The 1976 Collection Brings 70s Furniture Into the Here + Now

Each of us has certain memories that bring comfort when on top of mind. French studio Nouveau Standard, founded by Jonathan Fleurance and Simon Brandeau, has designed its first collection around that idea. The charismatic Collection 12 includes four pieces – a chair, a low chair, a table, and a lamp – pulled from an era passed. Maybe they make you recall your grandparents’ house or a next-door neighbor’s apartment. The collection reminds me of my parents’ bedroom set from the late 70s, which featured the two most prominent shapes used here: the ball and the cone.

A cozy room with a patterned armchair and rustic decor.

A simplified reinterpretation of the heavy wood furniture, Collection 12 still has a weighty physical presence, but with lines unencumbered. Each piece is made using a wooden structure covered in oak cladding, then stained to add the right touch of nostalgic patina. The patterned upholstery chosen for use on both chairs harkens back to a decade when bold, large-scale designs reigned supreme.

Fleurance explains: “The overloaded pattern is a nod to the 70s and plays on contrasts with the more primary forms of furniture. We like the idea that furniture can be an actor in our lives which touch us at the intersection of the present and the past.”

A simple cushioned wooden chair stands in front of a green paneled wall on a stone floor.

Both the 1976 chair and the 1976 armchair are available in two cushion options to suit your personal style and needs. The chair offers a foam design by Florence Hamon covered with Nobilis fabric or a wooden slab with a lava-embedded insert by Studio Ler. Choices for the armchair include two different fabrics from Nobilis and Pierre Frey, as well as two foams to accommodate the comfort and support you’re looking for. Four combinations of legs are possible when using the versatile 1976 table, only improved upon with the addition of Studio Ler’s unique Chambois lava material that has a raw and marbled appearance. Soon, personalization of materials, colors, and finishes will be available.

A simple cushioned wooden sofa stands in front of a green paneled wall on a stone floor.

The lamp has plans that extend beyond the 1976 collection where it will be included as a different form in each upcoming release. Nouveau Standard worked with Aliénor to create a nickel base, LED light tube, metal body, and modules that will take on a reassuring, ever-present role when pieced together in future lamp versions.

A simple wooden chair stands in front of a green paneled wall on a stone floor.

“The 1976 Collection is also a declaration of love to a more reasoned consumption of furniture,” says Brandeau. “Made by Kermadeleine, an artisan located in Brittany, its production is synonymous with quality and durability. The customization and modularity of certain pieces allow the furniture to last over time.”

A simple cushioned wooden chair stands in front of a green paneled wall on a stone floor.

A wooden dining table with a vase of flowers, a pitcher, and a bowl of nuts in a room with green walls and a slate floor.

A long wooden table with thick cylindrical legs in a room with dark green paneled walls and a stone floor.

Detail of a long wooden table with thick cylindrical legs.

Detail of a wooden chair.

Wooden furniture and decor items, including an upright oversized board, a chair, and variously shaped vessels, arranged in a room with green paneling.

Two men standing together in a sunny room with green doors and a tiled counter, one in a green shirt and the other in a white shirt.

Jonathan Fleurance + Simon Brandeau

To learn more about the 1976 Collection, visit nouveaustandard.fr.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.