Mid-Century Modernism with Monique

Monique is joined by the talented Mark English, principal of Mark English Architects in San Francisco. They dive into his journey into modernism, from his love of Inca and Mayan architecture to founding his award-winning firm. Mark shares the fun behind designing his favorite projects, like the Atherton and Tōrō houses, and gives his take on sustainable architecture. Plus, he shares with Monique his opinion on mid-century modern ve...

Monique is joined by the brilliant Bob Swatt, architect and partner at Swatt + Partners. They dive into his love for mid-century modern design, the powerful work of Beverly Thorne, and the inspiration behind his iconic Tea Cup homes. Bob also reveals his connection to Rudolf Schindler, shares fun stories from his career, and talks about celebrating 50 years of his firm with a brand new book.

“If a building looks like […] nothing ...

Monique is joined by Cord Struckmann and Alfonso Cordon, the owners of Case Study House #26. They share their restoration journey of this Beverly D. Thorne-designed gem and dive into the revolutionary Case Study House program, which promoted innovative home designs. Discover how they stumbled upon this mid-century treasure and their plans to celebrate what would have been Beverly Thorne's 100th birthday.

“Living in a house like t...

Monique chats with Jonathan Braun about his father, Ernest Braun's, incredible work and legacy. They dive into Ernest's inspiration from Eichler Homes, his journey into photography, and vibrant life through the lens. Jonathan shares fond memories, including time in the darkroom, his father's adventures with combat photography, and the seven photography books he created.

“I just found it incredibly fascinating to watch this, to be...

Monique chats with architect Dominic Sarica, who shares his love for living in a Roger Lee home, its unique design, and what drew him to it. Hear about raising his family in this architectural gem, the distinctive style of Roger Lee, and how Dominic tackled design challenges to preserve its integrity.

“All I could see was this horizontal line that peaked out from the landscape and I said, ‘I know what’s back there’” - Dominic Sar...

Monique welcomes Allan Green to the show to discuss his father's legacy, his work with Frank Lloyd Wright, and his journey in creating the stunning coffee table book, "Aaron Green Organic Architecture: Beyond Frank Lloyd Wright." They talk about his father's unique approach to design, his distinctive style of collaborating with clients, and the charming story of how his parents met with a handmade sweater. Tune in for an intimate l...

Monique welcomes Chad Dewitt, an accomplished architectural designer and the creative force behind Framestudio, to the show. With features in Dwell, California Home and Design, and many more, Chad shares what inspires him about mid-century modern homes, delves into his personal restoration projects (including an interesting take on why Eichlers aren't his favorite), and invites listeners into his world of auction alerts. Join the c...

Monique welcomes to the show esteemed architect Bruce Avico, a living encyclopedia of mid-century modern history. In this episode, Bruce unveils his journey, from joining the world of Buff and Hensman to pivotal moments that shaped his career. 

Join the conversation as they explore the backgrounds of Conrad Buff, Don Hensman, and the influential Calvin Straub, while Bruce discusses the Case Study Houses, reflects on the impact of...

Monique welcomes Joanne Koch, the founder and principal of Koch Architects, renowned for her work in organic architecture and mid-century modern restoration. In this episode, you'll delve into Joanne's soulful approach to organic architecture, inspired by the mass housing design and vision of the post-war era.

Explore the concept of 'rustic modern' from Joanne's unique perspective, as she shares her personal experiences at Sea Ra...

Monique's producer, Jacki Mercer, switches roles and interviews Monique about her journey into the world of mid-century modern design. Monique reveals her personal connection to the style, shares the joys of living in a mid-century modern home, and highlights the features that make these homes irresistible to potential buyers.

She dives into the inspiration behind her business, along with how she secured the rights to Eichler flo...

Monique invites you to a fun episode recorded at the Eichler Home Tour VIP party just outside the San Mateo Highlands. She interviews eight passionate Eichler home owners and enthusiasts, who share their love for these iconic mid-century modern homes. They explain what makes Eichler homes special and you'll hear from the organizers who've made this event a reality.

Not only is the Eichler Home tour an exciting exploration of 12 E...

Monique welcomes her friend, Hannah Simonson, to the show—an architectural historian and cultural resources planner at Page and Turnbull in San Francisco. As the current president of Docomomo US Northern California Chapter, Hannah shares her history with Docomomo and her fascination with the Diamond Heights community.

This episode also offers practical insights into saving historical modern sites and highlights the value of prese...

Monique welcomes her friend Danny Heller to the show, a globally exhibited artist renowned for his mid-century modern artistry. From his roots in Los Angeles' suburbs to prestigious features in publications like Architectural Digest Spain and California Home and Design, he shares the stories behind his vibrant paintings that capture the essence of the era's architecture. Tune in to hear about his artistic evolution, his unique pers...

Monique invites Karen Nepacena, the visionary behind DestinationEichler.com, to the show. From viral blogs on Eichler restoration to features in Dwell, HGTV, and Atomic Ranch, Karen has left an indelible mark as a designer. Join their conversation as Karen delves into the challenges of Eichler restoration, her newly completed book "Midcentury Modern Style," and her experience featured on Cabin Chronicles. Discover what ignited Kare...

Monique chats with the brilliant Alan Hess, an architect, historian, and author of 21 books on Modernism. In this episode, they explore Frank Lloyd Wright's impact on modern architecture, along with the intriguing world of "Googie" design and the way they were able to bring ordinary life into the realm of these mid-century modern designs. 

They also touch on architectural legends like Oscar Niemeyer, Alan Bray, Jack Hillmer, and ...

Monique sits down with Vince Bravo, an art and furniture collector, artist, and expert on Alexander Girard, with an impressive 30-years experience in vintage furnishings and mid-century decorative arts. Tune in as he shares the origins of his art collection, his restoration of mid-century furniture, and the stories of the unique pieces he's acquired along the way, including an Alexander Girard-designed tortilla wrapper. Join them a...

Monique welcomes Matt Bliss, founder of Modern Christmas Trees, on today's episode. Matt shares the story of how his grandfather's 1966 modern Christmas tree design inspired him to start the business, along with the story of his appearance on Shark Tank and how he fell in love with mid-century modern design. 

From exclusive photoshoots in iconic mid-century modern homes, to being a beloved tradition in many families, his trees ha...

Monique is joined by Greg Kelly, founder and president of Modbox USA, to talk about his journey in the world of midcentury modernism. They discuss Greg's frustration with the lack of available products and how it led to the birth of Modbox USA through his quest for the perfect mailbox, and the support he received from the MCM community to bring his vision to life. They also touch on Modbox's expansion beyond mailboxes and Greg's ex...

Monique sits down with the talented architect, Stanley Saitowitz. From his early years growing up in South Africa, Saitowitz shares his deep love for architecture that ignited during his youth. They delve into his bold and larger-than-life designs, highlighting a few extraordinary house and building creations and the intriguing blend of nature and architecture that defines his work. Saitowitz's extensive expertise shines through as...