What are the most collectible brands of vintage furniture? You know that’s an impossible question, because it’s different strokes for different folks — and different budgets, too. But to get the conversation started, Pam and I brainstormed a top 10 list of our favorite vintage furniture — some of which we own and some, we dream about — and which, in general, are emblematic of the varieties/styles of midcentury furniture out there. Read on… then, we want to hear about your favorite vintage furniture designs, too!
I’m sure that many of you are like Pam and me when it comes to vintage furniture — so enamored with it, that suddenly the house is full to the brim — and still you want more. We love scouting for vintage furniture, for a variety of reasons.
Six reasons to buy vintage furniture:
- Vintage furniture is usually well-constructed and built to last.
- There are many exciting designs to suit your particular taste.
- Vintage furniture can be very affordable, compared to buying new.
- It’s greener to buy vintage.
- Vintage has “a story”.
- It’s super fun to shop for vintage furniture — the thrill of the hunt!
Vintage furniture is — for the most part — very well constructed, with quality wood constructions, and with exciting designs. Vintage furniture was built to last, which means a lot of it — especially case goods (pieces made of wood like dressers, hutches, desks, shelving and dining chairs) — are desirable because they are still in like-new condition today after 50 or more years of daily use. Even upholstered pieces like easy chairs and couches — which may need costly reupholstering — are still in demand due to their solid frame construction.
Vintage furniture also tends to be very affordable, compared to buying new. Pam says: Vintage dining room sets and bedroom sets, in particular, can be spectacular deals. That’s because: While you can collect an almost infinite number of vintage decorative items (paintings, ceramics, glass, any kind of collectible…), you really only have space for one dining room set and two or three bedrooms sets. So, basic laws of supply and demand mean these larger items, which are harder for sellers to move (pun), are often great bargains.
As much as I would like to rescue every piece I come across, my husband has decided that we will not buy any more vintage furniture unless we have a designated place for it — which at this point for me means one piece in, one piece out. This has made me try to concentrate on acquiring only the pieces that I really love and letting the rest go live at some other vintage furniture nut… errr, connoisseur’s… house.
So, let’s get to our top-10 list…
1. Broyhill Brasilia
Broyhill made some great furniture lines in the 60s, and one of the most popular vintage lines today is Broyhill Brasilia line, which launched in 1962. The appeal of this line is the fantastic swooping designs that help give the line its instantly recognizable character. These decorative details are based on the architecture of Oscar Niemeyer, who designed Brazil’s modernist capital city, Brasilia. I have eight pieces of Brasilia in my home and I love them all just as much as the day I bought them. See this story –> for link to an original sales brochure for Broyhill Brasilia — pretty cool!
Other great Broyhill names to watch for:
- Broyhill Sculptra
- Broyhill Premier Saga
- Broyhill Emphasis
- Broyhill Saga
- Broyhill Premier Forward 70
- Pam here: I am adding the bullets. And confessing: My main research go-to on these Broyhill lines is now Furnish Me Vintage — what an awesome archive Jackie and Todd have! xoxo, you two ROCK.
2. Heywood-Wakefield
The curving lines, solid wood construction, and unique champagne finish of Heywood-Wakefield furniture has made it one of the most popular vintage furniture styles of all time. Vintage HeyWake is still pretty abundant, and great deals can be found. But did you know that Heywood-Wakefield furniture is still manufactured today, right here in the USA. Above: Cindy’s Heywood-Wakefield couch and coffee table — from 306 photos of reader living rooms. And to see a piece of new Hey-Wake, read here about Betty Crafter’s new Heywood-Wakefield king-sized bed.
3. Drexel Declaration
Drexel Declaration is one of the first vintage furniture lines ever profiled on Retro Renovation. Pam even talked personally to designer Stewart MacDougall about the genesis of the line. In addition to having a clear modern aesthetic, Drexel Declaration also harkens to Shaker furniture and the Shakers’ desire that the construction details of furniture be visible. This is a brilliant design, because it appeals to modernists and traditionalists, alike. We have a vintage Drexel Declaration catalog archived here on Retro Renovation.
More terrific Drexel designs to watch for:
- Drexel Parallel (Pam recently bought a 55″ Parallel low dresser for her husband’s office — lovely lines.)
- Drexel Milo Baughman for Today’s Living
- Drexel Profile
- Drexel Sun Coast
- Drexel Biscayne
- Drexel Panorama
- Again, Furnish Me Vintage has a terrific archive.
