Mid-Century Modernism with Monique – Details, episodes & analysis

Monique is joined by the brilliant Bob Swatt, architect and partner at Swatt + Partners. They dive into his love for mid-century modern design, the powerful work of Beverly Thorne, and the inspiration behind his iconic Tea Cup homes. Bob also reveals his connection to Rudolf Schindler, shares fun stories from his career, and talks about celebrating 50 years of his firm with a brand new book.

“If a building looks like […] nothing else could have been there except for that building, you’ve hit the nail on the head” - Bob

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty (www.modernhomesrealty.com) to learn more.
 

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Let's Connect! 

• Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com

• Email:  monique@modernhomesrealty.com

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Swatt + Partners (www.swattpartners.com)

• Book: Swatt Architects: Livable Modern (House Design)

• Book: Insideout: New Modern West Coast Architecture

Monique is joined by Cord Struckmann and Alfonso Cordon, the owners of Case Study House #26. They share their restoration journey of this Beverly D. Thorne-designed gem and dive into the revolutionary Case Study House program, which promoted innovative home designs. Discover how they stumbled upon this mid-century treasure and their plans to celebrate what would have been Beverly Thorne's 100th birthday.

“Living in a house like this one makes you more appreciative of architecture and creates a responsibility on you for trying to preserve it for others” - Alfonso

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty (www.modernhomesrealty.com) to learn more.
 

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Let's Connect! 

• Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com 

• Email:  monique@modernhomesrealty.com

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Case Study House #26 - www.casestudyhouse.com  

• Docomomo - https://www.docomomo-noca.org

Monique welcomes her friend, Hannah Simonson, to the show—an architectural historian and cultural resources planner at Page and Turnbull in San Francisco. As the current president of Docomomo US Northern California Chapter, Hannah shares her history with Docomomo and her fascination with the Diamond Heights community.

This episode also offers practical insights into saving historical modern sites and highlights the value of preserving existing buildings. Tune in to learn how to join the Docomomo community and discover some of Hannah's favorite modern sites. Join us for this engaging conversation about preserving the legacy of modern architecture.

“Part of Docomomo’s mission is really about getting information and education out there” - Hannah

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty to learn more.

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Let's Connect! 

• Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com  

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Modern Diamond Heights

• Docomomo USA

• Docomomo NOCA

• Insta @docomomonoca

Monique welcomes her friend Danny Heller to the show, a globally exhibited artist renowned for his mid-century modern artistry. From his roots in Los Angeles' suburbs to prestigious features in publications like Architectural Digest Spain and California Home and Design, he shares the stories behind his vibrant paintings that capture the essence of the era's architecture. Tune in to hear about his artistic evolution, his unique perspective on iconic structures like the Chemosphere, as well as details about his upcoming New York show and the inspiring message he aims to convey through his art.

“[In] my process, I get to actually visit these places, and that’s reward enough, and then I get to spend time painting them, which is icing on the cake” - Danny

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty to learn more.

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Let's Connect! 

• Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com  

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• YouTube Channel: Monique Anton

• Danny Heller Art

Monique invites Karen Nepacena, the visionary behind DestinationEichler.com, to the show. From viral blogs on Eichler restoration to features in Dwell, HGTV, and Atomic Ranch, Karen has left an indelible mark as a designer. Join their conversation as Karen delves into the challenges of Eichler restoration, her newly completed book "Midcentury Modern Style," and her experience featured on Cabin Chronicles. Discover what ignited Karen's passion for mid-century modern style, thrift store treasures she simply can't resist, and the behind-the-scenes scoop on her HGTV journey.

“[The reason Eichlers are special] are because our little 1600 sq ft home was built by someone who built world renowned buildings and then he also put his stamp on these modest houses for families like ours” - Karen

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty to learn more.

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Let's Connect! 

• Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com  

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

•  Destination Eichler

• Midcentury Modern Style: An Approachable Guide to Inspired Rooms

• Cabin Chronicles

Monique chats with the brilliant Alan Hess, an architect, historian, and author of 21 books on Modernism. In this episode, they explore Frank Lloyd Wright's impact on modern architecture, along with the intriguing world of "Googie" design and the way they were able to bring ordinary life into the realm of these mid-century modern designs. 

They also touch on architectural legends like Oscar Niemeyer, Alan Bray, Jack Hillmer, and Donald Wexler, along with Alan Hess's preservation efforts, including a surprising McDonald's Drive Thru. Tune in as he shares about his book ‘Forgotten Modern’ and the passion for preserving these iconic spaces that define midcentury modernism.

“For the price of a hamburger and a piece of pie, the average person at a Googy coffee shop could participate in that modern life” - Alan

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty to learn more.

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Let's Connect! 

• Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com  

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Googie Modern: Architectural Drawings of Armet Davis Newlove 

Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture

Alan Hess Website: www.alanhess.net

Monique sits down with Vince Bravo, an art and furniture collector, artist, and expert on Alexander Girard, with an impressive 30-years experience in vintage furnishings and mid-century decorative arts. Tune in as he shares the origins of his art collection, his restoration of mid-century furniture, and the stories of the unique pieces he's acquired along the way, including an Alexander Girard-designed tortilla wrapper. Join them as they explore the treasures of timeless classics and delve into the fascinating history behind Alexander Girard's iconic designs. 

“I started buying things like Troll dolls and Zippo lighters and Levi jeans… that was really what got me into the business” - Vince

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty to learn more.

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Let's Connect! 

• Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com  

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Vince Bravo Website

• Instagram @mrvincebravo

• Gitman Vintage

• The Girard Studio

• Book: Todd Oldham - Alexander Girard

Monique welcomes Matt Bliss, founder of Modern Christmas Trees, on today's episode. Matt shares the story of how his grandfather's 1966 modern Christmas tree design inspired him to start the business, along with the story of his appearance on Shark Tank and how he fell in love with mid-century modern design. 

From exclusive photoshoots in iconic mid-century modern homes, to being a beloved tradition in many families, his trees have charmed modernists and non-modernists alike. Plus, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the special "Christmas in July" promo happening right now on their website!

“That’s the thing, the idea of minimalism, which is a part of mid-century modern design. How do you make things user friendly and as easy as humanly possible... and we spent a lot of time figuring out how to achieve all that” - Matt

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty to learn more.

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Let's Connect! 

- Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com  

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

- Modern Christmas Trees

Monique is joined by Greg Kelly, founder and president of Modbox USA, to talk about his journey in the world of midcentury modernism. They discuss Greg's frustration with the lack of available products and how it led to the birth of Modbox USA through his quest for the perfect mailbox, and the support he received from the MCM community to bring his vision to life. They also touch on Modbox's expansion beyond mailboxes and Greg's exciting collaboration with Atomic Ranch on a curb appeal contest. He has been featured in renowned magazines such as Dwell, Atomic Ranch, Palm Springs Style, and Adore Homes Magazine.

“There was a point in the 60’s where my parents bought some furniture that was very mid-century, and it just had such a cool look and vibe about it; that’s when we kicked in on the mid-century phase… it just spoke to us” - Greg
 

If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty to learn more.

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Let's Connect! 

• Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com  

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Modbox USA

• Atomic Ranch Curb Appeal Contest

Monique sits down with the talented architect, Stanley Saitowitz. From his early years growing up in South Africa, Saitowitz shares his deep love for architecture that ignited during his youth. They delve into his bold and larger-than-life designs, highlighting a few extraordinary house and building creations and the intriguing blend of nature and architecture that defines his work. Saitowitz's extensive expertise shines through as he discusses his work as an author, his teaching experiences at renowned institutions, and his insights on the future of architecture. Tune in to this episode for a dose of inspiration and valuable insights as he helps shape the future of aspiring architects.

“I used to watch these buildings being built and from that I started getting interested in this process of making things appear out of nothing… it was kind of a magical sort of activity” - Stanley

 
If you're interested in buying or selling a modern home, head over to Modern Homes Realty to learn more.

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Let's Connect! 

- Website: www.mcmwithmonique.com  

Follow Me On: 

• Instagram: @mcmwithmonique

• Facebook: facebook.com/mcmwithmonique 

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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Website: Stanley Saitowitz

• Book: Stanley Saitowitz: Buildings and Projects

• Book: Stanley Saitowitz/Natoma Architects: Seventy-five Works