Contemporary Furniture - Funky Chairs

The Orchid Chair

This lounge chair is part of Silence and Grace's first two piece collection, that pays homage to the great designs of 50's and 60's using todays materials and knowledge.

The Orchid is a fluent and most important seamless shape, comfortable to sit on and designed with a love for detail. The natural contours and it's organic forms inspired by the leaves of an orchid,
smoother the body as you sit down and as you lean back the backrest flexes slightly.

This un-upholstered lounge chair constructed of a one-piece moulded epoxy fiberglass shell. An epoxy and bamboo fiber version is also in development and is mounted on a brushed steel base.

The chair comes with a complementary feather duster to keep the lower part of the chair (which can also be used to store newspapers and magazines) clean and dust free.

This chair is not in production yet! I promise I will let you know when it becomes available.

For further information please contact: info@silenceandgrace.com or check out Silence and Grace

This chair was launched at 100% Design in London as part of its 100% Futures collection (18th-21st September 2008).

Designer: Eero Aarnio (1968)

Materials: clear acrylic with a chain that suspends the chair from the ceiling made from chromed steel and clear acrylic.

This chair was inspired by the Ball Chair (pictured below) which was designed to cocoon the person sitting in the chair. The designer wanted to have light inside this chair and therefore chose a trasparent material and suspended it from the ceiling as he considered that there was no attractive way to make a clear pedestal!

I love this piece as I believe a chair suspended from the ceiling gives a playful aspect to an item that is usually only associated with its function - a place to sit!! The transparency of the material is very effective and makes this item suitable for any modern design.

This chair will work as well in a modern bachelor pad as it will as a feature piece any contemporary living room or public space.

Just click on the images for more information about these chairs:

Knoll Barcelona® Chair

Designer: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1929)

Materials: The chair is formed from a bent chrome flat steel frame with leather straps and buttoned leather apolstered cushions. If purchasing this chair take care to check the quality of the foam cushion and the leather used.

This design was inspired by the chairs used by the Roman magistrates and the Pharoahs of Eqypt.

The Barcelona Chair was designed to seat the Spanish King and Queen in the German Pavillion at the 1929 International Exhibition in Barcelona. You see a chair fit for Royalty!!

This chair is an iconic piece of design that is as valid today as it was when it was first designed. How many objects do we know that can age by 79 years and still look modern and contemporary?

This chair can work in any modern design scheme as an individual piece or in pairs. Today it is available in a wide selection of colors and you can choose from black, white, cream, brown, red or a myriad of funky colours.

Designer: Arne Jacobsen (1957-58)

Materials: fabric-covered, foam-upholstered moulded fibreglass seat on a swivelling cast aluminium base with loose seat cushion. You can also find this chair to-day upholstered in leather.

It was Jacobsen's intention to create a seat that was lightweight and fluid and that required minimum padding for comfort.

This chair was originally designed for the reception and lobby areas of the Royal SAS Hotel in Copenhagen.

This chair is a great addition to any office or living space. It adds a new height dimension to a room and frames any person who chooses to take a seat in the Egg Chair.

Designer: Philippe Starck (2002)

Materials: This chair is available in transparent or batch dyed durable polycarbonate.

The design of this chair is strongly influenced by Louis XV style and is baroque in its shape.

The transparency of the chair gives it a delicate appeal, however do not understimate the strength and durability of this piece, which can be attributed to the choice of materials used.

Transparent and particularly clear furniture present the designer with the ability to achieve an illusion of space, as the light in a room simply flows through it. These chairs can be used individually or in pairs in any room. Two of these chairs will add elegance to a small coffee or dining area or for real impact and stylish definition these funky chairs would look great around a grand dining table.

Designer: Harry Bertoia (1952)

Materials: The chair frames of this collection are constructed from welded steel rods in a choice of polished or satin chrome or in highly durable bonded rilsan in black or white. These chairs are upholstered in a choice of colors and fabrics including leather. Cow hide pads are available for the Bertoia Side Chair!

The Bertoia Chair series was borne out of an experiment in space and form by the artist and sculptor, Harry Bertoia in 1950's. Bertoia's motivation was to create sculptural pieces that were also functional. Val Bertoia describes the results of his father's experimentation as follows: "The chairs Harry designed were definitely sculptures that contained the human (physical) body comfortably above the floor."

Bertoia experimented with the concept of bending metal rods into functional art pieces and produced a much lauded collection of pieces including:
The Bertoia Diamond Chair, The Bertoia Bird Chair, The Bertoia Asymmetric Chaise, The Bertoia Side Chair and the Bertoia Bar Stool.

The Bertoia Side Chair and the Bertoia Bar Stool will add a touch of style and glamour to a dining table or breakfast bar. The other pieces of this collection are high impact, feature pieces that will accentuate a modern, contemporary design scheme.


Bertoia Diamond Lounge Chair


Bertoia Bird Chair and Ottoman

(Just Click the Image for the Source of this Chair)

Designer: Marcel Breuer (1925-1926)

Materials: Seamless tubular steel with a polished chrome finish. Upholstery made of thick, black cowhide leather.

Marcel Breuer was head of the cabinet making section of the very famous Bauhaus school of architecture. He was inspired by the functional design of a bicycle's tube frame and conceived the first tubular steel chair. The concept of a combining steel tubes and leather strips to create a chair was innovative, yet so functionally and aesthetically sound that the Wassily chair has become a classic symbol of modernism.