4. Drexel Plus One
If you are a fan of flower power decorating, look no further than Drexel’s Plus One line — made in the 1970s. This is a favorite of Pam’s — which she revealed in her post about the Drexel Plus One line — calling it, “The most fabulous bedroom set ever made — no doubt about it.” Yes, there is no doubt that this line has attitude and humor with its labeling of the obvious. I wonder what happens if you store your Tuesday clothes in the Friday drawer? Above: Drexel Plus One bedroom set, courtesy of sellers Smugglers Cove Vintage.
Drexel had some other whimsical flower power painted furniture such as the whimsical:
5. Kroehler sofas
When you are trying to decorate a retro living room — in any style from grandma’s house to retro atomic — it is hard to go wrong with a Kroehler sofa. They were made with such range of color, shape and size and often upholstered with frieze fabric that holds up extremely well to wear and is VERY expensive to purchase today — if you can find it. Check out Michael’s 1958 Kroehler Decorating Aids — pretty cool. Above: Kristin’s Kroehler sofa — from 306 reader living rooms.
6. Saarinen tulip tables and chairs — or vintage knock-offs made by Burke, Fiberform or other manufacturers
The crisp, graphic look of Eero Saarinen’s iconic tulip tables and chairs will be forever appealing — even if you don’t use these in your decorating, it is hard to frown when you see them. Authentic Saarinen pieces can be extremely expensive and therefore not a reality for most to own, but it is possible to get the look for less by searching out more affordable vintage copies made by companies such as Burke or Fiberform. Above: I own a Burke dining room table and Fiberform chairs.
7. Ethan Allen Custom Room Plan Furniture
Pam says that another of her favorite, mid century furniture makers is Ethan Allen. In particular, she loves the Custom Room Plan furniture suites marketed widely in the 1970s. Maybe in the 60s and into the 80s, too? We’re not sure. The photo above is from one of Pam’s 1976 Ethan Allen catalogs. The idea with the Custom Room Plan pieces was that they were modular — you could mix and match them to create an almost infinite number of designs in virtually any room in the house. As you can see, the aesthetic was Early American — but the idea was totally modern, in keeping with growing families movin’ on up from small ranches to larger split levels. You can see some more Custom Room Plan furniture from 1974 in this story, including some French Provincial door styles. Pam also is a fan of Ethan Allen girl’s bedroom sets with canopy beds (she was deprived), and of upholstered wing chairs and the like. Much of this furniture was excellent quality. Get your head around the less-fashionable (today) historic revival styles, and you can find yourself some sweet bargains.
8. Adrian Pearsall / Craft Associates
Pam didn’t know about Adrian Pearsall when she let the wonderful small coffee table, above (Pearsall #1465-T Table), get away at an estate sale in a 1974 house in January 2011. It was only $75. There was an Adrian Pearsall sofa, too, also $75. Boo hoo. We all have stories like this. But, this blog is a journey of discovery, so of course, when readers pointed out what she had missed, she started researching Adrian Pearsall. And wouldn’t you know it, it was just shortly afterr that the fantastic masterpiece house that Adrian Pearsall designed and built for his family in 1964 was put up for sale — we have some great photos! And Pam also was able to get first-hand recollections from the Pearsall children, about what it was like to live in this house. The Pearsall family maintains a wonderful website all about Adrian Pearsall. His furniture — popular in the 1950s and 1960s — is very distinctive, characterized this way on the website:
Known for his daring designs which brought high style to the masses, he is credited with the creation of long and low gondola sofas, free-form walnut and glass tables, and the popularization of the venerable bean bag chair.
Don’t be like Pam and let a Pearsall treasure-bargain slip through your fingers!
9. Kofod Larsen
— This listing is emblematic of all the high-end stuff out there —
Okay, so the name Kofod-Larsen was not on either my or Pam’s radar until Rochester Steven — of the fabulous Alcoa Aluminum house featured several times here on Retro Renovation — sent in the photo of the pair of the new, vintage chair he recently scored for his place. They are Kofod-Larsen hoop lounge chairs, imported by Selig, he tells us. And as you can sort of see in the photo above, they repeat the circle motif he has going on in his living room. Now, while many of the furniture designs we’ve been showcasing so far today are what we would still call “affordable” — that is, you may still be able to find them as relative “bargains” because they were mass marketed — chairs like these Kofod Larsens, not so much. Jackie and Todd at Furnish Me Vintage have a pair of Kofod Larsens recliners for sale for $2,750.
