House Tour: Anna’s Colourful Mid Century Modern Pad.

Thrift store junkie Anna certainly has an eye for colour and composition. Her Maryland home is full of stylish vintage pieces expertly arranged creating a wonderful home which really reminds me of cool iconic pads of the 1950s.

Where does your love of Mid Century come from and when did it start?

My love for Mid Century probably started when my family was stationed in Germany during my high school years 1993-1997.  We lived in Stuttgart and it was such a wonderful city.  I fell in love with the Bauhaus and Modern architecture that can be seen mixed in with all of the traditional European architecture. The Germans are not afraid of color and I love that. They also have a system where they can place unwanted furniture and household items on the street and the city will pick them up. They do this yearly and each neighborhood has a different schedule. We would have a list of the areas participating (we called it junking) and my mom would drag us around picking up all kinds of retro furniture.  That's definitely where my love for this era began.

Do you have any specific criteria for your home décor based on style/era/colour … or is it a gut reaction?

I don't really have a specific criteria for my home. I always just go with my gut and when I thrift I definitely scoop up all the things that bring me joy. I love things that are different, things you can't just find anywhere.  I love having an eclectic home filled with pieces that are unique.  Sometimes I have a hard time editing because I want all of my finds on display.  I'm working on the less is more approach but I'm definitely a work in progress. I also believe your home should be a representation of your lifestyle and self. I absolutely cannot live without color.  I can totally appreciate a neutral palate but it just doesn't work for me. 

Do you have a favourite piece in your home?

I have few favorite pieces. The multi colored, geometric, mid-century Colombian Rya style rug in my living room is my most favorite find.  I found it at a thrift store in Colorado for $50.00 ... I paid more to have it professionally cleaned ... I love my mustard velvet tufted Castro Convertible chair as well. It should have its own Instagram page! My teak platform bed was also a great find. I got that in Kansas, $100.00 for the set. It was a moving sale and I couldn't believe how lucky I was to get it!  My final piece would be my Poul Jensen for Selig Danish Z chair, which I found for $15.00 at a thrift store in Maryland. That was definitely steal!

What is your favourite era / maker?

When it comes to era's I don't really have a favorite one.  I love the 50's, 60's, 70's, and even some of the graphic stuff from the 80's. No one specific furniture maker, however I do love the quality of Lane furniture. Their pieces certainly withstand the test of time. I love bold shapes and abstract art. I love clean lines and pieces with history. 

Where do you source your items / furniture from?

I primarily source my items from thrift stores, once in a while from eBay or FB marketplace. Rarely from antique stores. My husband is in the Army and I'm a SAHM so we're on a fixed income. I'm too frugal to purchase things elsewhere and love the excitement that comes with finding something amazing at a fraction of the cost.  

What do you look for when you are thrifting for your home?

When I'm out thrifting, I don't usually look for anything in particular.  I just happen upon stuff that catches my eye and I have to bring it home if it's a good deal ... Hence the 4 coffee tables, 6 chairs, 2 couches, 10 lamps, and god knows what else is in our garage.  I try and purge every time we move but I never know what kind of place we'll have or what I might need to fill it so I have way too much stuff but I love that I can always change it up and rotate things around.

I know you recently moved and left behind a beloved ranch home, how has it been transferring all your vintage décor into the new house, was it traumatic? Or has it been fun getting to start anew?

We did just recently move into our very traditional rental and I don't really love the space but it's still always fun to see what you can do with a place to make it yours.  Army life is always bittersweet......Always sad to leave one home and community but always excited for our next adventure and new place. It’s always scary overtime they pack pour household goods, you never know what you'll unpack at the other end...... I always cross my fingers and hope for the best. We loved our CO home and we'll hopefully be back in a few years. For now, I'm going to make the most out of this move to Maryland!

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Follow Anna’s amazing home on Instagram @house_of_saxon_and_finn

Photo credits: All photos kindly provided by Anna

Feeling inspired? ... Browse our retro homewares in The Inkabilly Emporium