Nearly two decades ago now, Susan and her husband put a letter in the mailbox of this eastside home: "If you have any interest in selling, please reach out." But really, who would give up a Flansburgh House? Fast forward to 2020, when the house went on the market! By then it was clear that three children and a busy home design studio couldn't be crammed into this efficient footprint. But what's second best to moving into your dream home? Being asked to redesign the functional core for the family that was. In this classic Flansburgh layout, all the rooms align tidily in a square around a central hall and open air atrium. As such, all the spaces are both connected to one another and also private; and all allow for visual access to the outdoors in two directions—toward the atrium and toward the exterior. All except, in this case, the utilitarian galley kitchen. That space, oft-relegated to second class in midcentury architecture, got the shaft, with narrow doorways on two ends and no good visual access to the atrium or the outside. Who spends time in the kitchen anyway? As is often the case with even the very best midcentury architecture, the kitchen at the Flansburgh House needed to be modernized; appliances and cabinetry have come a long way since 1970, but our culture has evolved too, becoming more casual and open in ways we at SYH believe are here to stay. People (gasp!) do spend time—lots of time!—in their kitchens! Nonetheless, our goal was to make this kitchen look as if it had been designed this way by Earl Flansburgh himself. The house came to us full of bold, bright color. We edited out some of it (along with the walls it was on) but kept and built upon the stunning red, orange and yellow closet doors in the family room adjacent to the kitchen. That pop was balanced by a few colorful midcentury pieces that our clients already owned, and the stunning light and verdant green coming in from both the atrium and the perimeter of the house, not to mention the many skylights. Thus, the rest of the space just needed to quiet down and be a beautiful, if neutral, foil. White terrazzo tile grounds custom plywood and black cabinetry, offset by a half wall that offers both camouflage for the cooking mess and also storage below, hidden behind seamless oak tambour. Contractor: Rusty Peterson Cabinetry: Stoll's Woodworking Photographer: Sarah Shields

Mid Century Modern remodel, laundry room. Julia Creighton
Example of a mid-sized mid-century modern laundry room design in Seattle

Charles Davis Smith, AIA
Inspiration for a mid-sized mid-century modern light wood floor and beige floor great room remodel in Dallas with beige walls and no fireplace

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

This complete remodel was crafted after the mid century modern and was an inspiration to photograph. The use of brick work, cedar, glass and metal on the outside was well thought out as its transition from the great room out flowed to make the interior and exterior seem as one. The home was built by Classic Urban Homes and photography by Vernon Wentz of Ad Imagery.

Shane O'Donnell Photography
Home design - mid-sized 1960s home design idea in Los Angeles

Example of a mid-sized 1950s l-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The cozy Mid Century Modern family room features an original stacked stone fireplace and exposed ceiling beams. The bright and open space provides the perfect entertaining area for friends and family. A glimpse into the adjacent kitchen reveals walnut barstools and a striking mix of kitchen cabinet colors in deep blue and walnut.

We took a pass through room without purpose and turned it into a vibrant, functional, high design office that works well for the entire family. Wrap around shelving, inspired by mid century designs, gave the room loads of personality and storage for both husband and wife, and their 2 year old son. While children's books, crafting tools and educational supplies are stored on the easy-access lower shelves, work materials and reference books are stored on the top shelves. A room-wide desk provides an ample side by side work space for both professionals to share comfortably.

The Exterior got a facelift too! The stained and painted componants marry the fabulous stone selected by the new homeowners for their RE-DO!
Example of a mid-sized 1960s gray split-level mixed siding house exterior design in Milwaukee with a shed roof and a shingle roof

Example of a mid-sized 1950s l-shaped medium tone wood floor, brown floor and tray ceiling open concept kitchen design in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized 1960s 3/4 multicolored tile and mosaic tile bathroom remodel in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Our Austin studio decided to go bold with this project by ensuring that each space had a unique identity in the Mid-Century Modern style bathroom, butler's pantry, and mudroom. We covered the bathroom walls and flooring with stylish beige and yellow tile that was cleverly installed to look like two different patterns. The mint cabinet and pink vanity reflect the mid-century color palette. The stylish knobs and fittings add an extra splash of fun to the bathroom. The butler's pantry is located right behind the kitchen and serves multiple functions like storage, a study area, and a bar. We went with a moody blue color for the cabinets and included a raw wood open shelf to give depth and warmth to the space. We went with some gorgeous artistic tiles that create a bold, intriguing look in the space. In the mudroom, we used siding materials to create a shiplap effect to create warmth and texture – a homage to the classic Mid-Century Modern design. We used the same blue from the butler's pantry to create a cohesive effect. The large mint cabinets add a lighter touch to the space. --- Project designed by the Atomic Ranch featured modern designers at Breathe Design Studio. From their Austin design studio, they serve an eclectic and accomplished nationwide clientele including in Palm Springs, LA, and the San Francisco Bay Area. For more about Breathe Design Studio, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/atomic-ranch

Mid-sized mid-century modern wooden floating open and metal railing staircase photo in Seattle

As the kitchen is in the center of the house, we finished it with wish bone chairs they perfectly complement industrial wooden table they have. We kept the old chandelier and vase.

Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized mid-century modern u-shaped slate floor and black floor enclosed kitchen idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and window backsplash

Living room - mid-sized mid-century modern formal and open concept painted wood floor and gray floor living room idea in Charlotte with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv

Owner's spa-style bathroom
Example of a mid-sized mid-century modern master blue tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile, white floor and single-sink corner shower design in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Julie Mannell Photography
Mid-sized 1960s l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula