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Double-height mid-century living room with open shelving, wood paneling and tall windows
edward stojakovic / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0 (license). View the source record

Built-ins & Bookcases · Mid-Century Modern

Interior of the Eames House (Case Study House No. 8), Pacific Palisades

The double-height living room of the Eames House in Pacific Palisades, California, completed in 1949 by Charles and Ray Eames, with open shelving, wood paneling and a wall of steel-framed windows.

Design characteristics

The Eames House was built for the Case Study House program from standard industrial parts, yet its interior is warm and layered. The living room combines a tall wall of windows, a wood-paneled alcove, built-in shelving filled with collected objects and the Eameses' own furniture. It shows how simple built-in shelving becomes personal when it is designed to display a collection. Open, adjustable shelving with wood panel backs remains a strong idea for living rooms and studies.

Classification

Style
Mid-Century Modern
Category
Built-ins & Bookcases
Material
Plywood
Motifs
Open shelving, Steel frame
Photograph
2014
Photographer
edward stojakovic
Evidence
Photograph of a documented interior or object
Source
Wikimedia Commons

Architectural context

Flush slab doors, walnut and teak, and storage built into the walls. United States and Scandinavia · c. 1945–1970.

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