Take A Seat

Guilty Posting (again!)

2009-12-01T23:25:00.004Z

The other day I started thinking that if I can't look after my blog what sort of mother will I be?

Don't panic I'm not with child but when I started these musings on all things seated-related, it was as if this blog was a new baby which needed nurturing and constant attention - these days I'm like one of those mother's who's kid is the last one at the school gates.

I do have a good reason for being so slack of late; I have a new job. Yes, that's right folks after 12 months of being in freelance wilderness, not knowing if I would be able to to afford to eat let alone buy the latest Established & Sons chair, I am in full time employment again.

I've rejoined the rat-race, become a commuter, chose to get out of my PJs before 12noon and I'm loving it.

Likewise, I'm rather smitten with these chairs from Very Good & Proper.

Called Canteen Utility, they are my new favourite pieces and I just adore them. I love their rawness and homage to old school chairs which has been effortlessly reinvented with the bright colours.

I promised myself something this time last year; that when I was in full-time employment I would treat myself to a new chair, a sort of "well done me" present to, erm, myself and you know what? I think it might just be one of these...

Mid Century Modern

2009-11-15T17:37:00.006Z

I thought I'd died and gone to furniture heaven this afternoon.

A short hop on the bus to East Dulwich, saw me paying my first visit to Mid Century Modern, the furniture show that has been delighting mid century nuts like me for seven years.

I was told by the show's owner that this was the busiest it had ever been with people from Holland and further afield as well as the locals all clambering to get their mits on a Wegner or vintage Eames rocker.

After a quick visit to the lovely Keith from Mini Moderns (who very kindly gave me a Sitting Comfortably? cushion which I adore already) I ventured into the main hall.

And wow, it's lucky my latest cheque hadn't cleared because I probably would have blown the rent on a chair or three.

Seeing all this beautifully crafted furniture got me thinking how awful it is people can get away with designing crap stuff (you know who you are!) every time I turned a corner, there was a new Scandinavian delight to get my heart racing a little faster.

One of my favourite stands was Orange & Brown, a company specialising in stunning furniture and based in Bristol, I for one am glad they made the slog up the M4.

There were too many gorgeous items on their stand to mention but once I got home I had a quick look at their website and found these two beauties.

This delight is a Falcon swivel chair by Sigurd Ressell and was designed for Vatner. There's not much else to say about it other than I utterly adore it. I love the shape, I love the chrome, I adore that it swivels and would probably sell my Nan to get my hands on one (sorry Nan!)
And my second choice from this treasure trove of beautifully made furniture is this side chair by Finn Juhl, not least because it reminds me of my own lovely dining chairs.

I skipped out of Mid Century Modern one happy lady, clutching my cushion and trying to figure out how to save enough money to buy the lot next year...

Baby Boom

2009-11-03T20:16:00.006Z

It honestly feels as if everyone I know at the moment (females obviously!) is either pregnant or has just had a baby.

I've now even become a little blase when I get the "I've got something to tell you" phone call - I'm excited for them all of course; even if it does make me feel old that all my drinking buddies are all of sudden with child.

So it's no surprise that a press release about vintage furniture for children stuck around longer in my inbox than it would have a year ago.

These two beauties are from a fab website called Molly-Meg, which stocks an array of vintage seating and accessories for the little ones in your life.

I love this 60s bucket chair which is every inch as stylish as its grown up counterpart and equally gorgeous is this retro-print, booster chair from California.
So, I'm thinking that for the next arrival (two of which are due imminently) they'll perhaps be getting a vintage chair instead of the ubiquitous baby-grow.

I Rest My Case

2009-10-14T20:30:00.003+01:00

I try not to have favourite, favourite designers - it always seems a bit unfair to me, like having a favourite pet or worse , child.

However, I'm totally in love with everything Case do - from their beautiful, 50s inspired bed to this little beauty.

The Bridge armchair is designed by Matthew Hilton, one of the designers who produce the stunning collection on offer at Case.

Some people would find this chair a little bland, not that exciting, non-descript some might say, but not me.

I've decided over the course of writing this blog (it's been a year by the way) that I adore simplicity. It's why my flat is painted in various shades of white, why my furniture is sleek and has clean lines.

Some people also might say that simple is boring, it's not - as this chair proves it's classic, it's stylish and in a strange way, it's comforting.

I really, really want some of these chairs to replace my slightly knackered dining set - so in the absence of an endless pot of money or super rich parents, I'll be playing EuroMillions on Friday - well you never know, it could be me...

