Thursday, August 14, 2014

Classically British ...

I'm not sure what “style” to call a room such as this: classically modern, traditional with a twist, eclectic? I'd probably settle on “classically British.”
Design by Erik Karlsen (London) via Decor & Design Review http://decordesignreview.tumblr.com/
However one describes it, it's a great looking space, containing a variety of pieces mixed in age and style, from a pair of Chippendale side chairs on either side of a contemporary plate glass desk to a Hepplewhite side chair in the right foreground to a Regency or Empire looking bench in left foreground, all against a neutral background. To my eye, what unifies the room and makes it work is the consistent high quality and scale of the pieces. It certainly shows that “brown” furniture has a place in successful contemporary design.
A Centennial Chippendale style mahogany side chair, based on New York designs, American c. 1890

Antique chairs are a great and economical way both to furnish a room and start building a collection. High quality individual chairs are available for a few hundred dollars and pairs of chairs for not much more than that.

One of a pair of Philadelphia Chippendale pierced slat mahogany side chairs, American c. 1780

Prices are better (for the buyer) now than they have been in a long, long time so the opportunity is ripe to acquire quality pieces.

Pictured are a few pieces currently available from my inventory and other dealers on the street have comparable pieces.


A Centennial Chippendale Gothic style mahogany side chair, based on Philadelphia designs, American c. 1900


One of a pair of George IV mahogany drawing room chairs, English c. 1825


R.J.Fendorf
Antiques 
in the Georgian Village
1714 West 45th Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
913.302.3206
jfendorf@yahoo.com