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Chic And Comfy Danish Design Furniture

July 24, 2011 By Cindy Leave a Comment

No matter how large or small a home is, it requires some amount of furniture. Tables, sofas, and beds are generally the sort of furniture that one wishes to have at home. If one item is taken away, an individual would then get a couch to sleep on without the presence of a bed, or a bed to work on in the lack of a table. Furniture for outside is in the same way required. As every person is allowed his own choice of approach, selecting Danish design furniture will undeniably give one guaranteed pleasure.

Modern Danish design furniture initially began to emerge in the 50s with Danish designers leading the path. These exclusive designs have had a following since, and have been rising in status in recent years.
A lot of people the world over have become fascinated by Danish design furniture which a lot of companies have manufactured in a range of sizes and styles for any person to choose from. Each simple design or complex style certainly grabs anyone’s eye for interest. It is even accessible online. Before buying one, make sure to have a look at customer reviews and opinion. Also confirm the shipping costs. Local stores have stocks for furniture. Compare the prices. Before a sale is completed, get assurance that a piece may last a long time if not a life time.

Make sure premature pieces have clean lines without extra embellishment in pale woods or plywood. Later Danish Design Furniture was also made from dark woods in reaction to customer demand.
Anticipate finding natural fabrics with texture in single colors or with a very discreet pattern. Wood ought to have oil and wax finishes.

Verify a natural, ergonomic design that attends to the body and makes a comfy piece of furniture. Hard, geometric lines are unusual in Danish modern.

The Rasmus Harrogate interiors store opened in June 2006. In our Harrogate showroom and online we have an unparalleled collection of striking contemporary lights, Danish Design Furniture, and lifestyle accessories for both indoor and outdoor living spaces, created by some of todays most important and influential European designers.

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Mid-Century Furniture Is Modern – Again!

July 4, 2011 By Cindy 2 Comments

The era that gave us mass-produced furniture and the opportunity to “experiment” with our decor is making a come-back in the lush set designs of AMC’s hit show, Mad Men. From Pete’s chic apartment to the Draper’s domestic dream home, everyone seems to be buzzing about mid-century modern, and rightly so.

With whispers of clothing lines coming out based on the fashions from the show, and online forums filled with questions about where to find Dan Draper’s office furniture, the trend towards mid-century modern is firmly in place. Mid-century modern furniture – your grandmother’s furniture – is classic, cheap, and easy to find if you know where to look. Outside of it being handed down from your relatives when you moved out of the house to go to college, you can find these “antiques of the future” in thrift shops, estate sales, antique auctions and online at sites specializing in mid-century modern.

Mixing these classics with your existing decor is easy.

In fact they look fantastic and add a lot of character when mixed with other styles. Furniture of that era is smaller in profile than many modern alternatives, so works really well in smaller spaces. You can even reupholster these pieces to match your color scheme and still do it for less than the cost of new furniture.

Danish Modern

The most abundant and easy to find mid-century modern is Danish Modern, or Danish Teak as it is sometimes known. As Mad Men Set Director Amy Wells points out, when asked about her work on set. “I want to make Mad Men look real, as if the people really have those pieces. It’s important that they be imperfect, not iconic. A lot of people had Danish modern at the time because it was reasonably priced, and much of it still exists because it was so well made.”

Some designer’s names to keep your eyes open for would be Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, N.O.

Moller, Arne Jacobsen.

Finn Juhl was the first modern Danish furniture designer to be recognized internationally. He created a new style of Danish furniture that embraced form as much as it did function. The world noticed, earning Juhl the unofficial title of Father of Danish Modernism. You can see more credenzas and mid-century modern furniture examples for sale.

Top 10 collectible pieces of mid-century modern to start your collection

Eames Lounge Chair Wood (LCW)

The husband and wife team of Ray and Charles Eames really are American Modern Royalty. Together they made advances in manufacturing methods for mass-producing furniture. Their Lounge Chair Wood is iconic of their work.

Nelson Platform Bench

Designed by George Nelson, the Director of Design for the Herman Miller Company, the Bench has a light airy quality to it while maintaining the warmth of the wood. Nelson was also known for his advances in creating modular furniture and shelving for both office and residential.

Isamu Noguchi Coffee Table

Isamu Noguchi was a Japanese-American designer and sculptor. His sculptural sensibilities can be seen in his most famous furniture piece, this coffee table designed in 1954 for Herman Miller remains a timeless piece of design.

Eero Saarinen Tulip Table and Chairs

Finnish-born architect and designer, Saarinen was the father of the “Jetson’s” look. He is most famous for his Tulip table and chairs. Coincidentally became the basis for the seating on the original Star Trek series.

Eero Saarinen Womb Chair

Saarinen was also well-known for this piece of design as well. The womb chair was said to have been designed for Florence Knoll, who challenged him to create a piece of furniture that she could curl up in.

