DESIGN DESIGN&LIVING
DW2 felt nostalgic when ordering this custom-made sofa. Its lines and fabric are a throwback to the space race and 1950s modern style.
“THE FORM AND FUNCTION OF MID-CENTURY DESIGN HAVE AN INSATIABLE DRAW.” Aaron Swinkels, Junk Giant
My next stop took me to Aaron Winkels’ store “Junk Giant.” When I asked about some of his pieces he was happy to talk shop about where he finds his treasures. This venture into furniture and period pieces has been so successful, that he was in the process of moving into expanded space at 303 Broadway, Ste. B in Downtown Fargo. When asked about the quality of the pieces in his store, his persona quickly changed from shop owner to passionate curator of history as he stated that, “People cared about these pieces even after they were no longer in vogue. They were stewards of this history, passing it on in near-new condition.” Because of the quality materials and craftsmanship, pristine originals can often be found. His topics ebbed and flowed between the artistry of design, ecology, consumption, the psychology of form and his desire to find the weird and/ or well-made for his store. It was apparent that Swinkels is a shop owner not just because he likes period pieces, but because he wants to curb consumption and find new homes for gently used pieces.
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DESIGN & LIVING | M A R C H 2 016
If everything that goes around comes around, mid-century modern design has come back even stronger. This is not just a repeat of an earlier style. It is a collection of old and new, a melding of design and taking old favorites and mixing them with new favorites. Go ahead. Pick that signature piece – a credenza, a vibrant sofa – and then artfully display your other décor around it. You’ll be thrilled with the result.
As Swinkels states, “These furniture designers were artists. They studied the psychology of what appealed to people. They strove for form and function. They understood that people like repetition, but too many linear lines caused boredom. The swooping arms disrupt the repetition."