Classic Chairs

There are many classic chair designs in cane, wicker, and cording, but 5 in particular stand out to me. You really can’t go wrong with one of these—-classic, but still current, grown up, yet understated.

THONET BENTWOOD

Bentwood chairs are the perfect cafe chair. I think of it as the white linen shirt of interiors: a staple- never trendy, but never out of style.

effortless style by Lotta Agaton for Marimekko

casual, rustic, yet still sophisticated

You actually have a good chance of scoring a bentwood chair on eBay or Craigslist, and building a set over time. But if you are the type that needs instant gratification, you can buy them new from Design Within Reach.

HOFFMAN 811 CHAIR

The Hoffman 811 bentwood chair is the Thonet’s dressier and sexier sister. If the bentwood chair is the linen shirt, the Hoffman is in silk.

Sheena Murphy balances “grown up” with “family friendly” in her Brooklyn loft

so simple and fresh

Using a classic chair design balances the risks taken elsewhere in the Alex Hotel in Perth, Australia

MARCEL BREUER’S CESCA

The MoMA names the Cesca Chair as one of the 10 most important chairs of the 20th century. Named after the designer’s daughter, Francesca, and inspired by the tubing of bicycle handlebars, this chair brings a certain playfulness to any room.

I contrasted the modern Cesca chair with a salvaged farmhouse table in this San Francisco dining room

The design firm Space Exploration uses Cesca chairs in a simple breakfast nook in Brooklyn

Cesca chairs are pretty common - you can easily pick up a secondhand set.

HANS WEGNER WISHBONE

I don’t think the wishbone chair will ever go out of style. Its sculptural beauty makes it a bit more of a statement chair, but still subtle.

Olivia Barbarczy’s dining room is so welcoming

Wishbone chairs at the historic Villa Le Trident on the Cote D’Azur

MOLLER

These Moller chairs are the ultimate in mid-century design. They are expensive and completely worth it. Splurge! If we continue with the fashion analogy - the Moller is the cashmere sweater of interiors..

Amber Interiors doing what she does so well— layering textures.

Nordic simplicity perfected by Spatial Code in Copenhagen

VALUE

I always think its best to buy the original instead of a knock off. These chairs can be an investment, but unlike newer, trendier designs, they hold their value. I always advise clients that you can resell them for more or less what you paid. Scour eBay, Craigslist, Chairish, etc… and buy a lovingly restored set. You can’t replicate patina!

HOW TO MATCH DINING CHAIRS TO THE TABLE?

You don’t!

I get many questions about how to match chairs and table and I always say “do whatever feels good”. Honestly, there are no rules here (at least no rules that shouldn’t be broken at times). I love a juxtaposition of materials and styles: fancy with rustic, plastic with antique, shiny with dull,, modern with stuffy. Or keep it the all the same—I like that too. Do what makes you happy!

The caveat is that both table and chairs need to be well designed in their own right (no dorm room furniture please) - which is why I’m a fan of these classic styles. You just can’t go wrong with them.

Crushing on Wicker

Who says wicker is a hold over from the 70's?   Used sparingly, in classic and modern designs, wicker is light and airy which makes it an essential part of Tropical Living.  Its also relatively inexpensive, environmental friendly, durable, and adds instant texture and interest to a room. So even if you don't live in a tropical locale, you can (and should) add at least one piece of wicker to your home.

look how the woven chairs balance out the rest of this dining room in a Brooklyn loft by design exploration

a simple rattan ottoman adds texture in this room by Brady Tolbert

Wicker is a common term for variable types of woven furniture such as rattan, cane, reed, seagrass, willow and bamboo.  These fast-growing tropical plants are pliable so they can easily be woven or interlaced into baskets, lighting, chair seating, screens, trays, etc....  Synthetic wicker is also a low maintenance option, though typically, I much prefer natural, unpainted fibers.   Because the plants grow quickly, they are highly renewable, and therefore inexpensive and environmentally friendly.   

a dining room filled with complementing textures

The durability of wicker furniture makes it ideal for tropical settings (or for those of us with kids).   Ratan is one of the strongest woods available, and cane is not very porous which helps it repel stains and humidity (read: toddler friendly).   Though the woven aspect makes it prone to dust and dirt, it can easily be washed with soap and water and should be dusted regularly.  Ideally, wicker that is exposed to the elements or gets daily use should be lacquered every few years to keep it as strong as possible. Wicker that is properly maintained should last for years. 

durable retro Cesca chairs

wicker on wicker on gorgeous wood everything

However, even if wicker wasn't durable or inexpensive I would love it simply for its natural beauty.  It's organic nature adds instant texture and warmth to a room.  It can have a a relaxed, beachy vibe:

instant surfer style in Australia, by Kyal and Kara

adds a laid back feel to a mostly white kitchen, via onekindesign

who wouldn’t want to spend a Sunday afternoon lounging in these hanging wicker chairs?

But wicker is certainly not reserved for beach houses:

après-ski at its best in the French Alps

 Or a more grown-up sophistication:

CB2 nails it with this delicate cane settee

mixing an antique cane bench with industrial lighting and modern photography creates an eclectic feel

this wicker credenza from Urban Outfitters is a perfect way to hide clutter or a t.v.

a simple, but beautiful chair made in Indonesia by Nagarey

Scandinavian simplicity

Wicker lighting is quite trendy right now, and since its inexpensive and easy to swap out, its a great way to update a room to make it look more current.  Furthermore, wicker pendants can go bold and dramatic when either super big, or when grouped in multiples.  

grouped woven pendant lights add instant drama to The Surfrider Malibu Hotel

Casa Cook Hotel on Rhodes

now things just got interesting! Lights by tinekhome

Stay tuned for my next post with links to a range of wicker pieces that are available online. Also, we need an entire post dedicated to baskets — the easiest and cheapest way to add warmth and depth to your home.

Thanks for reading!

Tropical Design

I love to travel!  Don't get me wrong, I don't always love it at the time - especially not with four hungry and tired kids.   But I love getting a glimpse of how people live outside of foggy San Francisco.  As a designer, I come home from trips with my head bursting with inspiration.  For me, travel keeps life interesting.

This summer we packed up our swim suits and flip flops and headed south to the Caribbean.  We spent time in the Bahamas (visiting the islands where I grew up) Cuba, and Mexico.  It took us a bit to get used to the heat and humidity, to remember to put on sunscreen every few hours, and to plan siesta time into our busy days- but as you can imagine, it was pretty easy to adapt to the slower pace of life that inevitably goes along with life in the tropics. And non-stop swimming is pretty much required....

Life in the tropics is so vibrant.   Bright colors are pervasive - incredible turquoise water, brightly colored fish, birds and insects, lush vegetation, and colorful sunsets.   Even buildings are painted playful colors.  The sun is intense, humidity thick, music lively, colors vibrant - so interiors in tropical climates are naturally a respite from the intensity of the exterior world.  Think lots of whites and warm woods, tropical plants, hammocks, lots of cane and wicker, cement tiles, high ceilings, and most importantly the blending of indoor/outdoor living.   In the next few blog posts, I want to unpack some of my favorite aspects of tropical design - and what I think we can try to incorporate into our own homes---whether in tropical climates or not!  Stay tuned....