Marcel Breuer Wassily Chair

The Wassily chair is notable because it is one of the first chairs to incorporate bent tubular steel. First designed for Wassily Kandinsky, the chair widely gained popularity and has been mass-produced ever since.

Mies van der Rohe Barcelona Chair

The Barcelona chair was designed by Mies van der Rohe for the German Pavilion at the Barcelona Exposition in 1929. The fluid lines of this chair make it a classic that is as fresh today as it was then. Mies van der Rohe’s signature is on the frame of each original piece.

Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair

The Swan chair was designed for the lobby of the Royal Copenhagen Hotel in 1958. The chair, manufactured by Fritz Hansen, was innovative at its time because it was entirely made up of curving synthetic material covered with upholstery.

Eames Lounger

This chair epitomised the height of status and luxury for a long time. Designed to be as comfortable as an old baseball mit, the chair certainly lives up to expectations.

Finn Juhl Model 45 Armchair

This chair typifies the Danish design sensibilities. Beautifully proportioned, elegant sinewy frame and the warmth and comfort of wood and leather.

Melanie Carlson is an online entrepreneur with a passion for contemporary and mid-century modern furniture design. Her desire to find a centralized source for used designer furniture brought her to create her own web site devoted to it. Lushpad is an online classifieds site to buy and sell used designer and mid-century modern furniture and fine art.

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Enhance Your very own House With Mid Century Furniture

July 4, 2011 By Cindy 3 Comments

Are you familiar with the famed TV show ‘Mad Men’? Due to this show mid century furniture is becoming fashionable yet again. The mid century inspired decorations displayed within the set of the show made it possible for individuals to become excited about mid century furniture all over again. After some time, folks who watched the program became interested with the pieces of furniture found in the house of Draper and the apartment of Pete, people needed to know where they might purchase these types of furniture.

Even clothing style was inspired by the show’s sense of style. Forums are abuzz regarding Draper’s classic but cool looking workplace furniture. This has jump started a renewed awareness in mid century furniture and the trend does not look like it’s disappearing anytime soon.

Now that your grandma’s furniture is hot once more, don’t you wish you hadn’t sold them all off or given them away for a cheap price? You may discover these home furniture in vintage, antique or thrift stores, and likely within the shop where you sold your grandmother’s furniture to as well. And now that this is back in style, you would have to purchase them back for 3 times more than the value you sold them for.

There can be other places to buy modern vintage pieces of furniture in addition to thrift stores. You will likely find them on-line at websites focusing on trendy mid century furniture. You may try purchasing them at estate sales, garage sales or antique auctions. Classic household furniture can go properly with different fashionable furniture. It adds character and uniqueness to your very own decor. You could even modify the old upholstery with very new ones to complement the rest of your stuff.

Danish mid century modern pieces of furniture or Danish teak are more abundantly seen in our time. Many individuals purchased these well-made items back then. These home furniture were made using durable materials so it is no surprise that they can still be found in the present day after several years of use.

Enthusiasts keep a vigilant eye for furniture designed by Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl and N.O. Moller. The unofficial title of Father of Modern Danish Modernism was given to Juhl, the primary modern Danish household furniture designer recognized internationally. Here are some notable mid century style furniture seen at present.

Finn Juhl’s Model 45 Armchair This chair displays normal Danish design of excellent proportion, lean but robust class, and the comfort and warmth of leather and wood.

Eames Lounger If class and elegance is what you are after, this chair would be best for you. It is as snug as an old baseball mit and certainly lives up to the highest expectations.

Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair This chair, designed by Arne Jacobsen and produced by Fritz Hansen, originally graced the lobby of the Royal Copenhagen Hotel in 1958. It was one of the most innovative chair design in its time.

Mies van der Rohe Barcelona Chair Mies van der Rohe made the Barcelona chair for the German Pavilion at the Barcelona Exposition in 1929. The fluid lines of this chair make it a traditional favourite until today. Each piece of this chair has Mies van der Rohe’s signature on its frame.

Marcel Breuer Wassily Chair Wassily Kandinsky made the 1st chair that employed bent tubular steel. Up to now, this chair is still being made in volumes and remains to be exceptionally popular.

Eero Saarinen Tulip Table and Chairs Finish master architect and designer Saarinen became the father of the Jetson’s Look. The chairs in the hit motion picture ‘Star Trek’ was designed after the Tulip chairs made by him.

Eero Saarinen Womb Chair Saarinen is also known for the womb chair that was born out of a challenge by Florence Knoll who asked him to make a chair she may curl up in.

Isamu Noguchi Coffee Table A Japanese-American craftsperson, Noguchi, made this coffee table for Herman Miller in 1954. This authentic household furniture shows off his talent is sculpting very clearly.

