Midcentury Modern

Name: Jessica and Andy Lubets Location: Acton, Massachusetts Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Owned Jess and Andy Lubets have lived all across the country, but it wasn’t until four years ago that they finally found home in a quiet Boston suburb on the outskirts of Walden Woods. Specifically, they found a 1969 Deck House, a two-story post-and-beam structure situated on a quiet street amongst a grove of white pine.

Name: Tanya, Duncan, their two sons, and Maisy, the family Labradoodle Location: Kensington, Western Australia Size: 220 square meters (2,368 square feet) Years lived in: 13 years; Owned Tanya and Duncan’s house is a perfect example of a renovated Australian cottage home. Set in a leafy suburb just 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from the Perth central business district, it has a beautiful natural warmth about it.

Name: Jo Walker Location: Coburg; Melbourne, Australia Size: 75 square meters (807 square feet) Years lived in: 1 year; Owned I was so excited when Jo Walker, the editor of the award-winning Australian magazine Frankie, said I could photograph her home and share it on Apartment Therapy! I had fairly high expectations of her at-home style, and it seriously did not disappoint.

Name: Danielle Levy Location: Mile End; Montreal, Quebec Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented A born and raised Montrealer, Danielle is an avid supporter of her local community which is a defining feature of her lifestyle from food to home design. Much of the artwork and décor Danielle owns has a personal connection, either having been created by a friend or local artist, found at a thrift shop or collected from her travels abroad.

Name: James Burial and his adorable dog, Penny Location: Highland Park; Los Angeles, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 9 months; Rented I met James a couple years ago at SHOPCLASS, where he runs the show in all things vintage. I figured he had a fond appreciation and awe for mid-century furnishings and details from decades past, and once I heard that he’d handmade his own dining table and chairs, I knew I had to invite myself over for a tour. I’m so happy he said yes.

Name: Amy, Noah, River, Darby, and Isaiah Location: Portland, Maine Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 9 years; Owned Far away from white and empty spaces, Amy and Noah celebrate the art of uniqueness, embracing blasts from the past, dramatic patterns and a modern era. The result is so refreshing that it left me speechless. Amy and Noah are the founders of Picnic, an indie music and art festival, and owners of Pinecone+Chickadee, a boutique full of quirky finds and old-time surprises.

Name: Linzi Clary and Spencer Tubbs Location: Providence, RI Size: 1,150 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Linzi Clary and her boyfriend Spencer Tubbs have an eye for interiors and share a passion for mid-century design. Linzi, a fine arts graduate and designer at Speidel, and Spencer, a shopkeeper and musician, moved to Providence two years ago, combining their styles and passions to create one seriously mod and beautiful space that truly reflects their personalities.

Name: Leila Younis and Ike the Pug Location: Ottawa, Ontario Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Owned Leila’s 110 year-old house is spacious, welcoming, and filled to the brim with personality. Since she bought the home four years ago, Leila has taken the time to make the space her own with both large renovation projects such as the kitchen or smaller touches like the accent walls in the living room and craft room.

Name: Jenny and Jim O’Connor (with children Lily, 3 and James, 7 months) Location: State Streets; Livonia, Michigan Size: 1,088 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Owned Jenny and her family live in Livonia’s State Streets, a neighborhood where most streets are named after U.S. states. The neighborhood is adjacent to Old Rosedale, where Jenny’s parents Sue and Doug live.

Name: Matthew Herbert Location: Downtown Phoenix, AZ Size: 468 square feet Years lived in: 6 Months; Rented When Matt first toured White Stone Studios, he was immediately drawn to the aesthetic; he knew it would highlight his personal style and design choices. His previous apartment was about twice the size of the studio, and downsizing his possessions, he says, has been a refreshing experience.

Name: Mark and Emily (and Kally the cat) Location: East Village; New York, New York Size: 330 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Emily and Mark’s East Village apartment may be small, but it’s bursting with light and color. They make small space living look easy — somehow they’ve managed to squeeze all the things that two people need to live (and work!) into 330 square feet, and still create a cozy, beautiful home.

Name: Kip & Saadia McConville Location: Park Slope; Brooklyn, New York Size: Approximately 500 sq ft Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rent Saadia and her husband Kip (not pictured) love to travel, whether it’s within the United States or internationally. They have a love of adventure and trying new things that is infectious. A look through their apartment demonstrates this through decor picked up along the way.

Name: Douglas and Felicia GreenfieldOccupation: Douglas, professor; Felicia, social workerLocation: Queen Village — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 1,100 square feetYears lived in: 1 Felicia and Douglas weren’t looking to buy a place when this light-filled condo became available in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. However, long before Felicia met Douglas, she had attended parties in this very space.

Name: Nathan & Hannah (Foxy, our long-haired Chihuahua)Location: St. Louis, MissouriSize: 1362 square feetYears lived in: 5 Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch is the tip of the mid-century iceburg in the Saint Louis area. Case in point: Tucked in among more expected suburban homes, is the gem of Ridgewood, a time capsule of a subdivision, peppered with modern ranch homes built as affordable and efficient homes in the the 50s.

Name: Debbie MillmanLocation: ChelseaSize: 1,600 square feet — 2 bedroom with backyardYears lived in: 16 Debbie was in the mood for a change but wasn’t sure how to go about it. As Debbie recalls, Susan replied, “Well, if we are going to get new furniture, maybe we should get new floors, and if we get new floors maybe we should get…an entire new everything!” When Debbie asked what she should do with all her old furniture, Susan replied, “Curbside!

Name: Anne Faith Nicholls & Jacob Arden McClure Location: Los Angeles, CA Size: 1,200 Square Feet LoftYears lived in: 4 Months >> Built in 1905 in the Richardsonian Romanesque and Beaux Arts style, the Pacific Electric Building located at 6th and Main Street was LA’s first skyscraper, constructed for use as a terminal and office building for the downtown streetcar operations of The Pacific Electric Railway Company.