Midcentury Lodge: Creating a Warm, Polished, and Unique Space
I’m so excited to share our friend’s Midcentury Modern Lodge with you! Disclaimer- I had very little to do with the overall design. I just got to come in, help with some art, one or two decor items, and play with the living room layout. It turned out great! (Pats self on back.)
HOUSE HISTORY
Before we begin, one of the fascinating aspects of this house is its overall design. It is considered to be a Passive House. I hadn’t heard this term previously and my friend explained that a passive house is one that is designed to require minimal heating and cooling. That is my dream house for both comfort and environmental purposes!
MIDCENTURY LODGE LIVING ROOM GOALS
The house was built in 1953 and the owners have done a wonderful job staying true to its midcentury design. When we were refining the living room space, one goal was to add in a lodge feel. A standout hotel from their travels was The Scandia Inn and the aim was for a space that was warm, unique, and polished. Preferred colors were teal, yellow, and white. While not a spoken goal, our families both love the coast (be it the west coast of Michigan or the Pacific West Coast) and it was an easy add-on. Coastal elements can be seen in the striped lamp and SPLASH and BIXBY art choices.
I think we hit all of the objectives! Warmth came through the velvet pillows, the faux fur rug, and the warm leather chairs. Floor and table lighting also contributed to an overall warm feeling. The round wood tray on the ottoman was inspired by the light wood accents at The Scandia Inn. A polished feel came from rearranging the book shelves.
For this midcentury space, we moved most of the photos to the top shelf, arranging books by color, and then incorporating collected decorative objects. The living room layout was only slightly changed (despite moving furniture and trying different formations for about an hour- haha- sometimes you have to just try it to know it won’t work!).
Because of the windows and the two large entry points into the room as well as taking into account the traffic flow through the room, we decided to lay down the lodge-inspired rug to define the chair moment by the shelving. This feels like it could be its own space for coffee and the paper in the morning, but for larger group gatherings, they are close enough to join the couch conversation.
Moving the boys’ school photos from above the sofa to the nook and hanging an extra large piece of art above the sofa also contributed to the overall polished feel. We collected all of the boys’ rock collections in the pedestal, which sits atop books related to the family’s interests.
We kept the space unique through decorative objects from travel, gifts, and school creations. Art choices are also personal, making them the perfect way to incorporate a unique feeling to any space. The Bixby Bridge photo also speaks to past travels. The orange tree print is super fun, just like our friends! (Side note: you can read about the art choice and more affordable photography here.)
MIDCENTURY LODGE ENTRYWAY
In the entry way, we kept the lamps and console. We added an arched mirror to bounce light around the space. Our friend also chose the art print that is the perfect way to welcome guests into the midcentury lodge.
MIDCENTURY LODGE SOURCES
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Resource- If you want to read more about Passive Houses- this book looks great! I was recently given Winter Homes Cozy Living in Style and some of these homes are designed to minimally impact and/or take advantage of their settings. It also looks beautiful as a coffee table book.
WOOD TRAY- The Counting House
