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

[JudgeRindersMinder]

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?

The blonde stuff is very popular as all the restoring and maintenance has been done, but it will always cost you.

I tend to look for golden dawn items or old colonial and strip them back myself. Although I do like a selection of different finishes. It's popular now to have the dark items 'soda blasted' (never chemically dip Ercol, joints will fall apart) and it's relatively cheap. However, because these items were dark coming out of the factory you tend to be able to see the joints in wood more as they have been disguised. I think it adds to the charm though.

I’m glad to see I’m not the only one here! I’m not saying I’m definitely going to go with this style, but it’s definitely something Imwamt to look into further before I make a decision

It's been in fashion for the last 10 to 15 years! I used to buy and restore - sell on for a lot of profit because of the popularity of mid century furniture.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the "trendy set" are ready to move on!

I got my dad £450 on eBay by selling his g plan dining suite. Best thing to do with it - awful stuff in my view. Perhaps it goes ok in a 60s house but not in my 30s house.
The eBay purchaser says that g plan sells really well in France and Belgium. He tidies it up, takes it there and brings back traditional French furniture to sell here.

Mid-century modern is very much all over the place, it's definitely appreciated by many.

We've got a very solid G-plan dining table (£17.50 from charity shop) and a Schreiber sideboard - specifically chosen because of high legs off the floor when we have damp problems in one room. I was so surprised to see the prices of some when I went looking for something matching on eBay!

Mid century modern has been in style for 2 decades now. I think the chairs from this period are gorgeous, although I'm not very keen on the colour schemes.

Mid century modern has been in style for 2 decades now.

This. Early 2000s at least.

My mum has a lovely GPlan next of tables from the 70s and I've always quite liked it. Was stunned to see the exact same one on the Sophie Robinson programme a few weeks ago.

I'll be telling her to hang on to it for a bit.

You’re a bit late to the party I’m afraid, it’s definitely nothing new. Mid century G Plan, Ercol etc have been highly coveted for quite a few years now. Not with the grey house, mirrored furniture set (no shade, just saying), but with a lot of other people. A handsome piece in good condition can fetch a fair amount.

I love it, but DH is still stuck in the "old person's furniture" mindset.

We have a fabulous 1960s teak Heals dining table which expands to 12, inherited from my grandfather, and he tolerates that, especially as we've had it re-oiled professionally.

DM took all her String shelving to the tip about ten years ago (and she had a LOT).....dread to think what it would have been worth today...

You know you've crested the wave of popularity when all the modern furniture shops are selling mid-century reproductions. Want one of those armchairs with wooden arms? Just pop to Next!

My pebble table was bought for £8 on Goldhawk Rd in 1988. Still regret giving it to my tenants in 1997. But agreed that there are very few bargains around now. Maybe if you live somewhere with a big Freecycle warehouse?

I quite like it, mixed in with other stuff

My favourite piece is a G plan Astro Spider table DH found in a second hand shop when we bought our first house

@Stevie77

You’re a bit late to the party I’m afraid, it’s definitely nothing new. Mid century G Plan, Ercol etc have been highly coveted for quite a few years now. Not with the grey house, mirrored furniture set (no shade, just saying), but with a lot of other people. A handsome piece in good condition can fetch a fair amount.

I’m not late to the party, I know it’s been very popular, it’s just that I’ve not been keen on it or considered it as an possibility till now

I can’t bear it. Much prefer older antiques, Parker knoll etc

@XingMing

My pebble table was bought for £8 on Goldhawk Rd in 1988. Still regret giving it to my tenants in 1997. But agreed that there are very few bargains around now. Maybe if you live somewhere with a big Freecycle warehouse?

Eee gads!

It's been popular - and pretty expensive - for ages, but I've never felt the love either. I think it's because I was born in 1967 and grew up associating it with my parents' generation. We had two sets of Stag Minstrel bedroom furniture as well as White & Newton, Ercol and G-Plan stuff. I couldn't wait to escape from all that teak and what I considered boring styling, so my first furniture purchases were Art Deco in design.... which I've also grown to dislike 🙄

We have oak arts and crafts style furniture as well as some art nouveau and aesthetic movement, which has suited our period homes over the years.

However, since downsizing we've begun mixing things up a bit more and I bought not only some contemporary furniture, but also our first piece of MCM - a Harris Lebus sideboard for the TV! However, it's an A-frame design and actually has a fairly arts and crafts movement look 😎

DH accused me of going 'all modern' as he termed it 😂

Yes it’s finally started to grow in me in the past couple of years. Still prefer great-granny furniture to granny’s GPlan and Ercol, but I can see the appeal, finally. Maybe it’s the passage of time (and that generation have largely gone now, so maybe nostalgia too?)

I can’t bear it. Much prefer older antiques, Parker knoll etc

My Gran had some wonderful Parker Knoll chairs.

Ercol back in fashion? Ducal, Parker Knoll?

I shall have great delight telling my DM that her furniture is back in fashion again

Boomed years ago. Ercol has been a fortune for at least the last 5 years as has G plan

It's interesting how this fits with age/parents' taste - mine married in '68 but (apart from a lovely Heals wardrobe my mum inexplicably won't let me take, and my dad's 60s armchair which she couldn't wait to give me) their furniture was all Georgian/Victorian dark wood antiques.

As a result I grabbed the 00s MCM revival with both hands, have some great Ercol etc pieces picked up from eBay at decent prices, but am now on the hunt for... Victorian dark wood.