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
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!
Borge Mogensen-Style: Model 2334 Chair
Borge Mogensen’s iconic Danish Modern furniture designs have become staples in homes and offices around the world thanks to their remarkable comfort and subtly striking Scandinavian beauty. Applying his knowledge gained while studying at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen and apprenticing for world-renowned Danish Architect, Kaare Klint, Mogensen began designing his prized 23 Collection, intended to serve as practical family seating for everyday use. His passion for furniture design was one that he passed down to his son, Peter, who carried on his father’s legacy of Danish Modern design. Equipped with the skills inherited from his father, Peter Mogensen took it upon himself in 1971 to finish the Model 2334 Chair design that Borge started in 1962, and went on to win This unique father and son collaboration has withstood the test of time and helped lay the groundwork for Danish Modern design as we know it today.
Our Mogensen-Style Model 2334 Chair was inspired by Borge Mogensen’s original design, as well as our loveseat and sofa version of this chair. Our version uses seat and back cushions filled with foam and Dacron that sit over our heavy-duty wood frame construction, thus ensuring durability for years to come. With 4 different wood finishes on the legs and a wide array of leather color choices, this chair can be customized to perfectly fit in any room of the house.
Come check out our Mogensen-Style Model 2334 Chair and more in our Bellingham showroom!
Tags: Conrad Moulton, Florence Knoll, modern, modern furniture, modern living room, Scandinavian Modern | Furniture Notes, Borge Mogensen, Designer Notes, hygge, Modern Decor, Scandinavian Modern | Permalink | Posted February 15, 2019 by Alison
Knoll-Style Lounge Chair in Charcoal Gray
Arranging furniture in any room is equally exciting as it is daunting. While there are infinite possibilities when an empty room is your blank canvas, lack of planning can lead to endless furniture shuffling and that lingering question if there is a better way to have it arranged.
Although there is no magic formula or standard way to arrange your living room furniture, there are a few guidelines to consider:
–Pick a focal point for the room
This will serve as a reference point and everything will be arranged relative to the placement of the focal point you choose. This can be anything with a significant presence in the room from a window to a sofa or even a piece of art. It should be the obvious place the eye is immediately drawn to upon entering the room.
–Create a floor plan
You can either map out your floor plan on a blank sheet of paper though there are several apps that have been created for this very task as well as templates you can find online for furniture arrangement planning. This will cut your time spent moving furniture down significantly.
-Form and Function
Using functional furniture enhances the potential for using a space in different ways. This is especially important for smaller spaces where there is not room for much ornamentation. Keep in mind that you should never have to sacrifice style for functional furniture… just look here for a few ideas where form and function work in harmony.
–Flow of Traffic
Just as important as where the furniture is placed is where the furniture is not placed to create a path that is easy navigate. Direct traffic around the furniture, not through the middle of it and allow 36-48 inches for the obvious paths and about 24 inches for the smaller ones.
Let us know if you have any personal tips when it comes to arranging your home! Either post it below, or stop by our showroom in Bellingham to also see and experience the pieces we have to offer.
Tags: Conrad Moulton, Florence Knoll, furniture layout, furniture spacing, modern furniture | Furniture Notes, Clutter-free, Florence Knoll, Florence Knoll Seating, Minimalism, modern, modern home, Space Planning | Permalink | Posted September 14, 2018 by Alison
Wegner-Style Wish Bone Chair with Black Leather Seat
During the 20th century, the Scandinavian countries, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, were inarguably all recognized as furniture design hot spots, with some of the most iconic designers who created some of our favorite Scandinavian-Modern furniture.
Scandinavian-Modern designers were unique in the way they upheld the fundamental ideals of modernism and combined it with their traditional skills acquired in woodworking and cabinetmaking. This meant incorporating their knowledge of hardwood joinery and framework techniques to create some of the most iconic furniture designs of the 20th century. These furniture designs that are still highly regarded today came from famous designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Paul Volther, Finn Juhl, Borge Mogensen, Poul Kjaerholm and Eero Saarinen.
Our Scandinavian-Modern Furniture Collections honor the original and intended iconic furniture designs created during the Modern age. With the minor adjustments we added for optimum comfort along with the use of top quality materials these designers did not have during their times but that we do have thanks to technological advances in the decades since, these iconic Scandinavian furniture designs can be enjoyed for years longer than ever thought possible.
You can come see and have a seat in any of our Scandinavian-Modern furniture in our factory showroom location in Bellingham!
Platner Style Round Dining Table
Having worked for Eero Saarinen early in his career, it is clear Warren Platner drew influence from him by the soft curves of his furniture designs. Still able to make a name for himself, the American designer created a revolutionary method of welding dozens of steel rods onto a circular frame, giving his collection of furniture a strong and beautiful structure and an icon of 1960s modernism.
Our Platner-Style Round Dining Table closely matches the dimensions of his original design. Though he originally created the base from nickel-plated steel rods, today we have the option to use the more resilient and durable option of stainless steel for our base. With a 5/8” inch tempered glass top, our version of this iconic table is the perfect focal point for any dining room!
Come check out this icon of 1960s Modernism plus more of what we have to offer in our Bellingham showroom!
Finn Juhl-Style Baker Sofa
Among his many accolades, Finn Juhl is largely recognized for introducing Danish design to the United States with his iconic designs like his Baker Sofa. Unveiled in 1951, this famous sofa shows Juhl’s signature ‘Carrying Element’ he used on many of his pieces. This method involves freeing the seat and back from the frame thus creating a visual lightness about the sofa and surroundings.
Our Finn Juhl-Inspired Baker Sofa honors the same dimensions of Juhl’s original design. We can make our version all in the same color or two colors like the one pictured here. With a traditional hardwood internal frame and high resilient multi-density foam, you will not find another version of this iconic sofa that can offer the style and durability at our price.
Come check out all we have to offer in person by visiting our showroom location in Bellingham!
Aegean Blue Jacobsen-Style Egg Chair
Created in 1958 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair fits the form and function ideal of his predecessors along with his innovative design that creates an option for privacy. Its commanding presence and ability to hide away with a slight swivel on the rotating base has made this a popular chair among many filmmakers’ villains since the 1960s.
Although I rarely do much evil-plotting anymore, I do enjoy the comfort of our Jacobsen-Style Egg Chair as it contours to the natural curves of the body, just as Arne Jacobsen originally designed it to do. Available in a a wide variety colors of our exclusive boucle textured fabrics and a cushion that we’ve added a little extra foam, this chair is cozy enough to turn any villain into a good-natured hero.
Come have a seat and a swivel in our Jacobsen-Style Egg Chair at our Bellingham showroom!
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 Lounge Chair Reproduction 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 Comparison Guide.
Come visit us at our Bellingham 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 20, 2018 by Alison
