Acquiring Mid-Century Furniture

[Anonymous]

Knoll Studio is having its annual sale now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, MCM has never been "out." A ridiculous comment.

Eh. You couldn’t give away MCM furniture in the 1980s-1990s.

Like all styles it’s a generational thing. The boomers like my parents went big time for either traditional Georgian or country styles. I remember my parents’ friends paying 4-6k for an antique cabinet or chest of drawers that you’d be lucky to sell for 1k today. I imagine the same will happen with MCM antiques down the road. High prices today, but unfashionable in 20 years.

Exactly. MCM was super out of style in that time period. When you see lots of the same style of stuff at goodwill, that's right before it will start to come back into style. Usually takes about 2-3 years. So in 2020 all the stuff that's super out of style now will start coming back. Heck, if you read Elle Decor and etc, you'll see that florals and plaids are creeping back in. But if you go to Goodwill right now there are tons of floral and paid couches and armchairs that people can't sell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, MCM has never been "out." A ridiculous comment.

Eh. You couldn’t give away MCM furniture in the 1980s-1990s.

Like all styles it’s a generational thing. The boomers like my parents went big time for either traditional Georgian or country styles. I remember my parents’ friends paying 4-6k for an antique cabinet or chest of drawers that you’d be lucky to sell for 1k today. I imagine the same will happen with MCM antiques down the road. High prices today, but unfashionable in 20 years.

Yeah, you couldn't pay me to take some of my parents expensive Ethan Allen furniture.

[Anonymous]

Try CMB World Designs (couple refurnishing MCM pieces in Fairfax) or Acme Mid-Century in Old Town

[Anonymous]

Fine, I'll let you in on my secret (I don't need to buy anything anytime soon). This place has incredible stuff at incredible prices:

http://peglegvintage.com/

[Anonymous]

We inherited mid-century bedroom set from my DH's grandparents and used Craigslist to find additional matching pieces. We got the items cheap from Craigslist for like $100.00 bucks, but had to pay close to $500.00-$1,000.00 to professionally refinish and repair the items. Check Craigslist and be willing to drive. We picked up one of the items in STL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, MCM has never been "out." A ridiculous comment.

Eh. You couldn’t give away MCM furniture in the 1980s-1990s.

Like all styles it’s a generational thing. The boomers like my parents went big time for either traditional Georgian or country styles. I remember my parents’ friends paying 4-6k for an antique cabinet or chest of drawers that you’d be lucky to sell for 1k today. I imagine the same will happen with MCM antiques down the road. High prices today, but unfashionable in 20 years.

That's not true. High quality teak Danish pieces were always in, as well as classic designs like Saarinen tulip tables, Nakashina tables, Wegner chairs, Eames lounges, etc.
OP, I suggest that you educate yourself by going to places like Modern Mobler and getting a feel for quality (look at the details and craftsmanship) and refining your personal aesthetic tastes. There is a wide range of mid-century styles, and you should develop a personal sense of style. There are books at the library you could check out to educate yourself about different designers. I personally find 1st dibs to be way overpriced. If you have time, check out estate sales and craigslist. Sometimes you can find good deals on chairsh.com or etsy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, MCM has never been "out." A ridiculous comment.

Eh. You couldn’t give away MCM furniture in the 1980s-1990s.

Like all styles it’s a generational thing. The boomers like my parents went big time for either traditional Georgian or country styles. I remember my parents’ friends paying 4-6k for an antique cabinet or chest of drawers that you’d be lucky to sell for 1k today. I imagine the same will happen with MCM antiques down the road. High prices today, but unfashionable in 20 years.

That's not true. High quality teak Danish pieces were always in, as well as classic designs like Saarinen tulip tables, Nakashina tables, Wegner chairs, Eames lounges, etc.
OP, I suggest that you educate yourself by going to places like Modern Mobler and getting a feel for quality (look at the details and craftsmanship) and refining your personal aesthetic tastes. There is a wide range of mid-century styles, and you should develop a personal sense of style. There are books at the library you could check out to educate yourself about different designers. I personally find 1st dibs to be way overpriced. If you have time, check out estate sales and craigslist. Sometimes you can find good deals on chairsh.com or etsy.

I don’t know what you mean by “in”? Very high quality of any styles never go out of style in the sense that there are always people who want and appreciate them, regardless of the generation. Georgian antiques and the waspy style might be unpopular now but there’s still a segment that pays top dollar for high quality antiques and there’s still a segment that decorates their houses in high end fussy wasp styles. But broadly speaking, the Georgian/country/farmhouse look and styles that dominated the 1980s and 1990s are out of style today. Just as the MCM styles were out of style in the 1980s and 1990s. Most of the MCM furniture, the mass market productions, were being dumped for free because no one was buying them. Interior design magazines were all about the Georgian or country look. The whole 50s MCM was seen as frumpy and ugly.

[Anonymous]

Craigslist. That's where I get everything. Once you start going through Craigslist, you start to learn the value of things.

I've also learned a lot on reddit.com/r/Mid_Century . You can also post pictures of potential buys and they'll often be able to tell you the designer / manufacturer.

[Anonymous]

"evaluating whether something is worth the investment." -- it's not an investment. Buy the fu*king furniture and live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"evaluating whether something is worth the investment." -- it's not an investment. Buy the fu*king furniture and live.

+1
Assume when buying either furniture or antiques that right at purchase is the last time you’ll see that money. Unless you’re ok with that money being gone forever, don’t buy it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, MCM has never been "out." A ridiculous comment.

Eh. You couldn’t give away MCM furniture in the 1980s-1990s.

Like all styles it’s a generational thing. The boomers like my parents went big time for either traditional Georgian or country styles. I remember my parents’ friends paying 4-6k for an antique cabinet or chest of drawers that you’d be lucky to sell for 1k today. I imagine the same will happen with MCM antiques down the road. High prices today, but unfashionable in 20 years.

Exactly. MCM was super out of style in that time period. When you see lots of the same style of stuff at goodwill, that's right before it will start to come back into style. Usually takes about 2-3 years. So in 2020 all the stuff that's super out of style now will start coming back. Heck, if you read Elle Decor and etc, you'll see that florals and plaids are creeping back in. But if you go to Goodwill right now there are tons of floral and paid couches and armchairs that people can't sell.

I think you’re broadly right about styles coming and going, but I’m struggling with your description of current Elle Decor style. Perhaps “creeping” is the critical word here. But on checking their website it was all “40 Gorgeous White Kitchens with Timeless Appeal”. Everything there looks...familiar.

[Anonymous]

Heywood-Wakefield. That is all.

[Anonymous]

OP I look for solid wood furniture when I'm buying, and I don't mean solid "hardwood". I mean solid cherry, oak, walnut, etc. I have 2 midcentury dressers in my bedroom, solid cherry with dovetail tops (Willett Trans East line) and a solid walnut no name mid century dining table with 4 (yes 4) leaves and six chairs. Both were from Craigslist. I spent less that $500 for each set.
I can't afford the high end labels. I would suggest buying what you truly like to look at.

[Anonymous]

1st dibs

https://www.1stdibs.com/search/furniture/?q=mid%20century%20modern