The interesting framework of this hand-assembled chair seems to merge an old school sensibility with a more modern appreciation of construction.

The Valdes furniture collection, still solely hand-assembled in Santiago, Chile, has been named "one of the truly great chair designs of the 20th Century" by Architectural Digest. The intricate design features a combination of leather, steel tubing and laminated wood. Lead time is 8-10 weeks.

Leather, Steel Tubing, and Laminated Wood
L 31.5” x W 26.8” x H 28.7”

[posted by katie]

A couple of years ago, in a completely uncharacteristic move, an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman joined my living room*. Yes, it was expensive, and, yes, quite a bit of thought and deliberation occurred before the actual purchase, but it is possibly the most comfortable chair ever (really), and will remain so the many years to come. So, if the iconic Eames Lounge is something you've been thinking about, I give my thumbs up, and remind you that there's only a day or two left to take advantage of the sale price. If you can't yet take the plunge, don't worry, there's always next year.

In continuous production since its introduction in 1956, the Eames Lounge Chair is widely considered one of the most significant designs of the 20th century. It was the culmination of Charles and Ray Eames' efforts to create a club chair using the molded plywood technology that they pioneered in the '40s. In Charles Eames' words, the vision was a chair with the "warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt." The result has become the consummate lounge set, timelessly blending old-fashioned comfort and visionary modernism. Pairing soft, inviting leather with the sleek form of molded plywood, the seat is balanced on a five-star, die-cast aluminum base. All parts are replaceable by Herman Miller;. This original is an authentic, fully licensed product of Herman Miller, Inc. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller.

Chair, H 33" D 33" W 33" Seat H 15" Arm H 20.5"
Ottoman, H 17.5" W 26" D 21.5"

Was: $3,599.00 - $4,499.00, Now: $3,239.10 - $4,049.10 (offer expires June 21)

(*I think every person that has sat in it has let out some form of exclamation or audible sigh of pleasure, which to be honest, is sometimes funny and other times a little disturbing (depending on the person).)

[posted by katie]

This guy can compete with some of the more expensive models 3 times the price.

It's rare for a nearly transparent design to have such presence. But noted architect Ralph Rapson achieved exactly that with this lounge chair. A skillful union of mesh and either stainless steel or satin black powder coating. Winner of the 2007 Blu Dot/Dwell Magazine competition.

49 W x 33 H x 34 D

[posted by kris]

So, if you're not too concerned by bonded leather*, this chair looks pretty decent for the price.

Adding a modern twist to the style and comfort of a leather chair, the Zurich Lounge Chair instantly infuses style into your home. Its sleek look makes it a pleasure to look at, while its roomy and comfortable seat makes it the perfect place to relax. With these chairs you can take the modern look of a leather couch to a whole new extreme by placing several together for truly unique couch. The Zurich Lounge Chair is constructed of bonded leather, CA fire rated safety foam, and a chrome wire based. It measures 32.25"L x 29.75"W x 36"H and is available in your choice of black or white. Choose a matching ottoman for the ultimate in modern style and relaxation.

Chair: 32.25"L x 29.75"W x 36"H, $375.00
Ottoman: 29"L x 20"W x 16.5"H, $200.00

(*If you're curious what "bonded leather" is exactly, wikipedia has an excellent description)

[posted by katie]

This folding rocking chair and ottoman is something to seriously consider. It looks pretty good for something so easily transportable/compactible.

Takeshi Nii designed the Ny Rocking Chair and Ottoman in 1958, after he was inspired by an ad for a director’s chair in an archival magazine from the 1930s. Using the same basic structure - a simple folding frame wrapped with durable canvas - he designed Ny to be a lounge chair. Ny, which is pronounced nee and is the Danish word for “new,” remains an innovative concept in folding chairs 50 years after its introduction. At only 14.5 lbs, the Ny folds into a compact 5.5" form that can stand on its own discreetly in the corner, or be easily picked up and moved wherever an extra lounge chair needed. Said Nii of the design, “I wanted to produce a chair where one can just sit and relax after eating a nice meal.” The Ny Rocking Chair is included in the permanent collection at MoMA.

Chair: $450.00, Buy it here.
Ottoman: $175.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

Um, so maybe these chairs have very traditional frames, and maybe that's not your thing, but please pay attention to the fabrics chosen, and how those patterned fabrics can update and modernize a piece. Plus, eccentricity isn't a bad word, not to mention a bad approach to designing/decorating your home, after all, it's your space to fill with what you like and love.

Astrid Chair, Pears: $1,298.00, Buy it here. (38"H, 29"W, 35"D)
Cleo Chair, Grade B (Custom): $1,298.00, Buy it here. (33"H, 32"W, 31"D)
Astrid Chair, Snapdragon: $1,498.00, Buy it here. (38"H, 29"W, 35"D)

[posted by katie]

It's always intriguing to see which design studio is putting out what, and which products actually make it through the initial 'wow' factor and into the actual 'i want that and am willing to pay for it' consumer realm. So, with that said, Puur Design Studio has a small but interesting array of furniture and home accessories. I especially love the 'Whoa' light with the base that plugs directly into the outlet and allows you to bend around any which way you want.

Cuurve (Chair): Molded Plastic, € 750
Earthquake Clock: Aluminum, € 99
Magic (Chair(s)): Wood, € 1750
Whoa (light): Enforced bendable metal, € 69


[posted by katie]

This classic deserves consideration if you're in the market for an iconic (and comfortable) lounge chair.

"Intended to combine comfort with freedom of movement, the shape of the Coconut Chair's white molded shell was inspired by the shape of Eero Saarinen's Kresge Auditorium at MIT. Echoing both the auditorium's triangular shape, as well as a portion of coconut shell, the Chair's unique form invites a number of different seating positions. The shell sits upon a chromed-steel base with three thin legs. A single-piece foam cushion, upholstered in high-quality semi-aniline leather, is molded into the shell."

H 33" W 40" D 34"

[posted by katie]

If you'll look closer at this chair, you'll see there's no metal frame...it's completely hand coiled from 100% carbon fiber and epoxy. As Bertjan Pot explains, "Every point on the rim of the chair is connected with all 4 points where the seat is connected to base-frame."

'Carbon Chair of Bertjan Pot and Marcel Wanders speaks of dedicated craftsmanship in connection to high tech materials and the material expertise only possible by personal excitement, passion and the love of "enlighted amateurs".'

designers: Marcel Wanders, Bertjan Pot
manufacturer: Moooi, the Netherlands
materials: Carbon fiber


[posted by katie]

I just re-fell in love with this chair today when I saw it over at Nicolas' small cool apartment entry at Apartment Therapy. We originally posted it almost 3 years ago, and I thought it was time for a revisit.

[posted by kris]