Wednesday, August 22, 2012

a chair is still a chair

This is post about chairs.  Just chairs.  Is it wrong that I love them so?

When I'm designing for a client, I always make sure that I ask which items from their current design they'd like me to incorporate into the new design.   I've had a couple of clients who happily purged everything and one who would surrender nothing.  Most have just one item that they can't bear to part with, and its almost always a beloved armchair.  So.  My guess, and its somewhat educated, is that everyone else loves chairs, too. 

There are quite a few that I just can't get out of my head.

The Union Jack chair from Voila! Studios here in Los Angeles is so, so beautiful and eco-friendly. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw these chalk sketches on at DWELL on Design.
Chalk sketches on the big wall.
  The finished product is just as much a work of art.
The Union Jack Chair

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to see "The House that Sam Built" exhibit at the Huntington Library.  I didn't know much about Sam Maloof before I saw the show, but I was happy to discover the extraordinary number of beautiful things he made and the wonderful home he built with his wife.  Now I can't help but see his influence in the work of many of my favorite designers. 
A Sam Maloof chair.

When I saw this chair I couldn't help but see the homage to Sam.  I love it all, from the tone and sheen of the wood, to the neo-retro upholstery.  This is a piece that immediately becomes an heirloom.
Modern Sam

A super-luxe chair designed by a student designer at Otis College of Art and DesignLovely.
A fabulous student design.

Extra points for these outdoor chairs designed by Damian Velasquez. They're metal, but they don't heat up when they sit in the sun.  The seat has lots of flex, so its super comfortable.  They stand up to rain and snow and cold, too.  Perfect no matter where you live.
metal mesh club chair





metal mesh slipper chair





























 The Tyson chair from Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams is my go to.  Its the right scale for any room and has a soft shape.  I've recently used pairs of these chairs in a house in Las Vegas upholstered with Greek key fabric and in a home in Philadelphia upholstered in stone colored suede.  So different, so perfect for each space, so epically comfortable.
The Tyson chair in smoky suede.
A pair of Tyson chairs designed for a client's Las Vegas living room.

Do you have a favorite chair?  I'd love to hear all about it. 

2 comments:

  1. I used to live in Venice beach. The street art and murals were all so amazing. Thanks for bringing me back. Great post!

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  2. You're so welcome, GGD! Glad to hear that Venice continues to inspire, even though you don't live here anymore. And thanks for reading!

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