Florence Knoll Style Lounge Chair
During the 20th century, interior design was taking a new direction and breaking free of the previously stagnant norms. Furniture innovations especially were emerging and flourishing. It was an exciting time for everyone who was ready to welcome this fresh change brought on by the iconic designers of the time like Eero Saarinen and Harry Bertoia and Florence Knoll.
Always one to maintain a level-head though, Florence Knoll took a step back to view the bigger picture. She could see there would be a need for furniture specifically designed to offset her colleagues’ organically-shaped and curved furniture designs. She took it upon herself to design what she would later describe as the “the fill-in piece no one else wants to do.” Perhaps she might have given herself more credit if Knoll knew her designs would become ageless modern classics.
Our Florence Knoll Style Lounge Chair honors the same dimensions as the original model. We have improved upon it by using a higher quality of materials that have become available in the years since the original design. You can read all about these improvements in our Florence Knoll Lounge Chair Comparison Guide.
Come visit us at our Bellingham Showroom showroom where you can see everything we have to offer!
Tags: Closer Looks, Florence Knoll, modern, modern furniture | Florence Knoll, Closer Looks, Comparison Guides, Designer Notes, Florence Knoll Seating, Furniture Notes, modern | Permalink | Posted March 4, 2025 by Curt Roth
Swan Chair Replica in our Aegean Blue Boucle Fabric
Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Swan Chair is an original design he created for the SAS Royal Copenhagen Hotel in 1958. During this exciting time for the Danish architect, there was new technology emerging, giving him the chance to experiment with the smooth curves his furniture is now known for. By perching his Swan Chair on a swivelbase, the hotel guests could engage with everyone around them while sitting, thus creating a busy and welcoming environment in the same way this famous chair still does today.
Our Swan Chair Replica honors the same dimensions as the original design. With improved and higher quality materials we have available today, we promise a higher level of durability on our version. We add some extra cushioning to maximize comfort. With 20 different boucle fabric colors to choose from, this is the perfect accent chair for any home or office that beckons for a modern touch.
You can check it out in person and see everything else we have to offer by visiting our showroom location in Bellingham Showroom!
George Nelson Style Slat Bench
Since it’s introduction in 1946, George Nelson’s Slat Bench has remained a classic item in homes and offices around the world. It has a subtle elegance that is unimposing enough to fit with any style of room. With the versatility of being used as a bench or table, this has become the obvious choice for settings in need of both.
Our George Nelson Style Slat Benches are inspired by the popular George Nelson Slat Bench. It is a great compliment to any of the pieces of the modern classics collection. This bench was created by George Nelson in 1947. Some of the key features of our George Nelson style Slat Bench include:
Slat Construction: The bench is characterized by its distinctive slatted wooden top, which consists of multiple parallel wooden slats running across the width of the bench. Using the time-tested lap joint technique makes our bench very strong. These slats create a visually appealing and functional surface.
Durable Materials: Our bench is constructed using high-quality solid ash, not MDF wood like most other benches found on the market. The wooden slats are connected to metal legs powder coated a matte black and have adjustable floor glides. Both the solid wood and the metal legs contributes to the bench’s stability.
Versatility: One notable aspect of the Nelson Slat Bench is its versatility. Originally designed as a seating and occasional table solution, it can serve multiple functions. It’s often used as a coffee table or a bench for seating. Exclusive to our model is the seat height of 15.75 inches, which is almost 2 inches higher than other models on the market.
Our Slat benches are offered in three finish choices: stained walnut brown with a clear lacquer finish, a matte black finish, or left natural with a clear lacquer finish. The legs are metal and only come in black finish. There are 4 adjustable glides on the bottom of the frame. The size and geometry of our bench is true to the George Nelson original design, except we make our bench about 1.5 inches taller.
You can see our George Nelson Inspired Slat Bench and the different wood finish options at our showroom in Bellingham!
