Modern Retro edging its way into the classics
Follow Azel Ang as she investigates the Modern Retro trend in that is growing increasingly popular with teenagers, in the Interior Design sector.
You’ve probably heard of the phrase, “Something Old, Something New”. Well, the same goes for design trends. Ideas and designs from decades ago are resurfacing and making a comeback in the furniture industry.
Imagine an old ship transformed into a cupboard, or an old water pipe transformed to become the legs of a table. Singapore based Furniture Store, Journey East, does just that.
Established in 1995 by a group of friends who shared a common love for furniture, craftsmanship and history, they began with a vintage collection. They first collected old pieces which dates all the way back to the 1920s to the 1960s. Journey East’s teak wood is purchased from Indonesia from the Central Java area where there is a tradition of selling your house after 3 generations. A company then buys over these houses and sells the teak. Thus, the teak obtained is naturally seasoned over time. The sourced materials are then designed by Journey East’s team of experienced carpenters and craftsman who have been in the job for 30 years who breathe new life into the materials with a mix of East and West. The furniture is influenced by the European style, commissioned for mainly upper class or expatriate families. Journey East has since expanded their palette and now carries over 15 international brands in their showroom.
Journey East has already introduced more collections to cater to other tastes. Affirmed by Interior Designer, Ms June Goh who shared, “The design of a space is very subjective. You always have to take into consideration the practicality and users’ lifestyle and even personality.” ‘PLAYplay’ is Journey East’s latest collection, designed in collaboration with Lanzavecchia + Wai. PLAYplay was designed for fun loving, spontaneous people who are unafraid to expression with bold colours but still remaining practical and authentic with quality. The collection was even featured in Milan Design Week in 2016. The spontaneity of the designs, namely the Ping Pong Dining Table is especially appealing to younger consumers. The Ping Pong Dining Table is a convertible dining table with a dual function. It is a dining table as well as table tennis table, thoughtfully complete with drawers to keep the ping pong ball and the paddles.
With the explosion of bold colours in the fashion industry, the interior design industry has been keeping up and is rapidly evolving. According to Janet Price, the owner of J Price Designs LLC, trends that hit the runway are often mirrored months after in home décor magazines. The amalgamation of vintage and contemporary birthed the ‘Accordion’. The ‘Accordion’ was designed to have a lenticular visual effect. The impeccable combination of classic with spontaneity worked wonders in this design. If you looked at the ‘Accordion’ from one end, you had the classic look of wood with the beautiful graining but on the other, you would see a spontaneous splash of colour.
With respect to materials, Ms June commented, “Many are quite receptive to new materials and ideas.” Materials like teak are becoming more and more popular, but this is often an expensive option. Journey East uses reclaimed teak which is seasoned by nature and is at the same time, an eco-friendly option. These days, people are increasingly aware of the ongoing environmental issues and make a conscious effort to purchase environmentally friendly products. Journey East also uses old denim to make beanbags and old water bottles to make lighting lamps. An atypical yet familiar concept.
With young people all about self-expression and wanting to be different from the community, Journey East’s furniture is always different in its own way. Every product is different. The wood grains of table A might differ from table B even though the design is exactly the same. Customers have expressed their delight in shopping at Journey East. Mr Alex, a customer at Journey East mentioned, “Journey East offers such a wide range of products of different styles which are all unique and original in their own ways.”
Cafes such as Carpenter and Cook offer modern décor with a vintage spin with a clean design. This concept is catching the attention of young people seeking aesthetic places to dine in, whether it’s just for the gram or if it fits their aesthetics.
Modern Retro is a style that will stick around, unlike certain fast-changing trends. The classic look has even attracted the attention of young people and is continuing to do so in many different industries.