Contemporary furniture - be it high-end or mass produced - has become big business. How did it become so appealing to us?
Contemporary furniture - be it high-end or mass produced - has become big business. How did it become so appealing to us?
Forget holding a mere fashion week. Alongside the capital's catwalk extravaganza, the fortnight-long London Design Festival shows that clothes are just one component of what makes a fashionable lifestyle.
Forget holding a mere fashion week. Alongside the capital's catwalk extravaganza, the fortnight-long London Design Festival shows that clothes are just one component of what makes a fashionable lifestyle.
And with well-designed contemporary furniture now affordable, what we sit on, sleep in and eat off has become a statement about who we are - or want to be.
And with well-designed contemporary furniture now affordable, what we sit on, sleep in and eat off has become a statement about who we are - or want to be.
Just as High Street fashion chains take inspiration from couture shows and style icons, the same goes for their counterparts in the interiors trade. A designer sofa or lamp may carry an eye-watering price tag, but those unable - or unwilling - to fork over thousands can find funky mass-produced alternatives at a fraction of the price.
Just as High Street fashion chains take inspiration from couture shows and style icons, the same goes for their counterparts in the interiors trade. A designer sofa or lamp may carry an eye-watering price tag, but those unable - or unwilling - to fork over thousands can find funky mass-produced alternatives at a fraction of the price.
Changing tastes
Changing tastes
To coincide with London Design Festival, the Victoria and Albert Museum is publishing a book tracing the rise and rise of contemporary furniture design. Author of The Furniture Machine, Gareth Williams, says interest has been building over the past 15 years.
To coincide with London Design Festival, the Victoria and Albert Museum is publishing a book tracing the rise and rise of contemporary furniture design. Author of The Furniture Machine, Gareth Williams, says interest has been building over the past 15 years.
Who let that woman in the house?"Beautifying and improving your home has been popular amongst the public for a long time - the Ideal Home Show is nearly 100 years old. But contemporary design is a new interest. General taste in the 1980s wasn't for modernity, it was for Victoriana or a country house look.
Who let that woman in the house?"Beautifying and improving your home has been popular amongst the public for a long time - the Ideal Home Show is nearly 100 years old. But contemporary design is a new interest. General taste in the 1980s wasn't for modernity, it was for Victoriana or a country house look.
"You rarely see that on the pages of magazines now. In the early 90s, a way of looking at homes and interiors swept in from the lofts of Manhattan and the showrooms of Italy. Everyone wanted laminate floors and statement furniture."
"You rarely see that on the pages of magazines now. In the early 90s, a way of looking at homes and interiors swept in from the lofts of Manhattan and the showrooms of Italy. Everyone wanted laminate floors and statement furniture."
And as demand grew, contemporary design became affordable - the classic principle of supply and demand.
And as demand grew, contemporary design became affordable - the classic principle of supply and demand.
Ikea's arrival on these shores in 1987 certainly spurred many to "chuck out the chintz", as one of its early ad campaigns exhorted. So too did aspirational magazines such as Elle Decoration and Wallpaper*, and a myriad of TV makeover shows.
Ikea's arrival on these shores in 1987 certainly spurred many to "chuck out the chintz", as one of its early ad campaigns exhorted. So too did aspirational magazines such as Elle Decoration and Wallpaper*, and a myriad of TV makeover shows.
Contemporary design has entered the market at an entry level where it's cheap - but we end up with similar looking homes Gareth Williams Whereas early versions such as the BBC's Changing Rooms encouraged people to be imaginative in their homes, today the makeover show uses contemporary design to make a property more valuable.
Contemporary design has entered the market at an entry level where it's cheap - but we end up with similar looking homes Gareth Williams Whereas early versions such as the BBC's Changing Rooms encouraged people to be imaginative in their homes, today the makeover show uses contemporary design to make a property more valuable.
"Ann Maurice [channel Five's House Doctor] is not making your home over to make it look better, she's making it over to sell it," says Mr Williams.
"Ann Maurice [channel Five's House Doctor] is not making your home over to make it look better, she's making it over to sell it," says Mr Williams.
