We love Lucite, and here's why

It may be turning 75 this year, but Lucite is back, and it's ultra sleek, clean and very refined. Unlike the translucent furniture fashionable in the '70s and '80s that had a disco flair and often became cloudy, today's Lucite furnishings and accents are crystal clear and intricately styled.

Eight times more translucent than glass, this lightweight material is shaped into every conceivable type of home good, including tables, consoles, lamps, desks, chairs, chests and bath accessories. And a new trend is to use acrylic for window treatment hardware such as rings, decorative rods and fancy finials.

Unlike its predecessors, the tough substance is no longer only for ultramodern homes, says Kate Singer of Kate Singer Home in Huntington. From traditional to modern, city to country dwellings, Lucite is now being used in some of the most elegant and sophisticated interiors, she says.

It has a luminescence and a mystique that add a bit of sparkle to a space. "It's the new diamonds," says Keith Baltimore, owner of the Baltimore Collection & Design Group of Port Washington. Like leather, fine jewelry or the best crystal, "there is something very elegant about it."

Because of its cost (it can be expensive) and delicate nature (it scratches easily), Lucite often poses as a stunning accent. Statement pieces in various forms add a bit of glamour to almost any type of decor, says Giovanni Naso, owner of Giovanni Naso Designs LLC in Bellport, who uses the material extensively throughout his own home.

Paired with heavy traditional wood and upholstered pieces, a translucent chair back or a leg gives a bulky piece an "airy, floating effect," says Singer.

Lucite is also a favorite way Northport designer Maureen Consolé updates interiors. "A great deal of my traditional clients are tired of 'heavy' and want a timeless look. This gives it a lift," says the owner of M. Consolé Interiors.

Not your grandmother's Lucite

Lucite is the brand name of an acrylic developed in the 1930s by the DuPont Chemical Co. Other companies developed similar materials around the same time, including Rohm and Haas' Plexiglas. While at least a dozen companies market acrylic that's fabricated into fine furnishings, Lucite International is a global market leader and the brand mentioned by most designers for this story.

Because acrylic is far stronger than glass and shatter-resistant, its early uses were industrial -- it was used in bomber plane noses, auto light housings and medical instruments. Because it can be carved and beveled, it can be finely crafted.

Vintage Lucite in the form of purses and high heels on pumps has become popular in collectibles on eBay and other auction sites. Vintage pieces from the '30s, '40s and '50s that evoke a bygone era and show a high level of detail also are experiencing a resurgence among collectors.

Pieces from the '70s and '80s, however, tended to be oversized and gaudy and may have clouded or yellowed over time. This may have been due to lack of UV inhibitors, or because many were actually cheap imitations.

Today, modern technology allows the material to be sheer and remain that way. Now it stays clear for years, says Kirk Tsourmas, president of Designs for Living by Gil and the Leather Source in Westbury.

And where the shapes were once boxy and bulky, says Naso, today they are refined and clean. The material can be fabricated into an endless variety of styles, such as delicately curled chair backs, fine-wrought carved legs and ultrasmooth table surfaces. Carving rather than molding gives it a seamless, flawless look.

Open it up optically

Lucite's translucency can also serve to open up a tight space, says Consolé. "I can use it in a small space without it eating up the room optically." Unlike a solid cocktail table, for example, a very clear acrylic table exposes an ornate area rug underneath. "It lets the rug show itself off," she says. "With a wood cocktail table, you've lost the rug."

It opens up a space visually, making the place look a lot larger than it is, adds Naso. Often designers are mixing very traditional upholstery such as a tufted ottoman or sofa with acrylic legs. Because the clear bases make the furniture seem as if it's floating, he says, the piece doesn't seem to take up as much space.

"Architecturally, it's there and not there," says Baltimore. As you enter a room, you may first notice the surroundings around the piece, such as an area rug, a piece of sculpture, or beautiful upholstery, he notes. But on closer look, "you notice there is an architecture and a structure, and suddenly it is all about the table."

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Seek Lucite that is flawless -- with no bubbles, glue marks or seams, recommend designers. When new, it should also be perfectly clear with not a tinge of cloudiness. Because it is susceptible to scratching, it is not recommended for high-use tabletops like a dining table. Instead, look for a piece with an acrylic base topped by glass.

HOW MUCH IT COSTS

Because Lucite is a polymer that incorporates petroleum, its price has been skyrocketing in the past several years. In fact, one designer says a dining set could cost as much as $30,000. If that's not in your budget, there are lots of other lower-cost choices -- such as end tables, bar carts or an upholstered chair with openwork Lucite backs. These may run from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. For window treatments, rings could run $3 to $7 each and a valance pole is estimated to be $30 to $50 a foot. On the accessory side are magazine holders, desk sets, art objects, vases and food servers in every price range and budget.

WHERE TO FIND IT

There is an abundance of nicely priced, great-looking accessories for those who aren't ready to commit to potentially trendy Lucite furniture, say interior decorators. CB2, West Elm and Pottery Barn feature acrylic trays, picture frames, lamps and accent furniture, which are well priced and easy to blend into any interior, says Huntington designer Kate Singer.

HOW TO CARE FOR IT

Lucite's hard, nonporous surface prevents dirt from accumulating and resists stains better than other plastic materials. With normal use, it will retain its beauty with only a minimum of care.

Usually this means washing it with soap and warm water and drying it with a soft cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaners or window cleaners like Windex or Fantastic, which can include harsh chemicals. But while Lucite is durable, it may scratch or scuff. Fine surface scratches can simply be buffed, while deeper scratches can be sanded and repolished.