5 Must have Mid-Century Exterior Features

The exterior of your home not only sets the tone, but also reflects the essence of the interior space behind the front door. This is especially true for Mid-Century Modern homes, where exterior details play a pivotal role in defining the overall aesthetic. Mid-Modern experts Howard Hawkes and Kevin Kemper, owners of H3K Home+Design share their insight and expertise on how to capture a truly captivating Mid-Century Modern look by focusing on the following five essential exterior features. 

1. Paint Color: Telling your Story Through Contrast

The color of your home tells a story. For MCM homes the color palette serves as a canvas to accentuate its clean, architectural lines. When picking a color, Howard and Kevin recommend opting for a light, neutral body color to set a balanced foundation, contrasting it with darker hues for fascia and architectural elements. They’re not fans of overusing color on the exterior, but recommend adding pops of color in hues like orange, blue, or yellow on dominant features of the home. A color pop adds both a vibrancy and depth to the home’s exterior, which you’ll commonly see in Palm Springs, the mecca for mid-century architecture and design. This approach highlights architectural elements and draws visitors in with warmth and style.

Credit: H3K Home + Design and Ketchum Photography

 2. Deco Block and Breeze Block: Classic MCM Textures

Breeze blocks, or deco blocks, are quintessential to MCM design. These retro architectural elements add personality and a sense of visual openness while maintaining privacy to your home. Kevin and Howard recommend considering placement carefully, but encourage homeowners to be creative with paint, either keeping the breeze blocks the same color as the body of the house for a monochrome look, or painting in a complimentary accent color. Either way, breeze blocks are sure to stand out as a distinct, eye-catching feature on your home’s exterior.

3. Lighting: The Jewelry of the House

Lighting in MCM homes is more than functional; it’s an essential decorative element that adds a warmness to the exterior. Kevin and Howard suggest enhancing nighttime appeal through thoughtfully selected lighting elements, like bold fixtures that highlight entryways or smaller, strategically placed lights in key areas such as the front door. They also love to add ambient, soft lighting that adds warmth and enhances architectural features.

Credit: H3K Home + Design and Ketchum Photography

4. Front Door Hardware: Embracing Vintage-Inspired Detail

One feature of your home that everyone will experience is your door. It’s the introduction to what lies within. Kevin and Howard see door hardware as a small detail that makes a big impact, especially in MCM design. They recommend looking for a reproduction MCM door knob or purchasing original hardware in a vintage hardware store and refinishing it. Whether purchasing a reproduction piece or an original, keep in mind that the hardware you choose should stay true to the home’s mid-century roots while adding a touch of individuality.

5. House Numbers: A Defining Detail from Modern House Numbers

House numbers are among the very first things a visitor will notice, making them a focal point of MCM curb appeal. Your house numbers not only serve a functional purpose—they enhance the home’s personality. Kevin and Howard have been specifying Modern House Numbers for their projects for over a decade because they offer a range of Mid-Modern fonts and finishes, including custom options. Kevin and Howard are big fans of Modern House Numbers’ Palm Springs font for its mid-century vibe.

Final Thoughts

By focusing on these five key exterior features—paint color, architectural elements, lighting, hardware, and house numbers— you can create a swoon-worthy mid-century modern exterior.. 

Want to learn more about Mid Century Modern home design for your house? Check out H3K’s website or visit one of their showrooms in Palm Springs or Palm Desert to see how they can help you create the home of your dreams!

Learn more: https://h3khomeanddesign.com/interior-design-studio/