Modern Living
Notes on mid-century architecture, Phoenix neighborhoods, design, renovation, and the homes that still get it right.
The Architects Who Shaped Phoenix Modernism
March 27, 2023
Phoenix has always been more than stucco, tile roofs, and suburban sprawl. The Valley has a deep modernist story shaped by architects who understood light, climate, land, material,…
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Finding the Right Mid-Century Modern Home in Phoenix
February 14, 2023
Finding a mid-century modern home in Phoenix takes more than scrolling listings. The best homes are not always the most obvious ones. Some are beautifully preserved. Some have…
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Restoring a Mid-Century Modern Home Without Losing Its Soul
January 13, 2023
Mid-century modern home restoration is not about turning a house into a museum. It is about understanding what gives the home its character, then making smart decisions about…
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The Mid-Century Modern Movement Still Matters
December 13, 2022
The mid-century modern movement was never just a style. It was an attitude about the future. After World War II, architecture, furniture, interiors, cars, advertising, and product design…
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A Brief History of Mid-Century Modern Design
November 27, 2022
Mid-century modern design did not appear out of nowhere. It grew out of early modernism, new technology, industrial production, European design movements, and the optimism that followed World…
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A Guide to Phoenix Mid-Century Modern Neighborhoods
October 24, 2022
Phoenix has a deeper mid-century modern story than most people realize. Across the Valley, there are neighborhoods shaped by postwar optimism, desert living, modern architecture, and the builders…
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Bringing the Outdoors In: Why Landscape Matters in Mid-Century Modern Design
September 13, 2022
Mid-century modern design was never just about furniture. The best homes from the era were designed around a larger idea: the house, patio, pool, garden, and view should…
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Mid-Century Modern Characteristics: What to Look For
August 17, 2022
Mid-century modern design is easy to recognize when it is done well. It feels clean, open, intentional, and connected to the way people actually live. The best examples…
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How to Add Mid-Century Modern Style Without Overdoing It
July 19, 2022
Mid-century modern style works best when it feels effortless. The mistake is treating it like a costume. A starburst clock, a bar cart, a record player, and a…
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Blaine Drake and the Quiet Strength of Phoenix Modernism
July 8, 2022
Blaine Drake was one of Phoenix’s most important modernist architects. His work was not as widely reproduced as Ralph Haver’s or as starkly recognizable as Al Beadle’s, but…
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