When it comes to studying interior design in the 1950s, the ideas captured in this 1957 Chevy ad certainly are memorable: A rainbow of eye-popping pastels, design that is long and low and angles and flourishes that suggest speed and even, flight. But just like today, there wasn’t just “one” look in the 1950s — there were several. Some looks gained popularity consecutively, as technology, tastes and social mores evolved… while some ran concurrently, recognizing that the U.S. is a diverse, individualistic, creative nation. In this “What’s Your Major?: Retro Renovation” post, I create my own categories out of seven major interior design trends that I have identified from the 1950s. That said, these are big, non-academic buckets. — I’d love to hear your ideas and analysis, too.
1. Early American all across the U.S.A.
Today, when the mass of shelter media talk about “mid-century” they usually focus on the “modern.” But I believe that in the immediate post World War II-era and well beyond, Early American interiors were far more common. I’ve talked a lot on this site about the influence of Royal Barry Wills and his Cape Cod homes. This style of home was massively popular for many years following the war. True ranch-style homes in the Cliff May style took much longer to take hold and even then, merchant builders all across the country designed ranches with Cape Cod and Colonial design touches. And inside, we often saw: Ranch-style floor plans with Early American interiors. Key elements of an Early American interior could include: Paneling, brick fireplaces with colonial-style molding, maple furniture, Americana wallpaper, plaids and traditional prints, and heirloom pieces from… Colonial days! Here are three more of my favorite stories about Early American design and decor:
- My Mid Century Modest Manifesto
- Mid Century Modest and the blog profiled in an Etsy.com video
- The Royal Barry Wills Cape Home
2. Do It Yourself with Knotty Pine and Resilient Floor Tile
In the same vein as the massive trend to Early American interior design, we saw millions of kitchens with knotty pine kitchens and basements, attics, sunrooms and even main living areas paneled with knotty pine. However, I think this particular design cue was not just about the colonial, but as much or more about the: Do It Yourself. In the aftermath of World War II, Americans did have money to buy homes, but from what I’ve read, they were very conservative about parting with their hard-earned cash. They had the famous Depression mentality. They also had woodworking skills and tools. These factors led them to do a lot of the interior finishing work of their homes themselves. For example: Quite famously, 1.5 story Cape Cod homes — like those at the original Levittown — often were sold with the top story unfinished. Homeowners knew they could finish that space later, as their families grew. Knotty pine fit with the Early American aesthetic of the time, and was relatively easy and cheap to install upstairs. Here are a few of my favorite stories on knotty pine:
- Everyone loves Eartha Kitsch’s knotty pine kitchen..
- And Traci’s, with adjacent, knotty pine dining room…
- And Betty Crafter’s, with its aquamarine appliances and countertop…
3. Heywood-Wakefield and Kroehler Streamline Moderne
At the same time Early American decor was popular, we also saw strong consumer interest in what I will call “Heywood-Wakefield and Kroehler Streamline Moderne” style interiors. These particular pieces, with their bulky, rounded edges, are carryovers from the pre-war Streamline era. The way I remember what “streamline” is, is to recall it’s like a Streamliner train — meant to look like it’s moving, even when it’s standing still. In a way, this is not really 1950s style — it’s 1940s style. But, when World War II was on, manufacturing of discretionary items like furniture ground to an almost complete halt. In the immediate aftermath of the war, manufacturers just pulled out their designs from before the war and started producing them to meet immediate demand. It took a while for new design looks to be introduced. Here are some favorite stories about the streamline look that was still popular from around 1946-1953:
- 1948 Streamline Moderne time capsule house. (Okay, it’s 1948, but you gotta see it!)
- Heywood Wakefield furniture — still made, in the USA, today
4. Pretty in Pastels
The author Thomas Hine dubbed the years 1953-1963 the Populuxe years in a book of the same name. It was an exuberant time — and that led to exuberant colors inside the home, and out. If you have read this blog for more than a week, you know that I love to talk about pink bathrooms. Not necessarily because they are my favorite — I love all the midcentury pastel bathrooms — but because they are “emblematic” of the period. That is: In one little room, they capture the optimism of the 1950s — and they have a story that even includes Mamie Eisenhower. At the same time, though, the pink is not well understood among the mass of homeowners today — which puts these sweetheart bathrooms at risk. Emblematic = Learn about the pink bathroom and you can begin to understand an entire era. More pastel loveliness:
- Where to get vintage colored tile (and more) — all my resources.
- Scenes from 22 blue midcentury bathrooms
- And, my microsite Save The Pink Bathrooms, of course.
