Join the club
Club chairs are timeless and the perfect alternative to oversized armchairs in tight living spaces. The new Lodge Chair (starting at $1,350) from Gus Modern Furniture takes its cues from the Mad Men era with its sleek, low profile and rich chocolate finish. It’s part of the Canadian furniture retailer’s spring 2015 collection (available in Vancouver at Stylegarage [124 West Hastings Street] starting in November), which includes a myriad of condo-sized pieces inspired by midcentury-modern style. The Lodge Chair measures about 29 inches tall, 31 inches deep, and 35 inches wide, but sleek sculptural arms—rather than plush armrests—mean that more of the chair is dedicated to its roomy seat. Find it in charcoal fabric or brown leather upholstery and a walnut-finished exterior frame. Playfully bent arms and svelte rounded legs give the vintage throwback a modern twist.

Tufted and tiny
Button tufting was a popular feature of midcentury design. Typically found on upholstered chairs, sofas, and headboards, the detail gives plush fabrics structure and enhances the visual appeal of monochromatic furniture. The leather Reverie Apartment Sofa ($2,099 at EQ3 [2301 Granville Street]) is the Winnipeg-based furniture company’s spin on the classically tailored modernist couch. About 75 inches wide, 34 inches deep, and 32 inches high, it’s around a foot shorter than the company’s regular sofas. Slimmer armrests and sleek wooden legs balance the sofa’s reduced proportions. The piece is customizable in over 50 hues, so you don’t need to stick with brown: a royal blue or bright terra cotta would give it a retro feel.

Plush perch
Not all condos have room for a dining table, but many of them have bars or extended countertops for in-kitchen eating. Add flair and comfort to your dining nook by forgoing hard, wobbly barstools for plush, vintage-inspired seats. The Saddle Leather Bar + Counter Stools (starting at $349.99 on sale) from West Elm (2947 Granville Street) are inspired by midcentury design with their clean curves and mix of leather and wood. The elephant-grey upholstery and contrasting pecan-stained legs look elegant and add warm tones to a room. Swivel seats make them easy to climb into, and two heights—41 inches for the barstool and 37.5 inches for the counter stool—offer customizable seating.

New atomic design
After more than 20 years in the home-furnishings industry, the owners of Van Gogh Designs have launched a second, more boutique-style business. The Goods features pieces that range from midcentury modern to industrial, all with a contemporary twist. The Eva Chair ($393 at The Goods showroom [12885 85 Avenue, Surrey] and Cross Décor & Design [1198 Homer Street]) is part of the label’s debut collection, and can easily pull triple duty in the living room, dining room, and home office. Its rounded seat and sleek wood legs are a nod to space-age and atomic design, but the use of transparent charcoal polycarbonate transports the chair into the present day.

Swivel in style
Just like Don Draper, every modern-day executive needs a signature chair to make decisions in. Two office chairs from Crate & Barrel offshoot CB2 (1277 Robson Street) offer a spot to swivel in style. The Facetta Natural Chair ($449) is a fashion-forward take on the classic midcentury aesthetic, with its trapezoidal back and angled armrests. Meanwhile, the matte-grey iron tube base and pedestal give the chair a modern twist, and its tweed upholstery in off-white or powdery cyan features a hidden zipper for easy removal and cleaning. For a brighter pop of colour with a slightly more modern sensibility, check out the Coup Teal Office Chair ($349). The bright seafoam-teal upholstered swivel chair features a shiny chrome-plated base that not only spins 360 degrees but moves up and down.