By Shelby Deering | Shanna Wolf
Even though it hails from the 1940s through the 1960s, midcentury owner of Williamson Street’s Rewind Decor, puts it, these pieces have a “timeless versatility.”
“Midcentury furniture is a great foundation to build upon. You can blend seamlessly many other aesthetics with its clean lines,” adds Miller.
If these retro visuals sound right up your alley, these are the best places in the area to shop MCM decor.
ATOMIC ANTIQUES
Showcasing throwback wares from over 100 unique vendors, Atomic Antiques on the West Side is a treasure trove of all things midcentury. This is the perfect locale to get lost for an afternoon as you peruse sleek teak furniture, gleaming brass creatures, starburst clocks and mod, mod lamps. It’s also a destination to track down old-school records from every back-in-the-day band you can imagine (after all, you’ll need some vinyl to outfit your living room’s hi-fi cabinet). If you’re starting to build your vintage collection, and transforming your spaces into mid-mod homages, this is the place to come.
THE CENTURY HOUSE
The Century House on University Avenue has been a Madison mainstay since 1948, when the post-war midcentury scene was starting to pick up. Since a lot of midcentury designers were from Scandinavia (think biggies like Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen), it makes sense that The Century House is a haven of Scandi-meets-midcentury pieces. If you’re looking for quality, heirloom items that communicate an MCM feel, you’re certainly in luck here, with a wide array of sofas, chairs, coffee tables, dining tables and dressers to choose from. And they carry venerable midcentury lines like Herman Miller and Knoll.
RETRO REVOLUTION
Tucked away quietly along East Washington Avenue, a vintage shop lies packed with some of the most impressive mid-mod pieces you’ll ever see. Retro Revolution has a combination of collectible, kitsch and uncommon pieces, including glassware to add to your collection. You’ll stare in wonderment at the window displays chock-full with vibrant vases, including those sought-after swung vases. There are also items you won’t find anywhere else — including a dancing chalkware fish for the wall or a plastic hand-shaped chair for your rumpus room.
THE BOUNTY
On Park Street, be sure to make a stop at The Bounty. Its slate-gray, cinder block-clad storefront serves as an ideal backdrop for the colorful freestanding fireplaces (also referred to as cone or Malm fireplaces) in the window that have become intrinsically tied to the midcentury era. In fact, they are likely the top supplier of these collector fire- places that make a room look truly midcentury. In this vintage market- place, curated finds await you, with visually appealing vignettes that bring it all together. In addition to regularly spotlighted local artists in residence, you’ll find things like midcentury type- writers, conversation piece lamps and vintage clothes galore — pieces that look like they belong in a Wes Anderson movie. (Open Friday-Sunday; Monday- Thursday is appointment only.)
REWIND DECOR
This vintage gem has become a staple of Willy Street, and for good reason. With handpicked midcentury pieces found throughout the country, the store has those rare pieces that you’ll gawk at, like Cathrineholm lotus bowls, mushroom-festooned cocktail glasses and fiberglass chairs. With retro tunes wafting in the background, this store will put you in just the right mood to score some midcentury decor for your vintage-adorned space. (Open Saturdays and Sundays.)
TAKE A TRIP TO BAY VIEW: BC MODERN
Often named one of the top vintage destinations in the Midwest, BC Modern is located on Chase Avenue in Bay View.
Its two floors are well-stocked with the best of the best vintage midcentury finds, including sofas, dining sets and chairs that have been professionally cleaned and restored to their former glory. Only open the last full weekend of every month, it’s definitely a draw for vintage enthusiasts, so arrive early and be ready to wait in line.
