Best known for the Bibendium Chair, Eileen Gray designed a wide range range of products and this screen is based on one of her designs.
It is made up of multiple wood panels, laquered in black polyester and polished to give a high gloss finish. It makes a striking addition to a large room where it can act as a divider.
Available as part of the Bauhaus collection from Design Icons, it is rather costly at just under £1,200, but it is a classic design that will never fall out of fashion.
Looking for a dining chair with heritage that goes back further than a 1950’s diner? May I suggest Barrel Chair by Frank Lloyd Wright.
This design dates back to 1937, when he designed the chair for Herbert Johnson’s house, Wingspread, but he based it on a design he’d created even earlier, back in 1904.
The chair is made from cherry wood with an upholstered leather seat, which is available in a choice of colours. It is available to buy from various places online but Mojo Interiors are selling the Barrel Chairs for £289 each which seems to be cheaper than most other sites.
It’s got the modern functionality, but the Onkyo CBX-300 tabletop audio system also has the retro looks.
Beneath that plastic and faux wood exterior is just about everything you would expect from a tabletop system – CD player (with the ability to play MP3 and WMA CDs), an iPod slot to access all your portable tracks and a tuner and timer if you want to wake up to your favourite radio station – or indeed favourite tune.
Sound quality is boosted by Active Bass Control and its 8cm OMF diaphragm speakers with Aero Acoustic Drive are said to offer a powerful and natural sound. If all that sounds like your thing, you can buy one now for £229.
Find out more at the Onkyo website
This is one of many curious little examples of the high street’s tendency to mis-match their retro influences. Whether it works is your call.
This Corsage purse from Loop Kisslock is that pretty snap-shut style that everyone’s Nana used to own. They’ve made it distinctly different though with a mixture of psychedelic colour scheme and print, and very fifties corsage detailing.
The purse costs £12 from Urban Outfitters UK.
You don’t need me to tell you all how white knee boots are an icon of sixties fashion. They’re often taken off, but rarely done well or faithfully.
Thankfully these Nancy boots by Atom Retro look the part thanks to their somewhat kitsch Biba-esque circle designs. Named after the girl who wore them best, they’re a pretty faithful shape too with their low chunky heel.
I’m going to hold back from making any puns on Ms Sinatra’s best known hit and simply say they’ll cost you $185.
In the market for a quirky bit of seating? The reissued Betoia Bird high-back chair from Knoll could fit the bill.
It’s part of Harry Bertoia’s artistic 1952 seating collection (we featured the armchair some time back) – all of which are sculpted from bent metal rods, then upholstered in fabrics designed to sit well with the period look. And if you really want to kick back, you can even pick up a matching ottoman too.
Obviously design classics don’t come cheap and this one is no exception. Prices start at £1,798 for the chair, with the ottoman starting at £576.
