Dear AT, I am looking for simple midcentury modern furniture, particularly credenzas, storage, and tables. However, I would much rather buy used products, rather than new. Are there any places you reccommend to purchase these? Particular flea markets, stores, etc.? I'm not very familiar with places to go in the Los Angeles area and any suggestions would be extremely helpful! Thanks, Keri.
[Creative Commons: lillieinthecity]
One of the best places to start in LA would be the variety of flea markets that happen across the city, including the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market, the Melrose Trading Post market, the Long Beach Antique Market, South Park Flea Market, Santa Monica Outdoor Antique & Collectible Market, and the Pasadena City College Flea Market.
Also check out stores like Pico Modern Furnishing (5449 Pico Blvd, 818.480.8800), Futurama on 446 N. La Brea (323.937.4522), Denmark 50 for Danish variety of MCM (7974 Melrose Ave), and North Hollywood Antiques on 5661 Lankershim Blvd, which specializes in antiques, MidCentury Modern, architectural salvage and vintage collectibles. There are a few other salvage spots like the Silverlake Architectural Salvage, alongside a few shops on Sunset inbetween Sunset Junction and Echo Park that cater to the MidCentury collector. We've discovered yardsales and Craigslist listings are often a well of local MCM offerings for fair prices too.
Anyone else have some recommendations for Keri where to hunt down some MidCentury pieces to add to her home?
4th Street ("Retro Row") in Long Beach has a few shops with really well cared-for originals. While some have prices that match the meticulous care, The Vintage Collective has really good prices and a nice selection.
view cristal's profile
The St. Vincent De Paul store in Lincoln Heights sometimes has things like midcentury modern credenzas and dining sets, but you have to check pretty regularly. I've seen things from there end up at the stores on Silver Lake with a huge markup.
Have you tried Wertz Bros. in West L.A.? They sell many different styles of furniture so you'll have to look around a bit, but it's a great store and the sales people are very helpful. They often have quite a few MCM end and coffee tables.
Another place to check would be the Huntington Collection thrift store and annex in Pasadena. I got a great couch there in pristine condition for $75 on their monthly sale day.
view palindrome's profile
palindrome--thanks for the tip about the huntington collection, I haven't checked that out yet. And man, it's been years since I went to St. Vincents, but I always found something great.
view laure's profile
if you like mid century danish furniture, you should check out the floor model/silica three warehouse in north hollywood. the owner, david, is great, and won't rip you off. the quality is great, so its not super cheap, but you get what you pay for - and the furniture is amazing:
http://www.silicathree.com/
view jaytee's profile
what kind of chairs are those pictured above? I just bought some like that.
view atomicranch79's profile
*The ones with the arms are the ones. Thanks
view atomicranch79's profile
I am looking for something similar in Dallas Tx.. anyone have suggestions on where to go?
view pixstyx's profile
Also, try ocmodern.net and thisisnotikea.com. I bought a table from ocmodern. They were very nice and have great Danish MCM furniture.
view badjane's profile
atomicranch79 ---
those ones you refer to in the photo above are Saarinen Knoll tulip chairs. However, there are many copy-cats that look that these, though not original. There are the more modern copy-cat ones by BURKE ...
It's easy to tell the original from the copycat, the original is more rounded in the areas where the copycat are more squared.
view callbob's profile
my favorite stores are hernandez furniture (santa monica and el centro, sort of in hollywood) and sunset bazaar on sunset and coronado (in silverlake/echo park). hernandez had a huuuge selection and its so cheap!! sunset is a lot smaller but they still have very reasonable prices. both have almost all mcm stuff.
and then you should check out the melrose flea market, and the rose bowl, and thisisnotikea.com, and of course, craigslist. you just have to look everyday, 15 times a day to get exactly what you want at a good price. good luck!
view rlmesq's profile
Adair or ABE Office Furniture have a few jewels hidden among the desks and files. I work here and have found some great mid-century modern items that, if I had the space, I would put into my decor! They have locations all over Southern California.
Check out the sites:
www.adairof.com or
www.outsidethecubicleonline.com
Good luck and have fun!
(and pixstyx we have a location in Dallas, TX, too!!!)
view ChristyG77's profile
http://amsterdammodern.com/
view Comicgeek's profile
Pixstyx: Try Century Modern in Dallas. They're having a 15% off everything sale right now.
view palindrome's profile
Also, Pepe's Thrift Store on Centinela @ Culver in Culver City has some great MCM furniture finds.
view beatgrrrl's profile
Check out www.thisisnotikea.com in LA. They are AMAZING!
For something new but mid-century inspired, check out www.thesofacompany.com. Read my blog and find The Sofa Company's best mid-century picks!
http://www.thesofaco.com/Pages/TSCBlogs.aspx?ID=#3484
Cheers!
-Emily
view emilytd's profile
God... you're all making me miss LA, which is pretty difficult to do.
I love the Rose Bowl Flea Market, myself. Always a bargain!
view modtramp's profile
I have to echo JayTee's comment above. David at Silica Three is great....They have amazing stuff...More actual Danish and some Swedish, as opposed to American or English MCM, but really quality pieces. Probably, literally, hundreds of credenzas to choose from.
He and Ty are super nice and really knowledgeable, so check them out: http://www.silicathree.com/
Good Luck!
view industrious lily's profile
Nooooooo! Someone mentioned my secret weapon, Pepe's! I can only hope I make it back over there before all you ATers clean the place out. ;) You really have to dig there, but it's so rewarding. Plus, there's no markup simply b/c something is "trendy" MCM.
And I third the Silica Three recommendation! Everyone who works there is great; I was a tough customer but they were patient and insightful.
view firecracker's profile