Where artistry meets functionality.
We believe great design isn’t just about how a space looks. It’s about how it makes you feel in daily life. At The Design Art Co., we champion that sweet spot where creativity meets purpose, helping you build a home that reflects who you are, not just your budget. Below, we celebrate seven design icons, explain why they’re truly luxurious, and pair each with smart, wallet-friendly lookalikes.
We believe great design isn’t just about how a space looks. It’s about how it makes you feel in daily life. At The Design Art Co., we champion that sweet spot where creativity meets purpose, helping you build a home that reflects who you are, not just your budget. Below, we celebrate seven design icons, explain why they’re truly luxurious, and pair each with smart, wallet-friendly lookalikes.
Mid-Century Faux Leather Sectional Sofa $972.39
Example: Corrigan Studio Sofa from the article cover design.
Example:
Corrigan Studio Sofa from the article cover design.
Corrigan Studio Sofa from the article cover design.
Corrigan Studio® represents luxury through its Swiss-inspired, steel-and-chrome modular system built on precise ball-and-tube construction. This is not ordinary furniture — it’s architect-grade design that can be endlessly reconfigured to adapt to spaces and styles over decades. The materials are chosen for permanence, and the craftsmanship is evident in the refined finishes and precision hardware. Luxury here isn’t just appearance; it’s the lasting durability, flexibility, and exacting quality that elevate Corrigan Studio® above standard design.
Affordable alternative:
Expensive Original
Corrigan Studio®
HOW IT WORKS
Cushion Sofa & Chaise $8,391
Two clicks take you to the website where you can buy the item.
One click on the white circle shows the item’s name and price.
Herman Miller
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman $6,476
Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chair $784
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is A mid‑century modern legend, designed in 1956 by Charles and Ray Eames. Crafted from plywood, premium veneer, plush leather, and cast aluminum, it blends high‑end materiality with ergonomic luxury. It’s in the permanent collection at MoMA and remains a status design piece with prices ranging from $5,400 to over $7,800 depending on options
Innist Eames Lounge Chair Replica – A faithful-looking reproduction with full-grain leather and molded plywood, priced around $784.
You get the iconic silhouette and materials sans the premium markups.
You get the iconic silhouette and materials sans the premium markups.
Affordable alternative:
Expensive Original
The Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair became a design icon for its groundbreaking use of molded plastic to create a lightweight, durable, and ergonomically shaped one-piece seat, its timeless aesthetic blending organic lines with minimalism, and its versatile base options that fit seamlessly into any interior; it embodies Charles and Ray Eames’s philosophy of “design for everyone,” combining accessibility, longevity, and cultural influence cemented over decades in interiors, films, and exhibitions.
The Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair $745
Office Chair with Plastic Backrest Stool $21
Poly and Bark Vortex Arm Chair Set of 2. $213
Affordable alternative:
Cheap alternative:
Expensive Original
Knoll
Tulip Table Round - Carrara $1499
DOCKSTA Bar table $299.99
Eero Saarinen Round Tulip Dining Table – Marble, $380
Licensed production of Bauhaus and mid-century originals, exact materials (e.g., Tulip cast-aluminum bases; authentic cane + tubular steel for Cesca), and a provenance tied to Eero Saarinen, Marcel Breuer, and Florence Knoll. You’re buying museum-grade industrial design with rigorous finishes and decades-long continuity
Affordable alternative:
Expensive Original
Cesca™ Chair $1,192
18'' H Side Chair (Set of 2) $162.99
Bendt Dining Chair $48.00
Affordable alternative:
Cheap alternative:
Expensive Original
Carl Hansen & Søn
CH24 Wishbone Chair $970
Weave Chair $198.4
Danish craft since 1908 and the authorized maker of Hans J. Wegner’s icons. Chairs like the CH24 “Wishbone” and CH07 “Shell” are hand-finished in solid woods, paper cord or premium leather, and built to last—slow furniture with tight tolerances and timeless silhouettes.
Affordable alternative:
Expensive Original
CH07 Shell Chair Carl Hansen & Søn $4,074.98
Modrest Warren Modern Accent Chair $518
Affordable alternative:
Cheap alternative:
Expensive Original
Furgle Mid Century Modern Shell Lounge Chair $163.89
Vitra
Panton Chair $515 + Shipping $299
Wave Chair $267
Hot Designer Style Modern Simple Leisure Chair $23
Swiss manufacturer of original, licensed designs (Eames, Panton, Dorothee Becker, Noguchi in EU) with exact materials and stewardship of design heritage (Vitra Design Museum). Their products, such as the Panton Chair and Uten.Silo, are faithful to the originals and produced to high European standards.
Affordable alternative:
Cheap alternative:
Expensive Original
Noguchi Table $1,916
Modway Triangle Coffee Table in Walnut $435
Modern Simple Creative Exquisite Designer Coffee Table $52
Affordable alternative:
Cheap alternative:
Expensive Original
USM Haller
USM Haller media (B218) $2,247
Affordable alternative:
Expensive Original
Swiss-made, steel-and-chrome modular system (ball-and-tube construction) that’s architect-grade, endlessly reconfigurable, and built to last decades. The finish quality and precision hardware are the point.
RH (Restoration Hardware)
Byron Desk $2,565
EUENUS Dining Table $1,350
Modern Luxury Desk $655
Affordable alternative
Cheap alternative:
Expensive Original
RH combines premium materials (solid wood, marble, brass, Belgian linen), architectural minimalist design, high-end pricing, and an exclusive customer experience: instead of regular stores it offers gallery-like showrooms with restaurants, instead of catalogs it publishes art-book style collections; buying RH is less about furniture itself and more about signaling status and embracing a “quiet luxury” lifestyle.
Audubon Crystal Task Floor Lamp $2,065
Kevin Studious Crystal Task Floor Lamp $800
LED Luxury Lamp $150
Affordable alternative
Cheap alternative:
Expensive Original
Vertical Crystal Brass Floor Lamp $650
Genevieve Emperador Reeded Bar Cabinet $4,480
Solid Wood Fluted Accent Cabinet $569.90
Oak Solid Wood Bar Cabinet $300
Affordable alternative
Cheap alternative:
Expensive Original
Flos
Italian lighting house behind era-defining pieces with fine materials and meticulous production—like the Arco lamp (Carrara marble base, stainless arc), kept in continuous production since 1962 and still an icon.
Flos Arco Led $4,150
Expensive Original
Affordable alternative
Modern Marble Led Floor Lamp $149.89
eMod - Arco Floor Lamp $549
F&S Arco Floor Lamp $639.20
CB2 Arc Floor Lamp $1,499
A Little Note
A beautiful interior design doesn’t have to come with a high price tag, and the items you love visually shouldn’t leave you bankrupt. That’s why we’ve put together this small selection of budget-friendly alternatives, and we hope you’ll enjoy it.
However, keep in mind that affordable options may sometimes compromise on quality or use less durable materials, even if they look almost identical to their more expensive counterparts. Choosing wisely will help you balance both style and practicality.
However, keep in mind that affordable options may sometimes compromise on quality or use less durable materials, even if they look almost identical to their more expensive counterparts. Choosing wisely will help you balance both style and practicality.
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