Guest Picks: Colorful Mid-Century Modern

20 finds from the '50s and '60s in turquoise, lavender and more bright hues

Denise Grayson
I'm a design blogger (architecture, interiors, fashion and art) and I also own an online fashion boutique. I'm a bit of a Francophile and adore colour, especially pastels and dusty shades. My dream is to have a mid-century modern house with one spectacularly beautiful room that would make Marie Antoinette feel at home.
I'm a design blogger (architecture, interiors, fashion and art) and I also... More »
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I grew up on the Niagara escarpment in Ontario, Canada and was instantly smitten with the mid-century modern ranch-style houses that I saw in the south end of St. Catharines as a child. Most of them were painted baby blue and ivory and backed onto a ravine. I saw these as "happy" houses and loved the liberal use of glass, slate rock in exteriors and interiors and the extreme slant to some of the roofs. One of these done up with a smart Danish or American interior would make me feel that everything could be right in the world. This must be why David Hockney's masterpiece "A Bigger Splash" resonates so deeply with me. The mid-century modern aesthetic is fun, comfortable and eternally stylish — who needs more than that?


Here are 20 of my favorite furniture and decor finds that will add enviable style and color — I'm partial to turquoises and dusty blues — to any room. I think everyone should have a least one piece from the era. Not that you would be able to stop at just one! — Denise from The Swelle Life
modern dressers chests and bedroom armoires by Chelsea Textiles
by Chelsea Textiles
by Chelsea Textiles
Chest of Four Drawers in Two Tone »
It's amazing what a few simple curves in an unexpected place can do for a look. A chest of drawers is a fairly minor piece of furniture, but this particular set is one that would make me reconsider everything else in the room — anything too fussy would have to go!
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modern armchairs by scandinavian.modern
by scandinavian.modern
by scandinavian.modern
Illum Wikkelsø #110 Søren Willadsen Teak Easy Chair »
Pale blue is the ultimate calming color, so I love that this sleek and curvy Danish arm chair is offered in such a relaxing shade of soft Danish wool. The chair envelopes the body with its wingback design for cozy comfort, so you get the best of both worlds. I'd like to see its softness played up in a room of pastel shades and touchable textures.
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modern accessories and decor by Lushpad
by Lushpad
by Lushpad
Pearl Blue Mid-Century Modern Art Mobiles - $120.00 »
I love the look of a mobile in a room: it's a bold surprise that never goes unnoticed. This beautiful, blue, stainless steel wire and polymer design is the perfect solution for a missing ceiling light fixture. It would be stunning hovering above lots of white gloss, leather upholstery and a ridiculously low coffee table over a shag area rug.
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modern fabric by Skandium
by Skandium
by Skandium
Unikko (560) Fabric by Marimekko - GBP 35.00 »
This iconic Unikko floral patterned fabric is pure joy. It's a heavyweight cotton that I'd love to see upholstering a Danish armchair — the teak arms and legs would anchor the vivid florals.
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modern bookcases cabinets and computer armoires by The Modern Warehouse
by The Modern Warehouse
by The Modern Warehouse
Wim Reitveld Metal Cabinet - GBP 895.00 »
I couldn't focus on anything else in the room — this Dutch double cabinet would hog all of my attention with its large color-block doors in sage green and lemon yellow. Metal furniture isn't usually fun, but Wim Reitveld has made it happen. I'd soften it up a bit with some potted flowers and quirky animal-shaped pieces.
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modern accessories and decor by Skandium
by Skandium
by Skandium
Mari Bowl - GBP 19.00 »
Lilac is such an uncommon color in decor, and a nice unexpected touch of it can instantly brighten a room. The Maribowl is a glassware piece I would use in multiples as decoration, moving them regularly for a pop of color — from the console in the hallway, to the dining room sideboard, to the living room bookshelf and side tables.
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modern sofas by Circa50
by Circa50
by Circa50
George Nelson Marshmallow Sofa - $3,299.00 »
What a showpiece! This George Nelson sofa is more like a sculpture and a great remedy for those who have a tendency to fall asleep on the couch.

The cushions are detachable for cleaning and are available in a wide variety of vinyl and leather colors including lemon peel, light teal, hot pink and seafoam. Using a multi-color approach offers unlimited options and creates the look of a paint-by-numbers paint set. This is a piece to build a room around.
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modern chairs by molly-meg
by molly-meg
by molly-meg
Ercol c1960 Classic Children's Stacking Chair - GBP 68.00 »
The c1960 Ercol stacking chair is a design classic. This one is joyfully painted in the quintessential mid-century modern hue of aquamarine.

It's a children's chair, but it would also look fantastic as a prop for vintage watering cans or artists' supplies.
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eclectic vases by Retro Bazaar
by Retro Bazaar
by Retro Bazaar
Retro 1950s Blue & White Cat Vase - GBP 40.00 »
How can you not smile when a 1950s blue and white cat vase greets you upon entering a room? Use its kitschy cuteness to liven up minimalist decor, and if you dare, put flowers into its head. I like it just the way it is, with its unusually shaped head resembling the sleek curves of Danish design.
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modern dinnerware by Chase & Sorensen
by Chase & Sorensen
by Chase & Sorensen
Pair of Serving Plates by Midwinter - GBP 30.00 »
I love a gorgeous pale turquoise; it's so quintessentially retro yet always feels fresh.

