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Original poster

“Mid century modern” furniture-anyone else suddenly appreciate it?

97 replies

JudgeRindersMinder · 20/02/2022 09:31

We’re doing a full house renovation which will eventually involve replacing a lot of furniture.
I was born in 1970 and so was brought up in the era of teak furniture and have always turned my nose up at it…till I saw a set of Ercol pebble tables on a local auction house’s site.
Then I started looking a bit deeper into furniture from the 1960s and 70s and realised it’s such good quality, proper wood instead of chipboard etc…and the style has started to totally grow on me to the point that I think we’ll probably seriously look at it as a definite option for replacing what we have.

Anyone else have an appreciation of this furniture?

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DeckTheHallsWithGin · 20/02/2022 09:34

Me. We’ve got a 70s teak dining table and chairs and a TV unit (made for a record player). Extremely cheap and much better quality than what I’d currently available.

Beth13579 · 20/02/2022 09:54

I really dislike it - it's "old person's furniture" to me. But I have a friend who lives in an (equally ugly) 60s house which looks great because it has lots of original features and she's filled it with this kind of furniture. So I can see it does have a place.

Siouxtse1 · 20/02/2022 10:03

In the original state, I guess more people will dislike it because some of the wood colours can be a bit dark.

However, it tends to be made of proper wood and fitted together properly, so it lasts longer and can be more fit for purpose. Things like tables and chairs, I'd probably leave as the original wood.

If it's something you are planning to keep, you could always paint it to make it fit better with your decor? I'd suggest this mainly for larger items, so that the darker woods don't overwhelm the room? I'm talking about large sideboards, wardrobes, bookcases and dressers?

spacehardware · 20/02/2022 10:06

Some of it is lovely, some of it is utter dross. I really like dark wood furniture, it seems more solid and makes a room look more grounded to me. And it mixes well with older and newer furniture - I have a Heals sideboard I bought for £15 on eBay - it never looked quite right in my old house but in our large living room in a new build it looks fantastic

DonGray · 20/02/2022 10:06

Ercol is back in fashion but only the pale colour it seems

Ribb · 20/02/2022 12:13

I'm seeking a few bits for a 1960s house. Prob a sideboard plus a reading chair and side table. I know what you mean about the quality......suggestion of painting the larger bits is a good idea!

snowdropsanddaffodils · 20/02/2022 12:15

I love it but so do a lot of people these days and the prices for second hand pieces have really risen - sideboards and string shelving especially

StormBaby · 20/02/2022 12:15

This is about to boom. I used to buy and sell antiques and this era is about to be the next big thing. I’ve started buying it and putting into my storage to renovate it. Get it now while it’s still relatively unknown and cheaper. Some of it is worth a fortune already.

Original poster
JudgeRindersMinder · 20/02/2022 12:24

@Beth13579

I really dislike it - it's "old person's furniture" to me. But I have a friend who lives in an (equally ugly) 60s house which looks great because it has lots of original features and she's filled it with this kind of furniture. So I can see it does have a place.
That was exactly what I thought till I’ve had some sort of an epiphany this last few weeks 😂 I don’t know if it’s just an appreciation of how good the quality is or what 🤷🏼‍♀️
OP posts:
swirlsy · 20/02/2022 12:25

I've always liked that style but like it even more in the last few years

Original poster
JudgeRindersMinder · 20/02/2022 12:26

@StormBaby

This is about to boom. I used to buy and sell antiques and this era is about to be the next big thing. I’ve started buying it and putting into my storage to renovate it. Get it now while it’s still relatively unknown and cheaper. Some of it is worth a fortune already.
I’m actually very tempted to potentially put in a bid on that nest of tables…when I see the guide price compared to what people are asking on eBay!
OP posts:
swirlsy · 20/02/2022 12:26

I'm started to like darker wood furniture & floors more, I wonder if it will be the new trend. It was something I associated with older people before.

partystress · 20/02/2022 12:28

Is there not going to be a glut though? I’m clearing my DP’s house, including a teak dining set, which was beautifully maintained, but which I feel all of my DP’s friends also had and looked after.

swirlsy · 20/02/2022 12:28

Ercol is back in fashion but only the pale colour it seems

Ercol has remained popular for years.

swirlsy · 20/02/2022 12:29

@partystress that's just interiors though eg navy kitchens, grey walls, blue sofas, white wood furniture etc.

OnaBegonia · 20/02/2022 12:30

I recently bought a GPlan nest of tables, lovely condition and with some teal oil they look fantastic, great quality.

eddiemairswife · 20/02/2022 12:51

I have an Ercol dining suite in beech and elm. Have always loved it.

GalaPie · 20/02/2022 13:09

My dining table is 1970s Ducal, although I recovered the chairs to update it a little.

My bedroom is Stag Minstrel, which I love and will never replace until it falls apart. It started when I saw a dressing table in a secondhand shop, I'd never had a traditional dressing table and I coveted it. Dh bought it for me as a surprise, then of course we needed the bedside tables and so it went on, collecting pieces over about a year.

IWasHotInTheNineties · 20/02/2022 13:14

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1105208161/ercol-model-478-armchair-vintage-mid?ref=shop_home_active_42
This is nice and I quite like the dark wood and orange.

throughtheair · 20/02/2022 13:46

I adore it. We've got ercol dining chairs and a g plan coffee table but I'd fill the house with it if I could...teak sideboards, highboards, string shelving...so lovely.

throughtheair · 20/02/2022 13:51

Also we're FTB trying to buy and lost out on a probate house last year where the owner had been there since the 60s. It had amazing teak cupboards built into the living room alcoves which needed some TLC but definitely would have stayed. I bet whoever bought it will rip them out and it makes me sad

ostrom · 20/02/2022 14:14

I love it too! Bought my first home 18 months ago and couldn’t afford much new furniture and was so disheartened at the rubbish quality of what was in my budget. Instead I started scouring gumtree & eBay for Ercol, Nathan and Stag.

All my bedroom furniture is now stag minstrel which I’ve painted myself and changed the handles. I got a beautiful ercol dining table, side table and tall slim cabinet in the paper elm collection. I’ve also got a fab team Nathan corner unit and I’m about to collect the matching media unit which I’m going to put on hairpin legs to make a sideboard. I was going to paint the Nathan but once it was in the house and I cleaned it up, it seemed such a shame to cover the wood. Instead I lovingly polished it with teak oil and it looks gorgeous.

AmberLynn1536 · 20/02/2022 14:27

I’m actually bored of it, it’s everywhere, it’s the height of fashion at the moment and has been for some time.

user375432 · 20/02/2022 16:36

About to boom? It's been a huge trend on Instagram interior/Reno pages for at least 10 years.

caranations · 20/02/2022 16:39

Appreciate it? I've still got some of it Grin