5. Full-on Midcentury Modern
The 1950s were glory days for proponents of full-on mid century modern design. To me, the key determinant of what’s MCM is that it lacks unnecessary ornamentation — focusing first and foremost on the function. “Form follows function.” Also important: Using newly available technology to develop new solutions… And then, there is a whole artistic side to things, such as referencing nature and organic shapes. Above: From Armstrong Floors. More:
- 28 places to buy a mid century modern style sofa
- Video tour of the Miller House in Columbus, Indiana
- Steven’s 1957 Alcoa Aluminum ‘Care-free’ demonstration house
6. Better Living through Technology
The invention and mass merchandising of plastic countertops — like Formica — was a big breakthrough for American homemakers. Plastic surfaces were much easier to install and clean, and this was a big deal in a nation where things like automatic washing machines and dryers were will still not accessible to the masses. Ask any woman from back in the day about “washing day” and watch her cringe — it was arduous, to say the least. Things that could make keeping house easier were a BIG DEAL. Gas and electric stoves… refrigerators… dishwashers… air conditioning… vacuum cleaners… even INDOOR PLUMBING… made their way into the majority of American homes only after World War II. Into this “Technology” bucket, I also will included products, through their styling, that reflected the Atomic Age. We saw lights that looked like flying saucers… cabinet pulls and doorsets that looked like starbursts…. and those boomerangs on the Formica are organic shapes.
- Video tour of The Wilson House – a shrine to laminate
- 30 wonderful oddities — “woddities” — from midcentury America (list as of Sept. 2011 – keeps growing)
7. William Pahlmann Eclectic
Of course, no one is forced to follow any single design trend religiously. My favorite new interior designer from the postwar era is William Pahlmann, who is recognized for introducing “eclectic” into the world of interior design. For example, he would put European antiques and ancient South American pottery into a room with a long, low modern sofa… he would mix things up. The room above is not his (as far as I know), it is from a 1950s paint advertisement. It’s always been one of my favorites. And interestingly for this story, it includes a bit of most every trend (although no Streamline) that I’ve talked about. Early American: In the painting and paneling. Resilient floor: In the kitchen. Pastels: On the kitchen cabinets and far wall. Full-on Midcentury Modern: In the furnishings. (Although that lovely dining room table adds Shaker-esque cues to the MCM. Me like.) Atomic: In the light fixture. There’s even a European porcelain coffee pot. A timeless room.
- William Pahlmann time capsule house — 15 interior design lessons (okay, 1962, but I think he’s timeless)
- Some of the interiors designed by Hazel Dell Brown and her Armstrong Floors team in the 1950s are stunning — like this 1954 beach cottage …
- … and this 1954 living room.
Gavin Hastings says
I think that in the “Mass Market World O’ Design 2011” we have more choices, but at the expense of range….52 flavors of Vanilla.
Nate says
“52 flavors of vanilla” I love it. So true. Thankfully many of us have local craftspeople which is where we can still find some real innovation.
pam kueber says
be nice
Eric McGrew says
I really enjoyed this article. It’s funny that recently, I’ve been thinking about many of the same design fundamentals for a post I’m working on as well. You did a really good job of covering many of the major factors in detail, but concisely. Plus, your reference post are spot on as well.
Thanks for your work. Keep it up.
Eric
Tania Lynn Petry says
I love reading your blog, especially the time capsule homes with lots of pictures. Love MCM kitchens and bathrooms. Mine, unfortunately, are not. So I get to drool over the pictures you post. I am selling my house and when it is sold, buying a new one. Have my eye on a flat-roofed ranch built in 1955. Have not yet seen in person, but per the pictures, the kitchen looks like it has only had appliances updated. The cabinets are georgeous with simple doors, little rounded shelves at the ends of the upper cabinets and a scalloped panel above the sink in front of the window to hide the task light. The bathroom needs work–basically a blank canvas.
The other rooms of my house are mixed up periods, eclectic stuff that I have collected over the past 30 years–but it all works for me–not really MCM. If i could find a sunburst clock, that would be my MCM touch to my very eclectic style. (Mom had one and i think brother sold it in a yard sale after she died).
Anyhow, love your blog.
pam kueber says
Yay, Tania! Good luck with your house hunt — let us know when you’re into your new/old time capsule house!
The Atomic Mom says
The Early American reminds me of my Grandmothers so much. All of them had this style in their living rooms. The pink and mint green bathrooms are also a GREAT reminder of their homes. I’d love a knotty pine room in my home, it’s so warm and homey. Thanks for this post, it has given me some good ideas!
Laura E. says
Another feature of DIY was making your own furniture. Issues of “Living for Young Homemakers” feature many ads for furniture legs, etc, and instructions for making your own tables and sofas. Who actually builds their own sofa today?
Back then, though, we didn’t have the credit economy we do today, so young families often struggled to make ends meet in a way they don’t today. DIY was a great option.
One more thing that strikes me in those old magazines is the sheer quality of the furniture. A table would be advertised as solid maple and made in the United States. That table is probably still going strong somewhere, whereas the made-in-China junk you get at Pottery Barn today is going to be in a dumpster in 15 years.