Table of Contents: Modest Modern

Modernism has stood the test of time, and over the years taken many guises, both grand and humble. This week we’re looking at the latter: what we call Modest Modern (small-scale beach houses, the iconic butterfly chair, a new shop in London, and more).

• The virtues of modesty extend to architecture and interiors. Shown here, the Hatch House, part of the Cape Cod Modern House Trust, a group that preserves some of the Cape’s most interesting beach houses; watch for Julie’s post on Wednesday.
• Sea Ranch, the enclave on the Sonoma coast that helped pioneer Northern California modernism, is 50 years old and still growing. In today’s Architect Visit, we’re touring an exemplar of the Sea Ranch approach, the Stone House by Malcolm Davis Architecture.
• This week in Object Lessons, Megan Wilson fills us in on the Butterfly Chair, popularly associated with midcentury lounging (but, in fact, a design that goes back to the Crimean War). Shown here, Airborne Butterfly Chairs spotted outside the Isabel Marant boutique in LA.
• In House Call, we have a look around Wellfleet’s humble modernist Hatch House (Julie grew up going to parties there).
• With a mission to create handmade contemporary classics, UK design studio Another Country keeps striking all the right chords. In today’s Shopper’s Diary, Christine shows us around the company’s just-opened London showroom.
• “I prefer interiors that have a relaxed feel, spaces that look cohesive but don’t look designed or ‘done’, that have a feeling of restraint and quiet,” says designer Richard Ostell. A master of modest modernism (have a look at his Westchester House), Ostell shares his philosophy and trade secrets in Friday’s Ask the Expert column.
• In our new Saturday column, Weekend Spotlight, we visit John Lautner’s 1949 open-plan, redwood and glass Shaffer Residence in LA, restored by Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory members Park McDonald.