Modern Furniture

Modern Furniture Classics

Furniture by the great modern designers. Go to: Charles and Ray Eames Eames Home Office Furniture, George Nelson, George Nelson Modern American Clocks, Warren Platner, Modern Dining Furniture. See also modern lighting

Florence Knoll Bassett

Florence Knoll Bassett took a holistic view of interior space planning. As director of the Knoll Planning Unit in the 1950s, her “total design” approach embraced everything about a space – including the furniture. She modestly referred to her furniture designs as the “meat and potatoes” of an interior, yet to this day they hold the same iconic American appeal as that most basic and functional of meals. Her lounge collection (1954) has the simple, architectural lines and unparalleled construction of all modern classics.


Florence Knoll Sofa - Volo Leather Florence Knoll Sofa--Bouclé	Florence Knoll Lounge Chair


Florence Knoll Three Seater Bench	Florence Knoll Two Seater Florence Knoll Two Seater--Bouclé

Florence Knoll Rectangular Coffee Table

This Coffee Table is manufactured by Knoll® according to the original and exacting specifications of the designer. Made in Italy.


Florence Knoll Credenza	Florence Knoll Credenza

Modern Dining Furniture


Tenon Tables	Tenon Chair
Designer Jay Novak combines the time-tested method of mortise-and-tenon craftsmanship with the strength of 26 layers of hardwood ply to craft his modern, deceptively simple Tenon Tables (2005), which come in three sizes. Inspired by his vintage wood kayak, Novak tapped the resilience, stability and omni-directional strength of the plywood to make a seamless connection between the legs and tabletop.	There is a riddle among furniture makers: how do you construct a comfortable chair out of flat pieces of wood. Richard Neutra, Gerrit Rietveld and R. M. Schindler all attempted to design chairs from flat plywood, but comfort didn’t always factor into the end result. Designer Jay Novak’s solution is the Tenon Chair (2005). With all superfluous material removed, the minimal design cradles the sitter and provides lumbar support.


Cherner® Armchair	Cherner® Side Chair
Although a pioneer in prefab housing, Norman Cherner is best known for his molded plywood seating line. The Chair’s popularity soared when it appeared in Norman Rockwell’s 1961 painting “The Artist at Work” on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.	Constructed of laminated plywood of graduating thicknesses, from 5 ply at the perimeter edge of the seat to 15 ply at the slender waist, the design possesses exceptional structural strength and dramatic sculptural beauty


Cherner® Oval Table - 84in	Cherner® Round Table - 48in
In 1999, Norman Cherner's sons, Benjamin and Thomas, honored the requests of various architects, and began bringing their father's Cherner Chair back into production. The success of the Chair inspired Benjamin – a New York-based architect and multidisciplinary designer – to create the Cherner Table (2003).	The Table echoes the curved plywood lines of the Chair. Lightweight but strong, the Cherner Table has a solid core of multi-ply beech wood, overlaid with a walnut veneer. Made in U.S.A.

Cherner® Rectangular Table - 72"
Cherner® Rectangular Table - 80"

The Cherner Table stands on molded plywood legs. Lightweight but strong, it’s crafted of a solid core of multi-ply beech wood, overlaid with an American walnut veneer. Made in U.S.A.

Charles and Ray Eames

Design is for living. That maxim shaped a widespread shift in design during the 1940s and 1950s. It was a revolution of form, an exciting visual language that signaled a new age and a fresh start -- and two of its prime movers were Charles and Ray Eames. A husband and wife team whose unique synergy led to a whole new look in furniture. Lean and modern. Sleek, sophisticated and simple. Beautifully functional. Yet Charles and Ray Eames created more than a "look" with their bent plywood chairs or molded fiberglass seating. They had ideas about making a better world, one in which things were designed to fulfill the practical needs of ordinary people and bring greater simplicity and pleasure to our lives. These originals are authentic, fully licensed products of Herman Miller, Inc. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller. See also Eames Dining Room Furniture


