The Walnut Kitchen That Started It All
The walnut kitchen was the first room we touched, and it set the tone for the whole house. Here's how it came together.
A Sunlit Mid-Century Bedroom
A mid-century bedroom should feel as warm and unhurried as a California afternoon. Here's how we got ours there.
The Conversation Pit We Almost Didn't Build
Everyone told us a conversation pit was a mistake. It's become the most-used corner of the house. Here's how we did it.
Designing a Warm Mid-Century Dining Room
The dining room is where mid-century warmth gets to show off. Here's ours, from the walnut table to the pendant overhead.
Our Breezeway Entry: A Mid-Century Welcome
The entry is the first breath of a mid-century home. Here's how we made our breezeway feel like a warm canyon welcome.
The Den, Paneled in Warm Walnut
Wood-paneled walls are the most mid-century thing we did. Here's how we kept the den warm and moody instead of dark and dated.
A Mid-Century Bathroom in Terracotta and Teak
A mid-century bathroom is all about warm materials and flattering light. Two teak-framed sconces did more than a full reno would have.
The Reading Corner by the Clerestory Windows
Every house deserves one chair with perfect light. Ours sits under the clerestory windows where the canyon sun lands.
Our Canyon-Facing Home Office
A workspace can be warm and mid-century too. Here's the canyon-facing office where I get my best thinking done.
The Backyard Lounge Under the Eaves
Mid-century homes were built for indoor-outdoor living. Here's how we turned the space under our eaves into the best room in the house.
Why Globe Lights Define Mid-Century Style
If one fixture says mid-century, it's the globe. Here's why it endures, and how to use one well in a warm modern home.
The Sunburst Light: A Mid-Century Icon
The sunburst is the most dramatic mid-century fixture there is. Here's how to use one and still let the room breathe.
Layering Light in an Open-Plan Mid-Century Home
Open plans are gorgeous and hard to light. Here's how we layered light across our flowing mid-century space.
Warm Metals: Brass and Copper in Mid-Century Lighting
Brass and copper are the warm metals that make mid-century rooms glow. Here's how to use them without it looking like a theme.
How to Light a Conversation Pit
A sunken seating area is merciless under a bright overhead. Here's how to light a conversation pit warmly and safely.
Choosing a Pendant for a Mid-Century Dining Table
The dining pendant is the statement light of a mid-century home. Here's how to choose and hang one that anchors the room.
Wall Sconces That Feel Mid-Century
Sconces are the most underused fixture in most homes. Here's what makes one feel mid-century, and where to put them.
Dimmers and the Golden-Hour Glow
A dimmer is the cheapest luxury you can add to a room. Here's why I put one on nearly every light in our canyon house.
Lighting Clerestory and High Windows
Clerestory windows are a gift by day and a problem at night. Here's how we light our tall, glassy rooms after dark.
Warm Bulbs: The Mid-Century Secret
You can hang the perfect mid-century fixture and ruin it with the wrong bulb. Here's the bulb that makes a room glow.
What 'Warm Mid-Century' Actually Means
Mid-century doesn't have to mean cold and showroom-perfect. Here's what 'warm mid-century' really means to me.
Five Vintage Lighting Finds I'd Buy Again
Vintage lighting gives a mid-century home its soul. Here are five finds — and vintage-inspired pieces — I'd buy again without hesitating.
Mixing Vintage and New Without It Looking Staged
A room of all-new mid-century reproductions looks staged. Here's how to mix in vintage so it reads collected and real.
Thrifting Mid-Century in Los Angeles
LA is a goldmine for mid-century finds if you know how to look. Here's how I thrift furniture and lighting for our canyon house.
Styling a Walnut Credenza
The credenza is the hardest-working surface in a mid-century home. Here's how I style ours so it never looks cluttered.
Plants That Belong in a Mid-Century Home
Mid-century design grew up with indoor-outdoor living. Here are the sculptural plants that belong in a warm modern home.
The Housewarming Gifts I Always Give
The best housewarming gift is warm, useful, and suits any home. Here's the under-$89 list I return to again and again.
Terracotta, Olive, and Mustard: A Mid-Century Palette
Terracotta, olive, and mustard are the colors that say mid-century. Here's how to use them without your house looking like a 1970s catalog.
Small Mid-Century Swaps That Changed Our House
You don't need a renovation to make a house feel mid-century. Here are the small, cheap swaps that shifted ours.