These ridged serving plates would look fantastic on a teak or glossy white sideboard. For a bolder look, I'd love to see the turquoise of these unusual plates pop against the glossy red of a sideboard or 1950s diner-style kitchen table, like the one I have.
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modern mirrors by 1st Dibs
by 1st Dibs
by 1st Dibs
French Round Orange Resin Mirror by Syl »
Now this is a cheery mirror, the kind you look into because you can't pass it without acknowledging it. Round, shiny resin in bright orange is great for offsetting a room with lots of hard lines.
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modern bar tables by Salvage One
by Salvage One
by Salvage One
Chromcraft Vinyl Dry Bar - $550.00 »
There's nothing so perfectly retro as a bar. I love the idea of this curvy blast of turquoise lighting up a dark basement, whether it's used for its intended function or not. I would build up the color by surrounding it with translucent pinks, lavenders and yellows in things like lucite panels, chairs and side tables.
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modern cookware and bakeware by Mark Parrish
by Mark Parrish
by Mark Parrish
Catherine Holm Cooking Pot - GBP 34.50 »
What's not to love about a Norwegian-designed, orange patterned cooking pot? This one by Catherine Holm shouldn't be relegated to dark cupboards but kept on a work top for all to admire. I'd cook up a nostalgic meal for my friends and serve it directly from the pot for a homey, retro dining experience.
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modern table linens by Retro Redheads
by Retro Redheads
by Retro Redheads
Rare Vintage Tammis Keefe Modern Pink & Green Tablecloth - $175.00 »
A quick and easy way to make your dining room table mid-century modern is to find a great tablecloth from the era.

This rare Tammis Keefe tablecloth is pure retro fun and begs for sorbet-colored settings and kitschy knickknacks like ceramic or resin napkin holders.
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modern sofas by The Modern Warehouse
by The Modern Warehouse
by The Modern Warehouse
2 Seat Organic Danish Sofa - GBP 1,195.00 »
There's something very comforting about a piece of furniture that is homey and modern all at once. This Danish sofa in the style of Finn Juhl could fit into a variety of decor styles. Add a little softness to a minimal modern ensemble or temper the ornate carved detailing of French pieces. The slate blue-green of the patterned upholstery is especially versatile — it will go with anything.
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modern dining chairs and benches by Sarah Potter
by Sarah Potter
by Sarah Potter
Rosewood Dining Chairs with Blue Upholstered Seats - GBP 495.00 »
These 1960s Danish rosewood dining chairs feel more like the kind you'd find in an auditorium than a dining room, but that's part of the appeal. They appear simple in their structure from straight on, but a profile view reveals the mid-century modern surprise detail — the upper structure is bent so the chair back sits at a slight outward angle. It's a wooden chair designed for comfort!
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modern kitchen tile by Modwalls
by Modwalls
by Modwalls
Lush 1/2x2" Modern Mini Glass Subway Tile Blend Big Sur - $21.95 »
Nothing invigorates a space like great tiles. These small glass tiles in shades of blue, beige and army green will add retro flair to any style space. The beauty of mid-century modern is how easily it blends with other styles to create individualized spaces. When I grow tired of my all-white kitchen, I can see these as the backsplash behind my gas stove.
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modern artwork by Etsy
by Etsy
by Etsy
MIDCENTURY 17 9x6 by Jim Ward Morris - $25.00 »
If you can't have a mid-century modern home, you can at least have the artwork of one! Jim Ward Morris' original art prints are a visual treat for lovers of the colors and bold design of the era. I'd love to to use this print to create a mid-century modern hallway. It would hang on light turquoise walls with a Danish teak console table below and a pendant ceiling light above — that's all it would take.
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modern armchairs by scandinavian.modern
by scandinavian.modern
by scandinavian.modern
Nanna Ditzel #83 Søren Willadsen Teak Easy Chair »
Now this is what I call a happy chair! The circular shape (typical of Nanna Ditzel design) combined with the original Kvadrat Tonus wool fabric in vibrant cobalt is pure joy and deserves to be a focal point in the room. As with most mid-century modern pieces it has a surprise detail: the back legs are angled outward in two different directions adding stability while also making it stand out from more traditional pieces.

I'd love to see it in front of tall living room windows draped in celadon linen with morning rays of sunshine illuminating the red tints of the teak.
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modern serveware by Chase & Sorensen
by Chase & Sorensen
by Chase & Sorensen
Various Krenit Bowls/Plates - GBP 75.00 »
A great bowl, like these original enameled Krenit pieces (designed by Herbert Krenschel), is a must-have accent in the kitchen and dining room sideboard. The boldness of the deep, slightly triangular shape and contrasting glossy interiors creates a piece that looks best left unfilled. I would arrange several in varying sizes and colors for maximum affect.

Next: 5 Inspiring Mid-Century Modern Homes
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