Nelson Platform Bench This furniture has a lightweight and fresh feeling to it in spite of having the characteristics of the warmth of wood. George Nelson is also famous for making modular home furniture and cabinets for home and office.

Eames Lounge Chair Wood This chair was created by husband and wife Charles and Ray Bernice Eames. They made progress in mass producing modern furniture. The Lounge Chair Wood is their flagship product.

To find out more relevant info on mid century furniture, you should visit Matt Cod’s online resource site on art deco furniture and other furniture to read the latest news, compare offers, read reviews, discover all the facts and check where is the best place to make shopping.

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Contemporary Furniture and Modern Style: The Name Game

July 4, 2011 By Cindy Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a fan, aficionado, or outright collector of great furniture, when searching for timeless, well-designed, ergonomically contoured modern, international, or mid-century modern furniture, play the name game.

By this, we simply mean seek out furniture from the greatest designers of the genre and of the age. Some of these names, while not precisely household names, are still recognizable to even the budding furniture and home décor enthusiast. The most recognizable names associated with classic, mid-century modern style are Isamu Noguchi, Charles Eames, Ray Eames, Le Corbusier, George Nelson, Eero Saarinen, Reinhard Dienes, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Hans J. Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Harry Bertoia, Knoll, Herman Miller, Verner Panton, and Marcel Breuer. These are all safe bets whether you are searching for investment-grade vintage furniture, Danish style furniture, or simply something special to set a cool contemporary furniture tone in your home or office.

Such famous pieces as the Barcelona series of chairs, the Wegner chair, the wishbone chair, the coconut chair, the DCM chair, the cyclone table, and the boomerang coffee table have set the standard for distinctive mid-century classic furniture designs. We know them and love them even if we don’t know them by name. We’ve seen them in countless places, from the silver screen to home design and décor magazines and websites. They are as much a part of our cultural heritage as the pop art designs of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

But while classic mid-century furniture can give us the same visual pleasure as a fine painting we can also enjoy it on a physical level as well. Chairs, ottomans, loungers, side tables, sofas and dining tables provide physical comfort as well as visual comfort. Features such as sleigh-style legs, laminated tops, architectural-style legs, contoured seats, premium full-grain leather upholstery, molded fiberglass bodies, flowing lines, sawhorse frames, waterfall seats, and most importantly a crisp, clean, retro style all add to their appeal in our minds and in our homes.

Re-issues and interpretations of classic designs from the great designers such as Le Corbusier, Charles and Ray Eames, and their ilk and can be found in places both expected and unexpected. A little diligence will pay great rewards when you at last find a Bauhaus or Danish classic to grace your home, office, or kitchen. Polished steel, chrome legs, sculpted contours, and bold, unique, distinctive designs are the hallmarks of modern décor of this classic era and elements that have made these revolutionary designs of the 1930′s, 1940′s, and 1950′s unforgettable and highly desirable in the contemporary home and contemporary lifestyle.

Bob Michael is a freelance journalist who writes about contemporary design, with a focus on modern furniture, modern housewares, kitchenware, bed & bath products, and lifestyle products.For more information about contemporary furniture visit http://www.nooddesign.com

 

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4 Characteristics That Define Mid-century Modern Furniture

July 4, 2011 By Cindy Leave a Comment


The dramatic relevance of mid-century modern design continues to take a foremost role in today’s design inspiration.  While there are many furniture pieces that claim to be “mid-century modern,” there are several defining characteristics that capture the essence of this era of modernism. 

 

The lovely lines!

 

The most outstanding feature of mid-century modern furniture is the clean, lovely lines.  As a sharp contrast to the furniture that pre-dated the 1950s, mid-century modern designers found beauty in lines that were sleek, uncluttered, and clean.  Smooth lines epitomized the modernity these designers wished to emulate.

 

Mid-century modern furniture is easily spotted by its streamlined appearance.  Using clean lines to create sculptural elements, the simplicity of the line design is what makes mid-century modern furniture continue to be relevant in today’s homes.  Those who earn the credit of defining these streamlined lines are designers like Charles Eames, Euro Saarinen, Anne Jacobsen, and Miles van der Rone.

 

Prevalence of teak

 

Along with the infusion of man-made materials, including fiberglass, was a tremendous affection for teak wood in mid-century modern design.  With the large Danish influence on modernism, the wood’s warmth and strength was embraced by a WWII-tattered world looking to find serenity.  In addition, from a design perspective, teak provided an excellent backdrop and accent to the interesting colors and textures prevalent in mid-century modern design.

 

Rainbow of colors and textures

 

Bursting onto the scenes of mid-century modern inspiration was a plethora of unique textures and colors.  By emphasizing the contemporary outlook of the home, mid-century modern design wanted to forget the past, but rather emphasize the hope (of a peaceful world) that the future held.  Thus, mid-century modern design saw a great plethora of colors and textures that were mixed together in great creativity.

