Acquiring Mid-Century Furniture

[Anonymous]

We are moving into a bigger place soon, which will be our home for the next 30+ years. We have minimal furnishings and most of it is Ikea or CB2. Over time, I'd like to acquire some decent mid-century-modern designer pieces. I want to take my time and enjoy the process.

I plan on signing up for estate sale notifications, continuing to peruse craigslist, etc., but I feel like a novice when it comes to evaluating whether something is worth the investment. If you have an interest in mid-century modern design, are there any go-to books that will give me a good overview of pieces, designers, etc.? I'm not clueless (I am a Dwell magazine junkie), but it still seems like there is so much that I still don't know. And for price negotiation, is there, like, a Kelly Blue Book for this stuff?

[Anonymous]

There are. You can get antiques catelogues for furniture that are exactly like Kelly's. My aunt and gma always have them. I'm not sure what edition you need or exactly where to get it, but if you go to one of the stores around here specializing in this style (try Hunted House or Miss Pixie's) you could strike up a conversation with the owner and find out.

[Anonymous]

You can also buy new stuff at Design Within Reach.

[Anonymous]

You should get some pretty good mid century modern ideas and advice here. This is the premier mcm residential network.
http://www.eichlernetwork.com/

[Anonymous]

this place is great and he frequently sells things on craigslist:

http://modernmobler.com/

[Anonymous]

you can purchase this eames chair:
http://www.dwr.com/product/eames-molded-plywood-lounge-chair-lcw.do

design within reach has licensed all the famous mid century modern designs.

[Anonymous]

There's a website I always look at called Retro Renovation that may have tips for you. Also, Mid Century Mobbler on twitter.

[Anonymous]

If we were still in DC I would totally give you a great deal on what we've inherited from the in-laws. I even have the huge full color brochure showing the furniture with super deep shag rugs underneath.

[Anonymous]

Dwell did a piece a few months ago on buying MCM furniture that I thought that was useful. Locally, Modern Mobler (DC), Modern Montage (VA), and Home Anthology (Baltimore) are all good stores to look at. There are books that talk about the major designers of the era, that will give you an idea of why certain pieces go for higher prices than others. Decopedia (www.deconet.com) is a wealth of information about designers. 1stdibs.com will give you an idea of what items are selling for. And if you want newer pieces that have that MCM feel, both Design Within Reach, Room and Board, and Vastu have good pieces.

If you have part of a day, do a MCM furniture-looking trip - start with Room and Board and Vastu on 14th in DC for new pieces that have the MCM feel, go up the street to Hunted House, around the corner to Millennium Decorative Arts on U, then up Georgia Ave to Modern Mobler.

[Anonymous]

mid-century will be out within 2 years. stick to classic.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

And since the good stuff is so livable, it doesn't matter if it does.

If you're on a budget, I can't too strongly suggest working with dealers in the Midwest. There is more and better stock than you might think, and the prices are very low in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Home anthology is our favorite for vintage. Definitely check them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dwell did a piece a few months ago on buying MCM furniture that I thought that was useful. Locally, Modern Mobler (DC), Modern Montage (VA), and Home Anthology (Baltimore) are all good stores to look at. There are books that talk about the major designers of the era, that will give you an idea of why certain pieces go for higher prices than others. Decopedia (www.deconet.com) is a wealth of information about designers. 1stdibs.com will give you an idea of what items are selling for. And if you want newer pieces that have that MCM feel, both Design Within Reach, Room and Board, and Vastu have good pieces.

If you have part of a day, do a MCM furniture-looking trip - start with Room and Board and Vastu on 14th in DC for new pieces that have the MCM feel, go up the street to Hunted House, around the corner to Millennium Decorative Arts on U, then up Georgia Ave to Modern Mobler.

This all sounds expensive. Good wood ain't cheap. Anyone have any recommendations for shops or sellers maybe outside of the dc where prices aren't inflated? I don't want to spend $1,500 on a dresser. Preferably, it would be nice to spend $200, but buy a classic, solid wood dresser from someone on craigslist who doesn't know better. Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

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.