More people are embracing the look of Lucite in their homes and outdoor spaces, and the availability of budget-friendly to high-end pieces is increasing with demand.
Designers and homeowners are finding a place for Lucite — a brand name for items made from acrylic or plexiglass — in modern, traditional, rustic and other interior styles. During its popularity in the 1970s, pieces often featured rectangular, angular designs of acrylic, which was introduced to the market in 1933.
In 2002, designer Phillippe Starck created the Louis Ghost armchair for Kartell, a contemporary piece with a medallion-shaped back. Reimagined Lucite furniture, which includes curved lines and sculptural pieces, bring a clarity and sparkle to rooms, said Rick Anthony Bonner, creative director for Insidesign in Atlanta.
“It’s putting a fresh spin on something that could have been perceived as a dated concept,” said Jo Ann Miller Marshall, executive vice president of AmericasMart Trade Shows in Atlanta.
Dining table and coffee table bases are part of the line of custom acrylics by Travis & Co., based at ADAC. Classic pieces include its Z-shaped chair, and new designs require thicker acrylic and incorporate motifs such as Greek key on the legs.
Bonner recently used the Aubrey Round Chairside Table from Bernhardt for an unexpected twist in a client’s traditional living room.
“When you see a table that’s supported on acrylic or a bench that has an acrylic leg, it’s almost weightless,” he said.
Mixing materials
New furniture combines mediums, such as wood and Lucite, and metal and Lucite.
“It’s being introduced as a modern spoonful within a traditional piece of furniture,” said Miller Marshall. “It’s just the introduction of something unexpected that is delightful.”
Modern History, an exhibitor during the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market at AmericasMart Atlanta, mixes acrylic with brass accents on the top and legs of its sleek SoHo tables. The Lucite collection by Rojo 16 America, also at AmericasMart, includes upholstered benches with Lucite legs.
“So many of the things we’re seeing in Lucite now seem to be occasional tables or accents on coffee tables, and even exposed legs on sofas and love seats seem to be making a comeback in Lucite,” Miller Marshall said.
The acrylic furniture and storage items at CB2, which has a store in Midtown, include an acrylic tray table with a copper-plated base in an X-shape. A wood slab sits on Lucite legs for a coffee table by Phillips Collection, which has a permanent showroom at AmericasMart. Rope handles add a rustic element to an acrylic cube table by Grace & Blake.
Twists on traditional
Lucite is also incorporated into light fixtures, such as sconces by Reprotique made of custom-cut acrylic in designs such as a pagoda and Greek key motif. The acrylic can be clear or colored, such as silvered, gilded and leopard print.
“Lucite is nice because it doesn’t obligate you to a style that you can’t live with. It will transition as your tastes transition,” Miller Marshall said.
Lucite curtain rods and finials are among the products by Design Legacy, which has a permanent showroom at AmericasMart. CB2’s bathroom items include acrylic towel bars and toiler paper holders.
Acrylic also is being used again to encase art and collections. Bonner said acrylic boxes present a striking way to display artifacts on multiple sides. Antique etchings appear to float in acrylic frames for wall art by Mitchell Black, sold through Steve McKenzie's in Atlanta.
For small spaces
See-through Lucite furniture can enhance smaller spaces for young adult homeowners and downsizing baby boomers and senior adults.
CB2’s modern Peekaboo Acrylic C Table has a top and bottom shelf for displaying and holding items, but it’s portable on acrylic casters. The acrylic collection also includes a media console, coffee table and rolling shelves. CB2 also has an acrylic counter stool in two sizes, with chrome legs. HomeGoods’ acrylic products include a cart that can be used in an office setting to hold a computer and store files, or as a rolling bar.
“The people that are remembering it (from the 1970s) are going back to it, and young people are going to it because they want something different than they grew up with,” said Dennis K. Schuhart, vice president of Travis & Co. “People today want a younger, fresh look. They want a lighter, cleaner look.”
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