Drawing on influences from growing up with knock-off furniture such as an Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair, an Eames rocker, and lots of chrome, Jody Racicot salvages old pieces to design his line of modern furniture
After Canadian actor-turned-designer Jody Racicot moved with his wife into an empty new home, he built her a dresser and promised her it would be better than anything they could afford to buy.
To both of their surprise, he did just that, and suddenly the actor had a second career as a modern furniture designer.
“I loved the style of the furniture that surrounded me growing up,” says Racicot, whose acting career includes roles in Night at the Museum, X-files and The Lizzie McGuire Movie. “I remember our home had a knock-off Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair, an Eames rocker and lots of chrome.”
Now the owner of Jody Racicot Modern Furniture, Racicot creates his own furniture inspired by such renowned mid-century modern furniture designers as Sam Maloof, George Nakashima and Le Corbursier.
But the designer adds another twist to his masterpieces.
From Mid-Century Furniture to Modern Chairs and Tables
From his Prince Edward Island studio in Canada, Racicot often designs his pieces using furniture that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill. For one of his works he reused salvaged chrome legs from a 1970s table on a new and sleekly modern table made with an elegant combination of dark walnut and light cherry.
“By mixing old and new,” says Racicot, “I’m able to come up with furniture that is both fresh and familiar.”
Not only is the table beautiful, it is also highly functional with an extra-long compartment in the back that can accommodate magazines and a smaller drawer in the front for smaller items. This principal of functionality is a cornerstone of modern design and is something to which Racicot strictly adheres.
“I believe it is my obligation to make an object as beautiful as it is useful,” he says.
Retro Modern Furniture Design
Racicot enjoyed his 20 years as an actor. In fact, in 2008 he won a Leo Award for best supporting actor in his role as Dr. Hans Zarkov for the Sci Fi Channel’s Flash Gordon series. Between acting gigs, he used his time to design furniture, and when the series was eventually canceled, that was his signal to switch careers and become a full-fledged furniture designer. And indeed, it seems he has found his true calling.
“Acting paid the bills while I waited for my big break as a furniture designer,” Racicot says.
Originally posted 2010-08-31 08:00:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
