Mid Century Modern Information

Modern Furniture Designs in the 20th Century

Furniture has come a long way since the folding campstools and carved headrests of the Pharaohs. Styles and skills have changed and evolved according to the availability of materials and customer demand. Change was steady and slow throughout the 16th to 19th centuries, but the curve of progress then rose steeply in the 20th century. The availability of new man-made materials gave much more scope for innovative design, and the aftermath of World War I and World War 2 left people wanting much more, but for a lower cost. Furniture was no longer just a practical necessity, but an article of pleasure, reflecting the owner’s taste and social standing. Here are some of the main influences on the development of design through those years.

Charles Eames (1907-1978)

Charles Eames and his wife, Ray, made a dynamic team and were extremely influential in the developing design world of 20th century America and modern American furniture. After meeting at Cranbrook Academy of Art, the Eames’s settled in Sacramento, California, and together achieved the heights of success that separately they could never have dreamed of. Charles Eames is best known for his form-fitting chairs which were eagerly bought by Americans looking for the latest in American Modern style. Charles and Ray Eames’ innovative designs were also used in furniture, fabrics, toys and interior design.

Charles’ first design was a molded plywood chair which won first prize in the Organic Design Competition in 1940, and this set him on his way to international acclaim. Eames progressed into making chairs of tubular steel, wire mesh and molded plastic. These are all very commonplace today, but were a startling revolution in the world of wooden furniture which had gone before. Three of Charles Eames’ chairs are still on the list of ‘100 Best Designed Products’. Not only modern in looks, Eames devised rubber shock mounts to join the seats to the frames, making his chairs uniquely comfortable. His lines included recliners, footstools and padded leather armchairs. What enabled the chairs to be so widely distributed at low prices was the fact that Eames had the chairs machine-made.

Charles and Ray Eames dominated mid-century American design with their timeless classics made from molded plywood, plastic, fiberglass and aluminium which are still popular today. While Charles met clients, supervised the workshop and developed concepts, Ray used her artistic background to source fabric and materials to inspire their ground-breaking creations.

Charles and Ray Eames certainly succeeded in “getting the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least amount of money”.

Gio Ponti (1891-1979)

Ponti designs are still very popular today, with their simple lines and contemporary design.

Originally Ponti was an architect in Italy, before establishing himself as a design artist. His most famous creations are the 1957 ‘Superleggera’ (Superlight) Chair which could reputedly be lifted by a child with one finger. It had an ash wood frame and a cane seat. He also designed the ‘Dezza’ armchair which had slender arms and fasteners exposed on the outside, a most innovative idea at the time.

Marc Newson (1963-    )

Newson was born in Sydney, Australia, but has spent most of his working life in London and Europe. He is well-known not only for his furniture designs, but also for his product lines including jewelry and clothing. He incorporates a style known as ‘Biomorphism’ into his innovative designs, which focuses on flowing lines with no corners or sharp edges. His famous ‘Embryo’ chair is a typical example, and probably his most recognizable design.

In recent years, Newson’s work has been highly sought after at auctions. His ‘Lockheed Lounge’ sold for just under $1million at Sotheby’s in 2006, and in the same year his Chop Top Tables sold out in just 20 minutes at Miami’s design fair.

Marc Newson was included in Time magazine’s ‘Top 100 most influential people’ in 2005, a fitting tribute to an innovative modern-day designer.

Some of the top modern contemporary furniture can be seen at Crawleys Furniture, where we specialize in furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere in the home or office.

About the Author

Gill Crawley specialises in Antique and Modern Furniture for Crawleys. View Modern Furniture for all rooms, at http://www.crawleysfurniture.co.uk/modern/ – and other types of furniture at http://www.crawleysfurniture.co.uk

Mid Century Modern Question

Suggestion for a modern wedding website?

I am looking for a wedding blog that has inspirational photos, DIY projects, that kind of thing, geared towards a “modern” wedding with a bit of retro/mid-century-modern/vintage flair. Suggestions? I find theknot.com overwhelming…I want something maybe a bit simpler and easier to navigate, but that is updated often (maybe a blog run by a wedding planner?).

http://www.modernwedding.com.au/

http://bklynbrideonline.com/

I am looking to buy a mid-century modern dining room table.?

