Mid-Century on Reddit

Reddit is a pretty solid time waster in my life, and I just found the mid-century subreddit so all my free time is now accounted for. If you don't know what Reddit is, it's a social network and news site where people share interesting things they find on the internet. And subreddit's limit those things to a specific topic, in this case mid-century stuff.

The mid-century subreddit is filled with people sharing photos of their mid-century homes, trying to identify unknown pieces and bragging about great garage sale finds. I'll be hanging out there a lot, especially if people keep posting truths like this:

Streamline Moderne and Mid-Century Modern

There's a style mid-century buildings that I refer to as Miami midcentury: big windows, round corners and lots of curves, stucco and doors with porthole windows. I call it Miami midcentury because I tend to see it when I'm visiting little beach towns, places along the coast or quant little dinners on vacation (and because I love alliteration). 

Turns out that style is actually called streamline moderne, and that it has more to do with art deco than anything midcentury. Although, it's probably more in the middle than an either/or proposition; it's the type of architecture that seems to perfectly bridge those two eras.

Late Night with Seth Meyers Desk and Chair

I like to think that mid-century furniture works anywhere. The clean lines, the rich wood tones, the beautiful legs. But the evolution of the Late Night with Seth Meyers set proves that's not the case.

The first Late Night with Seth Meyers desk was a classic example of a mid-century desk, but it was weird to see Seth roll around in his chair under the desk. And speaking of chairs, they had a gorgeous mid-century modern guest chair, but I think they ordered the children's size. 

Take 2: Seth got a solid desk so you couldn't see his feet dangling and his chair got an upgrade. They also upgraded to the adult size guest chair. But guests still looked a little uncomfortable.

So it was time to roll in the big plush chairs. And now it looks like a classic TV talk show set. And it looks a lot better. I guess late night shows are just a place that mid-century furniture doesn't work, which is weird because a lot of late night shows have a mid-century undertone and feel to them.

Cheap Midcentury Modern Planters

They're back, again. Target's Room Essentials planters have made a return. And again, I bought a few gray ones. They're still the best, inexpensive modern planters for my money.

This time red and teal blue accompany the ever present gray. I think either would add a nice pop of color in most midcentury modern homes, they just don't work with our mid-century color palette.

Mid-Century Modern Art Toy: Matte Dark Sapele Wood Grain Qee

If I have learned anything with my many Vintage Views interviews, it's to buy it when you see it or you're going to regret it for a long while. It's a lesson in mid-century furniture hunting that perfectly translates into mid-century modern art toy buying.

So when a dark sapele matte wood grain qee came up on ebay today (a search that I've been following for years without a single hit), I bought it within minutes. 

As quick as I was, there were already two watchers on the item. Perhaps they'll learn to buy it when they see it in the future.