How to Find the Best George Nelson Slat Bench Replicas
Modern Classic's George Nelson Slat Bench Buyer's Guide
At Modern Classics, one of our core focuses involves enhancing historical furniture designs, striving to improve upon iconic pieces from the past. A prime example of this is our refining the construction of the renowned George Nelson Platform or Slat Bench, originally crafted in 1947. This buyer's guide is tailored to aid you in discerning between replica and original versions of the George Nelson Slat Bench, ensuring you make an informed selection. In this guide, we compare the original George Nelson Platform Bench with replicas, focusing on quality versus price for consumers interested in purchasing this iconic furniture piece. Key points include differences in materials, craftsmanship, authenticity, and pricing between the original and replica versions of the Nelson Slat Bench.
Who makes the best George Nelson Style Platform Bench? We believe Modern Classic Furniture offers the best replica of this iconic piece. Are we a little biased? Sure. But we try to be objective and our glowing Customer Reviews tell the same story. In considering your options for the Slat Bench, here are some key points to consider:
- We use solid ash, which is as strong as oak and a very sustainable wood species
- End pieces are sold wood with a Mortise and Tenon joints in the frame, not simple block joints which will not last
- Our Legs are made of steel with adjustable foot glides, a more solid solution than wood
- We make our 1.5 inches taller than the original, for a more comfortable seating height
- We have moved our legs closer to the bench end, which minimizes potential tipping when sitting on the end, and it doesn't affect the look.
Product Description
Our George Slat Bench is inspired by the popular George Nelson Platform Bench. It is a great compliment to any of the pieces of the modern classics collection. Some of the key features of our George Nelson style Slat Bench include:
Slat Construction: The bench is characterized by its distinctive slatted wooden top, which consists of multiple parallel wooden slats running across the width of the bench. Using the time-tested lap joint technique makes our bench very strong. These slats create a visually appealing and functional surface.
Durable Materials: Our bench is constructed using high-quality solid ash, not MDF wood like most other benches found on the market. The wooden slats are connected to metal legs powder coated a matte black and have adjustable floor glides. Both the solid wood and the metal legs contributes to the bench's stability.
Versatility: One notable aspect of the Nelson Slat Bench is its versatility. Originally designed as a seating and occasional table solution, it can serve multiple functions. It's often used as a coffee table or a bench for seating. Exclusive to our model is the seat height of 15.75 inches, which is almost 2 inches higher than other models on the market.
Our Slat benches are offered in three widths (48, 60 and 72 inches) and three finish choices: stained walnut brown with a clear lacquer finish, a matte black finish, or left natural with a clear lacquer finish. The legs are metal and only come in black finish. There are 4 adjustable glides on the bottom of the frame. The size and geometry of our bench is true to the George Nelson original design, except, as mentioned, we make our bench about 2 inch taller.
Product Specifications
| MC-5841 | MC-5842 | MC-5843 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 48 inches | 60 inches | 72 inches |
| Depth | 18.5 inches | 18.5 inches | 18.5 inches |
| Seat Height | 15.75 inches | 15.75 inches | 15.75 inches |
| Prices | $ 780 | $ 940 | $ 1,130 |
Wood Stain Choices
Here are the wood finish choices are available on our George Nelson inpired slat benches.
Click on any of these swatches to see an enlarged view.
Buyer's Guide Summary: Modern Classics Furniture vs. the Original vs. Low Market Replicas
| Feature | Modern Classics | Design Within Reach | Low-Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price: 48" Bench | $ 780 | $ 5,055 | $ 440 |
| Price: 60" Bench | $ 940 | $ 5,320 | $ n/a |
| Price: 72" Bench | $ 1,130 | $ 5,870 | $ n/a |
| Name Brand | |||
| Price | |||
| Wood Materials | |||
| Construction Techniques | |||
| Overall Dimensions | |||
| Leg Considerations |
Detail Comparison: Modern Classics vs. the Competition
SUMMARY
Modern Classics
Our Florence Knoll style lounge chair is offered in both top-grain Italian leather or our exclusive Boucle Fabrics. Our frame made of 1 inch square #304 Stainless Steel tubing, polished to a mirror-like finish. For an extra charge, we offer powdercoating the frame in 8 standard colors. Prices includes Free Shipping and No Sales Taxes. You may also provide your own upholstery materials for your specific project.