Eames® Lounge and Ottoman	Eames® Sofa - 2 Seat	Eames® Aluminum Side Chair
In continuous production since its introduction in 1956, the Eames Lounge Chair is widely considered one of the most significant designs of the 20th century	A study in beautiful contrasts, this sofa has a clean, angled profile that showcases its fine materials - rich walnut, soft leather, polished aluminum. Back panels are fashioned from solid walnut, hand-finished with gunstock oil.	When Charles and Ray Eames designed the Eames Aluminum Management Chair and Side Chair (1958), they created a revolution in seating that has lost none of its edge


Eames® Molded Plastic Armchair - DAX	Eames® Molded Plastic Armchair - DAR


Eames® Molded Plastic Dowel Leg Armchair-DAW	Eames® Molded Plastic Rocker - RAR


Eames® Molded Plastic 4 Leg Side Chair - DSX	Eames® Molded Plastic Stacking Side Chair - DSS


Eames® Molded Plastic Side Chair - DSR	Eames® Molded Plastic Dowel Leg Side Chair-DSW


Eames® Wire Chair with Bikini DKR.2	Eames® Wire Chair with Seat Pad DKR.5


Eames® Wire-Base Table	Eames® Molded Plywood Coffee Table
Characteristically, the Eames; Wire-Base Table is remarkable for the elegance achieved using simple, practical materials. The Eameses used these wire-base tables in their home during a tea ceremony that included Isamu Noguchi and Charlie Chaplin	Using the same technology that led to the invention of their iconic molded plywood lounge chairs, the Eameses designed their Molded Plywood Coffee Table (1946) to have a lean, shaped form that was durable yet lightweight


Eames® La Chaise	Eames® Elliptical Table	Eames® Sofa Compact
The voluptuous organic form of the Eames La Chaise was an evolution of plywood chairs developed a year earlier in collaboration with architect Eero Saarinen for the "Organic Design in Home Furnishings" competition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.	Nicknamed the "surfboard table", this elongated Elliptical Table (1951) exemplifies the delightful playfulness that enlivened the work of Charles and Ray Eames. It also reveals the couple's practical side	Designed in 1954, the Eames; Sofa Compact, another landmark of pared-down modernist design, is a luxuriously comfortable sofa that fits where most sofas won't.


Eames® Molded Plywood Lounge Chair, LCM	Eames® Molded Plywood Lounge Chair, LCW
The Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair (1946) is instantly recognizable as the work of Charles and Ray Eames, with a form that relates directly to the human body and holds no secrets as to how it succeeds technically	The Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair (1946) has been referred to as the "most famous chair of the century," with a low-slung form that relates directly to the human body and holds no secrets as to how it succeeds technically.


Eames® Molded Plywood Dining Chair, DCM	Eames® Molded Plywood Dining Chair, DCW
The Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair (1946) is instantly recognizable as the work of Charles and Ray Eames, with a form that relates directly to the human body and holds no secrets as to how it succeeds technically	The Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair (1946) is instantly recognizable as the work of Charles and Ray Eames, with a form that relates directly to the human body and holds no secrets as to how it succeeds technically


Eames® Aluminum Side Chair - Mesh	Eames® Round Table
When Charles and Ray Eames designed the Eames Aluminum Management Chair and Side Chair (1958), they created a revolution in seating that has lost none of its edge. These chairs were originally developed as a special project for a private residence	Charles and Ray Eames had a knack for melding simplicity and sophistication, as is evident in their circular dining table.

Eames® Rectangular Table

Genuine innovation is rare. And perhaps no one has achieved it as often as Charles and Ray Eames. Their inventive design for this dining table makes functionality beautiful with an uncluttered profile well suited to both traditional and contemporary interiors.

Eames Home Office Furniture

The concept of modularity wasn't in the popular lexicon when Charles and Ray Eames designed their innovative Storage Units (1950) that can be configured to fit a space or need. Suitable for office and residential use, these units were designed as storage and display spaces, with two color schemes.


