Don't be shy. Put your price...
Don't be shy. Put your price range up and we could all tell you things within it. Whether it is a $20 print or a $200 clock. Let us know.
Also retromodern.com is a great modern design online store that has a great search engine on the first page based on price categories. Find something, post it, and we'll give you our opinions. Good luck!
http://www.retromodern.com/
I liken 'retro' to the term '...
I liken 'retro' to the term 'mission' in reference to the Arts & Crafts movement, where millions of bland generic items of the period were manufactured (hideously simple library tables, bolted chairs, etc). Strangely enough, whenever I hear the term retro any more, an image of a nondescript purple shag upholstered chaise beside a speckled formica-top table with hair pin legs always appears in a bubble right next to my head. That said, for a housewarming gift, you may want to consider a clock, any of the number of Nelson reissues from Vitra, which can be bought in the 2 - $300 range.
Before anyone writes to say...
Before anyone writes to say how wrong and incomprehensive I am with regard to the image of retro, I just want to say that I was wanting in the last post to be brief as possible and still make my point. I realize that there is a boomerang shaped ashtray and a pack of Pall Malls on top of the table. But you knew that already.
I have to agree
I don't like the term, but I was simply trying to be helpful and answer a question. I have no reason to believe this kind person desires to know my opinion of the term "retro" what it means or the difference between it and "modern." But of course - if he/she desires to know more please ask! The people here are always willing to educate on the subject of modernism. And - if you don't want to know, please feel free to ask anything you need in order to get your question answered ... after all, it is a very nice gesture you are attempting to make.
So please - unless he/she asks I think we should do the nice thing and help he/she find a solution!
another good site for modern odd and ends:
http://www.unicahome.com
I stand corrected before you can correct me
The title was "What is retro furniture?"
To me, retro is a watered down version of modernism. Because modernism was more popular in the midcentury, there were thousands of items made borrowing basic looks from modern pieces that were either poorly made or poorly designed. But they were made nonetheless in order to jump on the bandwagon of "style," which is contrary to modernism in the first place. Modernism, to me, has less to do with style and more to do with designing to solve a problem using the best of modern day technologies.
This is just coming from a layman, so there could be better explanations out there. Anyone?
Either way, do you have a price range?
What I think I meant was...
What I think I meant was that 'retro' is to the Modern movement what 'mission' became to the Arts & Crafts movement, an all encompassing term or catchall used loosely to describe the products/style of the period - good, bad, ugly, and uglier even yet. The latter of these products, because they are usually the most plentiful and most circulated within a culture, almost always end up sadly as the most designated emblems of the day. If you walk in to a shop and say you are looking for something 'retro', you will likely be led to either a 1950's GE toaster or something with a stylized impala impressed on it. So, it's a good start I think, in most cases, when the term is used, to try to narrow things down a bit. Or up.
I've always likened retro
I've always likened retro to the fad of bringing back the 60's & 70's look. I think of brighter colors, mod furniture, a lava lamp - but all with a kind of tongue-in-cheek feel to it. Like Modernism, but less uptight.
That being said - any Eames shell chair would work. For more serious look go with a pair of side shells, in a solid color. For something more fun and (as described above) "retro" find an arm chair upholstered in a goofy naugahyde. Either option should run you around $200-$300. Less if you scour ebay and Craigslist for deals.
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