"Home improvement has come about because people simply cannot afford to move on. We no longer see our homes as just homes, but as investments. We have to keep them looking their best - and often that means looking modern."
"Home improvement has come about because people simply cannot afford to move on. We no longer see our homes as just homes, but as investments. We have to keep them looking their best - and often that means looking modern."
It is a tactic used by developers big and small. New housing developments typically feature a show home kitted out with a fancy kitchen and furniture from a named designer or design company.
It is a tactic used by developers big and small. New housing developments typically feature a show home kitted out with a fancy kitchen and furniture from a named designer or design company.
Same difference
Same difference
But has contemporary design become too mass market? Ikea, that champion of cheap chic, has just launched a range of timeless pieces it dubs "expensive stuff" (relatively at least).
But has contemporary design become too mass market? Ikea, that champion of cheap chic, has just launched a range of timeless pieces it dubs "expensive stuff" (relatively at least).
Not everyone will have these"Contemporary design has entered the market at an entry level where it's cheap. But it does tend that we end up with similar looking homes. What happens next is that people gain more confidence in their taste, or demand more variety, and so they are prepared to pay more," says Mr Williams.
Not everyone will have these"Contemporary design has entered the market at an entry level where it's cheap. But it does tend that we end up with similar looking homes. What happens next is that people gain more confidence in their taste, or demand more variety, and so they are prepared to pay more," says Mr Williams.
"People with money to spend might once have gone out and bought antiques; these days they go out and buy new. People buying contemporary art do not want to put that with antiques, they want complementary pieces of design."
"People with money to spend might once have gone out and bought antiques; these days they go out and buy new. People buying contemporary art do not want to put that with antiques, they want complementary pieces of design."
For star designers are becoming household names, and a piece of furniture by, say, Philippe Starck or Tom Dixon becomes shorthand for a lifestyle choice - much the same as buying a Stella McCartney T-shirt. Even if it is Stella at H&M. Or Starck via Ikea.
For star designers are becoming household names, and a piece of furniture by, say, Philippe Starck or Tom Dixon becomes shorthand for a lifestyle choice - much the same as buying a Stella McCartney T-shirt. Even if it is Stella at H&M. Or Starck via Ikea.
The Furniture Machine: Furniture Since 1990 will be published in October. And London Design Festival runs until 30 September.
The Furniture Machine: Furniture Since 1990 will be published in October. And London Design Festival runs until 30 September.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
As contemporary interior design becomes ubiquitous, there is the inevitable reaction among those who want to flaunt their "refined" and "exclusive" sense of taste. In couture, we've already seen the comeback of 1930s-50s styles in tweed, velvet and fur. The same is happening in furniture and interiors and it's just beginning to creep back into the High Street. Cath Kidson is making a profitable niche with traditional floral fabric designs in bold, funky colours. Ikea already has a Victorian iron bed. Argos has moved from early Modernism to 70s retro. Revival styles are always reinterpretations of the originals. So the wheel of commerce turns.Adrian, London, England
Contemporary design looks fabulous, just so long as you don't expect to actually live in it. As soon as the initial shine wears off it can look tacky. Better to reinvent a style which suits your house so, for instance, in a Victorian house do what you imagine Victorians might do now - they were very innovative. Sympathetic decor enhances, contemporary decor out of sync with the architectural style of your house diminishes.Nigel Davies, Stockport
House prices continue to rise and you want furniture to reflect the value of your house, as well being comfortable.Emma, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
If anything has some obscure designer's name on it these days (or their dog's name - who would know?) then it's "desirable" and double the price. People who are too thick to realise how gullible they are, and how marketers play on their desire to be one up on the Joneses. "A fool and his money" is more relevant today than ever before.P Dant, Oxford, UK
There is a real lack of good quality and affordable furniture available in the UK. There seems to be a massive gulf between the cheap and cheerful brigade and the high-end specialist retailers, with very little in between. Surely there's money to be made by someone here? Stuart Russell, Cambridge
