The American Craft Council (ACC) has chosen Neal Kielar and Jon Mehus, owners of MidModMen+friends, to design a 1960s-inspired showcase for the American Craft Show April 7-9 in St. Paul, MN.

ACC’s popular “Make Room” home décor program puts craft into context by featuring room vignettes created by local designers. In honor of ACC’s 75th anniversary, this year’s theme is “In Space and Time.” The design challenge is to create spaces inspired by fine craft and iconic images from the 1940s to today that visually communicate changing styles across decades. There will be four “Make Room” showcases.

In their space, Kielar and Mehus are channeling 1960s design but with a twist.

“Mid-century modern furnishings – especially Scandinavian modern from the 1960s – have long been the centerpiece of our store,” explains Kielar. “But the 1960s had a much more diverse aesthetic, and our intent is to enrich our palette by favoring global design elements from the era.”

That means the space will blend classic vintage modern pieces with Native American, Northern African, Middle Eastern and Asian influences.

Featured in the space will be furniture by well-known designers like Jens Risom, chairs restored and re-imagined with ikat upholstery, a mid-century chest with an Asian motif, 1960s era lighting and artwork, and current objects created by ACC artists.

Read more about the MidModMen+friends space in this Minneapolis Star Tribune feature article.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL. No one understands the world of artful living better than the American Craft Council. The national, nonprofit educational organization has been shaping the artisanal craft movement for decades, serving as a craft chronicler, tastemaker, convener, and provocateur through its bimonthly magazine American Craft, annual juried shows presenting artists and their work, thought leadership conferences, awards, research library, workshops, and seminars. For additional information visit craftcouncil.org or follow ACC on Facebook at facebook.com/CraftCouncil, on Twitter @craftcouncil, and on Instagram @craftcouncil.

ABOUT MIDMODMEN+FRIENDS. MidModMen+friends is a St. Paul,MN based retailer of  stylish vintage and modern home furnishings at their best. Everything is hand-selected, and then cleaned, rejuvenated or restored according to need so all you have to do is take it home and enjoy. Take a deeper dive into our available inventory, which is updated regularly at in the showcase section of our web site. Follow them on Instagram @midmodmen, Twitter @midmodmen and Facebook at Facebook.com/MidModMen.