Despite popular belief, the chair was not designed for Wassily Kandinsky who was also at Bauhaus during this era. This chair was originally called B3, however, Kandinsky admired the chair's design and Breuer made one for his living quarters. Decades later an Italian manufacturer made the connection and the chair has ever since been know as the Wassily Chair.

The Wassily Chair, has been in production since the 1960s. While the design patent has expired the trademark name rights belong to Knoll. Effectively this means that any manufacturer can produce a chair in this design but they cannot use the name.

Reference: Wikipedia

Designers:
Eero Aarnio (The Trioli Chair - above and The Puppy Chair)
Javier Mariscal (The Alma Stacking Chair)

The value of funky chairs for kids stretches way beyond the functional. Many parents struggle with their desire to satisfy their children's desires for bright, colorful design schemes, in the knowledge that the child will grow out of their new (and often expensive room) quickly. Chairs and other accessories can add color and fun to a kids room and can easily be replaced as the child grows older.

The chairs I have chosen to feature here are:

The Trioli Chair

I love that this chair can be used in three different ways: as a low chair, a high chair or it can be flipped on its side to form a rocker. This chair is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It is available in blue, yellow, red and white.

The Puppy Chair

This is just so cute! The Puppy, is available in four sizes and four colors - green, orange, white and blue. This chair can be used indoors or outdoors. The Puppy is made of sturdy polyethylene and this abstract plastic puppy can be used as a sculpture, a child's stool, or even as a toy. The design of this chair is modern and stylish and lets face it most kids would love a new Puppy!

The Alma Stacking Chair

Designer Javier Mariscal has applied patterns of tree branches - with a few birds perched among them to add to the charming effect to this chair. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, the Alma Stacking Chair can be stacked up to four high, and is available in four colors to represent the four seasons - green for spring, yellow-orange for summer, brown for autumn, and white for winter. That this chair is stackable means that it can be used for playtime and then easily stored out of sight, if required!

Now you just have to get your kids to sit down for a minute!



Magis Puppy


Magis Alma Stacking Chair

This chair was designed by the fabulous design fraternity that is Fernando and Humberto Campana. (See Above)

The Sushi IV Chair is made from felt, textiles, synthetics rolled into concentric rings on welded iron structure.

The Campana Brothers design philosphy of using "scraps", in this case of material, gives this chair excellent green credentials. There were only 35 of these chairs made in a limited run, giving a certain exclusivity to the buyer.

This chair is definitely a funky, feature to be used in any modern living room or bedroom, although I also believe it would sit well in any modern art or design museum. Its multicoloured color pallette will liven up any neutral scheme!

For me this chair says fun, fun, fun!

The Sushi Daybed is by PIE and also has great green credentials. This company's stong commitment to the environment is demonstrated through the choice of materials for this design.

Water hyacinth, a highly renewable natural fiber, that grows so quickly in parts of Asia that it is often considered an environmental nuisance, is used here to magnificent effect.

This Sushi chair is a stunning and unique addition to any indoor or outdoor setting. It's cool,curvy shape is inviting - I just want to slouch down into it!

For me this chair says sit down, relax and have a cup of coffee (or two!).

Designer: Ron Arad (2006)

Materials: This chair is made from rotational-molded polyethylene. It comes in four colours orange and grey for outdoors and white and black painted finishes for indoors.

This sleek alternative to traditional seating is part rocking chair and part sculpture. The designer's architectural background is evident in the smooth sculptural lines and a comfortably angled seat, that define the Voido.

This piece could be described as a multifunctional chair but I would rather confer it with the title of functional art.

Bass BZOO Lounger with Ottoman

Some of you folks reckon that a number of the chairs featured here would not exactly be the most comfortable places to sit and indeed in some cases I agree that they are perhaps more artistic than comfortable. So I decided that I would bring you some chairs that are funky, contemporary and begging you to relax and lounge in them! I decided to begin with the Bass BZOO lounger.

Whether you want to bring a unique, modern flare to your room, design a casual but stylish space for relaxation, or incorporate a room of trend and comfort into your lifestyle, the BZOO Lounger is versatile enough for it all. The perfect low-seater with a chic design, the BZOO Lounger is unmatched in its unique craftsmanship. Tie the look together with the BZOO Ottoman - the perfect accessory and complement to your state-of-the-art Lounger.

The BZOO is available in several colors with the option of an additional cushion to complement your room perfectly. The colour options available include:

-Black chair with white reversible cushion
-White chair with black reversible cushion
-Espresso chair with camel reversible cushion
-Camel chair with cream reversible cushion
-Cream chair with camel reversible cushion
-Red chair with black reversible cushion

Dimensions

Chair Dimensions: 22" h x 44" w x 52" d
Ottoman Dimensions: 9" h x 27" w

Lafer Billie Ergonomic Recliner Chair

SInce we are relaxing now, I think it is time for a recliner! The Billie Chair by Lafer will dazzle you with its style and elegance. The ergonomic design of the chair allows one to fully recline and relax while relieving all stress. By the simple push of a button you can comfortably recline in 3 positions.

The infinite position offers its occupant the ability to raise their feet above the heart, lessening the pressure on the spine and relieving the body of the muscle tension experienced after an eventful day. Padded armrests and sleek lines will make this recliner a perfect fit for your living space.

This chair features top grain leather, a patented retractable footrest and Independent backrest and headrest controls -Fully adjustable recliner with to provide lumbar support. It is also friendly to the environment!