Design

We show you plenty of great examples of Mid-Century Modern furniture, interiors and architecture here on the Swank Lighting blog, but something we often don't pay a lot of attention to is color. The Mid-Century era had its very own color scheme, and incorporating or finding inspiration from these colors can help bring a super retro-feel to your spaces--whether you bring them in on Mid-Century furniture or not. Perfect for paint colors, accessories and yes, even furniture, the colors found in these fun Flickr finds would look great in an interior meant to embody a Mid-Century Modern feel. studiosmith studiosmith JAGwired ezioman Devil.Bunny seier+seier+seier back_garage back_garage back_garage back_garage back_garage Architecture & Food Architecture & Food

Last week we focused nearly all of our posts on the colorful design inspirations of Verner Panton . While we thought his design ideas were amazing, we also know that not everyone is as interested in such bold, bright colors as he was. That’s why today we bring you a design influence who’s work carefully and skillfully straddles the line between 70s psychedelic color and Mid-Century Modern cool. Edward Wormley’s work is stylish, no doubt about it, but it’s also very accessible, as it can be used in a number of different interior styles and enjoyed by homeowner’s of varied tastes. Because his work is so varied, it’s hard to pin down specific characteristics that all his pieces have in common, but you can expect to see a mixture of clean, straight lines with the occasional interesting angle. Some of his pieces feature bright colored upholstery; others more demure neutral fabrics---but all his pieces seem to both blend with their surroundings and stand out from the crowd. Not even sticking...

If you love 1960’s style design and are a big fan of color, then you’ll definitely want to check out today’s designer influence: Verner Panton. Considered by many to be one of Denmark's most important interior and furniture designers of the 20th-century, Panton’s use of shape and color not only summed up an entire generation of design, it continues to wow design enthusiasts today. You probably are familiar with Panton’s work in terms of bright colors and distinctive chairs. His most famous furniture works were the Cone Chair (1958), the Peacock Chair, The Panton Chair of 1960 and the S Chair, but you may also recognize his other popular pieces like the Bachelor Chair, Trumpet Chair, Heart Cone Chair, Relaxer Chair, and his confusing Phantom Chair/Table. As mentioned, Panton was also a huge proponent of color, often times blending hues in dizzying palettes. While his furniture was available in an array of bright and bold colors, it was in his experimental interior environments that ...

Yesterday we brought you the fresh and modern designs of Mid-Century furniture maker, sculptor and artist Harry Bertoia . We loved the Diamond Chair as much yesterday as we have for years, and thought it was high time we featured it in a Perfect Pair! We think Bertoia said it the best when he described his Diamond Chair (or any of his grid-like, steel welded furniture) “If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them." We love the description of a chair made of air, one of our earth’s elements. It makes something otherwise completely industrial looking have a more natural-feel to it. Not that the undulating curve of the back of the chair doesn’t give off a natural feeling itself. Altogether, the piece is a stunning example of furniture standing for something other than just a piece of furniture. It's good-looking, and if you’re worried about the comfort of sitting on a metal grid, know that many upholstered cushions ar...