Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Telling Time with George Nelson.

Since I was a little kid I have loved George Nelson clocks. I think the fascination with them stems from the fact that a number of our neighbors had them, and the iconic shapes seemed to be everywhere. I remember the pediatrician had one in the waiting room. The Nelson Ball Clock. One neighbor, and I can’t remember which one had a Kite Clock. That particular clock is one that I have always wanted, and lucky for me two weeks ago Fab had the entire line on sale. I scored a George Nelson Kite Clock for 90 bucks and couldn’t be happier.

The clock arrived this afternoon and was waiting for me when I got home. It’s smaller than I remember. I also had forgotten that the face is made from cut and bent steel. The clock is a stunning and timeless piece of design (pun intended). So after un-boxing the new Kite clock is now hung in the kitchen against the bright orange wall section. The off white and black look wonderful against the bright orange, and the clock counters the Nelson Crisscross bubble lamp hanging above the island ten feet away.

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I Have Mid-Century Wood.

I just spent the last two hours cruising through big box and locally owned hardware stores looking for round, tapered, wooden chair legs. You would think that this is something that the stores keep in stock. They are cheap, heavily used for everything from cheap tables, to well… chair leg replacement. I was absolutely blown away by the lack of selection, the lack of stock (most had 2 or 3. I need 8) and more over the hideous styles that were offered up.

All I need are simple, tapered, unfinished legs with a metal screw post and a leg cap on the end. Here in Kansas City that is a hard order to fill. So after a couple of hours and 5 or so hardware stores later, I gave up. I probably should have done this sooner, but after getting home I turned to good old Google. One quick search later and score, I have hit the mother lode.

Enter “Classic Designs, by Matthew Burak“, and his specific line of legs for mid-century modern and Danish furniture from the 1950’s and 60’s. The line ranges in heights from 4 to 12 inches and come in a variety of finish treatments. The legs are available in both flat and angular tops, and can be purchased with mounting hardware if needed. The prices are a bit higher than what you pay if you go to your local True Value hardware store, but the specs match the original leg dimensions I need so the price is worth it. Not only that, I can get them in real Mahogany. That’s right, these legs are hardwood. Not soft pine that  you will stain, but real hardwood that you will finish.