Something Old, Something New

2009-10-12T19:16:00.004+01:00

Some very dear friends of mine got married last week, which got me thinking that when I eventually tie the knot, I bet I'll be as concerned about the chairs used at the reception as much as the dress.

As I've said before, seating is extremely important to me - clearly otherwise I wouldn't be blogging about it and I love nothing more than a chair with a bit of history.

So after working my tiny little fingers to the bone today (sending a record number of emails) I thought I'd treat myself to some virtual shopping over at Retrouvius. It's a favourite of mine and not just because of their wonderful name but because they source some of the best retro furniture around.

These gorgeous bentwood chairs (am still yet to see this wonderful technique in action - hint, hint) are listed as being from the former Czechoslovakia and possibly Thonet.

I love their Modernist shape but what I really love is day dreaming about where they previously lived, who owned them, did their owners love them and how did they end up of the retro scrapheap before being lovingly rescued.

LDF: Part One

2009-09-28T10:30:00.009+01:00

As I'm sure most design addicts are, I've been dedicating my Monday nights to Design For Life. It's the Philippe Starck-meets-Big Brother show that's setting out to find Britain's young design talent.

So far, I've been totally disappointed. Yes, I get to watch one of the grand masters of design share his thoughts, wit (who'd have thought he'd be so sweet?!) and experience but the "contestants" are dull, dull, dull.

Perhaps they're trying too hard to please but they range from being totally abstract (tra, Nebil - you dug your own grave last week) to the totally bloody obvious (the redhead one who's name totally escapes me because she is possibly one of the most boring people in the world) so I was starting to agree with Monsieur Starck's opinion that British design hadn't seen anything interesting since the launch of Habitat.

Well, all I can say, is that I hope he popped along to LDF last week, because I for one, was blown away by the abundance of talent on offer.

100% Design seemed to have ditched its desire to be a challenger for The Ideal Home Show and has gone back to its roots. Instead of endless salesmen trying to flog me bathrooms I neither wanted or could afford, I got to chat to designers about their designs.

I got to touch, I got to admire and stand in sheer awe at how in what must be one of the most challenging times for new and emerging designers (have I mentioned how much I despise this recession?!) they're upbeat and confident about their work.

Of course, there were lots of beautiful chairs on offer. In fact, I think the friends I walked around 100% Design with were bored to tears with me as I repeatedly sighed "I want, I want" by the end of the day, I'd become practically parrot-like.

And, boy did I want this beautiful Katakana chair from Dare Studio. It is absolutely a "me" chair. I love the elegant back and angular shape.

I'm on the lookout for a desk chair at the moment (a desk to go with it would be a good start I suppose) and this one is top of the list.

The LDF Marathon

2009-09-26T13:17:00.003+01:00

Wow, brilliant week all in all. I've been pounding the London streets in the name of design and have met, spoken to and seen so many exciting designers during London Design Festival that the blog posts are going to be coming thick and fast.

Just need to digest everything I've seen and heard so definitely come back soon and...

Watch this space...

The Week Ahead

2009-09-20T21:58:00.004+01:00

Wow, the week ahead is certainly going to be a busy one.

LDF is in full swing and the invitations for launches all over the capital not to mention a thousand requests to visit stands at 100% Design and TENT have been coming thick and fast.

I've been resting this week in preparation for one of my favourite past times: finding new designers.

During last year's LDF, I was on press week which meant I raced around Earl's Court like a total lunatic. With thoughts of mounting proofs in the back of my mind, I literally snatched press releases while throwing business cards at stands.

I didn't even make it to TENT and totally uncharacteristically left a Conran party early and didn't venture anywhere near Tom Dixon's launch do.

Oh, how different this year will be. I'm not on press, the deadlines have been met and backlog cleared and I'm free to enjoy.

The prospect of finding new chairs excites me beyond belief. Some people love shoes but as you know by now it's chairs that float my boat.

However, what's totally essential with all this running about and remembering who designs what and who you've promised to feature on your blog, is a comfy chair.

It's got to be stylish too of course, and this baby comes from one of my favourite design companies ever, Pinch.

Unfortunately, it's not in my living room (neither and also unfortunately is one of their gorgeous armoires - take a look at the website and you'll know what I mean)

It is of course on my wish list, yes that ever-growing list of beautifully crafted furniture which I fear will only be longer by this time next week...

Catwalk Inspired

2009-09-06T19:19:00.003+01:00

I wasn't going to blog today because I always think blogging with a hangover is a very bad idea.