Eames Storage Unit - Large	Eames® Storage Unit - 2x2 with Doors
The concept of modularity wasn't in the popular lexicon when Charles and Ray Eames designed their innovative Storage Units (1950) that can be configured to fit a space or need. Suitable for office and residential use	The concept of modularity wasnt in the popular lexicon when Charles and Ray Eames designed their innovative Storage Units (1950) that can be configured to fit a space or need.


Eames® Storage Unit - 1x1	Eames® Storage Unit - 1x2	Eames® Storage Unit - 2x2
The concept of modularity wasn't in the popular lexicon when Charles and Ray Eames designed their innovative Storage Units (1950) that can be configured to fit a space or need	Suitable for office and residential use, these units were designed as storage	The concept of modularity wasn't in the popular lexicon when Charles and Ray Eames designed their innovative Storage Units (1950) that can be configured to fit a space or need

George Nelson

Possessed of one of the most inventive minds of the century, George Nelson is one of those rare people who can envision what isn't there yet. Nelson himself has described his creative abilities as a series of "zaps" — flashes of inspiration and clarity that he was able to turn into innovative design ideas. One such "zap!" came in 1942 when Nelson conceived the pedestrian shopping mall detailed in his "Grass on Main Street" proposal. Soon after, he pioneered the concept of built-in storage with Storagewall, a system of storage units that rested on slatted platform benches. The first modular storage system ever, it was showcased in Life magazine and caused an immediate sensation in the furniture industry. George Nelson Collection


Nelson Marshmallow Sofa - Crepe	Nelson Swag Leg Rectangular Work Table	Nelson Marshmallow Sofa - Vinyl

Fifty years ago, the creation of George Nelson's Swag Leg Group (1958) began with him asking "wouldn't it be beautiful to have some kind of sculptured leg on a piece of furniture?" An idea was launched, but the designer had to figure out how to make the legs of metal, machine formed and ready for quick assembly. The solution turned out to be swaging, a method of using pressure to taper and curve a metal tube. Nelson had found a way to make his sculptured legs.


Nelson Swag Leg Round Dining Table	Nelson Swag Leg Armchair	Nelson Swag Leg Rectangular Dining Table
Fifty years ago, the creation of George Nelson's Swag Leg Group (1958) began with him asking "wouldn't it be beautiful to have some kind of sculptured leg on a piece of furniture?"	The Nelson Swag Leg Chair flexes with the sitter and maintains comfortable air circulation through the opening between the seat and back. Wide, flat armrests provide a comfortable resting place for forearms.	Right for home or workspace, the newly reintroduced Dining Table features solid walnut stretchers that are screwed to the legs for added stability. The walnut veneered top has coordinating walnut veneer edging for a uniform profile

George Nelson Modern American Clocks

George Nelson, one of the design greats of mid-century, unveiled his iconic Ball Clock and gave time a modern look. Now, with his trio of pet-like wall clocks named Fernando the Fish, Omar the Owl and Talulah the Toucan, Nelson reveals his penchant for fun. Designed in the 1940s and '50s, George Nelson's clocks were highly successful both as popular consumer products and icons of high design. One of the most original American designers, Nelson used pure color and bold graphic forms to make a statement


Nelson Spindle Clock	Sunflower Clock	Nelson Eye Clock


Nelson Ball Clock	Nelson Sunburst Clock

Warren Platner USA 1919-2006

If you combined the work of I.M. Pei and Eero Saarinen, the result might very well look like the Platner Collection (1966). Warren Platner worked with both of the industrial and organic design giants before turning his attention to steel wire furniture, for which he devised the structure and production method. Requiring as many as 1,000 welds and crafted out of wire and space, the Lounge Chair, available in a range of upholstery options, demonstrates Platner's belief that there is room in modernism "for the kind of decorative, gentle, graceful design that appeared in a period style like Louis XV."