Really, though, the point of this entry is that Kofod-Larsen is emblematic — our nod to the scores of other high-end, mid century furniture designs out there for the hunting. We don’t typically talk high-end priced stuff here on Retro Renovation, mostly because: We ain’t that rich. We don’t shop high end, so we don’t really know. But, even if you are a bargain hunter, too, you can get yourself educated, and maybe scoop up fantastic super treasures.. Other names to learn about: George Nelson, Marcel Breuer, Vladimir Kagan, Florence Knoll, Warren Platner, Charles and Ray Eames, Isami Noguchi, Edward Wormley, Milo Baughman, Jens Risom, goodness, there are many more, who else?
10. Witco tiki furniture
Life would be no fun if we were super serious about our furniture all time, would it? Come on, try and tell us you don’t want to cut decorum loose and have an entire bar stocked with Witco tiki furniture. Pam spotlighted the set above on ebay in 2009, and reader Ghost of Elvis bought it. We haven’t heard much from Ghost of Elvis for a couple of years. Pam thinks he is having too much fun mixing mai tais. And who can blame him. We try and stay on Witco patrol here at RR — see our archive for photos of elusive wall panels, thunder god chairs and the all-time favorite Witco tiki map of the world. Oh yeah, if we expand to a list of 25, whiskey barrel furniture’s also going on the list, yes sirree.
Now its your turn readers:
If we expand the list to the top 25 vintage furniture designs — which pieces would you add?
Do you love them because you own them or are they your dream furniture pieces?
Patty says
Another vote for Kent-Coffey.
Betsy says
Beautiful photos! I had walked past some nice bedroom sets this summer because I couldn’t figure out what to do with a double bed head and foot board. Last weekend, I couldn’t leave a spectacular Johnson-Carper 5 piece bedroom set, ca. 1960, in mint condition. I had anticipated putting the headboard into storage…until I discovered the double bed to queen conversion kit. It was a simple $79 kit that provided queen length rails and double bed width, with brackets on the side of the rails to anchor the queen boxspring and mattress. It worked perfectly, fit beautifully, and I am soooo happy!
Kate B says
I didn’t know they had full to queen conversion kits! That’s great!
Betsy says
This is the website that I found most helpful. I did find the rails at our local furniture/mattress store, and they allowed returns if things didn’t work out, so I purchased locally.
http://www.thesleepshop.com/store/pc/Full-to-Queen-Converter-Rails-61p105.htm
gsciencechick says
I bought this, but it only works on a complete bed, headboard and footboard. You cannot use if you have just a headboard. I wound up returning it and getting a different headboard.
BlueJay says
If you were to expand the list, I’d definitely look into companies like Lane, Bassett, and Kent Coffey. All 3 had wonderful furniture throughout the 50s and 60s. Broyhill had other collections as well besides Brasilia which could also be explored.
jmb says
I would add Lane and Bassett and drop the 70’s stuff from the list.
Morgen says
Are the tulip chairs hard to push in and out when you are sitting on them? I would love to have them for our dining room table, but I’m worried that my kids (3-11) would have a hard time scooting them in and there would be lots of chairs falling over and mom having “please don’t break” heart attacks.
On a side note I have some of the Broyhill Facet bedroom collection and I love it. I don’t see it very often anywhere though.
Kate B says
We don’t really push in the tulip chairs — they swivel, so we swivel them to get in and out — however, there aren’t any kids in my house and I’m sure kids need to be closer to the table than adults, so the pulling and pushing might be an issue, though our chairs don’t fall over easily.
Perhaps if you have a solid surface floor underneath and put some sort of felt pads under the chairs, they would slide easily?
Allen says
YES! My tulip chairs scoot easily with the felt around the bottom on a hard surface floor. They glide easily across the floor!
Kate B says
Good to know! Thanks for chiming in Allen!
Morgen says
Thank you both so much! That’s great to know they slide easy and swivel. Thanks again!
Steve H says
Broyhill also made a very cool line of furniture called Chapter One in the late 60’s- early 70’s. It was mainly case work and heavily influenced by the 1960’s plastic fronted designs of Raymond Loewy. I have a two page Broyhill Chapter One magazine ad from about 1970. There were some Canadian companies that also made some very similiar designs. Actually Canadian furniture companies made some really amazing mod furniture designs in the 1960’s – the influence of Expo 67 perhaps?
