Thread of modernist appreciation

[shovetheholly]

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm wondering if there any are fellow Mumsnetters who like mid-century modern/modernist furniture?

I am not any kind of expert, but I find myself increasingly drawn to this style. My most coveted item at the moment is the Finn Juhl no 45. There is no way I'll ever be able to afford an original - but does anyone have the repros? Are they any good?

If anyone is looking out for anything specific, I'm happy to keep an eye out and report back if I find anything

This is my business now, so I am scouring all the time for bargains x

That's really kind dave - I might take you up on that!

Am in the process of designing an extension for my house, which is a very standard, pretty ugly 1920s semi. I want the design of the new bit to be quite modernist, rather than blending in with the domestic architecture of the rest of the house. There will be loads of glazing - and I've been looking extensively at windows over the last week.

One really interesting thing I've noticed is something a bit counter-intuitive with the colour of the windows. I have noticed that a lot of modernist architecture uses dark windows, so I have been comparing dark, light and wood coloured fenestration. Before I started doing this, I'd have assumed a light coloured glazing frame would be less noticeable than a dark coloured one, and would lead your eye outside more. But having looked at about 10,000 pictures on Pinterest the opposite seems to be true - you see the frame far less when it's really dark. So I think I'm going to go for a real bruise-grey coloured on the inside, and a lighter colour on the outside.

I'm now moving on to think about flooring. I've noticed that a lot of modernist houses use grey,s and am wondering about doing the same. The room will have underfloor heating, so I think porcelain tiles may be the most practical. If anyone has any recommendations, I'd be really grateful!

I just had to pop in and say hi to shove - I saw this earlier and read through it. I have an Ercol dining table - (in beech and elm, ) gifted to me by my lovely mother in law in the mid 70's. She had bought it second hand about 15 years earlier. It is still stunning. We bought the Windsor Goldsmith chairs to go with it , so not quite 50's vibe, but I still love them. I also have a coffee table ( now residing at my daughters) , but my pride and joy is the pandora's box coffee table in pride of place. We also have Ulferts ( Swedish ) furniture - bought in the 70's also ,( I'm not sure they are still around?) but maybe worth a look at the older vintage pieces. I am a bit at all the ultra modern stuff I bought when first married is now classified as 'Vintage/Retro' ....

book - A thread with you on it is always a million times better for it!

I looked up Ulferts because I had not heard of it before (this is not a surprise, I am very new to this and probably know about ten times less than anyone else on the thread!) It's lovely! I like how well-made and clean it looks!

I think one of the strange things about this stuff being 'retro' is that it can simultaneously be 'vintage' and 'modern'! There are people putting together 'period' rooms with it that are supposed to look like they are of a period that is gone, and is being revived, often with a touch of kitsch. But there are also people using the same pieces alongside modern flooring etc. in spaces that are meant to look absolutely fashionable in a way that is very different from the 'period' rooms. It's like the same sofa, used contextually, can be redolent of history in one setting and sort of timelessly 'modern' and new in another. Maybe this says something about how little we have moved on from modernism!!!

Ooops, posted too soon - meant to add that this all means that your furniture makes you as a la mode as it did when you first bought it. (Now that has to be good value!)

well, thank you shove - I posted last night, and then totally missed putting the idea forward that I meant to! I know everyone looks to ebay and gumtree, but one of the best , and most enjoyable ways of looking for this sort of furniture ( and crockery) are general auctions . DH and I love looking around them. ( It used to be necessity when first setting out buying for our first house) These days, you can usually get online guides, so that you can see if there is anything that may tick the boxes for you.
My decoration style is more likely classed as 'eclectic' ! We have always just bought what we love, is comfortable, and hopefully will last. We were going to replace the Ulferts a few years ago. We then looked around very hard, and decided it still was better made/quality and nothing came near it that we could even begin to afford.

Ohhh book - you mention something there that really interests me. There is an auction house not far from my home. But I don't know how it works so I have never plucked up courage to go in! Do you need to be a member of a society to go in? Do you pay an entrance fee? And then, how do you bid? And is there a way of ensuring that you don't end up in some comedy situation where you spend £20k on furniture unwittingly by scratching your ear at the wrong time?! Also, is commission fearsomely expensive? How much extra do you pay on top of the price you've purchased something for?

I have so many questions, sorry!

I like the idea of an eclectic house!

lots of questions - what not to like :)
no, you don't need to be a member
no, you don't need to pay an entrance fee
you bid by waiting for your lot number - they will have a catalogue with lot numbers and descriptions of the goods - you bid by getting the attention of the auctioneer and if he/she is good, he will see you quickly- you can raise your hand, or a piece of paper ( some auction houses ask you to register, and give you a number on a card to bid, and you hold that up)
There is usually something between 10-20% commission on top of your bid ( usually +VAT) , but each one is different, so check the terms and conditions.
I don't think I have ever done that crazy thing, though I have bought the odd 'wrong' lot, as it can go quite quickly.
The auction house will probably do various sales - from fine art to collectables to 'general' and will have a list of dates , probably for the next 1-2 months. There will also be times for 'viewing' - may be a few days before. You can amble in and have a good poke around, and see if there is anything interesting. If not, well, whats a couple of hours looking at a jumble sale . If there is something you like, check the lot number ( usually stuck on label) and make a note of - and here is the important bit how much it is worth to YOU .

