Modernism Week
What is better than Palm Springs in February? Why attending Modernism Week in Palm Springs of course! Modernism Week (really 10 days now) is a celebration of midcentury architecture and design. There are a variety of tours and events during the ten day event and you better get your tickets in October as soon as they go on sale for the pick of the best events and tours.
I have been wanting to attend Modernism Week for several years and this year I finally made it. The week did not disappoint. From the open air bus tour of iconic downtown buildings to the Vista Las Palmas home tour, it seemed like I could not get enough. Every home we saw had some similar elements but each was a personal design statement of the owners. One of the homes we toured had a plexiglass table filled with yellow rubber duckies and a Barbie chandelier.
While I love a variety of design styles, midcentury design is one of my favorites. I love the colors and the clean lines. While many think modern design is cold and unfriendly. All of the homes I saw were very inviting and meant for entertaining. The outdoor spaces were often as nice as the interior spaces. These tours only increased my desire to own my very own home in Palm Springs.
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Mid-Century as Sustainable Design
Walking into Frank Sinatra's house in Palm Springs the first thing I noticed was the cork dining table. And I thought how cool was that? Now I know that the furniture was not his original furniture but as I toured his home it hit me that mid-century design could easily be classified as sustainable design.
The Mid-century homes I toured had durable flooring such as concrete or porcelain tiles with radiant heat, terrazzo or linoleum. Some homes had a passive solar design and nearly all had built-in furniture that was beautiful and functional. Materials such as flooring, countertops, and exteriors were durable and low maintenance. Bathrooms were right-sized and functional. Interiors blended with the exterior to extend the living and entertaining space. I think we can always learn a lot from the past
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Mid-Century Madness
When did all this madness begin or did it never end? One could argue that the mid-century craze was fueled by the Mad Men series (which I have never seen but have plenty of friends who have). As a designer I know that styles just cycle back around and maybe it is just mid-century's time. Whatever the reason, you will have no trouble finding furniture or accessories that are truly from that era or that are reminiscent of the era. I personally have a little bit of both in my home. Here are some sites to help get some mid-century into your life.
Design Within Reach
1stdibs Mid-Century
Hive Modern
West Elm
All Modern
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California - remember to stay water wise.
Marie L. Brown, LEED AP ID + C
Eco-Chic Design 
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