Finding A Kindred Spirit For MCM Homes

In total honesty, I admit that being an avid fan of Mid-Century Modern homes and decor can be lonely.

Especially in an area where neighborhoods are popping up everywhere with cookie-cutter homes all stacked in neat rows and small yards. Or your closest neighbors and friends are buying small plots of 2 to 5 acres of land and building their dream Farmhouse, complete with a white exterior and black roof.

But recently, on a trip to Missouri to visit my son, a random meeting at the neighbor’s mailbox, sparked an immediate connection with another kindred spirit who loves Mid-Century Modern homes probably even more than I do.

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A style that transcends decades and trends.

The characteristics of Mid-Century design have an alluring appeal that has withstood time.

Following the styles of Art Deco and Victorian design with their more elaborate characteristics, MCM introduced a new era of design in the mid-1920s through the 1970s. Mid-Century Modern style emphasizes the more casual lifestyle desired after WWII.

Its prominent features include open spaces, clean lines, open floor plans, large windows, and a connection to nature.

When you live in a MCM home, or one inspired by MCM style, you tend to design your spaces differently than the mass market and current popular trends.

You know you are an avid mid-century modern enthusiast when…

Your vintage mid-century furniture will never – never ever – be painted over. Unless the piece is damaged and you have to hide it because throwing it out is not an option either.

You drop names from famous designers from the 1920s and 1930s with ease in conversations about your home and can describe their styles and what influenced their interiors or furniture.

You may or may not have a framed poster showcasing the designer chair evolution since 1900 and can not only point out the iconic MCM chairs you own and describe the ones you wish you owned. (Yeah, I am that geeky interior designer).

You can’t help yourself and must point out every Mid-Century home or piece of furniture on TV shows to your family whether they want to know it or not. By now they already recognize it but I still have to point it out.

You quickly scan the aisles and shelves in thrift stores, or estate sale photos, for the Mid-Century Modern pieces before looking at anything else.

You get used to the reality that a new trendy accessory looks out of place in your home. Such things are so beautiful in most homes, but will never blend well with your mix of atomic motifs and bright colors.

Mid-Century Modern Design was one of my favorite classes in design school!

This in no way means that I don’t appreciate other home styles, haven’t designed homes in these other styles, or don’t subscribe to magazines filled with colorful pages of home styles that I can say “I would live there”. I am also an interior designer who loves and celebrates with my friends the changes they make in their homes despite what style they favor.

As for me and my home, it will always have a pronounced Mid-Century flare.

It is a style that not everyone likes or understands the attraction for it. This is a judgment-free post.

But if you find someone with the same deep connection and genuine concern about preserving Mid-Century Modern homes, you have found a true kindred spirit.

front view of home — Our house on Monticello Drive.

Finding an unexpected kindred spirit.

Which brings me to the story in this post.

Recently, we took a trip to Poplar Bluff, Missouri to visit our son and his family. Scattered throughout his older neighborhood, are several MCM treasures most needing some TLC and repair, as is often the case with these period homes.

Next door to his fixer-upper is one of these rare MCM homes.

Hidden behind overgrown hedges, it was painted in a dull shade of cream above a stacked stone facade. I had noticed it, of course on other visits, but didn’t give it any more interest than a casual nod in acknowledgment. It was rather plain and boring in its worn state.

This trip was different.

Earlier this year, new owners acquired the house, with a shared commitment to transform its sleepy existence into a dream home.

And I don’t mean a transformation that wrestles against the quirky features of Mid-Century Modern architecture in an attempt to force a unique home to conform to today’s more popular design aesthetics.

No, these homeowners are true MCM enthusiasts with a genuine concern for preserving a home’s history.

Connection with a compliment.

At a random meeting at the mailbox, I complimented the new owner, Linda, letting her know I admired what she had done with the home.

She excitedly explained that she had dreamed of owning a Mid-Century Modern home for decades and exclaimed “This old girl was built in 1959 and she is a beauty inside!”

At those words, I knew I had found my person, another kindred spirit. We were going to have a lot to talk about.

Seconds later, I found myself ushered through the decorative double door entry and enclosed in the wonder of original pickled cedar paneling, high ceilings, brick wall features, sunken living rooms, and amazing modern light fixtures.

She shared a story for every room.

A story for why she kept the original mid-century walls and floors intact, or why she had to change them. There were even more stories of how she had to remove or work around a previous owner’s attempt to rid the house of its special character.

Like most devoted Mid-Century enthusiasts, she loved to talk about and share her home. Sharing our common interest and connecting on a much deeper level than just neighbors, I could have spent hours chatting through every project and future project they have planned to bring life back into this gem of a home.

Enchanted by every discovery as we progressed through her home, I didn’t even think to ask if I could take pictures. For me, taking pictures sometimes interferes with the experience. Besides, that would have diminished the meaningful connections and conversations we were having about a design style we both adored.

Updating the inside and the outside.

Staying true to Mid-Century Modern’s connection to nature, Linda and Tobe are just as enthusiastic about restoring the landscaping and exterior features as they are about the inside of the house.

Gone were the overgrown hedges to reveal beautiful stone siding and a large original stone planter along the now-visible carport. Above the stone siding, the house has been painted in a natural earthy green over the once dull creme color.

Like my own home, the original trim color of their house is a dark burnish brown that they had elected to keep.

A similar shade of green is also the color we are considering for our exterior over the original light gray. Seeing my color vision for my home’s exterior beautifully used in perfect harmony with the brown trim color was exciting.

Still So much to learn.

Linda knew the name and need of every new tree and flower they were introducing back into the landscape. Something I am still striving to learn.

We would have stayed longer but an overactive 3-year-old who was denied the walk promised, and a call to come to dinner back at the house prompted us to say our goodbyes.

With a promise to return on our next trip to admire the continued renovations, I felt like we both experienced a connection of kindred minds and found someone who would become a true friend over time.

Since then, my son visited with his neighbors again and took the photos shared in this post, with their permission. Linda has promised to make her home available for interior photographs next time.

Something to look forward to and another interesting conversation with some true kindred spirits.

Hugs,