Danish Modern L.A. — Local services in Commerce

Brandy was nice upon reception. I took in a desk made by "Hooker" with a couple broken legs, where the legs met the base of the desk. She quoted me the price and said 3 weeks turn around. I said to her thats fine, but 3 weeks would probably be too soon for me to be ready to receive it, tell your restorers feel free to take their time. She remarked that is what the usual turn around time was, but that she will do her best. 3 weeks later the phone calls came pouring in. "It's ready", "it's ready", "it's ready". All in all, close to a dozen calls in a 2 week period I left a deposit of half the money ($400). The ridiculous number of calls and the short time between them made me think about calling back and telling them they can keep the desk and shove the 400 dollars where the sun don't shine. I didn't of course, and when my friends funeral arrangements, funeral and mourning with family was threw the worst of it, I called Brandy back and said I was ready for the desk. She then told me "oh, sorry i didn't call you, but we noticed the desk needs some further repair. The first repair didn't hold". I said ok; and actually it still wasn't convenient to receive anyway. I thought of it as better for me, and good catch on their part. The aggressive calls i chalked up to Brandy just doing her job. A month goes by, she calls, says it's ready, I'm ready, we schedule a delivery time. The two kids (young twenties) go to lift it up to put on a dolly. No counting, "you ready?" "yeah"....the one guy jerks it up before the other guy had a good hold on his side. One side of the desk is eight inches off the floor of the truck, the other side one inch; the one inch side guy looses him grip, it drops down the inch and the leg snaps right then and there. The kid that looses his grip tells the other guy to hold on, and the guy sets his side down and that leg snaps as well. Several apologies and a phone call back to the boss and I'm told not to worry they will take it back to fix it and i won't be charged, and they will deliver it for free. (EXCUSE ME?) The boss Jesse calls me later that day and tells me he is sorry and he will personally come on the next delivery to make sure everything goes well. No money was offered back to me for the inconvenience....i was thinking a cool hundred would have been a good gesture. BTW, i had given the guys the remaining $400 just before them attempting to get it off the truck. They had me sign the paperwork and give them payment before it was in my house. I know, i know....I'm an idiot. Something else; it took 50 years for those legs to give out before getting them repaired by MODERN DANISH LA, And only took a single week and a one inch drop (at a slight angle) to have the legs give out again. Well,.....perhaps a couple weeks go by, i don't remember and another delivery is scheduled. This time Jesse is there to make sure everything goes according to plan....he's the half owner (said several times). They get the desk inside, it looks great and i can tell they are being extra gentle getting it into position, which gives me no confidence what so ever, i can tell you that. BUT HERE'S THE KICKER!!! I look inside the drawers, and my most favorite part of this piece is missing. "Where's the liner?" i ask. An off lime green quilted liner that really took you back in time when you opened the drawers. Jesse said "oh i remember seeing them, we had them set off to the side when repairing it. I'll call my guys." He gets off the phone with his guys and tells me they probably threw the quilted liners away. Come on people. I told him that was unacceptable. That was my property. That that was my favorite part of the whole desk...perhaps the reason i decided to get the restoration...so the outside could look as good as the inside!! Probably thrown away????? Can you please find out for sure? He said he would, and he would call me back. Jesse...

Danish Modern L.A. more than meets the high standards of those who cherish authentic Mid-Century Modern furniture. If you are interested in buying, you can visit a showroom filled with beautiful pieces. My experience involved having the company restore—to perfection—an original Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear Chair.

The Papa Bear Chair I inherited was looking quite sad, with worn fabric and an uneven wood stain. After weeks of research, it became clear that its refinishing and reupholstery had to be done by a business experienced with original MCM furniture, and ideally with this chair. For one thing, some parts are delicate, like the armrests’ detachable wooden “paws.” But mainly for me, it had to be quality work—to honor Wegner’s artistry and A.P. Stolen’s craftsmanship—and because the chair had belonged to my father. Danish Modern L.A. stood out during my research as one of the most respected companies dealing with original Mid-Century Modern Furniture, not just in L.A., but undoubtedly across the U.S. I knew I came to the right place when I spoke with Jessy, the company’s founder-owner. From him, I learned so much about my chair, Wegner, and Danish furniture. He deeply knows this history.

The Papa Bear’s Chair’s paws were nearly cracked, and even temporarily removing them for refinishing might be difficult. I figured the chair’s upholstery would be most challenging to replicate. Fabric must be smoothly wrapped around its uniquely shaped, winged shoulders, culminating in rolled seams along the edges of the arms and paws. The equally exacting geometry of the backrest’s design includes fabric-covered buttons set between padded and seamed rectangles of cloth. What’s on the inside is also complex, with an entire, hidden architecture of support. Along with new cushioning, I hoped that some older materials could be salvaged. Once the work was done, I was thrilled to learn that the original horsehair stuffing had been tucked back inside.

Today, the chair is stunning, with its teak wood now a rich warm color and new emerald-green fabric. Everything about its renewal is stellar! Thank you to Danish Modern L.A.—to Jessy, and to those who did the refinishing and...

This was my first time buying a vintage piece of furniture of any kind and it was a terrific experience. For some background, I was looking for a sideboard with hard-to-find dimensions. After three failed delivery attempts over the course of six months of orders I had placed with mass furniture retailers (each credenza arrived at my house damaged while in transit), I was frustrated and back to square one. Then I found Jessy's store online. He happened to have a stunning, expertly restored Milo Baughman sideboard that would fit my space perfectly. I live on the West Coast but not near LA so I was nervous about placing an order after only being able to see photos and especially after the ordeal of canceling my previous orders with other companies. Jessy answered all my questions promptly and gave me all the details about white glove delivery service and in-writing reassurances that he would make things right if the delivery didn't go as planned. Well I'm so glad I bought this beautiful piece. I admire it everyday. And delivery went so smoothly and was expertly executed. I couldn't be happier with Jessy's service and...