The joys of mid-century furniture

More decisions to be made over the next few weeks re furniture and furnishings for this updated 60s interior we are trying to create.  Having spent most of my life living in Victorian environments this is exciting!!

Of course mid century is now becoming fashionable and prices are rising in the second hand (pre-loved!!) market.  Manufacturers like Ercol have recreated some of their iconic pieces in their 'Originals' range and, whilst they are certainly gorgeous, they are pretty expensive.  Having got disappointingly little for the antique furniture that went to the saleroom as part of our downsizing exercise we are trying to be careful about how much we spend on this aspect of the project.  So.... at the moment I have placed an offer (as yet not accepted) on Ebay for a vintage Ercol coffee table (Oh if only I had kept that one from my mother's bungalow!!) and John is going to look at a nest of second hand Ercol Pebble tables at Tomlinsons of Wetherby today - Tomlinsons is just off the A1 and is a treasure trove of vintage finds!

Ercol Pebble nest of tables in elm

Next on my list is a long vintage sideboard and there are some great ones on Ebay by manufacturers like McIntosh but I am concerned about delivery and about not seeing them before I buy.  More research to do on this I think as they vary widely in price, condition and location.  There are, however, more and more shops selling vintage so locating one that I could go and look at shouldn't be an impossible task - and maybe Tomlinsons will have something? 

Mid century sideboard

This up-cycling of old furniture fits in well with our Reduce, Re-use, Recycle  mantra and in the house are a number of fitted furniture items that we can re-use.  These include the base of a playtable which will become my desk with a new wood top fitted. Some wooden bookshelves which we will refit into the garden room extension and the bench seating in the breakfast area of the kitchen.  Once this is moved and recovered it should make a great new breakfast area under the window overlooking the garden.

existing 1968 bench seating in the kitchen

So all good!  I am also looking for some 60s inspired furnishing fabrics and there seem to be quite a few good options available here too - like this lovely one by Clarke and Clarke...more decisions to make! 

Henrika in Indigo from the Gustavo collection by Clarke and Clarke

Latest news - John brought home the pebble tables and we bought the sideboard pictured above from House of Twenty on Ebay...result!