1930s Duplex Meets MCM Style

When our client contacted us after moving into an adorable duplex on a tree-lined street, we were more than excited to help her fill it with her unique style. We devised a design scheme that ties in mid-century modern pieces — which we felt would complement the home’s 1930s style architecture — with modern elements to freshen the home’s overall feel. We brought in a bounty of colors, textures and prints to give the home an eclectic personality. Since our client has a young son, we made sure to incorporate plenty of upholstered pieces and layered rugs for comfort, as well as a gallery wall to display family photos.

In the main seating area of the living room, we sourced a Chesterfield sofa in an oatmeal color for a dose of sophistication. We then brought in loads of color and warmth with a brightly hued kilim rug, which we found for a steal. A rattan chair (a one-of-a-kind vintage piece we snagged from eBay) and other rustic elements lend the room a collected-over-time look.

To tie in the mid-century pieces used liberally in the home, we added an Eames-copycat round coffee table for a fraction of the price of an original. The art on the focal wall is crafted from budget-friendly wrapping paper sheets and affordable frames. The sofa pillows and table lamp are all from Pier One.

In our client’s son’s room, we created an IKEA hack out of two Stuva benches (which ingeniously hide a multitude of toys). We had a piece of foam upholstered for atop the bench to create a window seat, providing quality cuddle-up space.

The flame color of the IKEA Strandmon chair provides a bold graphic punch. An articulated lamp (IKEA’s Rannarp) lights up the cozy reading nook perfect for bedtime stories. The mid-century modern dresser came from Highland Park’s own Sunbeam Vintage, a favorite haunt. A complementary kilim rug finishes out the space and ties the two rooms together.

In the living room bump-out space, a peacock and gold wing back chair makes a big statement paired with a fiddle-leaf fig (the plant most coveted by design lovers). The chair — a cast-off from a former client — had been previously upholstered in a sad pink floral print. It now serves our client as a meditation and reflection chair.

A small mid-century modern credenza found on craigslist was just the right size for our client’s television to perch upon and to hide unsightly cords. We sourced the entry cabinet at an Echo Park vintage shop. The small turquoise lamp is from Pier One. Yellow curtains with organic patterns bring sunshine indoors and play off the warm tones found throughout the home.