bltd

Update: Bend Seating is on Fab.com today. Sale price of $289 (from the original price of $425) for the Ethel Side Chair, just as an example. Craziness!

My-oh-my, what do we have here? Indoor/outdoor chairs from Bend Seating that mix old fashioned flair with modern geometry. The backrest of the Farm House Chair (right) is inspired by the architecture of old Amish barns, while the Ethel Chair (left) is the straight lined sister of Lucy (below). It’s enough to make your head spin (with longing).

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The dull January sky has me itching for some color so, of course, this bright true-green metal chair caught my eye. With a little Ming Dynasty thrown in, it fits the bill for robust seating in a modern-yet-eclectic home. And it’s welded from steel, so you can have it indoors or out.
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Man, this folding chair is something else. When you think about regular folding chairs and their clunky look and quality, this one is a winner. Sleek and simple, it folds completely flat, allowing for stacking horizontally or hanging on a wall hook. This would be a great choice for extra seating, as you can store it away in a closet when not needed. Also suitable for outdoor use. Sale is valid October 6–18 (2011), so you can save a little by ordering now.
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Whoa, the Salt Chair is now down at $83.30 due to DWR’s dining sale. I believe that makes it the least expensive chair that DWR has ever carried (correct me if I’m wrong). The Salt Chair is a classic choice for a dining area, especially as it has a very compact footprint, which means less wasted space.

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This Horqueta* Chair has an awfully friendly price tag, don’t you think? Especially considering it’s less than a light fixture made from corrugated cardboard (see Upcycle Pendant Lamp). Steel frame in hi-gloss carbon powdercoat.
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Four narrow boards bend to form this very simple chair. Interestingly enough, you can create your own hybrid design if you own multiple colors, as it’s easy to disassemble and reassemble. It was originally created for the Danish Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and you can read more about it at KiBiSi and HAY Denmark.
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This solid plastic chair has a forward-tilt action that will help your health apparently: it straightens the pelvis and spine and thus improves circulation to the abdominal and back muscles. Whether that influences your decision to buy one, many, or none at all, I do have to say it has a nice silhouette that would work well in a dining room or office area. Plus, it’s stackable and comes in 6 different colors.
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How nice is the recent trend of furniture being made of recycled materials, thereby making the piece recyclable when it’s at the end of its life cycle? Very nice, indeed, and it’s certainly a trend to keep. This chair by Javier Mariscal is made from recycled polypropylene with a stacking metal base or a non-stacking wooden base. While I’ve only found one UK retailer so far, I’m sure there’ll be some retailers stateside that will pick it up (fingers crossed). Produced by Mobles 114.

The Green chair meets the Management System of Ecodesign UNE 150301.
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There is more to this bench than meets the eye. Did you know it’s made primarily from recycled paper and plastic? Did you know it is a modular design based on on L-shaped units, which allow for building individual chairs, tables, and multi-seat configurations? One pack of ten makes a chair, table base or stool, while two packs will get you a bench, settee or coffee table. Three or more packs means longer bench seating (and possibly more interesting combinations). A simple system of connecting rods allows for quick assembly; one pack shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes to set up. Noted Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is the brains behind this system (there’s lots of images of his architecture on google if you want a quick look).

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Since this chair is powder coated steel, one can only assume it’s appropriate for outdoor use. While $300 is not cheap, it’s a heck of lot more affordable than, say, the iconic Bertoia Chair that requires more of an investment.
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Not being a huge fan of all-aluminum chairs, I’m happy to see that British designer Michael Young has partnered with Emeco to bring about a hybrid with solid ash legs (harvested from fallen timber near Lancaster, PA, hence the chair’s name). The seat and back are available matte or polished, either of which gives a nice contrast to the softer wood. You also might be happy to hear that these stack up to six high, making storage optional.
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Another design classic for you on this Thursday…

Made from industrial steel rods, Harry Bertoia created his iconic seating collection in 1952 at the invitation of Florence and Hans Knoll. Bertoia was given free reign to create what he wished, and the result was a reflection of his interest in metal work and open forms. Bertoia says, “If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them.” A fixture of mid-century design, the chairs are now available in a variety of finishes with or without replaceable seat cushion, back pad, or full cover. The popularity of the chairs (and the royalties he received) allowed Bertoia to return to sculpture soon after completing the collection.

Knoll is the only authorized and licensed manufacturer of the Bertoia Collection which has been in continuous production since 1952.

To learn more, visit Harry Bertoia’s wikipedia page.

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Besides being easy on the eye, this chair from e15 is also worth noting for its construction method: it’s completely screwless. Made from 4mm thin oak-veneered plywood, the Houdini Chair is both visually and physically light and perfectly complements all e15 tables. There’s several photos showing how it’s constructed (The Making Of), which is as fascinating as it is laborious.

Luckily, there’s a collection by Stefan Diez, of which the Armchair, Lounge, and Stool particularly stand out.

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Remember my little speech last week about adding more classics into the BLTD mix? Well, here it is Thursday and time for another piece deemed classic by many a mid century fan.

Charles and Ray Eames are quite famous for their experimentation in wood-molding techniques and their success in creating high-quality furniture that could be mass produced. The Plywood Group, to which this dining chair belongs, is made from a process that eliminates extraneous wood, which lightens each chair’s visual profile and weight. The seat and back are molded to fit the body, making these chairs a comfortable seating option. You might also be interested to know, if you don’t already, that this chair is in the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and in my own dining room (link).

The Eames Molded Dining Chair is available with either chromed tubular steel or wood base frames (DCM – Dining Chair Metal – or DCW – Dining Chair Wood).

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No doubt you’re somewhat familiar with MUJI’s range of office furniture (and if you aren’t, it would do you well to take a gander), but you might be interested to know that the Steel Pipe Chair is on sale now from $630 to $479… not too bad for a possible future classic. The chair’s design is based on the original Bauhaus design and made in Germany by Thonet GmbH.

reg. $630.00, $479.95 Sale ($431.95 Members)