When Jonathan Sanchez-Obias, owner of Primaried Studio, reflects on the evolving landscape of vintage furniture, he echoes many of Amy’s valid points. “Modular furniture definitely seems to be a trend that we will continue to see more of in 2024,” he says. “It’s great to see how these pieces, which were initially designed for commercial use, are being adapted into people’s homes.” Pop Up Home’s Tricia Benitez Beanum suggests these styles are becoming more popular because “people like options.” As she continues, “If they have a dinner party, they can change the seat. When this type of furniture was made in the 70s, house parties were huge. During the pandemic, people got away from boxy sofas and really wanted to be super comfortable but high, and now post-pandemic people continue to choose to stay at home more and want their homes to give a certain feeling – these types of sofas do that.
Perpetually chic love seats
Turning our attention to timeless designs, the Bastiano sofa for Knoll by Tobia and Afra Scarpa, introduced in 1962, stands out as a beloved piece for Amy. “I love to dive in when I’m in the office. It’s one of those ‘if you know, you know’ vintage sofa designs, and I think its super-comfy profile only gets better with age,” she says. Amy also highlights Knoll’s reissue of Florence Knoll’s Series 33 sofa, originally released in 1954, as this year’s star in the vintage sofa design universe. “It looks as cool today as it did when it first came out,” he adds. “The tubular steel frame and immaculate upholstery show Florence Knoll’s architectural genius at play on a human scale.” Given her personal obsession with the Knoll catalog, Amy expects the reintroduction of Kazuhide Takahama’s Suzanne sofa, Gae Aulenti’s Aulenti collection and Cini Boeri’s Brigadier sofa to be next on the 2024 playlist.
Iconic anti-trend pieces
According to a 2022 report by Chairish, 31% of millennial and Gen Z consumers attribute the pandemic to their increased interest in buying used, vintage or antique furniture online. Jessica Yang, the zillennial founder behind Tresi, offers a new perspective on what younger consumers are leaning toward when designing their homes. “I don’t believe in following vintage furniture trends because it’s so cyclical and everything comes back into style,” she says. “In seating, it’s evident with the continued popularity of Togo sets, Serpentine sofas and mid-century modernism as a whole.” Jessica believes that 2024 will be an “age of exploration” when it comes to experimenting with design concepts from around the world – think sculptural pieces that are unique in form, texture or colour. “My favorite iconic pieces are the Wittmann ‘Chairman’ sofa by Bruno Egger and the Archizoom ‘Safari’ sofa. I’m also currently obsessed with wicker sofas, pumpkin leather and conversation pits,” she adds.
Charming renovated
For Jessica, the key to finding designs that stand the test of time comes from examining the quality and comfort of a piece. “A living space is meant to be lived in, and no one is going to use an uncomfortable or poorly made sofa, no matter how nice it may be,” he insists. “I often think that vintage sofas are of higher quality than modern remakes that are comparable in price. Shannon Maldonado, founder and creative director of YOWIE, agrees with this take, noting that the latest sofa trends are entering what she describes as a “soft era.” Shannon emphasizes the appeal of vintage sofas, noting that “vintage sofas often offer a soft, lived-in feel that adds so much character to your space and comfort to your day-to-day.” She adds, “Who Want to watch a movie on a hard sofa when you can melt into something softer? We recently purchased two unassuming vintage Kaiyo Levitz sofas for a project and added a bold striped fabric to one and a cedar velvet to the other, elevating them to unique status.”
