Modern vs Contemporary Furniture Design: What’s the Difference?

Modern contemporary furniture | Dining rooms by Vermont Woods Studios
Our Modern American Dining Set in natural cherry wood.

Modern and contemporary are used interchangeably in most contexts—after all, even the dictionary lists them as synonyms—but when it comes to talking about furniture, architecture, and interior design, these two terms are not one and the same.

In most situations modern translates to “here and now”, but when discussing modern design and furniture, it is referring to various periods from the early to mid-twentieth century. Contemporary on the other hand is forever changing as it all about what is hot and trendy this decade.

Here is an easy way to remember the difference between modern and contemporary furniture: modern design will never change, while contemporary design is always being redefined.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

5 of Our Best Selling Chifforobe Chests

Last updated on November 1st, 2022 at 12:23 pm

American made chifforobe chests

A “chifforobe”– sometimes referred to as a Gentleman’s Chest– is a piece of furniture designed to house both a chest of drawers and a cabinet for hanging clothes. Gent’s Chests are typically a bit deeper than a typical dresser or chest to accommodate the hanging clothes.

They’re perfect for bedrooms that don’t have closets, mudrooms and entryways, or for fashionistas whose wardrobes exceed their closet space.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

7 Asian-Inspired Furniture Collections

Asian Inspired Furniture Collections. Seen here, the Astrid Bedroom Set in natural cherry.

The term “Asian inspired furniture” isn’t just reserved for black lacquered chests and painted tables. Asian design philosophies have influenced hardwood furniture around the world, and especially here in the United States.

This kind of Eastern design influence is evident in the use of vertical moon-shaped cuts and irregular joinery techniques, such as is seen in our Contemporary Craftsman and Exeter collections, respectively.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Modern Industrial Furniture

Modern Industrial Dining Set
Our Modern Industrial Dining Table and matching Modern Industrial Benches shown in natural walnut wood

Today, we’re excited to shine a light on our Modern Industrial Furniture Collection designed by our very own team at Vermont Woods Studios.

The Modern Industrial collection features solid wood table tops with powder-coated black steel legs. They’re perfect for the modern kitchen, commercial restaurants and pubs, or just to spice up a room with some new colors and textures.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

48 of the Best Furniture Quotes of All Time

Last updated on October 4th, 2022 at 09:57 am

Our lives happen around our furniture. Every day, our bed frames, dining tables, dressers, and coffee tables support us, often without thanks and appreciation. Here we’re taking a look back at some of the best acknowledgements of the importance our furniture plays in our lives. We’ve assembled what we think are the best furniture quotes of all time.

Let us know in the comments what your favorites are!

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

12 of Our Favorite Minimalist Bed Frames

Our Vermont Shaker Moon Bed personifies minimalism in the bedroom
Minimalism is all the rage these days, and for good reason. Proponents say a minimal lifestyle can make you happier, healthier, and more purpose driven. Shop for your minimalist bed here.

The idea is that minimalism helps people question what possessions, activities, and thoughts actually add value to their lives. As No Sidebar puts it, “Every day, more stuff comes into our lives: stuff in our houses, stuff on our calendars, stuff on our minds. All that stuff gets in the way of where we really want to go and who we really want to be.” Read More

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

4 High Quality Glass Top Dining Tables Made in USA

Last updated on March 7th, 2022 at 05:26 pm

Exeter Glass Top Dining Table with Walnut Wood Base and Chairs by Copeland Furniture
Pictured here as part of the complete Exeter Dining Set, Copeland’s Glass Top Rectangular Dining Table with a walnut base. Made in Vermont and guaranteed for life. Qualifying orders ship free!
“Every lesson I learned as a kid was at the dinner table. It is where we laughed, cried, and yelled – but most importantly, where we bonded and connected.” – Michael Symon (American chef)

A dining table is one of the most important pieces of furniture in any home. It’s where you gather and feast with family. Sit and sort though mail. Laugh. Cry. And the longer you have a table, the more memories it accumulates.

If you’re looking for a new dining table, you’ve come to the right place. All our dining tables are made in America and guaranteed to last a lifetime. Although most of our tables are built with solid wood, glass top dining tables have become an increasingly popular choice. They’re great at making a space feel bigger than it is, and the glass top is easy to care for and easy to clean.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

George Nakashima: Everything You Need to Know

Modern American Bedroom Furniture Collection inspired by George Nakashima
Our Modern American Collection features natural cherry wood with walnut accents and was inspired by the work of George Nakashima.

George Nakashima (1905-1990) was an architect, designer, and woodworker that was a driving force behind 20th-century furniture innovation. The aesthetic of his furniture can be described as a unique mix of European Modernism with Japanese woodwork. Elements woven through his body of work can also be attributed to the influence of his love of nature, formal education in architecture, and his time spent in India.

Nakashima practiced during the mid-20th century, but his work was a divergence from most of the other designers of that period. Whereas many designers during the time looked to incorporate new materials like metal, plastic, plywood, and glass into their designs, Nakashima preferred to work with solid, natural wood. No doubt his relationship with Antonin Raymond, a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright (the father of “Organic Architecture”), influenced this propensity.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

5 of the Most Well Known American Furniture Designers

Last updated on March 11th, 2022 at 10:07 am

Our Contemporary Craftsman Collection

Vermont Woods Studios was founded on two core principles- a desire to protect the world’s forests and a reverence for high quality craftsmanship.

Over the years, we’ve added a handful of Vermont craftsmen to our offerings, all of whom design furniture and decor that is beautiful, high quality, and uniquely their own. However, it’s hard to ignore the influence that some of America’s most prolific designers have had on the furniture designs produced today.

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants” -Isaac Newton

Here are some of the most renowned American furniture designers of all time, which continue to inspire craftsman all over the world today:

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Lawrence Peabody: Everything You Need to Know

Last updated on February 25th, 2021 at 02:58 pm

Lawrence Peabody was an architect, interior designer, and furniture designer who made significant contributions to the world of design during the mid- to late- 1900’s. Most known for his use of walnut, Haitian influence, and innovative designs, Peabody’s work was sold by nationwide brands like Sears and Kohler, as well as notable retailers like Richardson-Nemschoff and Craft & Associates.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.