We recently purchased a 1950s ranch home. We are in the process of decorating and we are trying to go with an “atomic ranch” style decor. Can anyone point me in the direction of any mid-centry modern websites that might carry a dining set that is from this era? We have a few that we really like and obviously we troll the local shops and craigslistings, but just in case there’s something we missed any help would be much appreciated. thanks!

With no offense meant, and hoping that Atomic ranch doesn’t suggest the JETSONS decor, Mid Century, MODERN in my opinion was best defined by DANISH MODERN.

Certainly the essence of your choices will depend on what suits YOU, and any other peripheral decor.

I’ll also assume RANCH STYLE home, so overused as a term for a single story, LONGISH style house. I’ll also assume it isn’t Atomic Log design you’re interested in.

I’d suggest Brown Shag carpet with Yellow weaving, but that makes me lose my appetite for breakfast, LOL.

Good Hunting.

Steven Wolf
just my two “sense”

White – Omicron Kitchen Padded Bar Stool $89.00 The Omicron Bar Stool in White is adjustable from 22”-30”. Featuring Vinyl leather padding in both the back and the bottom of the seat, the Omicron Bar Stool is now available in White finish. Rigorously built, this stool is perfectly suitable for both resisdential and commercial interiors. The Omicron stool with its distinguished shape, is destined to become a design icon….

George Nelson Ball Clock Probably the most famous clock design by Nelson, the ball Clocks whimsical design is as modern as ever. Designed by George Nelson ca. 1948 during a huge U.S. economic boom. Nelson’s vision was to bring modern lasting design into common aspects of the home…

White Omicron Kitchen Padded Bar Stool {Set of 4} $325.00 The Omicron Bar Stool in White is adjustable from 22”-30”. Featuring Vinyl leather padding in both the back and the bottom of the seat, the Omicron Bar Stool is now available in White finish. Rigorously built, this stool is perfectly suitable for both residential and commercial interiors. The Omicron stool with its distinguished shape, is destined to become a design icon.Stools sold in sets of F…

The Valley $2.41 Modernism art mobiles by Debra Ann are innovative, colorful, and move in the slightest breeze. “Modern Age” is a vertical mobile that fits right in your modern room. This modern art hanging room mobile is handmade by Debra Ann and includes a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the artist. Unique and colorful this art mobile takes inspiration from Calder and runs with it, creating a new and uniqu…

Modernly Classic: Mid 20th Century Works for Flute and Piano $16.99 The works compiled in this present CD were composed between 1936 and 1971. The period in question is by no means a homogenous one; styles were as varied as the number of composers. The five composers Poulenc, Prokofiev, Copland, Hindemith, and Burton intersect in interesting ways. With the exception of Burton, they all were in Paris during the middle of the twentieth century and either directly…

Mid Century Modern Videos

MOD LIVIN MID CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE

Astrolite Building Win Toy Mike Mozart of JeepersMedia on theToyChannel and JeepersMedia

It has never been easier to shop for Mid Century Modern, so pick up Mid Century Modern at bargain prices!

Mid Century Modern Information

Vintage Furniture – Rocking a Truly Mid Century Feel

We’ve all heard the phrase that everything old is new again. There are fewer places that this is truer than in the market of retro furniture. Prized for its sleek lines, smooth design and bright colors, echoes of yesterday’s home furnishings can even be found in new pieces that are being manufactured. Of course, for modern furniture purists, these reproductions are not nearly as sought after as the actual vintage pieces are themselves. Whether used as an accent piece or as part of a whole room or house ensemble, the right vintage piece can totally pull together a room.

For many people, their whole point of reference for retro furniture is fueled by the images that they see on old reruns of 60’s and 70’s TV shows. Typically brightly colored and boldly designed, what was often shown was more over the top than was necessarily the norm of the day. There were perhaps some “swingin’ pads” in the 70’s that looked like the Brady’s home, but there were many homes that only offered one or two truly modern pieces, with the rest being slightly more traditional. Incorporating modern furniture into your home should follow that same basic principle.

Finding quality retro furniture can be a challenge if you don’t know where to look .This challenge is precisely why many people attempting to create a vintage vibe have their look fall flat. Understanding the aesthetic of the period can help keep you from attempting to pair any piece that you find that is even remotely vintage. While the period was all about the wild and raucous colors and shapes, it was not specifically about clashing! A room perfectly outfitted with modern furniture and artwork should not be an eyesore! It should be fun, functional and attractive. This is why it is important to be very selective when purchasing your vintage pieces.

