I Was Told To Crosspost: Our Family's Living Space
Hot 🔥 Af Atomic Bar Credenza I Restored Recently. How Killer Are Those Brass And Bakelite Pulls?
A Facebook Friend Had Posted A Picture Of Their Living Room. With Their Permission, I Present To You This Gem!
Mid-Century Time Capsule, Designed And Built By George Kerr
$300 For The Lot. How Did I Do?
Another Shot Of Our Living Room. Pittsburgh, Pa
It’s My Birthday & I Just Scored This Adorable Cabinet Off An Online Marketplace 🥳 I Love The Sliding Doors!
Find Of A Lifetime
Just Finished Mounting This Poul Cadovius ”system Cado” Unit
This Was Supposed To Be A Close-Up Of The Funky Swag Lamp I Just Picked Up But Then I Thought The Room Was Looking Clean Today. So...funky Swag Lamp Close-Up In Comments
Our Rare Stilnovo Chandelier Picked Up For $100
Omg ! I just googled for this ! You stole it practically for that price…. It ranges from $1500 to $5500 for one like this.
10 Years Collecting To Fill My Tri-Level House Choc O Block Full Of Vintage Goodies
Just Scored This Fully Functioning Admiral Alarm Clock / Radio After Helping My Friend Clear Out His Mom’s House
Oh my gosh. With the push/pull button thingy to set the clock and alarm!
My Grandpa Hooked It Up
Birthday Gift For The So. Hooker Mainline
Came With The New Home!
Vintage Sage Green Living Room Set
A Few Photos Of My Grandparents’ Living Room
Rainy Day Office Vibes
Somebody Pinch Me
These were uber popular back in the late 50’s and 60’s during the space race days. I think this was called “atomic “ something. This is a charming set.
Found This Lane Table In A Dumpster!
Merry Mid Century Christmas! 🎄
Is $600 For This Set A Good Deal?
Was Clearing Out My Late Grandad's House And Came Across This. Thought I'd Share It Here :)
Hope you don't do what my father did. Made a console TV into just a cabinet.
My Family’s Clock Since The 1960s. Just A Lil Sunburst For The Vibes
My Kitchen Is Starting To Come Together! Just Put Up Wallpaper Today That I Personally Designed And Am Really Excited About!
Got This Beauty For Free Last Weekend! The Owners Wanted To Throw It Out - Now It’s The Centerpiece Of My Living Room!
Wtf on the trashing and landfill stuffing ? Just wtf. Give them to me instead
And.... It's Ruined 😂 Was Nice For One Day
Hope You Like Our Ever Changing Mid Century Inspired Living Room!
Ready For The Holidays!
I don't see a color wheel that usually went with the silver trees. We had one when I was a kid and it looked so beautiful at night.
Do They Worship Mid Century? New York, NY
Recently Found This 1953 Wallpaper Sample Book At An Estate Sale
My Living Room Set Up Is Finally Finished!
Update Midcentury Kitchen
I Just Scored This Green Beauty
Stayed At This Amazing Home In Jefferson, Tx. It Was An Absolute Dream
Got This Boy For $172 At An Estate Sale Today!
Smoking Isn't Cool Anymore But This Ashtray Still Is!!
Vibe In My Den
Picked This One Up For The Price Of The U-Haul To Haul It. I Haven't Found Any Info On It, But Refinished It Anyway
I bet there's some beautiful wood grained veneer under that paint, wait till the summer, get it outside and strip-it . . . you can always repaint if you don't like it bare!
Another One Of Today’s Pick UPS
Found A Lane Coffee Table At Goodwill For 15.99 And Brought It Back To Life
A $50 Craigslist Find, Totally In Love
Refinished A Buffet I Got For $25
My Mid-Century Backyard Reno ~design And All Work (Except Concrete) By Me~
There are some younger people, with really good eyes for quality, picking up some quality furniture at thrift shops and online marketplaces that is just being thrown out by people who have no idea or appreciation for its quality. I’m glad it’s being rescued, repaired, and refinished—-and, as someone who was born mid-century, so was around all these styles of decor when they were new, I know what I’m talking about when I say these younger folks are assembling some very authentic-looking period rooms. Plus, a lot of what they’re buying and restoring are investment pieces, many of which will only appreciate in value, that they can pass on to their own children.
These are cool to look at but I grew up looking at this style of decor and I find I don't miss it at all. Tons of pearl clutching about the painted pieces but folks got very tired of looking at the same thing for so long. "Back in the day" we kept furniture until it was beyond use before we replaced it so if you grew weary of seeing a credenza in the original wood you simply repainted it. I'm working on a small chest of drawers that served all 4 of us as infants (nearly 70 years) and I have no intention of taking down to the bare wood as we (surviving sis and brother) only knew it as "the little white chest of drawers".
There are some younger people, with really good eyes for quality, picking up some quality furniture at thrift shops and online marketplaces that is just being thrown out by people who have no idea or appreciation for its quality. I’m glad it’s being rescued, repaired, and refinished—-and, as someone who was born mid-century, so was around all these styles of decor when they were new, I know what I’m talking about when I say these younger folks are assembling some very authentic-looking period rooms. Plus, a lot of what they’re buying and restoring are investment pieces, many of which will only appreciate in value, that they can pass on to their own children.
These are cool to look at but I grew up looking at this style of decor and I find I don't miss it at all. Tons of pearl clutching about the painted pieces but folks got very tired of looking at the same thing for so long. "Back in the day" we kept furniture until it was beyond use before we replaced it so if you grew weary of seeing a credenza in the original wood you simply repainted it. I'm working on a small chest of drawers that served all 4 of us as infants (nearly 70 years) and I have no intention of taking down to the bare wood as we (surviving sis and brother) only knew it as "the little white chest of drawers".