Mid Century Modern Gifts
Gift ideas for the MCM lover in your life!
So you need a gift for someone who loves Mid Century furniture or architecture or just everything. Where to start? And what to buy? Here are some ideas for the Mid Modern Lover in your life…
Alexander Girard Gifts
I love Alexander Girard. His designs are full of wit and whimsey, and they are simply happy. A collector might enjoy a vintage tea towel or poster which are on Etsy and in other vintage shops from time to time. But if that’s not in your budget for a Mid Century lover in your life, there are some less expensive ways to enjoy Alexander Girard’s designs. The Alexander Girard Coloring Book, in particular, is fun and great for all ages.
The Girard Studio has also licensed Girard’s designs to a few other companies where you can purchase everything from the mundane to the exquisite. Check their website for a list of retailers.
Eames Gifts
Ray and Charles Eames left an indelible mark on the world with their simple, functional designs and astounding aesthetic. Vintage Eames pieces can be found in antique and vintage shops (see my list of favorite vintage sources at the end of this page). But vintage pieces can be expensive. There are choices, though, that aren’t as pricey. I bought the Eames House of Cards at Serious Play, an exhibit of Mid Century design at the Denver Art Museum this past summer. The exhibit focused on the fun and playful nature of some Mid Century design, and the Eames shop featured prominently, obviously. Bambino and I have enjoyed the House of Cards which fit together to great structures and sculptures but then can be put away in a relatively small box. His dinosaurs regularly romp through towers made from the House of Cards.
In addition to the items I have included here, the Eames Shop has their own store which includes a wider range of books, furniture, and MCM accessories for the home, too.
Mid Modern Gifts for Children
Tinker Toys, a quintessential Mid Century toy, are no longer made from wood, but German toy maker, Schyling makes a very similar toy that is wood called Super Makit. We have a set of Tinker Toys — some of which are plastic and some are the original wood. We like the wooden ones, but that’s a matter of personal preference. When Serious Play was at the Denver Art Museum, children and adults alike flocked to the Tinker Toys. They really are a fun toy! While at Serious Play, I also bought A is for Atom, a fun retro-inspired board book, which now resides in our Guest Room for our younger guests to explore.
Fran Wood Design
Frances Wood is a British designer and screen printer with a charming Etsy shop filled with her Mid Century-influenced designs. Here you’ll find cards, prints, coasters, and tea towels that are both colorful and useful. And you’ll be supporting original art — always good in my opinion! Just be sure you order early to allow for shipping from the UK.
For the Gardener
MCM House for the Birds
Sourgrassbuilt.com
10% off with this exclusive code: Nice10
You may not be able to buy them a human house, but these darling Mid-Century bird houses add a splash of style and fun to any yard. The good people of Sourgrassbuilt.com ensure that each birdhouse is a handmade work of art on a miniature scale. Built from repurposed materials, the birdhouses are both stylish and eco-friendly. Even better: commission a miniature birdie version of your favorite MCM home. Sourgrassbuilt takes commissions, too.
And for Mid Modern Mama readers, Sourgrassbuilt is offering a special 10% discount! Just use the code NICE10 at checkout!
Mid Century Planter & House Plant
While I love vintage, this is one of those items that I tend to find new. Vintage pots can be brittle and may have suffered over the years. However, MCM-inspired planters are easy to find. Plunk a cool plant inside, and you have a fabulous gift that will live on for years.
If your recipient lives in another city or state, there are several ways to get around that now. In the last year, I have ordered and shipped plants using several different services, and I’ve been impressed with how quickly and easily plants now can move state to state!
We were given a subscription to Succulents Box, and the first box arrived recently. While the plants are little, they arrived healthy and ready to be potted. And we will get an assortment of succulents each month for the next few months. I also had good success with Piep.co. In fact, last year they sent me some plants to try, and I’m happy to report that a year later, all are thriving and happy! I have also ordered from The Sill with good success, too.
Coupled with your local garden center which may or may not be open in the winter, that’s lots of options for giving plants!
Inspired Gifts
MCM-Inspired Enamel Pins
Enamel pins are all the rage on backpacks, bags, purses, and lapels. I love this retro trend, and these little charmers can be inexpensive gifts, too. I’m partial to these cuties from Rather Keen. Their clean MCM aesthetic and sweet color scheme says Merry Christmas with a retro accent — just perfect!
Vintage Linens
A few years ago I found this blue MCM print on Etsy. It was uncut yardage, actually, and it had two pieces of this beautiful nativity. I bought them and made simple pillows from them — one for my mother and one for our home. It is one of my favorite Christmas pieces, and the yardage was very inexpensive. Even with minimal sewing skills, you can create unique, one-of-a-kind (or in my case, two-of-a-kind) gifts.
And even if you don’t sew, there are gorgeous linens available that will add character to any MCM-lover’s home.
Need help laundering something you have purchased, check out my tips for laundering vintage linens!
Retro Tea Towel
I love a good tea towel — they are cute and so practical! You can go for a vintage tea towel — check Etsy. But Spoonflower boasts lots of options for new tea towels with a MCM vibe. I’m particularly fond of this 2021 calendar with a great retro vibe by Kate Rhees.
For the Kitchen…
Bowls
I confess: I have a problem. I really love bowls. But evidently I am not alone, and there are several kinds of bowls and serving pieces which Mid Century lovers tend to covet:
Vintage Pyrex
Catherineholm bowls
Arabia Finland
If you are shopping for someone with a particular collection, there are several places to look for pieces including Etsy, Ebay, and EBTH.com. But your local antique shops may also have pieces on hand.
And if they love Mid Century but haven’t started a collection yet, help them along. A bowl is a great place to start! Personally, I love Catherineholm (hint! hint!).
Glasses & Bar Accessories
Every MCM lover should have a great set of barware. Me? I tend to go vintage for this kind of thing. Check out these darling Christmas and wintery choices from @sputnik_city-vintage, a MCM seller on Instagram. I love the snowflake glasses with carrier! And that shaker! These would make such a charming gift for your favorite MCM enthusiast.
Here’s the trick for Instagram sellers: ask what they have if you are looking for something specific. Many have booths at antique shops and more inventory than listed on their feeds. Some do flash sales at a set time. But if you ask, often they have treasures that aren’t listed. It never hurts to ask! And I have found that if they don’t have what you are looking for, they may recommend other good sources!
Tea Cups & Tea Pot
There’s nothing nicer than a hot cup of tea in a beautiful tea cup, and there’s no reason you need to purchase a whole set. Etsy is full of vintage tea cups, for example, that are sold one at a time — many under $20 for a cup and saucer set. Depending on your budget, a tea or coffee pot might also make a lovely gift. Add a spicy tea, maybe a great book, and voila! You have a fabulous, relaxing gift.
Books & Magazines
My Favorite Sources
A few of my favorite places to find Mid Century Modern furniture and accessories:
Facebook Marketplace: I watch and wait (not always great for shopping deadlines), but every once in awhile I will find a fabulous piece at a great price
Everything But The House: this online estate sale is fantastic! They will ship anywhere, and their shipping prices have gotten MUCH better. But you may also find sales in your area. Everything sells, and the starting bid is always $1. And every once in a while I score something great for very little.
My favorite feature: saved search. If you or someone you love collects something specific, you can set a search and get a notification when something is posted.
Instagram sellers:
