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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Original Mid-Century Modern


My friend José Perez lives in a Mid-Century home so classic in its design that advertising agencies occasionally request to stage photoshoots there. José has collected modern art and furniture since high school, so when the 1957 ranch house came on the market, it was a natural fit for him and his collections.


Barcelona chairs greet one at the entrance, and in the distance one can see a Warhol print of Jackie Onassis. The original floor was concrete, covered with a white shag carpet (edgy for 1957), so José laid tile throughout the house.


One of my favorite features is the living room's built-in sand garden. It was doubtlessly designed as a planter, but the sand garden fits the living room's black and white minimalism perfectly, and contributes to the room's calming atmosphere.


A step down from the living room is the lanai, which runs the entire width of the house. It serves to extend the living room, and is a natural center for entertaining. The white wire chairs are by Harry Bertoia and the kidney-shaped mosaic bar is an original built-in. The lanai juts out at an interesting angle to perfectly frame a peaceful lake.


Halfway between the dining area and the kitchen, an image of Jackie Onassis peers over an Eames chair. The aquarium is original to the house. Through the years, José has collected numerous classic 50's clocks, but he's constantly in the process of editing. The one above is a keeper.


St. Petersburg artist Andrea Pawlisz painted the console's top.


A banquette original to the house frames the kitchen. José had it reupholstered a bright orange.


The kitchen has been completely remodeled with IKEA products — only the hood is original.


The TV room got a major redo several years ago, when José had built-ins constructed to better display his large collection of modern American pottery — all of it white. Most of this collection is McCoy. Beautiful louvered doors of gleaming wood hang throughout the house, and are original to it. José has researched property cards and building permits, but the names of the architect and builder remain a mystery.


Jonathan Adler sculptures complement the McCoy pottery.


Tan, ecru and rich wood tones make the bedroom mellow and inviting. The platform bed was custom-made to José's design.


The master bath is all original, including the massive built-in sink. Notice how it's up off the ground for circulation. José says that this is true of all the home's built-in furniture. He's attracted to Mid-Century architecture because it's practical and comfortable, with indoor/outdoor fusion appropriate to Florida style.


A smaller bathroom is decorated with Florida and St. Petersburg art and artifacts. Several years ago, José and I collaborated on the Greater Pinellas Point neighborhood logo, above right. It's always fun to collaborate with someone who has such a discerning eye!
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24 comments:

  1. MArk, your friend's house is absolutely wonderful! I am such a fan of mid-century modern. Lines were so clean and simple, however when taken into the concept of the sapce around them quite complicated!

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  2. Hello Mark:
    What a wonderful house belonging to your friend. It is full of interest and really does evoke the spirit of the late 1950s whilst still assmilating the comforts and essentials of C21 living.

    There are so many good ideas here and yet there is restraint throughout. Integrity is maintained and the temptation to 'overgild the lily' has been avoided to the most perfect of dramatic effects.

    What fun it must have been to work together on the logo project. As you say, when someone has such a honed, artistic eye, they really do make one see things in an entirely different light. What a pleasure and a privilege it has been to be guided round this most delightful and invidual house.

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  3. Hi, David - an interesting observation. More than other spaces I know, this house utilizes diagonals and curved lines.

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  4. Hello, Jane and Lance - I'm glad you enjoyed the tour! The really good Mid-Century design has a timeless quality that fits perfectly with today's design, as you say. And I guess one could ask, how much of today's design has roots in Mid-Century?

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  5. We do not use the word lanai here in the UK, I first came across it on Anna Maria Island, which I think is quite near to you. I love the house and particularly like the white wire Harry Bertoia chairs in the lanai.............Rosemary

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  6. Hi, Rosemary - thanks for supplying the name of the Harry Bertoia chairs, which I'll add to the posting!

    And you're quite right about my being near Anna Maria Island. For those readers unfamiliar with Anna Maria Island, slightly south of Tampa Bay and on the Gulf of Mexico, it is a beautiful sleepy place that has carefully regulated its development. The speed limit is 35mph and the only fast food is a Dairy Queen (at least that was true when I last visited it!).

