You're right - it's a little early for my quarterly I-told-you-so rant about
Mid-Century Modern furniture.  But this past weekend I had an unnerving
thrifting experience and feel compelled to vent ahead of schedule.

Last Saturday I was browsing through one of my favorite thrift

shops and quickly zeroed in on a MCM dresser across the store.
Quickly making a bee-line toward the gorgeous piece I halted in

mid-stride, gasping as I spied the price tag.  

My hands were shaking as I whipped out my

phone, eager to snap a shot of the evidence:

People, people, people - from parenting I learned that you have to say

something 3 times in order for it to be effective - do you see that price?

$200.00!!!

  Less than a year ago that dresser would have been priced at under $100.

Thrift stores have become savvy to the popularity of vintage pieces and are

charging more for Mid-Century Modern because they can get more.

Hindsvik at Home

Considered stark by some critics, MCM's clean, simple lines and

unadorned bare wood represented the efficiency and sophistication of

the times.  Between 1940 and 1960 manufacturers worldwide were

concentrating on the future, producing futuristic space-age furniture.  

Apartment Therapy 

Not My Beautiful Home 

 Bright, Bold, and Beautiful

Shoot Factory 

Often referred to as Danish Modern, the minimalist furniture is instantly

recognizable for its elegant simplicity.  MCM is the perfect combination of

detailed craftsmanship and functional design.  At the height of its popularity

it was affordable and a definite departure from the Edwardian flair of the
early 20th century.

Fox On The Run 

Wit and Delight

Source

This beautiful walnut credenza is for sale on eBay for $995.00 plus shipping.

(Yikes.)

The Tenbosch House

The Tenbosch House

Mid Century Modernist

Rainbow Vintage

How can anyone say that MCM doesn't have a sense of humor?!

Charming Treasures

               

 
Design Addict

K.P. Mobler was a leading furniture manufacturer in Denmark, the birthplace

to many of the Mid-Century Modern designs we enjoy today.  If you ever run

across a Mobler piece, buy it.  Period.

Oh, So Lovely Vintage

Daily Dream Decor

Mi Casa es Su Casa

Source

The Scandanavian Side of Life 

House To Home

Room Temperature 

The Decorista

I completely understand that Mid-Century Modern isn't for everyone but would
you at least consider investing in a piece while it's still relatively affordable?
Your great-grandchildren will thank me. 

 

 
          Two questions:
          1.  Who doesn't look for extra living/decorating space in their home?  
          2.  If we can repurpose things, why can't we repurpose spaces?

And by spaces, I mean closets:

Mix & Chic

Would you rather have an extra coat closet or

would you rather have this gorgeous nook?

 

 

Speaking of nooks, how enticing is this snug built-in sofa?

Desire To Inspire

Apartment Therapy 

Compact, contained, and capable - everything a home office should be.

BHG

You can almost double the livable space of a
bedroom by placing the bed(s) in the closet.

Apartment Therapy

Small Place Style
This walk-in closet is now a tiny extra bedroom.

Source
Another bedroom space saving idea -
hide the dresser and mirror in the closet.

The Form of Beauty
I have to admit it, I had an out-of-body
experience when I saw this photo.  Seriously.



Need an extra powder room more than you need
an extra closet?  And how cool is that mural?!

Houzz
Another tip:  hang a full length mirror above
the sink to give the impression of more space.

What a Wonderful Home
Converting a closet into a craft space does
not mean you can't turn it back into a closet.

Source
Removing the closet doors might not be an option.
No problem - simply take them off their runners and
replace them with a tension rod and curtain.  Wallpaper
the back to dress the space up a little.

Kids Space
One of two closets in this bedroom was seamlessly incorporated
into the decor and now serves as a designated study nook.

Storage Geek
The tall ceiling, the gorgeous molding - this space
is way too amazing to have remained a closet.

Houzz

Lighted cabinets give a small space
a sense of having a window.

Shopping Candy
Turn a closet into a mini-library.  LOVE the
french door - it gives such a sense of added space.

The tiny rug in this closets adds to the
feeling of it being a separate room:

New York Times

Crystal Shades

Here's a compromise:  keep the bottom third of the closet as a
cabinet for storage and open up the top 2/3's as a display area.


Want a separate bar and entertaining area?
Look no farther than a coat closet:

Real Simple
A mirror behind the bar gives the illusion of more space.

Sometimes a closet is just a closet:

I Am Momma
If you have a closet in an awkward place
camouflage it to look like an armoire.

Summit Signature Homes
A cute idea for converting a closet into an indoor
playhouse.  Little folks need their space, too!

I've got my eye on our hallway closet - hmmm, I'm thinking a mini-library!

What better way to spend part of your weekend than by admiring

the work of others?  Let's start with a quick trip "across the Pond" - 

 Before:                                                        After:

 Design Sponge

 

Here's a different interpretation of the Union Jack theme:

Renewed Reloved

Blue, grey and white are a refreshing change.

 

 

                 

The Chapman Family

Flea market and thrift store dressers make wonderful

entertainment centers at very reasonable prices.

The antique lounger, below, was given a lovely new beginning:

Before

                                                                                After

   

 

Rarely do I intentionally repost a project but what I truly admire about the

bathroom makeover, below, is that it's so "do-able" for the average person.

                             Before:

                             After:

Visit In My Own Style for a photo

tutorial of this beautiful transformation.

 

These next projects were completed at Euro Paint Finishes:

  Before:                                                                  After:

 


The laminate on the antique dresser, below, was too damaged
to be salvaged so a two-tone paint treatment was chosen instead:
 Before:                                                                     After:

 These end tables are so much more appealing now, aren't they?
  Before:                                                                     After:

 
 

Lastly, these stunning transformations are brought to you by Babble: 

 

 

While Mid-Century Modern might not be for everyone, who couldn't

love this re-do?

This kitchen makeover is almost unbelievable: 

Crazy, right?!

 

Unfortunately, my home office is looking a lot more like this "before"
than the "after":

 

 

Thank you for taking a break and visiting with me.  I hope these
photos inspire you to tackle a Before & After project of your own.