indoor plants

Modern Home with Furry Friends

Our Exhibition Bench and Wegner-Style Ox Chair and a Sleepy Artemis

One major allure of living in a modern home is the calming appeal drawn from the clean lines and simple perfection in the absence of ornamentation…. but when that new puppy starts doing a number on the living room furniture, it might seem like either the hopes of a modern home will have to go or the puppy will (and neither of these are acceptable options).

Now there is no need to have to decide between these two loves.  Thanks to new technology made available in the decades since the creation of the iconic signature furniture designs, there are substantially more durable and resilient options and we make full use of those materials here at Modern Classics Furniture:

Hans Wegner’s Solution for Proper Posture

Our Wegner-Style Wing Back Chair and Ottoman

Proper posture seems to be easier said than done and anyone who has experienced a sore back after sitting at a desk or in front of a computer all day, you’re not alone.  I am constantly reminding myself to sit up straight, only to find myself slouching again within a few minutes.  Not only does it look sloppy but it is detrimental to spinal alignment, to the digestive system and can lead to poor circulation.  Hans Wegner recognized the importance of proper posture, and designed his iconic Wing Back Lounge Chair in a way to comfortably support the human spine in a way that makes proper posture the natural sitting position.

Our Wegner-Style Wing Back Lounge Chair follows the same specifications of Wegner’s original design, making proper posture come naturally so there’s no more accidental slouching.  With two stainless steel back legs being slightly lower than the two front legs, the seat has a backward slant that supports the upper back and neck while also supporting the natural curve of the lower back.

Come check it out along with everything else we have to offer at our Bellingham, Chicago or Dallas showrooms!

Modern Classics

Our Saarinen-Style M70 Womb Chair 2.0

Charteuse Green Saarinen-Style M70 Womb Chair

The 1948 unveiling of Eero Saarinen’s iconic Womb Chair was a sign of changing times when ‘lounging’ was becoming socially acceptable, unlike in the decades prior. Saarinen’s organically curved Womb Chair was designed at the request of his dear friend, Florence Knoll, who asked for a chair designed to feel like a basket full of pillows and “something I can really curl up in.”  Saarinen achieved exactly this and more with a chair designed to create comfort, not solely by use of cushioning, but by the use of contours that create incredible comfort in any position.

Our Saarinen-Style M70 Womb Chair and Ottoman closely matches Saarinen’s original design but with upgraded materials available today that were not available in 1948.  We recently made some improvements to this chair, including adjusting the slope of the back to a more upright sitting position and with arms parallel to the floor, making it even more comfortable for both sitting and lounging.  Our wide variety of boucle fabric colors gives it a vibrancy that is matched by a level of durability to ensure years of  stylish comfort in any setting.  You can read all this and more in our Womb Chair Comparison Guide.

If you would like to see this chair in person, come visit us at any of our factory showrooms in Bellingham, Chicago or Dallas!

Transition A New House Into Your New Home

Autumn Tan Leather Executive Armchairs and Modern Vignette For Your New Home

Transitioning into a new space is an exciting process, albeit settling in can at time feel a bit… unsettling.  Once the boxes are delivered and the movers leave, the process of transforming this new and unfamiliar atmosphere into your very own new home can begin.  In the years I have lived in Chicago, I have had five apartments and a list of my go-to methods I consider part of the standard moving procedure so I can immediately settle in and feel at home:

Modern Vignette:  If useful and beautiful are the criteria, consider a vignette to be a bit of both. Looking to an empty side table, mantel or empty shelf, a well-balanced modern vignette has a stronger transformative power on the entire room than you might realize.  There are no hard rules when it comes to creating a modern vignette, though I find sticking to three or five items and thinking symmetrically looks best, lest it turn into a knick-knack nightmare.  Exactly which items to use?  Consider it a chance to have fun with functional items as decor: clocks, lighting, plants, its up to you!  If it brings you joy when you see it, even just a little bit,  then you did it right.

Lighting– If mind-numbingly harsh LED overhead lighting is not your thing (what I call the alien mothership lights), look to the infinite other lighting options.  Whether its the ostentatious chandelier or a $5 table lamp, accent lighting instantly changes an atmosphere from a one-size-fits-all to your personal sanctuary.

Signature scent– We all know smell is the strongest sense linked to memory and moving into your new home means memories are in the making. Diffuse your signature scent (anything lavender or sage are my favorites), throughout your new home early on and soon it will become the first thing you, and everyone else, will notice upon walking in the door.  Years from now, this scent it will trigger all the memories of this settling in phase in your new home.

