Next stop on my summer midcentury ‘shopping’ spree, Design Within Reach. We all know that this is a good source for new reproductions of classic furniture designs like Eames Lounge chairs, Saarinen Tulip tables, Womb chairs and more, but I thought I’d take a closer look at some of the lesser known new and classic products available. To my surprise, I found several affordable designer pieces to add panache to any pad.
Until recently, this hard-to-find vintage chair style created by Arne Jacobsen in 1958 for his masterpiece — the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen — was out of production. Now, 50 years later DWR has brought the chair back in both a plastic and upholstered seat. While the new models are pricey, the odds of you finding a vintage original from the very limited production run are slim — so being able to buy a new version of this chair is exciting to those who love the style and shape.
Available in four fun color combinations, this wall clock, designed to mimic a fan deck of paint swatches, will add a punch to any room. At $50, it’s among the less expensive items you will find at DWR.
These simple, colorful and delightful wooden dolls — designed by Alexander Girard — can add a little humor and delight into your everyday decor. Friends and family don’t know what you to get you for gifts? Put these on the list, and you’ll have a whole ‘nother set of friends and family soon enough.
4. Animal Clocks • Fernando the Fish • Omar the Owl • Elihu the Elephant
The perfect whimsical touch for a child’s room, playroom or heck — anywhere in the house — these three animal clocks are sure to delight. These are part of the Zoo Timer collection of children’s clocks designed by George Nelson Associates for Howard Miller.
Perfect for a midcentury patio, the cast iron fire bowl has a sleek, streamlined shape and would become the hot spot for warm fires on chilly nights.
The Nelson Bubble Lamp is an icon of midcentury design that, in fact, can blend well with nearly any decor style. Its sleek, simple shapes and subtle texture make it an ideal choice to hang by itself or in a group. This design is available in several sizes and shapes including pendant, sconce and table lamp.
Pam has already professed her love of the Eames Hang-It-All, a design classic created by Charles and Ray Eames — and why not? Available in five different color combinations, this handy hanger is easy on the eyes and adds a fun piece of functional sculpture to any wall.
Pam insisted we add this George Nelson Sunflower Clock to the list because she’s seen it — and other DWR clocks — in person at her local DWR store in Cambridge, Mass., and she says they are just fabulous. Pam’s opinion: If you are going to spend some serious cash on a few items in your house, one of these licensed clocks could be on the list.
Design Within Reach has several reproductions of clocks designed by George Nelson Associates for the Howard Miller Clock Company — and one of the most eye catching is the Eye Clock. This particular design classic is difficult to find vintage, so it is nice to be able to get a reproduction through DWR.
This set of three colorful, uniquely shaped bowls is sure to be a conversation starter. Designed by Ettore Sottsass — one of the founders of Memphis design style — in 1958, these bowls were inspired by streetlights the designer saw during his first visit to New York.
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