The 1960's Interior

For those of us who did not live through the 1960's, it's fun to take a step back in time and marvel at the interior design from an era where color and pattern was king. Perhaps it feels like a breath of life compared to the gray and white "farmhouse" inspired looks of today, or maybe it's just because I have an obsession with mid-century designer furniture. Either way, I am constantly finding myself drawn to and inspired by the designs of the 1960's home.

Back in college, almost 20 years ago now, I found an old Home and Gardens " Complete Guide to Interior Decoration" book at a yard sale. Although published in 1970, so many of the concepts discussed in this book spoke to me. All these years later I still find myself coming back and thumbing through this particular book when needing a little inspiration in designing my own space. Now that I have my own home (built in '63) it feels even more special. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite spaces from the book and the design concepts that go with them.

Color Power and how to put it to work!

“Color has almost unlimited power - to make us see or overlook, to lift our spirits or ease our tensions, to evoke whatever ambiance or mood we want.”

When I bought The Koenig House, I'm not going to lie, the green carpet was initially INTENSE. I'd never lived with THAT much color in my home before. But after only a week, I don't know how I'd ever go back. It helps that my favorite color is green. It also helps that in Michigan, we spend much of the year under snow cover, so the green is a welcoming sign of life while being stuck in a never ending winter wonderland. Colors are a very personal thing and when you find YOUR colors it’s magical. Looking to calm or invigorate? You can choose a single color as your palette, or mix and match like in the above photo. The best part is you have almost limitless options when it comes to using color!

Even if the goal is to keep things more neutral, I'm a fan of doing so by using a mix of warm, natural materials like in the photo below. If you’re going to create a neutral color palette, there are so many more options aside from just gray and stark white. Adding in warm wood tones, natural leather and organic textiles keeps it from feeling too sterile in my opinion. This photo has my 3 favorite natural materials - leather, rattan and a sheepskin fur!

Here's a great example of how you can introduce one pop of color into an otherwise neutral space. Look how wonderful this primary red looks amongst this otherwise neutral pallet!

Pattern and texture

Perhaps my favorite thing about designs of the 60's and 70's is they never shied away from pattern. Whether you go EXTREME like the green bathroom photo below, or use pattern and texture in more subtle ways (like I do in my house), I tend to think this is the key to layered design that doesn't fall flat. If you've ever really looked at nature, you'd notice that patterns are EVERYWHERE! People don't realize that when you incorporate subtle patterns and textures into a design it can actually create a sense of calm (counter intuitive, isn't it). I love how the use of pattern and texture in 60's design is embraced on seemingly every surface.

Architectural details

“it's easy to make a room beautiful that has good bones .”

It seems that as we've moved through home styles over the last several decades, one big thing lacking is the use of interesting architectural details. Before buying our Mid-Century time capsule, my husband and I owned an 1880's Victorian. You simply could not beat the beautiful stained glass windows, crown moulding, solid oak pocket doors with gilded hardware and 12'' baseboard trim. These are the kind of details left out of many modern day homes. It seems that in the 60's and 70's there was a better use of elements such as fireplaces, wood beams, arching floor to ceiling windows or even the iconic conversation pit. These details make a home feel unique. This photo below combines all of the above elements in epic style! The Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs along with large scale slate flooring makes this particular room feel timeless!

I love the built in bookcases and the daybed swing! So fun!

Making it your own

The one thing to keep in mind is that design is very personal. What works for you might not be your neighbor, or even best friend's cup of tea. I learned this first hand when I leaned in, hard, to my home's original 1960's design. Some people don't understand the appeal, but luckily they don't have to live there. No matter your personal style, good design concepts never go out of style. Sticking to the tips above will give you a great start in creating a home as unique and appealing as you are! Good luck!

xoxo - Michele