Furniture– Form follows function, in other words, step 1, make it useful then step 2, make it beautiful (not the other way around).  Comfort is a key ingredient in settling in, so if you are using the floor in your home office to sit, those Executive Armchairs  you’ve been considering are going to serve a critical purpose and address your immediate need which is to stop using the floor as a chair (and they happen to be beautiful too, two birds one stone).  After this, you can go crazy with your modern decor ideas you have been pinning.

Entertaining– There is a reason its not called a housecooling party, but even after you throw your housewarming party,  filling a new apartment  with friends and loved ones is always means good memories in a new home.

If you are looking for a bit of modern inspiration to bring into your new home, visit any of our three factory showroom locations in Bellingham, Chicago or Dallas!

Interior Design Trends In 2017: Our Top Picks

Fiddle Leaf Fig and Our Ox Chair Replica in Camel Tan Leather

As much as I love pouring over the lists of upcoming interior design trends at the start of  every new year, my eagerness in seeking to know more about 2017’s interior design trends has been in more of a ‘no, say it isn’t so’ kind of way (I will never get on board with butterflies as home decor, nope, not in any way, shape or form).  Although, it is not all bad news for 2017.  In fact, I’m excited to pair some of these interior design trends with my favorite unwaveringly classic pieces.  It is important to remember these trend lists are not the end all, be all and going with your own first instinct is where your personal style lies.  That being said, here are a few upcoming trends I can get on board with so far this year (and I’m going to try and remain as objective as possible, but no promises):

Natural Textures and Earthy Tones: If last year’s stark white and minimalist look left things feeling a bit too cold, this year you will see a lot of earthy tones and textures being added in and warming up these spaces.

Navy Blue:  Navy blue being my favorite color makes this particularly good news for me, but I’m not going to get behind anyone claiming its replacing last year’s gray trend. That is like saying oxygen or water is out… its just not possible.  The really great part of this trend is Navy Blue works well with almost any gray, so it will be easy to combine this trend with last year’s.

Bold Florals:  This is a welcome change to last year’s solid color blocking, but its a fine line between having just the right amount and overdoing the florals, thus making a space resemble a middle schooler’s bedroom.  Same as with color blocking, look at bold florals as something you can always add more of but not always take out of a space.

Bronze: Well, its about time!  I have always loved how bronze pairs with the clean lines of a modern home and furniture (and the fact its predicted to bring about the end of rose gold is just icing on my cake).  Whether it be a cool lighting fixture or smaller accents, I can see the bronze trend staying around for a few years.

Olive Trees: Supposedly the olive tree is going to be replacing the insatiably popular Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree, but I’m guessing anyone claiming this is probably stuck on the waiting list to get a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree.  Considering there even is a waiting list, I’m not going to be tossing out my Fiddle Leaf for an Olive Tree anytime soon, especially when there’s plenty of space for both.

As with any interior design trend you come across this year (or ever), its important to remember they have a shelf life, unlike the classics which will always be on point.  If you are ever seeking out some modern classic inspiration, visit any of our three Modern Classics Furniture Showrooms in Bellingham, Chicago or Dallas!

Indoor Plants: Green Ideas for Modern Decor

When exploring useful modern decor for a modern home, indoor plants have an instant impact to warm any space, creating a soothing environment.  Just because I have a tendency to be “botanically-challenged” (I can never seem to keep a plant alive for long) does not mean I have to be deprived of indoor plants at home.  Here are a few indoor plants that require minimal maintenance and serve as stunning modern decor:

Indoor Plants Over Our Womb Chair Replica in Cayenne Red

Indoor Succulent Plants:

I love finding new ways to display succulents and these guys are adaptable to almost any environment. Filling the vertical space with a variety of hanging succulents brings a whole new dimension to what would otherwise be a dwarfed Womb Chair Replica with too much empty space that is beckoning for the good energy (a necessity for proper lounging) only nature can bring to a space.

Indoor Plant and Our LC-3 Feather Relaxed Lounge Chair Replica in Polar White Leather

Yucca Plant:

I’ve had mine for over a year, which speaks volumes of its longevity.  Its size makes it a perfect indoor plant to fill an empty space or corner in a modern living room, creating a relaxed environment when in close proximity to a LC-3 Feather Relaxed Lounge Chair Replica as is seen here.

Indoor Plants and Our Ox Chair Replica in Camel Tan Leather

Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant

Last but not least, the fiddle leaf fig plant is a fixture in most Mid-Century Modern homes, and is a stunning indoor plant to use next to our Ox Chair Replica.  This classic green indoor plant only needs watering once a week and can last for years in your modern home.

You can find inspiration for your own home and also check out all we have to offer by visiting any of our three factory showrooms in Bellingham, Chicago or Dallas!