What is it about mid-century modern furniture that inspires such a devoted fanbase? Maybe it’s the elegance of its restraint: the clean lines, the democratic design principles, the sense of ease and openness it brings to a space. Emerging post-war as a deliberate departure from the bulky, ornamental styles of the early 20th century, the new era offered something chic, functional and enduringly well-made. It’s not nostalgia that keeps it alive, but how it remains distinctly mid-century yet perpetually modern.
And so the style continues to find collectors with every generation — like Jay Mejia, the 30-year-old designer and owner of Dom Deco known for discovering and restoring rare collectibles. Mejia scours small towns for originals passed down as family heirlooms, sometimes tracing back to Scandinavian immigrants who couldn’t bear leaving them behind. He carefully restores them by fixing joints, refinishing surfaces, reupholstering with period-appropriate fabrics, matching lost parts — whatever it takes. For Mejia, it’s about preserving design built to last in a world of fast furniture and throwaway culture.
A seldom-seen Model 114 Desk Chair, designed in the early ’60s by Prince Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg, is part of Mejia’s personal collection. The cabinet is a walnut sideboard by the now-defunct Canadian maker, Knechtel Furniture.
Danish Sculptural Teak Bow Lamp: Everything about this lamp was stunning — except for the lampshade. To complete the restoration, Mejia enlisted the help of Victoria Lampshades, a company known for its expertise in antique lamp restoration. They recreated the cone, matching the fabric to the original design.
The Sven Ellekaer for Christian Linnberg Teak Coffee Table is both sleek and sturdy, featuring an organic shape and a 20-millimetre thick glass top. With its veneered wood, Mejia highlights it as a prime example of mid-century modern design, showcasing the experimental building techniques of the era.
Restoring the R. Huber Scoop chair wasn’t easy. The cushion was practically dust after decades of use, and the fabric was unsalvageable. Mejia replaced the cushion and used a woven fabric that closely matched the original.
This article appears in the June 2025 issue of Edify
