Investing in Mid-Century Modern
There was a time when investors actively sought out fine French furniture and collected it as a form of investing. In the late 1990′s, the attention switched from gaudy French furniture to the sleek and cool stylings of mid-century masters like Ray and Charles Eames, Harry Bertoia and descendants of the European Bauhaus movement. This was mainly because of the internet boom that these years saw, but also because this boom increased the wealth of much-younger investors who wanted something more streamlined and less stuffy.
As an article from CNBC titled Sitting on a Small Fortune states, these people weren’t “interested in filling their Silicon Valley mansions with museum pieces; these inventors of the future wanted a look that that leaned forward.”
It raises a good point that people should take into consideration when buying pieces like an Eames Lounge Chair or a Saarinen Table and face sticker shock, you’re not just buying a chair or a table at that point. You are taking your hard-earned money and really investing it in something that has value and can even be passed down like a family heirloom. The key is to do your research and always make sure you’re buying an authorized and authentic product.
(By the way, if you are looking to do some “alternative investing” don’t forget that this is the last weekend of the Herman Miller Holiday Sale!)
Modern Wood Furniture
Media Room - Corcoran Street Rowhouse
When people think of modern furniture, they can tend to picture cold and sterile spaces and materials. This isn’t always the case however. Vastu designers all believe in a warm, comfortable, modern aesthetic that’s achieved through the use of textiles, finishes and color. An easy way to soften a modern space is by using wood furniture.
Think pure, clean lines and simple forms. Stains can range from dark ebony’s to light natural walnuts and ash.
Great examples of today’s modern wood furniture are the Zoe Media Cabinets (newly added to the Vastu website)
Zoe 2 Drawer Open Media Cabinet
and the Zoe Low Dresser,
Zoe Low Dresser
as well as the Zoe Bed.
Zoe Bed
Happy 1st Day of Summer!
It’s official. Summer is here. Never mind that DC has been experiencing summer-like heat for weeks now…
Let’s start the day with some great images of contemporary outdoor spaces.
Round Up: Vastu’s Herman Miller Favorites
We’re down to the last few days of the Herman Miller Sale here at Vastu and all this week, we’ve shared some of our favorite Herman Miller pieces. I think we can all agree that Herman Miller’s designers are all extremely talented and many of their designs will truly stand the test of time as stylish, iconic pieces.
To wrap up the week, here are Vastu’s Herman Miller Favorites:
From Ray, the Eames Aluminum Group chairs:
“Sleek, sophisticated, comfortable, instantly recognizable and absolutely timeless.”
From Eric, the Noguchi Table:
“…it is still considered a modern icon of design despite having been created over 60 years ago…”
From Sarita, the Eames Molded Plastic chair:
“You can create so many different looks, it’s wonderful!”
From Jason, the Nelson Basic Cabinet series:
“In urban interior design, I love when pieces are multi-functional.”
If you haven’t done so yet, stop by the showroom this weekend and say hi. We’d love to show you what we have from Herman Miller.
Vastu from A to Z: G, H, I
‘G’ is for Gothica
Add an element of interest to your space with Gothica wallpaper. Available in a number of patterns and colors, this wallpaper can be applied to a single surface (as shown above) to create an accent wall. For a really bold statement, consider applying the wallpaper to an entire room.
Flower Power!
Flowers are beautiful. They inspire everything from art to fashion to interior design. If you’re looking to incorporate floral patterns into your home, but want to do it in a modern way, we can help. Vastu’s Senior Designer, Sarita Peresada, offers up two important things to keep in mind when it comes to incorporating florals into your home.
#1 – Be sure to select modern or vintage patterns. Stay away from country or traditional patterns.
Roses are red, Violettes are turquoise…
…or bordeaux, pistachio, light grey, black, dove grey, mink brown, red, dark brown, white or mustard. New to the Vastu showroom is the Violette table collection which includes side tables and cocktail tables. The table tops are available in 11 different colors of lacquered glass and the metal bases are available in a number of different finishes, including the polished chrome finish shown in the image above.
“Art by the Yard” at The Textile Museum
The Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain exhibit opens May 15, 2010 and runs through September 12, 2010. The Textile Museum sites says:
The art of textile design changed radically after World War II as Britain was transformed from a country devastated by war into an optimistic consumer society. Three women designers were pivotal in this artistic revolution: Lucienne Day (1917- 2010), Jacqueline Groag (1903-1985) and Marian Mahler (1911-1983). Incorporating dramatic saturated colors and bold motifs inspired by artists like Alexander Calder and Joan Miró, these young designers transformed the market by inspiring elegant yet affordable product lines that brought the world of contemporary art into everyone’s homes.
Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britainwill showcase the work of these groundbreaking women designers, highlighting the work of Lucienne Day, through the display of textiles together with preliminary drawings and collages, ceramics and period furniture, all drawn from the Jill A. Wiltse and H. Kirk Brown, III Collection of British Textiles.
Where: The Textile Museum | 2320 S Street, NW Washington, DC 20008
Come out and Play
The company behind some of our favorite cabinets and credenzas has introduced a new line called ‘Play’. The collection includes media pieces, sideboards, dressers, night tables and beds that incorporate “playful” angles and finishes. These pieces can be done in a gorgeous exotic wood species like macassar ebony or a fun lacquer. Here’s a look at some of the items from Play…
Etsy find: Jason Hill Design
We stumbled across the Jason Hill Design Etsy shop and just had to stop when we saw these screen prints of two Knoll mid-century modern classics – the Tulip chair and the Bertoia diamond chair. Great size, great colors, great gift!
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