October 6, 2009
Retro Coffee Tables Can Revitalize Your Room
Living rooms are focused on relaxing or entertaining and typically are centered around one piece of furniture: the coffee table. In the living room, most people want furniture that is functional and comfortable, but also pieces that are stylish, fun and reflects their individuality. There are many different styles to choose from to obtain the desired look, and when it comes to the living room people often choose an Modern furniture as a hip alternative.
In the history of design, the term retro often conjures up the funky styles of the sixties and seventies; however, it falls within the style of the noguchi table that can date from the twenties all the way to the seventies. Whatever the decade, retro furniture has very recognizable traits. Its form defines retro style: clean lines, organic shapes, and modular capability. Too, because of the materials that became readily available after WWII, it often incorporates non-traditional materials such as fiberglass and synthetic lacquers.
Due to the upswing in casual styling, retro coffee tables became popular. People wanted to have innovative forms and materials that were not as formal as their parents’; they wanted a home that was more open and inviting for adults and kids alike. Designers often used different materials like plastic, steel, and plywood in their designs. Designers were able to mold these materials into new and interesting forms, and manufacturers were able to mass produce furniture yet still keep them durable.
A classic retro coffee table the Eileen gray table with a base of two pieces of sculpted wood pinned together at an angle. Harvey Probers “Nuclear Table” is a perfect embodiment of casual styling that became so popular. This table offers a variety of forms with its two half circle shapes that can be place together to form a circle, can be lined up to give an ‘S’ shape, or can be stacked on top of each other to give height. Another retro design noted for its innovation is Eero Saarinen’s Tulip Table. The signature table is defined by its pedestal base which eliminated the “clutter” of multiple legs.
Contemporary furniture produced today is often reflective of some of retro coffee tables being offered by antique dealers. For instance, Paul Frankl’s Big Foot coffee table from the 1940’s, with its amorphic shape, is reminiscent of Zaha Hadid’s futuristic designs. Whoever the owner, a retro coffee table, with its innovative forms and materials, can offer a sleek and elegant, yet fun way to liven up one’s living room.
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Family, Children and Backpacking Destinations
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