Ray & Charles Eames designed the Fibreglass Shell Chair in 1948 and was the first industrially manufactured chair of its kind. Initially manufactured by Zenith Plastics using the latest tooling technologies and materials developed during WWII, these iconic chairs have maintained their popularity in the decades since they were first produced. These were the first one-piece plastic chairs offered without upholstery or other covering, keeping with the Eameses mandate of showcasing honest materials. The original chairs were made of fiberglass-infused plastic and these vintage items can be from time to time be found for sale on lushpad, but licensed modern versions of the chair which can be purchased from Unica Home are now made in recyclable polypropylene which is more environmentally-friendly.

You don’t have to live with the scratches and nicks in your vintage furniture anymore because we’ve compiled a list of surprisingly easy, at-home fixes to make your mid-century, um, modern again.

For light to medium colored wood you can make a paste from the meat of a Walnut or Brazil Nut and rub into the scratch. The oil will darken the scratch to help conceal it and the paste will level off the scratch. Buff with a cloth and that should repair the scratch.

If you have kids, their crayons will come in handy! Find a crayon that matches as closely as possible to the wood you’re repairing. Work the crayon in to fill the scratch, then use a hot dry rag and a blow dryer on high to melt and buff the crayon to a smooth finish. If you can’t find a crayon at home you can pick up a proper furniture patching wax stick at your neighborhood hardware store.

For mahogany or cherry wood, applying Iodine will mask scrapes and scratches. Wipe dry with a cloth after application. Can be applied as many times as needed to match color of wood.

With today’s focus on being environmentally friendly and using renewable resources, we think wicker furniture deserves is place in the sun once again. Wicker has a rich history, and has had a significant influence on modern furniture design.

Danish designers were at the forefront of using Rattan in modern furniture design. Arne Jacobsen used this fantastic material in his 1929 Paris Chair (originals now valued between $2,000 – $4,000) and Nanna and Jorgen Ditzel are famous for their Hanging Basket Chair manufactured by R. Wengler in Copenhagen. These highly collectible hanging chairs, the first of which was manufactured in 1959, can go between $3,000 – $4,000 at auction.

Rattan, the material used in making wicker furniture, is harvested mainly in Indonesia, and is a fast growing, renewable crop. Although an arduous task to harvest it, Rattan makes a viable alternative for local industry instead of logging tropical woods in their rain forests.

The process of creating wicker furniture is labour intensive and time consuming. The canes must be heated and curved over a bending iron to make them malleable enough to weave. Once the frame has been set, the canes are woven to create a chair – a process that can take up to 14 hours. The time put into creating each chair is often shown in a higher market value.

Although there is a glut of cheap knock-off wicker furniture on the market – primarily from Poland and Yugoslavia, if you do your research and keep eyes open for quality you can usually find great deals on lushpad for cane, rattan and wicker and also at consignment stores, garage sales and auctions.

So go on, double up on your environmental karma by buying used furniture that is also made from natural, renewable materials.

Content for this entry was provided by Lynne Jensen at Klassik By Lynne. Lynne specializes in Danish Modern furniture in Emeryville, California. Have a look at some of Lynne’s items for sale on Lushpad.

Robin Wade has been designing and crafting unique, one of a kind furniture pieces from his small studio in North Alabama for several years. He sources his hardwood logs from local suppliers, always with environmental sensitivity in mind. He has a sawmill and does much of his own sawyer work. His interest in organic forms derived from nature is apparent from his work. Robin believes that nature and the tree are the artists, he’s only a very willing assistant.

Robin would like to build a relationship with a select few of just the right high end resellers. If you are a gallery, architect, interior designer or retailer with an interest in his design philosophy, and might be interested in carrying a few of his unique one of a kind pieces, contact him via email.

Of course, after all that we’re pleased to be giving away one of Robin’s pieces, a Stitched Asian Low Table of hand-oiled Tennessee Walnut worth $1,000. To enter for your chance to win, click here.

To see more of his work, visit his web site.

We discovered this chair while researching wallpaper companies and thought it the perfect combination of library and chair and very practical for small spaces. La Bibliochaise is varnished in black or white as standard, with other custom colours available. Cushions are upholstered in leather in every colour from black to lime green to bright red. The Bibliochaise contains 5 meters of books.

La Bibliochaise is made in Italy by Nobody & Co., and sold throughout Europe. You can order it through Timorous Beasties in Glasgow.

It’s not just the photography that makes these chairs are great! These are a pair of the clamshell chairs, a 1950s design by Maurizio Tempestini for Salterini. You can find out more details here.

The bullet planter is a nice touch too.

This danish coffee table has beautiful sinewy detailing and an unbelievably affordable price! Even with shipping this coffee table is still a deal. Check it out on our listings.