A Comparison of Vintage and Retro Furniture Styles
Shedding Some Light on the Definitions of Vintage Furniture and Retro Furniture
Very often, when you hear people talking about their furniture as either being ‘old’ or ‘new’, such references are based on the purchase date; and in many cases, new furniture means that it has just been bought and delivered, while old furniture describes the pieces that were just replaced. Then, to try and give further perspective to the age of their furniture, people will use the term ‘relatively new’ to differentiate recently-purchased pieces from those that have been in the home, and perhaps in a previous home, for quite some time.
And though it might be fun to engage in such debates, it can be nothing short of confusing because it does not provide any definition to the style of furniture or its era of manufacture. Said another way, referring to furniture as old or new leaves matters open to interpretation; what is old to someone can be seen as new, or relatively new, by another person depending on their age and personal perspective.Such is the case when using the terms ‘retro’ and ‘vintage’ in relation to styles of furniture. To some, these terms may mean the same thing (i.e. old) while others might feel that they refer to old and older respectively. Regardless of their interpretation, trying to define these furniture styles in this manner is inaccurate and subject to considerable misunderstanding; thus, the experts at Carrocel, a leading high-end furniture store in Toronto for more than 30 years, offer the following in an effort to clarify and differentiate vintage furniture from retro furniture:
Vintage Furniture
More than 20 years old but less than 100 years in age- (Note that furniture over 100 years old is considered antique)
- Reflects designs from the Art Deco to Mid-Century Modern eras
- Constructed in a fashion that was popular during its particular era
- By definition, ‘vintage’ is often associated with high-quality furniture
Retro Furniture
Refers to furniture that is culturally outdated or passé in its style- It has since become functionally and/or nostalgically acceptable again
- New – designed to look like/pay tribute to styles that were once popular
- Most commonly associated with the Mid-Century Modern style of furniture
- However, ‘retro’ often carries the implication of being fun and light-hearted
Of course, merely reading a description, with or without photos, does not completely depict the essence of any form of high-end furniture, whether it is vintage, retro, or another style. In order to appreciate the various styles, their respective differences, and their high-quality construction, you need to see and feel the furniture first-hand; this can be accomplished by visiting the Carrocel furniture store on Bridgeland Avenue near the Yorkdale Mall in Toronto.
A Striking Selection of High-End Furniture for Sale in Our Toronto Store Showroom
A visit to our Carrocel fine furniture store at 245 Bridgeland Avenue in Toronto will give you an opportunity to browse a striking selection of high-end furniture from different eras, all on full-scale display in our 20,000 square-foot showroom. Our inventory includes high-quality furniture pieces and suites for your living room, dining room, bedrooms, and home office, in such styles as:
- Vintage
- Traditional
- New (Retro)
- Contemporary
- Mid-Century Modern
- Custom/One-of-a-Kind
For a more comprehensive appreciation of the scope of high-end furniture currently for sale in our vast Carrocel showroom, including vintage furniture and retro furniture, please go to our vintage and retro furniture catalogue page.
For high-end furniture that will enhance your home décor and lifestyle, call the specialists from the Carrocel fine furniture store in Toronto at 416-999-2525 today or contact us to arrange for a no-obligation consultation. And you are always welcome to visit our 20,000 square-foot showroom, located at 245 Bridgeland Avenue, to browse our superb selection of high-quality furniture at your convenience.
You might also want to check our related posts:
