Intersection of MCM and Post-Modernism

Personal Aesthetic

My personal aesthetic has always been rooted in my sense of interior design. For as long as I can remember, I have loved to pick out tiling, paint colors, furniture pieces, and accessories to fit a room. I have always subscribed to interior design magazines and they are the coffee table books I enjoy the most. Within my family, many members have also revolved their lives around interior design. Whether it was pursuing it as a career or just remodeling frequently to create a new, unique space in a home. This has made the topic of interior design even more common at family gatherings and on vacation.

As for my aesthetic, this has constantly changed over the years. I have loved the more minimal designs of the 70s with TONS of wood, leather, and my favorite focal point, conversation pits. Post-modernism in the 70s has a different meaning than today, but I do prefer most aspects of the present-day adaptation. In more recent years, I have liked the mid-century modern aesthetic. I still love the eclectic designs of post-modernism, but MCM does a great job of bringing in an organic presence. I also like to have natural tones throughout. But, I also think it is important to have a few bright, abstract pieces in a room. Without these personality pieces, a minimalist room can feel very cold and unwelcoming. I think the photo below encapsulates what I like to see; minimalist design but with a personal touch and a bit of flair.

Figure 1: Post-Modernist Living Room Design

Without the painting, the room would feel very generic and boring, but there is a new depth added with the bright colors and abstract designs. Additionally, the asymmetry of the sconce and floor lamp makes the room more interesting. Finally, the “sterile-looking” white theme is broken up with the abstract rug, which is also white to not take away from the painting.

Figure 2: MCM Living Room Design

MCM design is shown above in Figure 2. I love the simple design that incorporates many hues of brown to make it feel more comfortable and welcoming. The designs are sleek and look very put together; there is a clear design goal. Scandinavian design has risen in popularity recently, most commonly due to the convenience, economical designs of IKEA. I like the Scandinavian aesthetic but I think it can be a bit too minimalist. My personal aesthetic is a combination of these many different design movements that have influenced me throughout my life. For my final project, I would like to pull from modernism, contemporary, postmodernism, MCM, and more that I find while looking for inspiration.

Final Project Aesthetic and Goals

After exploring my aesthetic inspirations, I would like to stay in a similar aesthetic for my project. This will make the piece I create most usable in my home and daily life. It would be cool to make a piece that is more of an eclectic focal point, so I may explore this more in the coming weeks.

Some initial inspiration pictures I have found are seen below. While these pieces are very different, they all fit my personal aesthetic and will be good inspiration for my final project.

Figure 2: Laser-Cut Sconce

Figure 3: Wooden Table with Floating Glass Top

Figure 4: Wooden Side Table with Glass Top

Figure 5: Rotating Wooden Side Table with Book Storage

In the interest of space and usability, I think something the size of a lamp or side table would be most realistic. I would like to work with wood as I am unfamiliar with woodworking and this would help me develop a new skill. Incorporating glass or an illuminated element would also be a goal if I have time.

Sources/Images

[1] https://eclectic-niche.com/post-modern-interior-design-for-beginners/

[2] https://www.thespruce.com/things-you-should-know-about-mid-century-1391827

[3] https://pin.it/4zHWEp8tb

[4] https://pin.it/1DSegQTaw

[5] https://pin.it/1YY0EaU8T

[6] https://pin.it/2ilZSfxjs