Design Within Reach
Our Florence Knoll style lounge chair is offered in both top-grain Italian leather or our exclusive Boucle Fabrics. Our frame made of 1 inch square #304 Stainless Steel tubing, polished to a mirror-like finish. For an extra charge, we offer powdercoating the frame in 8 standard colors. Prices includes Free Shipping and No Sales Taxes. You may also provide your own upholstery materials for your specific project.
Low Market Versions
Our Florence Knoll style lounge chair is offered in both top-grain Italian leather or our exclusive Boucle Fabrics. Our frame made of 1 inch square #304 Stainless Steel tubing, polished to a mirror-like finish. For an extra charge, we offer powdercoating the frame in 8 standard colors. Prices includes Free Shipping and No Sales Taxes. You may also provide your own upholstery materials for your specific project.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS
Modern Classics
Our chair dimensions were derived from original 1948 engineering - production drawings, and are the closest to the designer's original intent of the model. Our chair has the more upright sitting position which makes it confortable for both sitting and lounging. The arms are parallel to the floor. From the overall size to the slope of the back, we think we have recaptured the chairs historical icon.
Design Within Reach
The chair sold at DWR is the Knoll brand chair. The dimensions seem to be the same mold throughout the lifetime of their manufacturing.
Low Market Versions
Frame dimensions are a very different than the Signature version, in that, the chair sits higher and does not closely resemble the Saarinen style chair at all.
CHAIR BODY
Modern Classics
Our chair shell is constructed of Fiber-reinforced polymer internal shell for greater strength than the other brands. Our shell is propriety and exclusive to our brand. The back is flexible, but sturdy. Holes are placed for frame attachment. Our Womb chair is well sewn. The parameter seams have a blind stitch piping. The back pillow is not attached, which make it easy to move or adjust the back cushion to a sitter's back. We use high-resislent foam that is shaped for the original look of the chair and ottoman. This is a sleek look, not too puffy.
Design Within Reach
Their chair shell is plasic covered with high-resislent foam that is very puffy and no longer is sleekly-shaped like the original look of the chair and ottoman. The Knoll chair is generally well sewn. The parameter seams have a blind stitch piping. The back pillow is attached with clips, which make it difficult to move or adjust the back cushion to a sitter's back. There is a cavity in the mold for the back cushion, which we cover over with padding and fabric.
Low Market Versions
Their chair mold is dated from the early 1990s and while it might be made of fiberglass, it is still an inferior mold shape for the chair. The arms are angled, not flat. The back angle is too steep. Besides using really cheap fabric, the sewing details on this model is sub-standard. No blind stitch piping around the parameter of the chair or ottoman, etc. They most likely use highly resilient urethane foam, however, their cushions look super puffy and not the sleek modern effect originally conceived by the designer.
CHAIR FRAME
Modern Classics
Our Frames are formed with No. 304 grade stainless steel rod and hand-polished to a mirror-like finish. By using higher grade #304 stainless steel we achieve a more natural appearance metal feature than plated chrome as well as a more environmentally safe steel compared to “plated chrome”. Stainless steel is easy to maintain, inherently corrosive resistant and repairable by hand polishing offering a near life-time of trouble fee use. Besides the hand-polished look, we can make our frame with a powdercoated finish in 8 standard colors or customized to your perference, all with an upcharge. Our adjustable feet are not quite the same as the DWR version, but we are working on that.
