Mid Century Modern Meets Classic Phoenix Part One

Jan 19

Jan 19 Mid Century Modern Meets Classic Phoenix Part One

My good friend Joel Lilliquist is a master craftsman, not in the usual way of working with wood or stone, but in the way of using scale, negative space, color and pattern. Joel has been in the design industry for 38 years, beginning in visual merchandising and transitioning to interior design 19 years ago. I met Joel when I started with Lazboy Furniture Galleries 13 years ago. He is one of my design mentors and one of my favorite people! His unique mix of fabrics, art, and lighting is inspiring.

Joel purchased a small condo in the central corridor a year and a half ago and has been slowly remodeling it. It’s got that classic old Phoenix charm, which Joel was able to preserve. He reconfigured the kitchen using IKEA cabinets in a gloss white and replaced the floor with a wood looking vinyl. He kept the walls an off-white to show off his colorful art and artifacts. Joel has travelled the world and his home reflects his favorite trip to Africa. He even named his cat Nairobi!

He recently finished his dining space with a contemporary glass-topped table and charcoal fabric chairs. I love the details, the brushed nickel on the table base, the angled leg of the table, the mini wings on the chair backs. The light woodtone picks up some of the floor color. A simple metal light fixture placed purposely offset adds to the inviting feel of the space. White subway tile gives texture to the wall above the cabinet and makes a great backdrop for Joel’s batik art from Kenya, Africa.