Contemporary Coffee Tables Not Just for ‘Hipsters’
January 5, 2010
Generally, living rooms have a focal point around which everything is centered; often this is 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.
Noguchi table dates from the art deco twenties to the pop-art seventies, and the term retro typically denotes the innovative forms of the forties through the sixties. Whatever the decade, retro furniture has very recognizable traits. Identifiably, retro is about the form: clean lines, organic shapes, and modular capabilities. Post World War II materials advancements resulted in fiberglass and synthetic lacquered pieces.
Retro coffee tables were often designed because families were adopting a more casual atmosphere into their homes. After the war, the interior landscape became more relaxed and people were looking for furniture that was different from their parents’ generation, furniture that utilized new forms and new materials. Luckily, designers understood this and were fortunate enough to have new technology and materials such as plastics, chromium-plated steel and plywood at their disposal. 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. Its lacquered steel base is a pedestal form and was designed to reduce the “clutter” of legs that typical tables have.
Contemporary furniture produced today is often reflective of some of retro coffee tables being offered by antique dealers. For example, in the 1940’s Paul Frankl’s Big Foot coffee table called to mind 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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