There are trends that come and go. But some things are timeless. Today’s iconic furnishings never go out of style. These modern tables and seating options were designed with care, and the world has embraced them as showpieces. However, they are more than just revered designs to put on a pedestal. The Wassily Chair by Marcel BreuerLeather and chromium-plated steel beautifully combine in the Wassily Chair, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925. Did you know that this chair was inspired by the design of a bicycle? And that the chair gets its name from Breuer’s Russian colleague Vasily (“Wassily”) Kandinsky? In fact, Breuer created this chair when he was the head of Germany’s Bauhaus Carpentry Workshop in Dessau. While the piece was designed in the 1920s, it rose to popularity again in the 1980s, appearing in many a modern interior. [from StyleCrave] You can order new versions of the chair today through companies like Knoll. Note the timeless look of these furnishings in contemporary interiors, as shown below. [from Randy Brown Architects] The Eileen Gray TableA chrome frame and round metal glass top are highlights of the Eileen Gray Table, also known as the E1027 Side Table. In fact, this piece was designed by Irish architect Eileen Gray in 1927, with the purpose of gracing the inside of the E1027 house (also designed by Gray). On display as part of the MoMA’s permanent collection in New York, the table can be ordered in reproduction form through retailers such as SitBetter.com: In fact, the Eileen Gray Table is another example of a 1920s furnishing that experienced a design revival in the 1980s. The piece’s simple geometry makes it a timeless classic. Below we see the table in a contemporary interior. [from Rex Kelly Mid-Century] The Cesca Chair by Marcel BreuerThe Cesca Chair’s unique name comes from Marcel Breuer’s daughter, Francesca. Cane and chromium-plated tubular steel together create the chair’s beloved form, which famously lacks traditional legs. Designed in 1928, the original model also lacked arms, though later models featured them, as shown below. [from Live Auctioneers] As with the Wassily Chair and the Eileen Gray Table, the Cesca Chair was rediscovered in the ’80s, gracing many a dining room and film set. Reproductions of the chairs can be purchased new from online retailers such as Knoll, or through vintage retailers such as Metro Retro Furniture: The LC2 Petit Modele Armchair by Le CorbusierArchitect Chareli-Edouard Jeanneret, also known as Le Corbusier, put his stamp on the world of design, including the interior realm. Jeanneret collaborated with designer Charlotte Perriand and his architect cousin Pierre Jeanneret to create many famous pieces, such as the LC2 Petit Modele Armchair designed in 1928. [from Modern Classics] But don’t confine this chair to a specific decade. It’s now a modern design staple, as shown in the room below. Note how the substantial nature of each piece makes a grouping sufficient for seating needs. After all, who needs a sofa when you have four of these cushy chairs? At the same time, there is a sofa version of this piece if you’re interested… [from Squeo Architecture PC] The Nelson Platform Bench by George NelsonThe next featured piece is used in offices, lobbies, and of course, at home! Designed by George Nelson and introduced in 1946 as part of Herman Miller’s first collection, the Nelson Platform Bench features a wooden form that reinforces the function of the piece. Nelson called this strategy “honest” design. Some use the piece as a bench, while others use it as a platform base or a table. The furnishing can be ordered from retailers such as Herman Miller, where Nelson served as director of design: The Eames Molded Plywood ChairThis beloved chair was coined “The Best Design of the 20th Century” by Time magazine. How do you top that?! And it’s easy to see why it earned the distinctive title. The form is amazingly sleek, and the piece is as comfortable as it is pretty. [from Design Within Reach] The Molded Plastic Eiffel Side Chair by George and Ray EamesOver the years, the Eiffel Side Chair has been crafted from a variety of materials. The originals (designed in 1948) were made from metal. In 1950, fiberglass was used to create the chairs, and today’s chairs are made from recyclable polypropylene. The Eiffel Side Chair was originally entered as a prototype in MoMA’s 1948 International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design. It’s hard not to love the eye-catching colors and industrial metal base: The Isamu Noguchi Coffee TableWe now feature a table that beautifully merges a wooden base with a glass top. Which is why you probably won’t be surprised to discover that the piece was designed in 1948 by sculptor Isamu Noguchi. [from Herman Miller] The Saarinen Tulip TableAlso called the Pedestal Table, the Tulip Table was completed in 1956, originally with a cast aluminum base that was said to be inspired by a drop of liquid. A modern kitchen and dining room staple, Eero Saarinen’s table has become a beloved icon of chic Mid-Century Modern style. In fact, we featured this table in our post profiling the interior design of the hit television show Mad Men. The Egg Chair by Arne JacobsenThe Egg Chair is a sculptural wonder. Designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, this upholstered piece swivels, and it’s guaranteed to steal the show in any room it inhabits. But perhaps the most delightful aspect of this piece is the way it envelops anyone who takes a seat, creating a sense of comfort and privacy! [from Maxwell Blake]
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