apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

if I remember my design history correctly, most of the mid-century modernists liked to contrast their designs against tribal rugs and other ethnic pieces.

I love the mix. I have midcentury pieces, but a turkish rug for my living and indian silk pillows.

*living room

At second glance, I don't think I'm enamoured by that light blue wooden table though. Doesn't work there at all for me.

Not sure I'm feeling it.

and how do you get by between the couch and the table?

I love the mix of the old and new. Although I agree that the blue table doesn't really fit.
designinginmysleep.com

The stuff on the rug (not the table) looks perfectly natural, although not quite fitting my style and definitely not fitting my living habits.

What gets me is how the terrace/balcony door appears to lead to nothing but a many-story dropoff. That makes me really, really squirmy.

I like it - though for me, the most exciting part is the window wall with great view.

i'd say this is great, except for the too-tall lamp and also the blue table. otherwise, the mix of styles is handled nicely. although who's gonna notice with that view?!

I like to mix but I don't think this is a good example it looks a bit lifeless.

I like a more traditional rug underneath modern furniture. I have a Barcelona chair paired with a Persian rug and it looks great. Of course, I also like the blue table...I think it looks interesting. Plus, we can't really see the rug; it may have that color blue in it.

I have yet to see a persian rug successfully paired with modern or ultra modern (including the photo above). In my opinion, they should never be used with any sort of modern.

Of course mid-century modern and "ultramodern" go together really well. I was really surprised to not see more of it when I joined AT.

I say no. Contrast is great, but the tie-in has to be conceptual. So what's the conceptual connection between an Eames Lounger and a Persian Rug? I guess they're both expensive, outside of that it looks "slapped together" to me. An organic shape like a cowhide rug would work, or an older style of rug that still adhered to similar principles as modernism such as bold geometry (I've seen beautiful, simple, hispanic and native american rugs around).

http://www.eamesoffice.com/images/feature/images/vc9650.jpg

As for contrast, I think that people should focus on color and texture (the basics) before they get all crazy with the tex-mex asian pita cheesecake.

Also a no. A big no. A juxtaposition of styles doesn't always signify that a great deal of thought was put into the contrast. This is clutter with little sense of a plan. All good pieces, but they don't play off each other at all. The Eames lounger and the couch clash, both with each other and the rug. The spun lamp is cartoonishly large for the space, the table, which could possibly add a dash of much needed color, adds the wrong color. Don't get me wrong, I don't like OCD-style matchy-match furniture pairings, but if even one piece in this room complemented another, it'd be a big step forward.

The "lifelessness" on which hrhprincessfiona comments is because every piece (with the exception of the blue table) is a "classic" and the accessorizing is so tentative. Kill the table, bring in some big plants, and substitute larger art plus more dramatic pillows that speak to the rug, and you'd see a magazine-layout room.

I personally love that type of mix. My style is also very midcentury-modern yet (maybe it's from my childhood?!) I've always loved a brick red Persian rug. To me, it just feels more personal and cozy. Agree however that the room as a whole doesn't do it for me (that table?!?!) :)

Colin nailed it: a good mix has to be conceptual.

Whoa, hey guys. Looks like everyone's having a hey-day, so I thought I could at least defend my choices. As for the table, that seems to be a real thorn! Actually the blue is pulled from art on either side of the room, which unfortunately aren't seen in the pictures. One comment about the placement was right and I have moved things around so there's more room between couch and table. About the conceptual plan, I've always been that... these are all pieces that I adore and even though they span styles and time-frames, I guess the real cohesion is that I love them all. Maybe that doesn't play out without knowing the owner. There's a lot of juxtaposition in the place, from the toys to the art to the artifacts, but apparently the whole picture isn't portrayed in the pics.

I did have to laugh about the comment of adding a cowskin rug to it... I know I'd REALLY get hammered for that obvious choice, right? And although the 'lifeless' comments brought a small tear, I still like you guys! It's good hearing comments, even the crits.

MattPDX,
I think that love is a perfectly acceptable design concept. I have a dark wood Poang chair from Ikea on a beautiful Tabriz (Mahi pattern) and I love the look because I love both pieces. I would choose your stunning carpet over a cowhide any day!

Cowhide? Ick. Unless, of course, you're doing a cowboy and indian room. (I've always wanted one.) I think your place looks great. I don't even mind the blue table and since I'm not obese I could slip through that narrow pathway. Maybe some ATers should think about dieting.