You're leaving yourself wide open to spelling mistakes, getting designers' names wrong, uploading the wrong images etc etc.

But then, I logged onto Graham & Green for a little virtual shop to soothe my pounding head, high-heels damaged feet and slightly wobbly gait and found this new wonderful chair so I knew my rule about too many the night before and blogging had to go out the window.

I've talked before about how the fashion houses of Paris, Milan and London and even the high street massively influence interiors and this chair is a prime example.

I challenge you to find a shop without a studded bag, top or shoe at the moment, they're all the rage as are fashion editorial pages full of how to get the look complete with stud-inspired headlines.

So, hats off to Graham & Green for coming up with this studded, linen chair. I adore the classic shape and colour (olive green is one of favourites when it comes to interiors) and of course the studs. Not just because they're bang on trend but because they look rather cool.

Now, if you don't mind I'm off to curse those last few vodka and cokes and have an early night...

Italian Throne

2009-08-25T21:15:00.006+01:00

Being half-Italian, I'm probably a little bit biased when it comes to Italian furniture and designers.

So, when I was browsing fabulous interiors store TwentyTwentyOne for wardrobes, it's no surprise I became a bit distracted by the chairs.

That's when I found this gem.

More a work of art than something to sit on, Pole Position (strange name I feel - but hey ho, each to their own) is designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni (wish my name sounded as deliciously Italian) for L'abbate

So, what do I love about this chair? Well, obviously I love the buttoned back, given my slight obsession with buttoned-backs but I also love the shape, the style, its definite regal feel.

I also love the colours its available in, too many interiors products are drab and dreary but not this.

It's been a while since I added something to my wish list but this is a definite addition - in fact, the purple one better be under my Christmas tree this year otherwise they'll be tears before the turkey...

Spotted: A Rather Cool Chair

2009-07-22T21:30:00.005+01:00

My parents being the nurturing, caring and supportive peeps they are took me to Art in Action in Oxford at the weekend.

"There's some really cool chairs that would look good on your blog" they said and so off we set to be surrounded by creative people.

I've never been surrounded by so many creatives in my life, and despite my rather inappropriate choice of footwear (flip flops and the grounds of a house subjected to a torrential downpour the night before do not mix) it was a brilliant day.

Ceramics creators, textiles geniuses, jewellery designers, artists, sculptors were all displaying their wares. I have to say it made me feel rather humble. Let's just say, art has never been my strong subject - my creativity has always displayed itself in the form of words and definitely not painting or drawing.

As much as I loved walking around all the tents, it was the woodwork one that drew my attention as that's where I knew the chairs would be.

So, after trying not to fall over in the mud for the 50th time that day, I entered the tent and was not disappointed.

I rather resembled a tourist wandering around London as I snapped pics of some of the coolest chairs I'd ever seen.

Those pictures of course remain on my camera, not yet downloaded (oh give me a break, I've been busy working) but while they still wait, here's a sneak preview.

This is the Lobi Loi chair by Chair Creative. I love the raw, almost unfinished quality - which I'm told by someone in the know is a very hot trend for AW09, presumably to make us all feel really guilty for our desire for bling and glitz.

I urge you to check out Chair Creative's other designs, because you definitely won't see these on the high street.

By the way, my Dad printed the first ever Art in Action catalogue over, erm, lots of years ago. You could say print's in the blood...

Guilty Posting

2009-07-13T18:50:00.006+01:00

Do you know, I can't even bear to look at the last post I wrote because it was agggeeesss ago, which is not good.

After all, there's no one else to write this blog for me - no editorial staff of 10 (one day, one day...) to look after it for me - there's just me, myself and I and I feel terribly guilty about not having updated it since the middle of May...

...there, I've said it and it feels a bit like going to an AA meeting (by the way I do NOT know what happens at AA meetings) so "My name is Alexandra Toso and I haven't blogged for a long time" now on with the post...

Chairs haven't gone away of course since I last wrote, in fact I've discovered even more beautiful ones in my hiatus and this one comes from the discovery of a furniture design company new to me.

Benchmark (available at Furnish) is fast becoming a favourite of mine.

Simply because they make really stunning furniture, when frankly we live in a world where people think they can turn out any old tatt.

The Alvis chair has pretty cool design credentials given it came from the mind of the godfather of design Sir Terence Conran but that aside looks stunning too.

I love the clean lines, simple shape and above all I love the fact it can be upholstered in your own fabric. I think it would look pretty cool in velvet or perhaps a retro pattern.