George Nelson Style Slat Bench in a Clutter-Free Home
After years of renting, you take the momentous leap into adulthood and are now a first-time homebuyer and settling in to your clutter-free modern home with modern furnishings to replace your old bean bag chairs and college futon (seriously, get rid of them, donations are usually tax-deductible). Do not undo all your hard work by throwing your dirty clothes over your brand new George Nelson Style Slat Bench. You are a grown-up now, remember?! This means from now on you are neat and tidy! If only it were that easy to break your slobbish habits you developed in college, when you first escaped your parents nagging and saying “the floor is not not a hamper.” It can be and here are three simple habits to adopt to keep your new modern home clean and tidy in a way that says a grown-up lives here!
One-Touch Rule: Adopt this mindset and you will never spend another second of your life searching for your other shoe (or keys, or wallet). If put where it belongs, an item is only touched once until you next time you need it. Think about the dirty dish you are about to put in the sink when it belongs in the dishwasher (touch #1). Here is what happens next: other dishes pile on top of it until its overflowing, so you move everything onto the counter (touch #2) and begin loading everything into the dishwasher (touch #3). It takes as much effort to put that same dirty dish in the dishwasher which is literally right next to the sink. Have you ever woken up to a perfectly clean kitchen? Trust me, you will love it.
Avoid the ‘Clutter to Maintain Clutter’ Complex: While there is tremendous value in finding an organizing unit solution for a chaotic spot you are constantly trying to keep in order (lids for the pots and pans, perhaps?) if not put to use, its only more clutter. Oh, the irony. Be mindful of this and avoid it before it starts by only buying organizers you need and most importantly: Keep it simple! This is supposed to make your life easier, so overcomplicating it will only deter you from using it to maintain the clutter.
Got a minute? De-Stress and Create Order: When you find yourself with a minute to spare, take the opportunity to get a small area in order, like that one drawer in your console table or the kitchen cabinet with the baking sheet avalanche every time you open it. You will be amazed how satisfying this practice becomes and how eliminating the clutter also eliminates stress you only recognize once its gone.
Abide by these three methods and you will notice everything falling into place, seemingly on its own, but its all you and your mature habits replacing the old bad habits. You can find inspiration and check out all we have to offer by visiting our factory showroom in Bellingham Showroom!
Tags: clutter, clutter-free, minimalism, modern, modern home | Clutter-free, Clutter, Furniture Notes, George Nelson, Mid-Century Modern, Minimalism, Modern Furniture, Modern Furniture Fusion | Permalink | Posted by Curt Roth
Kjaerholm-Style PK31 Lounge Chair
To the untrained eye, many signature designs can look so similar to other versions of the same furniture design when placed side by side when the right measures are taken to adhere to the original specifications. On various pieces there are distinguishing features in the original models that can be the tell tale sign of which is an acceptable similar and inspired version of the original design and which is a cheap knock off:
Down Feather Filled Cushions:
The down feather filling is the only way to achieve this relaxed aesthetic in the cushions that is especially popular on furniture from the modern periods. The PK31 Chair is a perfect example of this and, unlike our Kjaerholm-Style PK31 Lounge Chair which uses the down feather filling, you will see many other manufacturers overlook this key detail and end up with an obvious knockoff.
Welting:
Also known as piping, this is one of those details that may not be immediately obvious to some. When something seems to be not quite right with a cheap knockoff but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is, it is usually the welting. Unlike other furniture manufacturers, we hand roll the welting on all of our pieces.
Dimensions of the Furniture:
It is amazing how some furniture versions tend to deviate too far from the original dimensions and visually become a totally different piece of furniture. We have made slight adjustments for comfort in a few of our pieces though always taking into account the original design.
These are just a few features to take into consideration, and we are always happy to answer any questions you may have.
Tags: Closer Looks, Conrad Moulton, Kjaerholm, minimalism, modern, modern furniture, PK31 | Furniture Notes, Kjaerholm-Style PK31 Lounge Chair, Minimalism, modern, Modern Furniture, Poul Kjaerholm, Scandinavian Modern | Permalink | Posted July 15, 2021 by Alison
Our Exhibition Bench and Wegner-Style Ox Chair and a Sleepy Artemis
One major allure of living in a modern home is the calming appeal drawn from the clean lines and simple perfection in the absence of ornamentation…. but when that new puppy starts doing a number on the living room furniture, it might seem like either the hopes of a modern home will have to go or the puppy will (and neither of these are acceptable options).
Now there is no need to have to decide between these two loves. Thanks to new technology made available in the decades since the creation of the iconic signature furniture designs, there are substantially more durable and resilient options and we make full use of those materials here at Modern Classics Furniture:
During the age of modernism, furniture designers relied on using mild steel with chrome-plating. Although it was the best option at the time, it could not offer adequate durability needed in high traffic areas of every day use.
This is why we use #304 stainless steel on all our furniture. It offers an unprecedented level of durability without sacrificing style. If in 20 years it needs a bit of refreshing, stainless steel can be sandblasted to restore the original sparkle.
Whether its cats or dogs at home, their adorable little paws are bound to leave claw marks on any leather that is susceptible to marks and scratches.
Our top-grain, aniline-dyed leather we import from Italy is equipped to withstand the elements of day-to-day life thanks to a protective coating we use to protect against scratches or stains, so your pets can easily nap on the furniture without a problem.
If you are the proud owner of a a furry friend who leaves “presents” around the house and digs their sharp baby claws into the furniture once they know they are in trouble, welcome to the club. While most puppy mischief is eventually forgiven, stains and snags on upholstered furniture is a tough one to get past when there’s a daily reminder on your favorite sofa…except if that fabric is stain-resistant and claw-resistant, like our exclusive collection of Modern Boucle Fabrics. Claw mark snags are a thing of the past and, for little puddles, clean up is a cinch (so puppy playtime can resume after the obligatory time-out). We use an eco-friendly stain guard finish so spilled liquids bead up and are easily wiped away without permeating the surface of the fabric (its also UV resistant so colors will not fade if kept by a window…. I know this doesn’t apply so much to pets but, hey, pretty cool).
Come see what we have to offer in our showroom in Bellingham!
Tags: Exhibition Bench, fiddle leaf fig, indoor plants, modern furniture, Scandinavian Modern | Exhibition Bench, Bauhaus Modern, Furniture Notes, Hans Wegner, Indoor Plants, Maintenance, Mies van der Rohe, Modern Furniture, Modern Furniture Maintenance, Scandinavian Modern | Permalink | Posted June 13, 2019 by Alison
Wegner-Inspired: JH Lounge Chair
When it comes to furnishing your home with leather furniture, knowing what to look for to ensure you are getting the best quality of leather is key. Simply put, not all leather is created the same. Here is a quick guide about what constitutes quality leather and what cheap alternatives to avoid:
Top Grain Leather: Also known as ‘full grain,’ think of this as the prime rib of all the leathers. This is the top part of the hide, the best part, and is the only leather we use since it is and is best suited for furniture upholstery due to its pliability and unmatched strength and durability.
Split Leather: This is the bottom layer of leather that is left after the top-grain leather layer has been removed (or split, hence the name). It is typically sprayed and embossed to look more like top-grain, but it is not nearly as durable and will show scratches and signs of wear after only a few years.
Bonded Leather: Think of this as the hot dog of leathers. This is the leftover leather that is ground up with glue and recycled (we do not use bonded leather).
Pure Aniline-Dyed: Our premium leathers are all 100% aniline dyed which means the color you see is achieved by soaking the leather in a large drum of non-toxic dye to penetrate the leather’s grain all the way through and still visually maintain the integrity of the leather’s natural surface. Between our premium leather and standard leather options, the premium leather is the softer.
Semi-Aniline-Dyed: With the same durability as our premium leathers, our standard leathers are semi-aniline dyed. This is the same process as mentioned above, though a small amount of pigment has been added to achieve the desired color and imperfections are corrected on the leather where necessary.
You can come see, smell, feel and sit in our wide variety of leathers at our showroom in Bellingham. If you are not able to visit we can always mail you any swatches of our leathers by filling out our Material Sample Request Form.
