Yes, wall-to-wall carpeting is historically appropriate for a midcentury house. In fact, it was very desirable, very popular. My 1951 colonial-ranch originally had wall-to-wall carpet in the sunken living room, for example. I recently did an interview about the history of carpeting in postwar America with Emily Morrow, Emily Morrow, Shaw Floors’ director of Color, Style and Design for Residential Carpet and Hard Surfaces. I also asked her about carpet in the Shaw line today that would be most *authentic*, and she suggested four designs:
These Shaw styles reflect patterns that would have been available in past decades and which are also popular in today’s retro-crazed design world, Emily said:
Avedon: a very small scale diamond
Garden Walk: a non-directional vine
Backstage: a four inch square on the diagonal
Calabria: circles within square
“We have lots of carpet styles in Shaw’s current product portfolio that have become classic looks,” Emily explained. “Although they may feature an updated color palette from what you’d find 40 years ago, these patterns would fit just as well in a 1970s ranch as in a newly constructed home.”
Do Emily and her team pay attention to the styles from the past — even avocado and harvest gold shags?? — as they look to design new styles for the years to come? Yes, she agreed: “The past is always relevant to the future.”
Laura Ainsworth says
I checked on the Shaw Disney collection and see that it has been discontinued. Drat!
Sarah says
If you want groovy bold colored carpet check out Shaw’s Disney Collection. I know… Disney…for kids right? But who knew! They have an amazing chartreuse color called poisoned apple, lovely lavenders with princessy names. I myself got magic pumpkin an amazing bright orange for my 60’s sunken round living room, perfect!
Marcheline says
Forget the … carpet…. LOOK AT THOSE CHAIRS/SOFAS! Now that is something I can get into!
Lynne says
Hmm….with all due respect, I don’t see mid-century retro in any of these 4 choices. We recently carpeted 2 of the bedrooms in our 1955 ranch. The master got a harvest gold, the knotty pine guest room a blue grey. Both were from Evans Black, and so far I am very pleased.
pam kueber says
I’m going to let Emily and Shaw respond as to why they selected these examples.
Katie says
Hi Lynne! I handle the public relations for Shaw Floors, and I wanted to respond to your comment above. Admittedly, the colors shown in the images above are not retro colors — that is because Shaw’s room photography is designed to look as timeless as possible. The patterns shown in these images are really examples of current designs that are “inspired by” mid-century looks rather than an exact interpretation. If a homeowner would like to create a mid-century modern interior, she would have all of the options needed from these styles to pull it off.
xinzi says
I’m so bummed that Calabria has been discontinued. I need that carpet!!!