 

A quintessential example of the mixture of colors and textures are presented in the two most popular mid-century modern furniture pieces today: the Eero Saarinen womb chair and the Eames fiberglass chairs.  Seen today, as well as in modernism magazines from the mid-century, the yellow Knoll womb chair was beautiful paired with the red Herman Miller chair made of fiberglass.  White furniture was also used frequently, as well as white accents, to create that clean, smooth look that tied together all the textures and colors.

 

Use of cutting-edge materials (at least, for that era)

 

Turning the traditional woods on its head, mid-century modern design introduced the mass appeal of man-made materials that were not previously found in furniture.  Plastic becomes an important element of mid-century modern furniture, including Bakelite on table tops, along with Plexiglass and Lucite.  A classic example of the use of nontraditional materials is Eames’ LAR Low-Low armchair made of fiberglass, as well as the tulip armchair by Saarinen.

 

The tremendous popularity of mid-century modern design in today’s interiors is indicative of the timeless appeal of great designers like Herman Miller, Eames, and Saarinen.  60 years later, people are paying top dollar for authentic, valuable mid-century modern furniture pieces.

For additional mid-century modern furniture inspirations, visit Poetic Home for ideas on vintage industrial projects, re-upholstery DIY guides, and more mid-century modern eye candy.

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Retro Furniture For Sale In The Uk, Buying Guide

June 27, 2011 By Cindy Leave a Comment

If you take a look around your house and decide it needs life brought into it, a great way is to add any retro styled pieces to refresh the look and make it feel exciting! By adding pieces of retro furniture to your house, you strengthen the character and bring in the sphere of color.  This helps you add a unique and fun feel to your house.  Adding retro pieces can take boring decor and upgrade it to a refreshing and exciting home. This notable design is recreated from the fabulous 50′s epoch which so many loved. Retro chairs made in the sphere of this design is the notable chrome cessation which mimics the epoch so well. The chrome-finished frame positioned with  fun vinyl fabric is hot right now!  Depending on the  type of retro furniture you get,you can take your house to either a contemporary or a vintage flare.

 

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Retro Furniture

June 27, 2011 By Cindy Leave a Comment

Back in the 50s and 60s, modern furniture was cool. Now people are rediscovering furniture from this period and shopping on eBay for it or buying reproductions of design classics from the past.

The modern style became popular in the UK after the Festival of Britain in 1951. The Festival gave the best of British designers a chance to show off exciting new designs to a public that was hungry for change. In the 50s, people completely reversed their tastes from preferring traditional style to wanting modern design.

Today what was considered cutting edge modern in the 50s and 60s is retro. Retro style is a way to make your home look distinctive, something different from the DIY superstore look that everyone else has.

Re-issues of classic 50s and 60s designs are available at many stores. Habitat, for example, make a number of Robin Day’s classics, such as the Forum leather sofa from 1964.

Fritz Hansen still manufacture Arne Jacobsen’s beautifully organic Egg Chair from 1958.

If you don’t want to pay designer prices, then original designs from the 50s and 60s are still readily available on eBay. Be your own judge of what is good design; not every piece made with a contemporary style in the 50s and 60s was.

Look for simple shapes, such as long, low sideboards with minimal decoration. Generally if it looks good, it is good design.  If the proportions are wrong, ignore it. Scandinavian influence was strong in UK furniture from the 50s to the 70s. Look for pieces finished in teak or rosewood. Rosewood has a distinctive curvy, grain pattern. Sellers on eBay often describe mahogany or sapele pieces incorrectly as rosewood. Both these woods have a straight grain.

They are less fashionable in modern style furniture and consequently pieces in mahogany or sapele are less valuable.

Some manufacturers from the 50s and 60s that made well designed furniture are G-Plan, Stag, Ercol, Austinsuite and Nathan. G-Plan was a pioneer of modern design. Stag employed John and Sylvia Reid to create some fantastic minimalist pieces in the 50s. Their most famous design was Minstrel – a reinterpretation of eighteenth century elegance for the modern world. Ercol made simple, modern furniture in English Elm. Ercol is of high quality and has a large following. If you want to buy the top designers from the 50s and 60s then pieces do come up on eBay, but are rarely cheap. Look for manufacturers like Gordon Russell, or Archie Shine. Younger also made some marvellous quality pieces in teak and rosewood from the late fifties. They may be cheaper than some of the top designer pieces. Also look for Danish furniture on eBay.

Overall, look for furniture you like rather than what you think is valuable and have fun decorating in a modern style to complement your acquisitions.

For more on Retro furniture read Retro furniture on Retrowow.

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