1950s

There were many building restrictions as a result of World War II, and as a result house areas were limited to approximately 110m2 and used simpler building designs as well as building materials were limited too. These new homes usually contained only two bedrooms, a sitting room, dining room and a kitchen. As houses were much smaller than pre-war houses, furniture therefore had to stack up or be light enough to move around. As a result trolleys, sofa beds and ironing boards all became 1950s inventions.

Contemporary 1950s saw this style defined by angular appearances and very low pitched skillion roofs. these were typically made from metal or asbestos and often very inexpensive to build. The style usually had fitted kitchen and used many primary or colourful colours. New materials were available such as PVC, formica, fibreglass, rubber, melamine, aluminium, vinyl and plastics and were used to create abstract and geometrical patterns.

The 1950s was the age of the consumer as a result of the post-warm boom which brought massive changes into the house; out with the old and in with the new. The kitchen was one particular space that was seen fitted with brand new appliances which was the housewife's domain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/period_1950s.shtml

An advertisement for a 1950s house 

Note: promotion of Asbestos as a 

building material 

Chest of Drawers. 1950s

Robin Day for Hille Vintage

Walnut and Satin wood 

Depth: 46cm, Width: 92cm, Height: 76cm

This beautifully designed chest of draws was designed by Robyn Day and manufactured for Hille. It was retailed in Heal's during the 1950s and still in original condition.

http://www.retrospectiveinteriors.com/content/walnut-satin-wood-chest-drawers-robin-day-hille-vintage-1950s

Wire Mesh Chair, 1951-53

Charles and Ray Eames

Bent steel, welded steel

Herman Miller, US (Production)

By the early 1950s Charles and Ray began experimenting on the design of wire mesh chairs made from bent and welded steel. By doubling the gauge of the steel for the rim of the chair, the Eames developed a light, airy pieces of furniture, which was also extremly robust. They then applied the 'mix and match' principle by mounting the detachable seats on different bases, such as stackable legs and elegant "Eiffel Tower" pylons.

http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/online/a-century-of-chairs/1950s

Series 7, Model No. 3017, 1955

Arne Jacobsen

Fritz Hansen, Denmark (Production)

Teak-faced plywood, tubular steel

Arne Jacobsen was a Danish architect renowned for combining rationalist principles of modernism with a Nordic love of organic forms and materials (eg. SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen). He was inspired by the plywood experiments of Charles and Ray Eames.

http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/online/a-century-of-chairs/1950s

Retro Original Desk Lamp 1950s

Herbert Terry Anglepoise 

Hertbert Terry and Sons.

Designed by automotive engineer George Carwardine.

Selling online here for 95 pounds.

Calyx textile design, 1951

Lucienne Day

Designed for Heals

'Calyx' was designed for London design shop Hea's which was the iconic fabric that was truly to establish Lucienne's name within the industry. It was created in 1951 and launched at the Festival of Britain; a design-historical event. The fabric, whose cupped forms represented flowers in abstracted form and whose bold colour resonated so strongly with the primary-coloured theme of the South bank really captured the public imagination.

The design "electrified the whole of the British textile industry, as well as sending shock waves abroad" (Lesley Jackson).