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  7. What a fun house! Adore the built-in planter and fish tank particularly! great collection of classic mid century design. Love the built-in with his collection of white ware but has he considered painting the back of the cabinet a contrasting color to highlight the collection? Tan or black perhaps?

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  8. what a treat! I love, love those deep louvered doors! The custom platform bed is pretty special too! And that original hood in the kitchen is huge! The whole house carries out the long, horizontal lines through furniture and architecture....just fabulous!

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  9. Hi, Stefan - This is such a fun house to visit, and even though it tends toward minimalism, there's always something new to see when I go over. As I said, José does a lot of editing, all of it impeccable. I'm sure José has considered painting the back of the built-in, but he likes white to predominate, as indeed it does.

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  10. Hi, Theresa - You are right about the long horizontal lines. The house is very spacious (my own would probably fit in the living room!) and all those horizontals make it seem even more spacious. I think the photographs show that this space has a really light, airy feel throughout.

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  11. Rosemary! The island I was remembering so fondly is SANIBEL.

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  12. He has just done a near flawless job here. I so appreciate the attention to detail and the authenticity of the pieces. It is here we appreciate the period within context-adding the tile table, the fla memorabilia, just wonderful-I know it is an invigorating place to visit. The orange one the banquette is inspired. thanks so much for the trip. pgt

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  13. Alas! I only know Anna Maria Island. We have been in the Spring for the last three years. We fly to Tampa, and drive past St. Petersburg on the way. We enjoy eating at the Rod & Reel Pier and the City Pier watching the dolphins and pelicans............................Rosemary

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  14. Wow - what a totally chic house!! Jose has a marvelous eye and has done a really fabulous job here!! And I can't believe the kitchen is Ikea - looks fantastic!

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  15. Your friend's house is just such a beautiful example of mid-century modern, Mark. Wow. While a little too stark and edgy for my tastes, I think I can still appreciate the esthetic. I love the tiled floor and the sand garden and the fish tank and the Barcelona chairs and the St. Petersburg lamp in the bathroom. Nice lay-out too.

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  16. Hi, Gaye - José is a great student of modern fashion and fashion of all sort, and the house really shows that he's done his homework. But I would add that my friend's style is innate.

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  17. Hi again, Rosemary - Please don't tell anyone that we watch dolphin as we dine — we want to keep that a secret!

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  18. Hi, Stacey - Yes, Ikea. It works beautifully in a beautiful context. I personally think Ikea gets an undue bad rap in the blogosphere, but I can't say enough for a company that brings good design to many people, at an affordable price. What José saved through Ikea also allowed him to install a beautiful lighting system.

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  19. Hi, Yvette - Wouldn't it be interesting to see how all your books would get displayed in the quintessentially mid-century modern! I see very vertical stacks.

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  20. Yes, piled from the tiled floor up, bigger, big, medium, small. Like pyramids.:)

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  21. It is a wonderful house of course. What astounds me is the positive reaction people have to cars, homes, furniture, and other design of the 50s and 60s. Yes, they are always being used for terrific ads and editorials, but somehow, it doesn't seem to have any influence on manufacturers. Cars today are ugly and lacking individuality, and I see wonderful homes from the 1960s and 1950s being demolished to put up much larger homes in bad pastiches of historic styles. There are so many wonderful designs that are such modern classics, they deserve to be reissued. I for one would much rather drive a two-seater T-bird than any of the gargantuan SUVs that take up the highways. And people talk forever of downsizing. An open area, modest size bungalow is the perfect home for our greying population. I think there is a disconnection between what is suitable, practical, and pleasant to use and live in, and what is currently being offered to consumers.

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  22. Hi, Terry - I had a similar conversation with a friend just this week. One of the things we touched on was how distinctive every make of 50s car was from other makes. Now it's difficult to tell them apart from each other.

    And you're right about good houses being leveled to make room for bad design. That's why it's so wonderful that my friend not only found a house appropriate to his style of collecting, but was also able to conserve and re-energize it.

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  23. Mark - A wonderful article and review of a truly stellar home. I've been a guest here many times and agree there is something new to see on each visit.

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  24. Thanks, Chuck - "Stellar" is a great adjective for José's house - I've always come away from it refreshed and inspired.

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