Decorating & Design
June 9, 2016
Our Favorite Chairs From The Design Exchange’s Design Auction
The statement chair is one of those pieces that can elevate just about any space, from a sparse hallway to a lackluste dressing room to a blah living room. No matter your style, a great chair is a sure-fire way to bring a sculptural element to your room and inject some life into the space. At this year’s Design Exchange Design Auction, hosted by Jake Gold, Mark Challen and H&H’s very own Suzanne Dimma, there are statement chairs, both vintage and new, just waiting to be brought home. If you’re in the market or just browsing for inspiration, take a peek!
Crafted by renowned designer Pierre Jeanneret for Chandigarh — an Indian utopian city project by another master designer and his cousin, Le Corbusier — this chair is a stunner. The cane back and rich wood temper the mid-century modern shape of the legs and would look right at home in a sophisticated cottage or eclectic urban home. (Psst! This piece of design history donated by Porch Modern is valued at over $7,000!)
The Palmerston stool from Toronto’s Coolican & Company is an easy way to up the graphic feel of a room. As a part of a set, or solo, the moody feel of the stool adds quiet drama that could lend itself easily to a traditional or modern space. All of their pieces are handmade in small batches ensuring that each one is unique.
Another iconic piece of design history! This cord chair was designed by Canadian Jacques Guillon in 1953 and was re-issued by Avenue Road in 2008. This statement chair packs a punch without being overwhelming — it’s use of negative space and clean lines are what makes it ideal seating around a contemporary table.
Who says wingback chairs are stuffy? The Elk chair by Gus* Modern, a Toronto-based company, updates the classic design with walnut and powder-coated steel. The deep wood and enveloping curves would bring a touch of rustic warmth to a cabin or an urban address.
The Punt chair, designed by Elaine Fortin for Economic Nutrition Label, is a deceivingly complex chair. The process by which its made is based on the technique used by Fogo Island boat builders where the curved pieces are cut out of spruce or juniper tree roots rather than bent by steam. Labor intensive? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely!
Gio Ponti originally designed the D.153.1 armchair in 1953 for his own house in via Dezza, Milan and it’s the epitome of sleek, mid-century Italian design. The bright colors and strong lines of the chair would ground a more classic space or it could hold it’s own as a sculpture of sorts in a pared-down down space.
Though this iconic chair hardly needs an introduction, it’s too amazing not to talk about. Designed in 1966 by Warren Platner for Knoll, his goal was a gentle, graceful design that cocooned and comfortably supported anyone who sat in it. The striking red upholstery is dramatic yet playful — perfect for a family-friendly space.
A statement piece doesn’t have to mean a bold design in a loud color. Sometimes understated classics wind up stealing the show. This vintage rosewood perch by Niels Otto Møller, donated by designer Mazen El-Abdallah, is so versatile it could be used in a living room as extra seating, at a vanity or in an entryway. Any place it ends up, it’s guaranteed to attract compliments!
The Pekota City Lounger is practically screaming to be placed in a reading nook. Fusing retrofitted industrial elements with a warm buttery leather sling seat it would look handsome in a study or as a chic focal point in a family den.
For any serious collector, a vintage Thonet chair is a must-have. The pioneering designer, Michael Thonet, created some of the most iconic chairs of the 19th century and his legacy lives on today. This red and black chair would temper a light-walled hallway or look equally handsome flanking a simple console.
Donated by H&H Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Dimma and her husband, Arriz Hassam of arriz + co, the Biscuit Stool was designed by Arriz’s former firm, 3rd Uncle Design.The walnut saddle-like seat adds a touch of modern charm and the handle at the back makes it easy to pull out from underneath a vanity or desk. A wide seat offers an ideal perch for those who like a little room, while the clean chrome finish adds a pop of drama.