Our Top 10 Timeless Furniture Pieces for 2024
When the new year comes by and we are putting away all our holiday decoration, we certainly go through a home decoration lull. We are in a holiday decorating withdraw and we wonder either we can take a break, or we search for what are the trends of home decorating for the new year. We scour the web and social media to see what all the experts are thinking. Will this decor piece be a fad or will it be a timeless piece.
Our goal is to look for pieces that are timeless and can stand the test for time. You will likely see these pieces in both high end homes when they are being staged. These pieces are based on design foundations and have a history of keeping its original form for decades. Whether it’s decor or furniture, we’ve selected pieces that are both aesthically pleasing and functional. Time and time again, we’ve seen big brands and designer try to recreate this items, but still trying to keep its original form.
Here are the pieces we absolutely love in no particular order, and you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for it. These are not the original pieces, but similar replicas you can buy for an affordable price.
Eames Molded Chair
Original Designer: Charles and Ray Eames
Time magazine hailed this chair created by Charles and Ray Eames as the "Top Design of the 20th Century." This iconic piece continues to be produced with the revolutionary plywood molding methods that the pair developed in the early 1940s.
Why we love it: We used a variation of this chair in our dining room which we got from West Elm. You will notice a lot of variation of this with its iconic molded seat and back. You can find a close-to original version on the Eames office website.
Saarinen Table
Original Designer: Eero Saarinen
The Tulip Table, a midcentury modern icon, features a distinctive narrow column base and slim round top. Celebrated for its timeless style, it remains popular in diverse interior designs, from eclectic to contemporary, proving its enduring appeal as a classic piece in modern homes.
Why we love it: This table took Saarinen five years to design, which means the shape and proportions were this table was carefully fine-tuned. The simplicity of this table makes it easy to compliment with any chair no matter the style.
CH24 Chair aka “Wishbone Chair”
Original Designer: Carl Hansen & Son
Designed by Hans Wegner in 1949, the Wishbone Chair (CH24 or Y Chair) boasts a unique Y-shaped back, bentwood armrest, and woven paper cord seat. Inspired by Ming-era seating, this piece is a testament to timeless craftsmanship and style.
Why we love it: It’s a perfect balance of elegance and practicality, and the chair is more comfortable than it looks. The woven paper cord provides enough “stretch” for comfort and it provides texture.
Barcelona Chair
Original Designer: Ludgwig Mies van der Rohe
The structure features interconnected steel bars forming a continuous curve from the back into the front legs and a double curve for the rear legs supporting the seat. Leather straps cradle foam-rubber cushions, buttoned for a classic finish, creating a seamless, supportive design.
Why we love it: Another timeless chair designed by an architect. We love the deep seat and generous recline angle of the chair. If you decide to buy a pair of these, it’s great for having one-on-one conversations.
Chesterfield Sofa
Origin: England, 19th Century
The Chesterfield sofa, a hallmark of sophistication, is a timeless addition to any modern home, merging seamlessly with various decors. Originating from Britain and traditionally crafted in brown leather, this comfortable yet stylish sofa has evolved in color, fabric, and size, embodying a rich history and diverse options.
Why we love it: If you’re going to get a sofa that is leather, we highly recommend this design. Most leather sofas can look rather dated, but this leather sofa stood the test of time.
Nogochi Coffee Table
Original Designer: Isamu Noguchi
First crafted in the mid-20th century, the Noguchi table, a modernist icon, was introduced by Herman Miller and designed by Isamu Noguchi. It features a unique wooden base with two matching curves and is topped with a substantial plate glass, blending artistry and function.
Why we love it: This table works well in both large and big living rooms. When you’re shopping for a coffee table to needs to feel light and have some reflectivity, but looks sturdy, this design accomplishes that.
Windsor Chair
Original Designer: Clarence P. Hornung
The Windsor chair, known for its solid wooden seat, features round-tenoned back and legs, with slender, turned spindles. These spindles, socketed into a sculpted, saddle-shaped seat for comfort, form the chair's back and sides, showcasing classic craftsmanship and design.
Why we love it: There are so many good variations from this chair design. The spindle give this chair its signature look. We used a variation of this chair for our banquette design. If you look closely at the seat, there are shallow contours for comfortable. It’s easy to clean and kid friendly.
Florence Sofa
Original Designer: Florence Knoll
The Florence Sofa melds vintage charm with modern style, featuring scalloped arms, turned feet, and brass castors alongside plush feather-wrapped cushions and a supportive high back for head and neck comfort.
Why we love it: This sofa is versatile and can work in almost any room if you have space for it. We used this sofa for an office waiting room, but it can easily be used for living and recreation rooms.
Alvar Aalto Stool
Original Designer: Alvar Aalto
The Aalto stool, designed by renowned architect Alvar Aalto, is a 3-legged marvel allowing for compact stacking and storage. Aalto, a prominent figure in the international modernist movement, showcased his talent through this efficiently designed piece.
Why we love it: You may recognize this chair design from IKEA and there’s a reason why this design has been replicated so many times. Not only does this simple design look elegant, the stackable nature of this stool is incredibly practical.
Eames Lounge Chair
Original Designer: Charles and Ray Eames
Introduced in 1956 by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, crafted from molded plywood and leather, marked the duo's first venture into luxury furnishings after extensive development.
Why we love it: This chair and ottoman is just nice to look at and can be used as a sculpture piece for your living room. We especially love the curved plywood paired with leather.
