While scavenging Craigslist, we noticed that American Modern Furniture is closing because "The furniture business is too tough for us, help us get out today!!!!!!! -- so we're re-posting this. They also say "No reasonable offers will be refused. It has got to go." It sounds like a very good time to go take a look.
Classics are. . . well, classic. You really can't go wrong. But sometimes you want something that's modern and new -- and that will still work with the mid-century furniture you've been collecting over the years.
San Francisco-based American Modern Furniture has both. Established in 2004, the company's goal is to manufacture and distribute both classic American icons of design and new contemporary pieces at prices that are truly affordable. Their products are made of solid wood and seem well-made and durable.
Pieces include the Potato Chip Chair, which is modeled on the Eames Plywood Dining Chair, the George Bench modeled on the Nelson Platform Bench, and the Totem Side Table, which is modeled on the Eames Walnut Stool.
I've seen the ads. Is the quality as good as the authorized copies?
Certainly not. I haven't seen any of the pieces in person, but for starters: the Totem doesn't have a curved bum-craddling surface like the original Eames stools.
Well the quality is not necessarily better or worse (I've seent he potato chip chair and planted my butt on it and it feels and looks identical to a new DCW) The technology and materials they use are pretty much identical to those used by the authorized manufacturers.
There are slight differences due to copyright laws etc... such as a flat surface as opposed to a concave one on the stool.
For those who like the designs of these iconic pieces but can neither afford an original or simply don't care to show off that ever so precious Herman Miller, Knoll, or Vitra label, AMF is a fantastic solution.
Forgot-
There are a few manufacturers who make molded plywood chairs and sell them on craigslist for $99. These chairs suck- the plywood is inferior and the attention to detail is non existant.
They look like a highschool shop project.
What's the point of this. If I want a chair that looks like an Eames ply chair I'll go to HM.
The whole point is not to have to pay the ridiculous prices charged by HM and others. I've purchased a bunch of there stuff and been very pleased with it. It's the real deal, solid hardwood.
Everybody judges these guys on the first run of a bargain chair they made. When I bought my set of black potato-chip chairs, the guys at amf told me exactly why it was so cheap; it was the first crack at a complicated chair and it wasn't all it could be. The chair was still very cool and at a 99.00 well worth it. No, its not as cool as some original kissed by fifty years of dirt and swapmeet but if you can take modern with a smile and not be so academic about it, then these guys can help you out. The chairs are fun but their bed and case goods are what they do best.
American Modern Furniture just made my apartment complete!
Just moved into a little loft place. Didn't know how I was going to get a decent sized bed in there. They have a great George Nelson platform bed that FOLDS in half! The bed is perfect for my quirky space, but would do well in any bedroom.
Yeah, it's a knockoff but who cares? I don't need to spend my cash on brands if it looks great and works great. Which it does.
Kudos!
I tried to buy a "Nelson" bench from them last year and the size and color I wanted were on backorder for 3 months! Took my business elsewhere.
I would be embarrassed to have any of these pieces in my apartment. Look at the seat on the "LCW"! I've seen this stuff in person and it is very clumsy and poorly constructed and screams "I DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' 'BOUT NO MODERN FURNITURE!" I have no problem with recent repros of modern furniture, but this stuff (all made in Asia I believe) misses in so many ways that I am not in the least surprised that this company is going out of business.
The LCW chairs may not look so great but the benches, beds, bookcases, dressers, etc. look GREAT!
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Their quality is fine. Of course it's not an exact duplicate but it looks and feels just fine.
To these people screaming that it's all horrible and repros are trash, do you spend all your money on Prada and Gucci shoes or do you just buy shoes. We've all heard it before and you have your reasons for wasting thousands on Herman Miller reissues and we have ours for spending a lot less for furniture that we're sitting our asses.
Give it a rest!
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*sitting our asses on!
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