mad men at house of antique hardware

1. Lamps and Lighting:

Whether it’s hanging from the ceiling or propped up on a cabinet, the many lamps and lighting fixtures in Mad Men are an instant introduction to mid-century modern design. Because the possibilities are endless, you can see why this is the most extensive category in our inventory! (Schuyler Table Lamp With Oatmeal Linen Shade Pictured)

(Luxo Large Semi Flush Ceiling Light In Antique Brass)

(Hathaway 4 Light Semi-Flush Ceiling Light)

(Downton Table Lamp With Off White Shantung Shade)

2. Geometric Shapes:

Mid-century modern design is defined by its use of geometric shapes and straight lines. However, as you can see in the Mad Men photos below, the geometric shapes weren’t just used for lamps and fixtures alone – the rectangular design element often extended onto wall build-outs and installations. (Rattan Drum Shade Mini Pendant With Mystic Black Finish)

(Rutherford Table Lamp With Beige Silk Shade)

(Virtuoso Half Bowl Sconce With Faux Alabaster Shade)

(Dayton 2 Light Wall Sconce With White Fabric Shade)

(Lanza 2 Light Sconce With Oatmeal Linen Shade)

(Mondrian 2 Light Wall Sconce In Buckeye Bronze)

(Lanza Semi Flush Mount With Oatmeal Linen Shade)

3. Minimalist Hardware:

Speaking of hardware, mid-century design was rarely ornate – again, lots of straight lines and stark surfaces. That said, nothing defined this “clean” approach like the minimalist hardware of the era. (Strathmore Solid Brass Wall Register)

(Mercury Cabinet Handle)

(Clothing Hook With Choice of Finish)

(Brass Towel Bar with Classic Rosettes)

(Polished Chrome Knob with Rosette)

3. Minimalist Hardware:

Speaking of hardware, mid-century design was rarely ornate – again, lots of straight lines and stark surfaces. That said, nothing defined this “clean” approach like the minimalist hardware of the era. (Waterloo 9-Light Chandelier in Polished Nickel)

4. Glass Globes:

Just as straight lines are an element of geometry, so are perfect circles. As you can see in the final photo below, mid-century designers loved to counterbalance all of the straight lines with the use of circles and spheres – yep, they loved their hanging glass globe lamps!

(8" Opal Glass Ball Shade With 4" Fitter)

5. Color of the Decade: Orange

Of course, it’s not just the shapes and fixtures that change across the years; the preferred color palette is also a defining quality within an era of design.

In this case, orange is a clear design preference for mid-century modern and Mad Men everywhere.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this gallery of Mad Men décor and our collection of matching mid-century products. It was a wonderful era of clean lines and ultra modern design so wejust love talking about it, whenever possible.