Author: modculture

How do you improve on a design classic? Well, when it comes to the Alvar Aalto Savoy Vase, you just add a bit of colour to produce the Duo Vase.

The original was designed back in the mid-1930s, named after the Savoy restaurant in Aalto’s hometown of Helsinki and still individually blown by Iittala. The Duo was made for the 70th anniversary of the first Aalto collection, mixing a pure white outside and deep red inside – adding a 70s vibe to a 30s icon.

Standing around 16cm tall, it sells for around £230.

Find out more at the Made In Design website

It’s one of the most iconic space age designs of the 60s and certainly one of the designer’s more famed pieces, yet it’s not easy to find a Joe Colombo Elda armchair.

Amazingly dating back to 1963, but probably more recognisable as the armchair of choice on 70s cult TV show Space 1999, the Elda is actually still in production – although finding a retailer is the hard bit. If you do track one down locally, you can kick back in a futuristic swivel chair made of ABS plastic, with rippled upholstery in a choice of fabric or if you’re feeling flash (like the designer above), leather.

US readers can pick one up online from Nova 68, with prices starting at $7,600 (around £3,900). Maybe that’s why so few stores keep them in stock. See another image over the page.

Find out more at the Nova 68 website

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So, you’ve got your mid-century wooden furnishings, but how about a matching floor? Well, that’s now possibly with the newly-launched Amtico Vintage Teak range of flooring.

Inspired by the look of mid-century designs and the 70s craze of wood panelling, the new flooring range offers the same look, but without any trees suffering – this is synthetic ‘wood’.

Just launched, so no price as yet, you can request more information (or a brochure) via the company’s website.

Find out more at the Amtico website