December 28, 2021
Believe us when we say that these are the shops worth travelling to.
Mid-century modern-style homes are more popular than ever these days. But just like the owners of this Tiong Bahru 4-room couple’s nest or this old-school HDB flat in Telok Blangah, you’ll definitely need the right 40’s/50’s/60’s retro furniture pieces to put together a home that’s convincingly old school cool.
Whether it’s a pencil-legged dining table or rattan-back seats that are on your shopping list, you’ll want to begin your shop crawl at one of these stores below, because these are some of the best places to buy mid-mod furniture pieces in Singapore!
Image credit: Hock Siong & Co.
Claiming to be “a simple little store that seeks to sell good quality products at reasonable price” on its website, Hock Siong is in fact much, much more than that.
Long-time customers of Hock Siong will know about its humble origins as a karang guni (rag and bone) trading business from the 70’s, and more importantly, the myriad of second-hand furniture from local hotels and homes that fill the industrial building unit it occupies at 153 Kampong Ampat.
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If you’re lucky, you might be able to snag authentic antiquities like a pair of retro rattan dining chairs (like the owners of this characterful Canberra BTO flat did) or handsome teak furniture directly from the shop’s floor. One thing to note, however, is that most of Hock Siong’s inventory comprises of one-of-a-kind vintage items. So, fastest fingers first!
Hock Siong & Co.
153 Kampong Ampat, #01-03 Junjie Industrial Building, Singapore 368326
Image credit: Lorgan's The Retro Store
Take your first step into Lorgan’s at Paya Lebar and you’ll find yourself in the heart of a busy shop straight from the past, fully stocked with mid-century modern furniture, lighting options, and knick-knacks that are perfect for accessorising your new-old home with.
A veritable treasure trove of all things retro – from Hee dining chairs made by Danish design firm Hay to classic Scandinavian sideboards – Lorgan’s is one local furniture shop that you’ll regret not visiting for its myriad offerings, or if not, its casual yesteryear store vibe that’s (painfully) absent from the polished retail spaces of today.
Image credit: Lorgan's The Retro Store
Lorgan’s The Retro Store
160 Paya Lebar Road, #02-07 Orion@Paya Lebar, Singapore 409022
Image credit: Rooma
Have a cosy reading nook that needs filling up with a wide lounge chair? Or perhaps a lonely bedroom corner that could use a stylish old-school dresser? If you find yourself answering “yes” to these questions (or any similar ones), then perhaps a visit to Rooma is in order.
This locally-based furnishings retailer is located at Tan Boon Liat Building (which in our opinion, is the furniture mecca of Singapore), and what awaits at their gallery is a varied selection of solid wood and rattan pieces including, but not limited to, mid-mod style dividers, side chairs, shelves, lamps, and other attractive (read: tempting) buys at wholesale prices.
Image credit: Rooma
Oh, and did we mention that they offer furniture customisation, renovation, and carpentry services too?
Rooma
315 Outram Road, #13-01 Tan Boon Liat Building, Singapore 169074
Image credit: Möbler
Though it’s no longer operating out of its former showroom at 10C Jalan Ampas, Möbler isn’t out of the local furniture retail scene just yet. You can still get your hands on authentic vintage decorative pieces from Sweden, either through Möbler’s online store or at their retail space at Isetan Scotts.
Each and every accessory/piece of furniture in Möbler’s catalogue is specially sourced and hand-picked by the store’s Swedish owners, so don’t be too stunned to find truly unique statement pieces, such as Windsor chairs (made in the 50’s), restored antique tables, or even well-kept, 40-year-old retro office lamps that have managed to stand the test of time.
Image credit: Second Charm
Slatted-front curvilinear sideboards, retro side tables with turned bases, and kangaroo chairs, charming furniture pieces like these (and more) can be yours, if you make a trip down to Second Charm’s store at 21 Kallang Avenue.
Founded in 2001, Second Charm has been in the business of manufacturing and selling fine handcrafted retro furniture for almost two decades (and counting). So, if there’s one thing you can trust them for, it’s that they’ve perfected the art of creating charming mid-mod pieces, which we ourselves would fork out for in a second.
Image credit: Second Charm
Second Charm
21 Kallang Avenue, #05-165 Mapletree Industrial Building, Singapore 339412
Retro Colony’s showroom at Niven Road
Blink and you might miss the nondescript entrance to Retro Colony’s showroom along Niven Road, where you’ll find a compact retail studio that’s about as big as a 2-room BTO flat. But don’t let size fool you (as usual) because Retro Colony’s selection of home products is as good as it gets.
Specialising in furniture and other accessories for small spaces, like compact leather sofas from Japan, industrial-style racks, and even slim metal lockers, Retro Colony is one store that you’ll want to check out if you’re looking for the right piece(s) to kit out a lonely corner or two at home.
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In fact, if you’re keen-eyed, you might have even noticed that one of Retro Colony’s signature items – specifically, the pencil-legged K chair, which was originally designed for tiny Japanese homes in the 60’s – has found its way into a local celeb’s retro-themed home.
Retro Colony
19 Niven Road, Singapore 228366
(Do take note that all studio visits are currently by appointment only due to COVID-19.)
Image credit: Noden
Noden is one local store that gets a nod from us for the diverse range of furniture it carries, from 1940s – 1960s vintage Scandinavian pieces to home products created by new brands with heart.
Image credit: Noden
Like some of the other businesses on this list, you’ll get to shop from an eclectic selection of authentic classics and contemporary home buys at both Noden’s online store and its physical space.
Think retro easy chairs designed by prolific mid-century modern furniture designer Hans J. Wegner meet Danish-designed USB snowball lamps, and you get the idea. Or if you don’t, just head over to 211 Henderson Road or www.nodenhome.com to take a look!
Noden
211 Henderson Road, #02-02, Singapore 159552
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