Design Within Reach
Their chair frame is chrome plated solid steel rod. The chrome plating process of metals has been noted as a generally unsafe manufacturing process for our an environmentally and when scratched or chipped, the steel will rust and it cannot be easily repaired. Also offered in black painted finish. And their feet are sleek and thin.
Low Market Versions
Kardeil uses solid stainless steel legs for their offering, but the tubing is chrome plated and has a dull, milky finish.
WOOD MATERIALS
Why This Matters: This is a wood bench, so the type of wood used is like the most important thing, right? The best type of wood is one that is solid hardwood, because it is not fragile and will take the stain well. Plus sustainability is an important factor. The best choices for wood are walnut, oak, ask and maple.
Modern Classics
We use solid Ash, which is a hard wood similar to Oak, but takes the stain better. Ash is a very sustainable wood species.
Design Within Reach
They use solid wood; maple on the natural version and walnut on the dark version.
Low Market Versions
Some use a very soft wood called Limewood, which dents easily. Others use particle board (aka MDF) with an oak veneer. It can easily chip off or can swell up. This not a good look.
OTTOMAN DETAILS
Modern Classics
The seat height of our ottoman is set at the perfect height to comfortable rest your legs on. All of the lower priced models of Womb ottomans have a significantly higher seat height. In addition, we choose to make our ottoman legs more closely match the original model from 1948, which has no bend in the legs near the end.
Design Within Reach
The seat height of the Knoll ottoman is set at the same height as the chair, which is good. However, Knoll choose to alter the shape of their ottoman legs more closely match chair, rather the retain the lines of the original design from 1948.
Rove Concepts
The seat height of the Rove Womb ottoman is significantly higher than the seat height of the chair. This goes along with the extreme racked back angle of their chair.
Low Maerket Versions
The seat height of the Kardeil ottoman is significantly higher than the seat height of the chair. This goes along with the extreme racked back angle of their chair, suitable more for an astronaut being launched into space, rather than sitting in your living room enjoy a good book.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS
Modern Classics
Our chair dimensions were derived from original 1948 engineering - production drawings, and are the closest to the designer's original intent of the model. Our chair has the more upright sitting position which makes it confortable for both sitting and lounging. The arms are parallel to the floor. From the overall size to the slope of the back, we think we have recaptured the chairs historical icon.
Design Within Reach
The chair sold at DWR is the Knoll brand chair. The dimensions seem to be the same mold throughout the lifetime of their manufacturing.
Low Market Versions
Frame dimensions are a very different than the Signature version, in that, the chair sits higher and does not closely resemble the Saarinen style chair at all.
CUSTOM OPTIONS
Modern Classics
We offer the extreme flexibility on this model for customizing. First, there is the upholstery material. You can provide your own fabric. You can do one color for the removable cushions and a different color for the chair body. We can powder coat the legs using one of our standard colors, or your own selection.
Design Within Reach
For a significant upcharge, Knoll will make a chair using your fabric or leather. They do offer alternate frame color such as black, no customs.
Low Market Versions
Kardeil does not offer custom modiifcations for their offering, in fabric, leg finish or anything.
Customer Reviews
About Modern Classics Furniture
Here at Modern Classics Furniture, we focus tightly on manufacturing and selling furniture in the niche market known as Iconic Modern Classics Furniture. Here's why we are your top choice for Modern Classic Furniture:
- We make and sell only our own products -- we do not sell other manufacturer's product, nor will you find our products elsewhere on the Internet.
- We offer a 3 year warranty
- We only make quality furniture using the best materials
- We offer wholesale and design trade prices - let us be your #1 source - sign up today!
Corporate Headquarters and Factory Showroom
3999 Hammer Drive
Bellingham, WA 98226
Curt Roth, President
Phone: (360)733-6400
Email: hello@modernclassics.com
Text: (360) 733-6401
While we have a small showroom in Bellingham, the best place to get answers is at our company headquarters in Bellingham Washington. Call, Email or Text, you will be able to talk to a "live" person who can answer your questions.