Modern Resale

Modern Resale: authenticated designer furniture in Culver City

Modern Resale is a Los Angeles-based reseller of new and pre-owned designer furniture, lighting and accessories. The company presents its catalogue as authenticated pieces from luxury brands, offered at discounts of 40% to 70% off retail prices. Its inventory is described as coming from elite homes, showrooms and liquidations, and the operation is run from a studio warehouse in Culver City.

The business was founded by Stacia Vinar and Sarah Whipple, who, according to the company, spent years at a premier Italian design showroom in Los Angeles before setting up Modern Resale to share the luxury furniture they knew best. The site frames the selection as curated by design insiders.

Furniture, lighting and accessories

The catalogue is organised into three main groups: furniture, lighting and accessories. Within furniture, the range covers soft seating (sofas, sectionals, chaises, ottomans and outdoor lounges), chairs (dining chairs, lounge chairs, chair-and-ottoman sets, office chairs, outdoor chairs and benches), stools, tables (dining, coffee, accent and outdoor tables), desks, storage (kitchen storage, credenzas, cabinets, shelving, carts and hooks and racks) and bedroom pieces (beds, dressers and nightstands).

Lighting includes floor lights, ceiling lights, table lights and wall lights. The accessories section lists art and prints, decorative objects, mirrors, rugs, cushions, throws and outdoor accessories. The site also allows browsing by room (living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, office and outdoors) and by collection, including New, Curators' Favorites, Reduced, Under $1000, Vintage and Previously Sold.

Brands in the selection

The shop-by-brand menu names B&B Italia, Cappellini, Cassina, De Sede, Herman Miller / Knoll, Flexform, Flos, Fontana Arte, Fritz Hansen, Giorgetti, Ligne Roset, Maxalto, Minotti, Molteni & C, Poliform, Poltrona Frau, Roche Bobois and Walter Knoll. The best-selling designer lineup highlighted on the homepage features Minotti, B&B Italia, Maxalto and Roche Bobois.

New arrivals and pricing examples

The site promotes weekly new arrivals and a rotating selection of pieces. At the time of writing this profile, the new-arrivals section listed, among others, a Cassina Beam sectional sofa with corner table reduced from $22,500 to $10,950; a Bocci 73sp clear glass surface light from $975 to $490; a Form LA Fluta oval dining table from $17,800 to $10,680; a Roche Bobois Voyage Immobile seven-piece sectional from $18,000 to $10,900; a DWR Treku Aura media unit from $3,195 to $1,650; a B&B Italia Shift wall hanging shelving system from $14,000 to $7,800; and a set of two Lapalma LEM piston stools from $2,590 to $1,295. These prices and discounts reflect the catalogue as displayed when this profile was drafted.

Consignment and additional services

Beyond retail sales, Modern Resale accepts consignments of designer and luxury furniture. The site states that consignment enquiries are handled by email and that consignments are processed upon return. It also lists rentals, staging and services among its offerings, without further detail in the available text. The company invites customers to sell furniture without lifting a finger and provides a guide on how to consign.

Customer feedback

The website quotes several customer testimonials. One customer describes the experience as amazing and highlights the possibility of buying high-end designer furniture on a budget while reducing waste by rehoming pieces. Another mentions a purchase made from outside Los Angeles, with the company holding a table until the buyer arrived at their new home. A third, an interior design professional, refers to the items as iconic furniture at a fraction of retail cost. A buyer from Texas notes an initial concern about buying without seeing the piece in person but describes the experience as great. Another customer compares the pieces to those seen in Architectural Digest and calls the offering a gold mine for those who value design and quality. These are individual testimonials and not a verified rating.

Visiting the Culver City warehouse

Modern Resale operates from a studio warehouse at 5896 Smiley Drive, Culver City, CA 90232. The company asks visitors to make an appointment and notes that the website is always open. Sales enquiries can be made by phone or text message, and the site provides an email address for general contact and consignment questions.