A fine vintage: Where to buy mid-century furniture and homewares
Clean lines, hairpin legs and elegant retro influencees – our love affair with mid-century Scandi shows no sign of abating. Here’s where to get your hands on some design classics.
LONDON
367 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London
It’s not the largest retro furniture shop in London, but it’s definitely one of the coolest. Pops of colour are its USP: think bright orange Bauhaus chairs or a vivid green Murano glass vase. The perfect place to mooch around after checking out Portobello Market, it’s open Thurs-Sun, or by appointment.
Aelfred, Hackney, London
Hands up if you love a bargain? Well this Hackney Wick warehouse is a treasure trove of mid-century design hand-sourced from Denmark and prices start at a very purse-friendly £15 (crockery) and don’t go above £2500 (furniture). Set up by Nina Hertig, co-founder of Sigmar gallery in Chelsea, it’s totally worth a trawl online and in person.
Designs of Modernity, Crystal Palace, London
South London stalwart of mid-century furnishings that’s a go-to for interior enthusiasts and interior designers. Aficionados love to linger over the plentiful stock of sympathetically restored pieces, and they can even help source specific pieces if you’re currently obsessing. Also, delivery’s free to mainland UK. Refreshing.
The Old Cinema, Chiswick, London
A potter round the Old Cinema is never a wasted trip if you find yourself with an hour to spare in west London. The mid-century collection is always being topped up and has the more affordable Ercol items alongside the more striking – and eye wateringly-priced – rarer finds.
Vintique, Peckham, London
With more than ten years in the business, this Aladdin’s Cave is a hotspot for vintage and retro finds and a little more at the affordable end with prices tending towards three figures, rather than four. While you’re in town, also check out Two Columbia Road in East London for statement pieces and Ferro Velho near Old Street for icing-on-the-cake accessories, or 2 & 4 Vintage on Southgate Road in Hackney which has a cult following for its bright and bold furniture and accessories.
ACROSS THE MUDDY COUNTIES
Junk Deluxe, Margate, Kent
This place covers has the 20th Century heyday covered, from the 1930s to the 80s and every inch of rosewood and rattan in between. Check out the stock online or make a weekend of it with a trip to this seaside town which is up to its elbows in retro.
Danish Homestore, Nottingham
Do you drool over all things Danish? Then you’ll love this Nottingham treasure trove. The go-to place for collectors and admirers of vintage Danish furniture, it’s built a solid reputation for quality furniture from the 1940s to modern day. Expect to find the likes of Hans Wegner, Illum Wikkelso, Finn Juhl, Niels Koefoed and more. The website is updated every day so everything you you browse is also available to view in the Nottingham showroom.
May + Co, Oxford
Amy and Martin have an eye for an elegant piece of mid-century furniture so it’s no surprise to hear that their stock regularly sells out. Sign up to the May + Co newsletter to get a first look at the new stock, which goes online on the last Sunday of the month, or go and check it out at their appointment only warehouse in Oxford’s Hurst Street. Desks, books cases, and cabinets are their bread and butter but you’ll probably get seduced by the unusual pottery and accessories too.
The Consortium, Winchester
With three floors and nine rooms of goodies including furniture, gifts and jewellery, we challenge you not to come away with something from this mecca, whether it’s vintage, antique, industrial, retro or repro. When it comes to mid-century, expect shelf units, cabinets, chairs and more.
The Furniture Recycling Shop, Bourne End, Bucks
This place is a real treasure trove and often has really interesting pieces that will work for all budgets. So, it’s worth a trip for upcyclers and upholsterers but also, the team here works hard to source high quality, solid wood vintage furniture in excellent condition. Mid-century-wise recently sold items include a sewing box, nest of three tables and retro Danish stool. Go check it out to find the current gems. Open Thurs-Fri 10-4pm, Sat 10-5pm, Sun 11-4pm.
Foster & Gane, Little Milton, Oxon
The curated finds at F&G could be anything from 19th century oils to an arts and crafts lamp, though mid-century gems are always in stock. Current finds that have got us drooling include a beechwood elbow chair by Alec Larsson and these covetable beech and rattan reclining chairs and footstools by Francis Jourdain. It’s a wide selection though the over-riding theme is high design, craftsmanship and rarity. You can browse the selection at the F&G space at Lassco Three Pigeons during opening hours or by appointment. Mon-Sat 10am – 5pm (Weds til 12pm).
Bull + Tash, Chesham, Bucks
If mid-century is your thing then you need to stop by Chesham high street and pop into Bull + Tash’s fabulous showroom. They’ve had an online presence on IG for a while now, enticing South Bucks residents with gorgeous, one-off pieces sourced from the continent. Can’t make it to Chesham? No worries. It’s all online and is an interiors hipster’s dream.
Orange & Brown, Bristol
You’ve gotta love the name of this place that just sums up the whole vintage/kitsch thang and its iconic design. You can shop small at this place – an Arne Jacobsen toast rack perhaps? Or go big with a whole set of his dining chairs – talk about Bauhaus.
Retrospective Interiors, Borehamwood, Herts
Prepare to have your mind blown by this vast showroom and homage to mid-20th Century British and Scandi furniture. Parker Knoll, Richard Hornby, Angraves, Heal’s and more – all the names are here, big and small, and we can guarantee you’ll come back with more than you bargained for.
Station Mill, Chipping Norton, Oxon
This bright, two-floored space is home to 80 antiques dealers with antique, vintage and repro goodies. There’s always mid-century bits to be found including furniture from Ercol and G-Plan plus those perfect finishing touches like lamps and mirrors. Head to Daniel Patrick Claridge’s collection to start you off. Open 11-5pm Mon-Fri (Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4).
Efrmann Vintage, Sudbury, Suffolk
You can pick up a fabulously retro chair or storage unit here for under £300, which isn’t bad value in mid-century terms. With the best in Danish and Scandi design, this place has supplied collectors, interior designers, film sets and museums for 50 years, so if you see something you like online, you’d better get there quick to check it out. Viewings by appointment only.
Gilt and Grain, Abingdon, Oxon
A fab little place occupying The Old Chapel on Faringdon Road has a revolving weekly stock of antique, vintage and modern furniture – all at really affordable prices. Mid-century coffee tables and vanity units have passed through the stock recently, so it’s well worth popping in occasionally and signing up to the newsletter to nab yourself a bargain. Open Weds to Sunday, 11am to 4pm (Sat 10am to 5pm).
Shopping online? Check out Muddy favourite Vinterior, which specialises in top-notch, pre-owned furniture, including tables, chairs (see pic above and drool!), wardrobes, sofas available in over 25 styles, including mid-century and Art Deco. Also take a look at Midcentury Re:Find for its constantly updated selection of chairs, tables and storage or four quarters home to ogle its uber chic furniture, lighting and artwork. Like the look but don’t want to splurge? habitat, Fishe & Lily and West Elm are a good bet and come come in cheaper than the cult name antiques.