Scandinavian Contemporary (1960-1990)

The Scandiavian Contemporary style is a simple utilitarian design style in natural wood popularized by Danish and Swedish designers.

Scandinavian Contemporary Sofa Scandinavian Contemporary Side Table Scandinavian Contemporary Chair

 


Appearance

Simple – Straight lines, simple design, and little ornamentation.(Contemporary style shown)

Chair Arms

Straight – Arms are straight and perpendicular to chair.

Chair Back Material

Wood – Solid wood, horizontal slats, vertical slats, or vertical splats.

Chair Back Shape

Top Rail – Simple, flat horizontal top rail.

Chair Leg

Round – Round, usually shaped or turned leg.
Splayed – Leg with a concave shape.
Square – Flat surfaced leg on all sides.
Straight – Straight leg, vertical to chair seat.
Tapered – Straight leg gradually decreasing in width.

Chair Seat Material

Wood – Various types of wood.

Chair Seat Shape

Square – Square shaped seat.

Drawer Pull

Wooden Mushroom-Shaped Knob – Mushroom-shaped wooden knob, often 1 inch high and 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter.

Fabric

Leather – Material made from the tanning of animal hides.

Finish

Oil Varnish – Clear finish that emphasized the grain of the wood.
Stain – Transparent to moderately opaque finish that alters the color of the wood grain.
Wax – Paste finish over a sealer, stain, or bare wood.

Foot

Continuation of leg – Leg does not terminate into a foot.

Hardware Material

Wood – Various types of wood, carved or turned.

Joint

Dovetail – An interlocking wood joint in which a series of wedge-shaped projections fits into a series of alternating grooves.
Mortise and tenon – Wood joint in which a projecting tenon of one board is fitted into a mortise or hole of another board.

Line

Slight Curve – Gently curving lines.
Straight – Straight lines.

Motif

None.

Ornamentation

None.

Proportion

Medium – Moderate dimensions.(Queen Anne style shown)

Underbracing

Limited Use – Limited use of stretchers(Queen Anne style shown).

Wood

Ash – Whitish-gray American hardwood with similar graining to oak.
Birch – Red-brown American hardwood with a close grain.
Black Walnut – Medium brown American hardwood.
Elm – Red-brown American hardwood.
Hickory – Red-brown American hardwood.
Mahogany – Red-brown South American and African hardwood.
Maple – Golden to red-brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures.
Oak – Gray-brown American hardwood.
Teak – Yellow-brown African and Asian hardwood.

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