Mid-Century Modern doesn’t necessarily mean an interior straight out of a mid-20th-century catalogue. This house in Uruguay is a contemporary interpretation of the distinctive style, where classic inspirations meet bold materials, striking colours and industrial touches. The whole has been designed as a cohesive composition of architecture and interior design, in which every element has its place.
The aim was to create a space that is elegant, yet cosy and effortless. Natural materials are paired here with raw, industrial touches. One of the key elements is steel, which features in various parts of the house and lends the interiors a slightly bolder character. Black slate has been used throughout the ground floor, creating a strong, uniform base for the other materials.
Wood plays a major role. It features on ceilings and walls, as well as in numerous built-in units, bringing warmth and natural texture to the interior. Another distinctive architectural feature is the curved walls, which soften the house’s geometric form and further emphasise its inspiration from mid-20th-century modernism.
The kitchen is particularly striking, designed around a bold combination of marble – featuring distinctive terracotta veining – and steel. The look is complemented by pistachio-green cabinet fronts and a ceiling in the same colour. This combination was a risky choice, but ultimately became one of the favourite features of the whole house.
Each room has been given its own character, and the design has been refined down to the smallest detail. The greatest freedom was allowed in the bathrooms, which have become a space for experimenting with materials, colours and patterns. Steel and chrome were combined here with tiles and striking wall cladding, sometimes reminiscent of decorative tapestries.
Colour features throughout the house, but it has been used in a particularly interesting way in the children’s bathroom. The combination of basic, intense colours creates a somewhat playful and surprising space here, clearly distinct from the more subdued parts of the house.
Mirrors are also a key element of the design. They have been positioned to reflect natural light whilst simultaneously creating the illusion of depth and adding a sense of spaciousness to the interiors. As a result, they serve not only a practical purpose but also become an integral part of the composition of each room.
This house is, above all, a personal experiment with materials, colour, light and form. Mid-Century Modern serves as a starting point here, rather than a rigid set of rules. Warm wood meets steel, black stone meets colour, and soft, rounded forms meet more austere details. The result is a contemporary home that clearly embodies the spirit of mid-20th-century modernism, yet has been designed with today’s lifestyle in mind.
Design: Alexia Berthelemy
See also: Architecture | House | Kitchen | Bathroom | Furniture