Our Eileen Gray-Inspired Bibendum Chair and Finn Juhl-Inspired Chair 45 Pulled Up to Our Kjaerholm-Inspired PK61 Coffee Table
When it comes to living in a sustainable home, certain measures can be taken to have a bigger impact on preserving the environment than you may realize and, once set in place, require even less effort than walking all the way over to the recycling bin to throw away your water bottle.
Lightbulbs: Replacing your five most used lights in your house with energy efficient lightbulbs, such as LED or CFL, in a year will save you enough for a mini-shopping spree (around $75-100). What is most manageable and reduces waste is replacing any traditional incandescents with energy efficient bulbs one-by-one as they burn out. This way you can gradually transition to an entirely sustainably lit home without wasting any incandescent bulbs already in place
Furniture: Do you know where your furniture was made and where those materials were sourced and how their manufacturing practices might impact the environment? Its a surprising number of well-known furniture manufacturers who do not have these answers. By manufacturing all our furniture in our factory, we have full control over the entire production process, and a big part of it is ensuring the most sustainable methods are properly being practiced to minimize any impact on the Earth’s limited natural resources. Our sustainable practices value human safety and the environment, and our customers can feel good about having our furniture in their homes.
Non-Disposable Containers: A few months ago, I bought a dozen glass water bottles and made a commitment to stop buying plastic water bottles. This small change has saved so much money and trips to the recycling bin, not to mention is more stylish than a carrying a crinkled plastic water bottle. This same practice can be applied to every type of container in the house and only requires a few adjustments how you buy the products going in each container (for example, buying in bulk or making your own cleaning formulas)
Making Your Own Cleaning Formulas: Not only can these easy-to-make formulas decimate germs and bacteria just as well as anything store bought, but harmful chemicals are kept out of your home, thus protecting your health and the environment.
You can learn more and visit us at our showroom in Bellingham!
Tags: energy efficient, entertaining, fiddle leaf fig, furniture layout, Scandinavian Modern, Succulents | Furniture Notes, Eileen Gray, Finn Juhl, Indoor Plants, Minimalism, Poul Kjaerholm, Scandinavian Modern, Sustainable | Permalink | Posted April 5, 2019 by Alison
Our Wegner-Style Wing Back Chair and Ottoman
Proper posture seems to be easier said than done and anyone who has experienced a sore back after sitting at a desk or in front of a computer all day, you’re not alone. I am constantly reminding myself to sit up straight, only to find myself slouching again within a few minutes. Not only does it look sloppy but it is detrimental to spinal alignment, to the digestive system and can lead to poor circulation. Hans Wegner recognized the importance of proper posture, and designed his iconic Wing Back Lounge Chair in a way to comfortably support the human spine in a way that makes proper posture the natural sitting position.
Our Wegner-Style Wing Back Lounge Chair follows the same specifications of Wegner’s original design, making proper posture come naturally so there’s no more accidental slouching. With two stainless steel back legs being slightly lower than the two front legs, the seat has a backward slant that supports the upper back and neck while also supporting the natural curve of the lower back.
Come check it out along with more of what we have to offer at our Bellingham showroom!
Finn Juhl-Inspired: Chair 45
When thinking of all the main designers who played a key roles in bringing Danish Modern Design to the United States, Finn Juhl will always be at the top of this list. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1912, he pursued his degree in Architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, though his passion for woodworking and furniture design were always hobbies he practiced on his own time, even after graduating. By continuing to practice his woodworking techniques, he organically created several unprecedented elements in his furniture designs that his peers applauded for the innovation and beauty and are still celebrated today. These elements are distinguishing features one can observe in his furniture designs, most notably are the uniquely curved forms he successfully contoured using teak wood and also his “Carrying Element.”
In 1945, Finn Juhl created his signature method called the “Carrying Element” which involved freeing the seat and back from the chair’s frame. After much experimenting, Juhl successfully created his unique ‘carrying element’ for seating and also his widely-acclaimed Chair 45.
Our Finn Juhl-Inspired Chair 45 honors the original design Finn Juhl created in 1945 and is handcrafted with solid hardwood. With a memory foam cushion and many color options in either fabric or leather to choose, this chair is the perfect addition to any room!
Come check it out in our showroom in Bellingham!
