It's amazing how often one can find some of the coolest furniture in the most unexpected places. For instance, this past weekend we were at a wedding taking place at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Whiting, Indiana...
The back room and the minister's office was resplendent with an odd mix of Shaker-inspired dining room tables, mid-century chairs, a coffee maker we would have gladly smuggled out had the guilt-factor not been through the roof and a variety of interesting lamps and side tables.
See for yourself...
Divine inspiration, indeed!
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Comments (14)
I live in Indiana and the chairs and tables are pretty standard church furniture.
What does the rest of the world use in their churchs?
My parents had a coffee table that matched the side table in the first photo. I recognized it by the dovetail details and the black-painted or -stained feet.
Overstuffed chintz, mostly. Some imitation Louis XIV. And really, really awful carpet.
Awesome pics!!
Um, for the record, my comment was meant to be a reply to "what does the rest of the world use in their churchs"--not a comment on the Congregationalists' decorating job, which is a lovely alternative :-)
I have that side table, and several other pieces from the same line! It's by Lane, the "Acclaim" line from the 60's designed by Andre Bus. It got pretty collectible a few years ago.
I want that coffee pot though.
yeah, to me it looks kinda dentist-office industrial, but i must say it's soothing. maybe it's the turquoise carpet?
I just found an identical side table at a goodwill a month and a half ago. I am in process of refinishing it because it was terribly marked up by stains. It was only $9 and i bought it cause it was a Lane piece and looked solid. I didn't know they were collectible.
Um, yeah. Well...no...thanks though.
i would've never given this furniture a second thought if i weren't on AT daily :) maybe i should scour the churches around here...
I love that design makes us recognize the beauty in everyday things most people wouldn't look twice at, or would even find ugly.
As for finding awesome furniture in odd places, I work for the government and I am always confronted by some cool pieces. The building I work in was built in the sixties. They have remodeled it through the decades. Some odds and ends have resisted and seem to be hanging on. Sometimes I'll enter an office or be walking down a hallway and I'll see something really special. I feel bad that they are underappreciated. :(
I have that Lane endtable. I love the inlaid wood.
Having grown up in the "mid-century" that is now so cool, it all just looks like ordinary furniture to me. (oops, is that heresy?)