In the furniture world, the 1970s were a remarkable time for teak wood, fall hues (brown, beige, oatmeal), shag-pile carpets, and lacquer. Surprisingly, many of these things have survived and are now marketed as antique retro 70s furniture or something along those lines. The modernist movement had all but eliminated any kind of decoration from furniture. Designers such as Mies van der Rohe and Ludwig Mies van Der Rohe were famous for their use of beautiful, colorful ceramics, but when it came to decorating their own homes, they usually chose very simple shapes with straight lines only. They believed that the purpose of design was to provide functional space, not attract attention itself. However, there were still some rich people in Europe and America who could afford custom-made furniture. These pieces often used exotic woods such as mahogany or teak, had decorative inlays, and were often painted bright colors. But even here, modern designers were beginning to change all this. In the mid-20th century, the most popular style in the United States was called "country living". It was based on simplicity and practicality and usually included wooden desks, chairs, and shelves. When big cities began to rise up around them, people wanted to escape from the chaos and traffic of city life and return to a simpler time. The 1970s were a great time for retro designs.