Recently, a friend and fellow writer sent me a link to an online story titled "Is Midcentury Modernism Over?" Her note read, "What would be next?"
I put the question to interior designer Christopher Kennedy, a prominent face during Modernism Week thanks to his multi-designer show house.
His response:
"For me, it was never about being slavish to the era. Even then, designers and architects were pushing technology and new ways of thinking. If they were all alive today, they wouldn’t be copying people from 50 years ago. We can still honor them by infusing midcentury with pieces from today and other eras.
"If honesty in building materials, connection to the environment, doing less with more, and surrounding yourself with things that have meaning, if those are the tenets of modernism, then no: I don’t think those will ever go away. You might mix modernist with your grandma’s sideboard. And that’s OK. Things you love will always be in style."
Good news, right? Those who appreciate Danish Modern in particular can find an enduring friend in the JP Denmark shop in Cathedral City. Importer and purveyor of all things midcentury Danish, the well-stocked store even invites clients to choose their own upholstery to customize their purchases. Teak and rosewood furniture, accessories, and lighting are in pristine condition and ready to be admired. So, "what would be next?" Some of us are happy living in a moment that always feels desert-appropriate, rather than chasing trends for the sake of it.
See "Resources" for details.