When you bid - you then stick to that amount. It is incredibly easy to say, just one more bid will win it.
The best bet is to go to a couple, and get the feel - see how it goes. And if I can answer any more questions, just fire away :)

Well she's here and I'm delighted. needs a bit of polishing up but a lovely piece for my first buy (I hope everyone agrees because I'm now feeling a bit nervous)

Oh lonny that's gorgeous, you must be so pleased!

(I was tempted to write that it was hideous and you should sell it immediately to meeeeee!! But then read that you were feeling nervous so thought I shouldn't tease you!!)

Thanks for answering all of my questions book! It all makes sense (and seems a lot less intimidating) now! I shall heed the warning about setting limits... otherwise this could become a dangerous addiction!! Do art auctions work the exact same way? I've seen some things I would quite like to have a look at advertised, but again have been too scared to investigate further!!

yes shove they do - as long as it is not Christies or such !
I forgot to add - if you do go a viewing, but cannot attend on the day of the auction, you can leave a bid with the auctioneer ( basically telling them you are prepared to go to a certain amount) . They will then bid for you.
I have had some of my favourite bits from auctions, they are fascinating, (but can be sort of sad too sometimes - especially if you go to one that does house clearances )
Lonny that is seriously stylish !

Yay to online auctions. I've used Charterhouse who are based in Sherbourne but do online bidding.
I'm waiting for a set of 3 Tomado shelves in red to arrive from EBay.
I also bought a lovely black 706L telephone 1959-67 - been having a splurge.
Some Mahler cushion covers in red in the mobile design last week.

Right, I'm definitely going to go down to my local auction hosue up the road and have a poke about. Unfortunately, they don't seem to do very good listings online, so I will have a look at others around the city too to see whether those are any better!

grimdamnfanjo - your name brings back fond memories of a computer game I loved as a kid! " This deck of cards is a little frayed around the edges. Then again, so am I, and I've got fewer suits." etc.

What is the 'mobile design' you speak of?

shove - I used to buy the Yorkshire Post on a Saturday, as the back page on one of the supplements advertised a lot of up and coming auctions. It may be worth a sneaky look to see if that is still the case :)

Oooh, now that's a great tip, I will look out for it this weekend! It is a whole new world, but just the kind of thing I reckon I might really enjoy! Thanks book!

It is a great addiction hobby. We are just getting back into it. You do end up buying allsorts of things you never knew you wanted mind..... But some lovely things at good prices too.

extra info shove . I should mention, at nearly every auction I have been to, you have to pay on the day, and take your paid goods away. So you need to make sure you have suitable transport!

I'm now thinking I need to buy an articulated lorry... or at least a van!

This morning, in my rather snuffly state, I've been looking at this George Nelson page on Pinterest:

www.pinterest.com/finearthandmade/george-nelsonherman-miller/

I like the drawers with small round knobs! (The ones with the Eames birds on top). There's just something pleasing about their dimensions.

Shove a fellow traveller! Yes - my username is inspired by that very game! I loved it too!
I have the book you mention above its very good but weighty! I got it cheaper as was bashed about in a previous delivery and on sale via Amazon Warehouse.
I also have Living with Midcentury Collectibles, Retro Home [very practical] 50's Decorative Art, and Miller's Mid century Modern.
Mobiles is the Marian Mahler 'Mobiles" design.

Just shown this thread to DH , and he pointed out that quite often, if you ask the auction house, you can have stuff delivered for a fee. They do, after all, have vans/lorries to get stuff there in the first place!

Picked up my 'new' Ercol sideboard yesterday..140 round trip to collect, but so worth it!

I am in love! Just need to find somewhere to put it now

dave - you must be SO pleased! It looks great. Oh, and thanks for recommending that Facebook group, you're absolutely right about it being brilliant!

grim - I had to look up the 'mobiles' design but I recognised it when I saw it. I am learning so much from this thread. I am quite interested in Viennese architecture and modernism of the early C20 - and I read on one site that Marian Mahler moved from there to Britain in 1937 (an ominous time for so many progressive people in that part of the world), but can't find out anything much more. There's not even a Wikipedia page for her

book - that's good to know! I don't think I could fit a sideboard in the back of my ancient VW Polo!!

Glad you've found the FB group useful shove. I've had so much useful info from the people on there.

I've bought a few new things recently from Ebay - a sideboard and a Tomado shelving unit.