Mini Moderns founders Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire met when they worked together in the late 90s and bonded over a shared love of Mid-Century pattern. Since then, the duo formed their aforementioned design company, producing popular collections of wallpaper, fabrics and homewares – and have become well known and much loved for their modern interpretation of the retro colours and prints from the 30s to the 70s.
Their new book, Mid-Century Modern Living: The Mini Moderns guide to pattern + style, is an entertaining and fascinating look at their take on these popular decades, the stories behind the designs and how to get them right in your own home.
From rummaging through charity shops and flea markets for retro second-hand clothes in the 80s, to discovering New York's new found love for Knoll and Herman Miller and other manufacturers of mid-century furniture in the late 90s, the duo shine a light on the roots of this continually growing trend.
They show how to introduce vintage pieces into your home - and how to use the spirit of mid-century design as a springboard for contemporary style that's rooted in the 21st century. No-one wants to live in a museum right?
It's about having fun with design, mixing things that you love and telling your own story in your own home, rather than following a prescriptive theme or look.
Alongside chapters on colour, pattern and materials, there's social history, cultural references and menus and playlists with a mid-century flavour to fully bring the style to life.
Mid-CenturyModernLiving: The MiniModern's Guide to Pattern and StylebyKeith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire, is published by Kyle Books £20www.kylebooks.co.uk
Find Mini Moderns wallpaper, fabrics and homewares at Mini Moderns.
