Charles Wagner-designed mid-century modern in Moyaone Reserve.

Demand for Mid-Century Modern Homes Strong

UrbanTurf writes about the continuing demand for mid-century modern homes in the Washington area despite Mad Men being off the air for the past five years.
“Mad Men concluded its television run in 2015 and it seemed like people’s infatuation with mid-century modern design went with it,” writes Nena Perry-Brown. “However, interest in the DC area’s mid-century housing market remains high.”
Read the full article here and explore some of the mid-century modern neighborhoods in the Washington, D.C. area.

Washingtonian Magazine Top Agent Recognition

I am honored to be recognized once again as a Washingtonian Magazine Top Agent. Thank you to all of my clients, family and friends who have supported Modern Capital for the past 14 years. Please reach out if you are thinking of buying or selling a mid-century modern home. Happy to meet and discuss today’s modern real estate market.

Furnishing a Mid-Century Modern Home: Inspiration & Sourcing

A guest post on sourcing mid-century modern furniture from our partner, ATTIC.
Nothing completes a beautiful mid-century home like furniture and decor drawn from the same aesthetic. The simple, sleek lines of MCM furniture pair up perfectly with the modern, open and airy feel that make mid-century homes the gems that they are. The following post provides some inspiration, whether you’re just starting or continuing to furnish your home. We’ll focus on two spaces: dining rooms and living rooms.

We’re also going to introduce you to ATTIC, a one-of-kind resource that will help you find the best mid-century furniture from stores of the DC and Baltimore regions. After all, who wants to buy a “forever” piece of furniture without ever seeing or touching it? ATTIC makes that process so much easier. ATTIC is now available in cities throughout the country, but is owned and operated by a small team based right here in Washington, D.C. Its mission is simple — to make it easier for consumers to shop from small, local businesses.

Dinner is Served, In Style
Whether it’s with family or friends, the importance of meal time transcends culture. As such, dining rooms and breakfast nooks are often visual focal points in modern homes. And with pieces like those pictured here, it’s no wonder why. Rectangular, round, “boat-shaped”…small, grand, or expandable…mid-century dining tables come in a vast array of options. Likewise, some of the most famous furniture designs in history are those for mid-century dining chairs.

Rosewood Dining Table
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New Mark Commons Makes National Register

As it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, New Mark Commons in Rockville was listed on Aug. 1 in the National Register of Historic Places. A planned community of detached houses and townhouses in Rockville, New Mark Commons was designed by Keyes, Lethbridge & Condon and developed by Edmund J. Bennett between 1967 and 1973. “The development represents the culmination of Bennett’s extensive career in community-building in the suburban Washington, DC region and reflects the influence of the New Towns movement, incorporating open space and recreational amenities such as a clubhouse, pool, and lake,” the National Register submission says. “Buildings share a human scale and common design elements, curvilinear streets link the community’s cul-de-sacs, and pedestrian and bicycle paths meander among mature trees.” The same team was responsible for Carderock Springs in Bethesda, which is also listed on the National Register.

Contemporaries in New Mark Commons in Rockville

The modernist totem pole marks the entrance to New Mark Commons, a mid-century modern oasis not far from the hustle and bustle of Rockville Pike. The wooded community, a Planned Urban Development of single-family homes and townhouses, was developed by Edmund J. Bennett and designed by the modern architectural firm of Keyes, Lethbridge and Condon. “In making his case for New Mark Commons, Bennett condemned typical suburban developments that caused ‘destructive alteration of the natural terrain and vegetation,’” writes Steven Snapp on the Peerless Rockville site. “So, before setting lot lines, Bennett conducted a census of all trees on the property. Then, to preserve as many as possible, the lines were drawn around the trees. Greenways for walking and bicycling were planned and remain popular features of the neighborhood. The crowning glory was to be a 4.5-acre lake, the scenic and recreational centerpiece of the neighborhood.”
Here are two listings for single-family homes built in the early 1970s. Both homes have 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. One is listed for $595K while the other is on the market for $599,900.

Price Drop in New Mark Commons and the Great Stainless Steel and Granite Debate

This New Mark Commons late 1960s contemporary in Rockville that I first posted here has dropped $50,000. It’s open July 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. Looks like this one has the original cabinets in the kitchen. A recent comment I made about granite and stainless steel kitchens drew quite a response. See the discussion here. What’s your view?

New Mark Commons Rockville MD