Danielle says
Here in Australia a Grant Featherston Contour chair is like winning the lottery. It would be my dream purchase , a lounge or dining suite would just tip me over to lala land 🙂 What about G-plan ?
Denise says
You guys came up with terrific ideas for your Top 10!
We mixed in some upholstered Thonet chairs with our Heywood to make it a bit more stylized. Plus, they’re ususally pretty comfortable since much of it was used in office reception rooms.
Rattan is pretty great too. It is available in all levels of prices since the multi-bands are more desireable than the 1-band. People frequently used it in their sunrooms, family rooms or finished basements.
More difficult to find is Russell Wright furniture.
Ima Pam says
Kent-Coffey. I recently got a bargain on a beautiful walnut desk and china hutch from the Perspecta line, which is similar to Broyhill Brasilia, but more subdued. I found some good information on Kent-Coffey at Retro-Luxe blog…including a fantastic photo of a green wallpapered room from a Perspecta ad.
Jody says
I second Kent Coffey! We purchased a dining room set for $400–and an extra $60 got us the missing captain’s chair several months later. They’re in need of reupholstering, but with two toddlers in the house we’e waiting a few years on that.
But oh, those coffee tables! Coffee and side tables, which I LOVE, are off the menu for at least a few more years. At least until the little one stops biting things.
Kate B says
I love the Perspecta line! Good call! 🙂
Sarah G says
Ethan Allen changed their name to Ethan Allen in the 1970s before that they were called Baumritter and their modern line was called ‘Viko’. Just something else to keep an eye out for. Also gotta love Homecrest’s vintage patio furniture!!
Annie B. says
I learned about the Ethan Allen / Viko connection after finding a Viko chair at a yard sale for 12.00.
Laura says
Homecrest! What a fabulous line of outdoor furniture!
My parents have a 1966 set of Homecrest patio furniture with the original cushions. My uncle and aunt have a 1965 set, and my in-laws have 2 patio chairs with the original cloth cushions!
Here is the link to their cataglog archive:
http://www.homecrest.com/about/archive.aspx
Kate B says
Thanks for sharing the link to the Homecrest archives Laura! Very cool! I love their patio furniture!
Laura says
As a matter of fact 2013 is the 60th anniversary of Homecraft, and they are buying vintage pieces, refurbishing, and re-selling them!.
Elaine says
I recently scored a 1970s Ethan Allen cogwheel table, been looking ever since I couldn’t afford one in the 70s.
And I got two Homecrest swivel rocker patio chairs, sans cushions. Love their catalog where you can still order the cushions.
Jay says
I never knew that! I have a small maple drop leaf end table that I use in the basement to hold my flourescent plant light. It is stamped Baumritter but I never found any info on the company. Interesting!
Janet says
I am surprised you left out Chromecraft or whatever other companies made chrome dinettes. Another company I can think of was Dinaire, a small company in New York state who made dinettes, obviously. They had modern designs and made alot of those “nooks” with benches or curved seating, to fit in a specific area, and often had seat pads too. I think the nooks were SO retro and envied any of my friends who were lucky enough to have one in their kitchen. Also, Singer Furniture made alot of contemporary back in the day, mostly blond. I don’t have any of either latter companies but I do have a red and white dinette set.
Jon Hunt says
I send the call for Chromcraft — we love our dinette set, and the Star Trek chairs (seriously — I literally think they made the chairs on the bridge of the original Enterprise) are so fantastic!!
Kate B says
Chromecraft is a good one too! I love their dining sets!
Trixi says
I just tried to *like* Jon’s comment :-). Yes – loving on the Chromcraft.
Hillary says
If you’re making a list of dinette manufacturers, you can add Kuehne Khrome! They made my gorgeous table complete with flower bowl in the pedestal!
Eucritta says
Our chrome dinette is by Virtue Bros. of California, out of Los Angeles. According to their ads, they were ‘the West’s largest manufacturer of chrome furniture.’ Here’s an ad, posted by the Kitsch ‘n Stuff blog:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EeGPcTAh1os/Tm_3zQB1sJI/AAAAAAAAAd4/KlDK9aLsdHQ/s1600/formica%2Btables.jpg
Another favorite of mine is Cosco. Not fancy, of course.