Whether you are aiming to outfit an entire room in retro furniture or just want one or two pieces to punch up an otherwise bland room, there are a lot of great, funky pieces out there if you just know where to look. There are still modern furniture pieces like chairs, sofas, clocks, and artwork to help you decorate your space. You can find décor for whole room makeovers or a dazzling masterpiece to accent a nook.

About the Author

Scott Kaston is an avid collector with a keen eye for the master designers of mid century modern furniture. He’s been interviewed and featured in many well known magazines and newspapers. You’re sure to find that impossible to locate piece of Vintage Furniture via his massive website.

Mid Century Modern Question

Suggestion for a modern wedding website?

I am looking for a wedding blog that has inspirational photos, DIY projects, that kind of thing, geared towards a “modern” wedding with a bit of retro/mid-century-modern/vintage flair. Suggestions? I find theknot.com overwhelming…I want something maybe a bit simpler and easier to navigate, but that is updated often (maybe a blog run by a wedding planner?).

http://www.modernwedding.com.au/

http://bklynbrideonline.com/

I am looking to buy a mid-century modern dining room table.?

We recently purchased a 1950s ranch home. We are in the process of decorating and we are trying to go with an “atomic ranch” style decor. Can anyone point me in the direction of any mid-centry modern websites that might carry a dining set that is from this era? We have a few that we really like and obviously we troll the local shops and craigslistings, but just in case there’s something we missed any help would be much appreciated. thanks!

With no offense meant, and hoping that Atomic ranch doesn’t suggest the JETSONS decor, Mid Century, MODERN in my opinion was best defined by DANISH MODERN.

Certainly the essence of your choices will depend on what suits YOU, and any other peripheral decor.

I’ll also assume RANCH STYLE home, so overused as a term for a single story, LONGISH style house. I’ll also assume it isn’t Atomic Log design you’re interested in.

I’d suggest Brown Shag carpet with Yellow weaving, but that makes me lose my appetite for breakfast, LOL.

Good Hunting.

Steven Wolf
just my two “sense”

White – Omicron Kitchen Padded Bar Stool $89.00 The Omicron Bar Stool in White is adjustable from 22”-30”. Featuring Vinyl leather padding in both the back and the bottom of the seat, the Omicron Bar Stool is now available in White finish. Rigorously built, this stool is perfectly suitable for both resisdential and commercial interiors. The Omicron stool with its distinguished shape, is destined to become a design icon….

George Nelson Ball Clock Probably the most famous clock design by Nelson, the ball Clocks whimsical design is as modern as ever. Designed by George Nelson ca. 1948 during a huge U.S. economic boom. Nelson’s vision was to bring modern lasting design into common aspects of the home…

White Omicron Kitchen Padded Bar Stool {Set of 4} $325.00 The Omicron Bar Stool in White is adjustable from 22”-30”. Featuring Vinyl leather padding in both the back and the bottom of the seat, the Omicron Bar Stool is now available in White finish. Rigorously built, this stool is perfectly suitable for both residential and commercial interiors. The Omicron stool with its distinguished shape, is destined to become a design icon.Stools sold in sets of F…

The Valley $2.41 Modernism art mobiles by Debra Ann are innovative, colorful, and move in the slightest breeze. “Modern Age” is a vertical mobile that fits right in your modern room. This modern art hanging room mobile is handmade by Debra Ann and includes a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the artist. Unique and colorful this art mobile takes inspiration from Calder and runs with it, creating a new and uniqu…

Modernly Classic: Mid 20th Century Works for Flute and Piano $16.99 The works compiled in this present CD were composed between 1936 and 1971. The period in question is by no means a homogenous one; styles were as varied as the number of composers. The five composers Poulenc, Prokofiev, Copland, Hindemith, and Burton intersect in interesting ways. With the exception of Burton, they all were in Paris during the middle of the twentieth century and either directly…

Mid Century Modern Videos

MOD LIVIN MID CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE

Astrolite Building Win Toy Mike Mozart of JeepersMedia on theToyChannel and JeepersMedia

It has never been easier to shop for Mid Century Modern, so pick up Mid Century Modern at bargain prices!