MID CENTURY SIDEBOARDS

Mid Century sideboards are one of my things these days. Those high-quality sleek, minimal cupboards made of precious woods like walnut, rosewood or teak are not only aesthetic to the eye, but so handy and practical as well. Great for creating a vignette of your current favourite things, practical for storing your mess out of sight.

The term “Mid Century” refers to the style of furniture, art and architecture created roughly between the 1930’s and the 1960’s. Typical examples of designers from that era are Ray and Charles Eames, George Nelson, Eero Saarinen, Mies Van Der Rohe etc. Before the 1950s, furniture was more elaborate and involved complicated lines and adornments. Mid-century designers were modernists. They valued simplicity and streamlined their pieces accordingly.

By the early 1970’s, the Mid Century style went out of vogue. In a reaction to the sleek minimalist style of Mid Century design, now was the time for bling bling decadence, campy colors and hippydom. Wich resulted in those psychedelic designs of, for example, Verner Panton (I love his Panton Chair but I’m not a fan of most of his other work).

During the 1990’s a niche market of Mid Century collector’s was already driving up prices. This was the time when furniture manufacturer Knoll decided to open a retail flagship store in New York’s Soho. Simultaneously, Herman Miller (another famous furniture manufacturer) noticed the consumer frustration with the high prices of original Mid Century pieces and the low quality knock-offs that were all around the marketplace. So the management decided to re-issue designs from the archives, available to the public, with the same high quality but now also updated with the latest technologies.

Current designers are more than a little inspired by the Mid Century era, as I’m sure you have noticed lately. As you can see from my selection below, Mid Century sideboards are not only available as expensive vintage pieces, but they are within reach for us all as re-issues of the originals or as modern Mid Century inspired designs.

via 1stDibs

Vintage sideboard in the Swedish home of Evelina Kravaev Söderberg, head of design at HM – via Elle Decor

Very unusual Mid-Century sideboard, love the peacocks too – via DigsDigs

A beautiful vintage sideboard in I think Palisander, it’s dark color contrasting nicely with the typical Finish white decor – via Weekday Carnival

A tall sideboard in a Kopenhagen apartment designed by Spacial Code – via Coco Lapine

A vintage mid-century sideboard in the Marrakech home of French couple David and Geraldine Schneuwly – via Coco Cozy

via My Scandinavian Home

via Anna Gillar

A vintage Hans Wegner cabinet (1950s) and stool from Wyeth topped with Scandinavian vessels in Will Ferrel’s house – via AD

Another tall sideboard in a Kopenhagen apartment designed by Spacial Code – via Coco Lapine

via Stadshem

A simple sideboard with a Mid Century vibe – via Coco Lapine

A cute little sideboard, great for a small city apartment. The mirror is a re-discovered design of Jaques Adnet, the rug by Woven Ground, the desklamp is a Bestlite BL2 – via Dear Designer