in my design work i often get the opportunity to mix styles and themes, but this eclecticism often excludes certain furnishings of the fifties… the reason? i find that my more traditional-luxury-minded clients are uncomfortable committing to furniture that may to some look poor.
it is however a certain juxtaposition that drives me to introduce the element of surprise or functionalism to an interior and what better than an accent of arte-povera. although perforated steel had a revival in the 80’s the use of it with iron rods is still unique to the fifties and the master of this has to be mathieu matégot (1910-2001). his works though celebrated, has a certain mid-century post atomic severity that sits well against a backdrop of modern plushness and finishing. i honestly believe that it would only be a matter of time before the penny drops and an adventurous few will start collecting it again.
the aesthetic of using mass-manufacturing materials might appear too mainstream to some but in a vintage-industrialist way it creates unexpected interest and provides a collected awareness to many more established interior styles such as rough-luxe, mediterranean, retro-modernist and even contemporary-glamour-pads also. i’m particularly fond of using the end tables and lighting to punctuate interiors with.