I promise there won't be such a long space between postings not now I've got my mojo back...

Lovely Leather

2009-05-17T11:44:00.006+01:00

My poor chair blog has been somewhat neglected of late, which I of course feel extremely guilty about. There are fairly good reasons though; I've been doing lots of freelance work and working on two really exciting websites - one is greenmystyle.com (check it out for great, stylish eco buys) the other one is a bit of a secret but watch this space...

This week has actually been chair-filled in one way or another. Waiting to meet someone at the amazingly impressive One Canada Square, I sat on a Barcelona chair in reception, I've decided that I still want one and while on our way to a press show, my friend Roh and I walked past the Fortune Theatre in Covent Garden which is being refurbished and discovered the developers were giving away the beautiful, Victorian seats from the circle.

But anyway, chair of the week has to go to this rather beautiful specimen from Poltrona Frau (in fact I could happily live with any the chairs from Poltrona Frau) which is called Archibald (how do chairs end up with their names I wonder?) and is by Jean-Marie Massaud.

I adore its delicate folds of leather, its simple design and the colour, it would go perfectly in my new dining room.

Genius Idea

2009-04-23T17:35:00.003+01:00

It's been a while since my last post. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was more than a little disappointed not to make it onto Caroline Taylor's blogroll but hey, ho onwards and upwards.

Thing is there are a lot more chair blogs out there than I ever thought there would be and don't even get me started on chair books. There are loads but there's still room for mine so if anyone's reading and fancies giving me a huge advance to travel round furniture shops taking snaps let me know.

Anyway, I digress so on with this post. I've mentioned before how exciting it is to come across new chairs. Yeah sure, there's the classic thing, the cutting-edge, high end designer thing and as we know about my love of vintage furniture, the retro thing but it's always great to find out about someone coming up with a new idea.

Which brings me on to this chair which is designed by Robyn Notley found via Glimpse Online (a great new design website)

The idea, as all the best ones seem to be (and yes I am talking about my idea to start a smoothie and juice bar before they were popular) is simple yet deliciously wonderful.

Robyn has transformed the humble Lanni chair from Ikea into something that every bespoke-aficionado would be proud to own.

By making "add-ons" such as spindled legs, backs and seats from acrylic, Robyn's idea turns a everyone's-got-one chair into the equivalent of a Dior couture dress.

Ok, so that's not the fairest comparison in the world perhaps, but Robyn's concept does make something pretty ordinary look rather interesting.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, as with all new (good) design should be applauded. Big round of applause for Miss Notley then!

I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside...

2009-04-20T20:19:00.003+01:00

...but unfortunately for me, I'm in Streatham!

Well, you can't have it all and at least this week's meant to be sunny, sunny, sunny.

My better half (lots of people to testify this is definitely the truth) has spent the last few weekends sorting out our small, but perfectly formed garden.

Looks like I'll get lots of opportunity to sit in it, which means I'm on the hunt for some fantastic garden furniture.

Top of the list is a gorgeous deckchair and this stripy treat from Southsea Deckchairs is the perfect choice.

I love the colourful stripes and think it would be perfect for sitting and plotting my future (with a large G&T of course)

Poached, Fried, Boiled, Scrambled or Chocolate...

2009-04-12T14:19:00.004+01:00

...none of those for me thank you.

I'd much rather be unwrapping a delicious new chair than a foil-covered chocolate treat.

It being Easter and all I thought I would share one of the most iconic chairs ever designed in the history of interiors.

This is the Egg chair* (get the Easter connection now?) by Arne Jacobson, one of godfathers of modern design.

I love this chair because it has a certain feel of power to it. The high back, comfortable seat, free flowing swivel (brilliant for those Dr Evil or James Bond baddie moments)

But above all, I love it because its name, while being a little abstract, it so appropriate - sitting in this chair makes you feel coccooned and safe - a little like being inside an egg would I suppose.

*This chair is from Go Modern

Library Chair

2009-04-07T17:32:00.002+01:00

I clearly love chairs (and rugs and cushions) but I also love books.

Fiction, non-fiction, biographies, crap novels, brilliant novels - I love them all. I love the way they feel, I love the way they smell, I love the way they look.

Books have had such a profound effect on me that I can still remember the first line of my favourite book when I was 15, I regularly dream about books I've read and my Facebook and Twitter password is the name of the protagonist of one of my favourite childhood books.

In fact, books have such an effect on me that I once sat on a bus with tears running down my face reading one of the saddest books ever.

So, imagine my absolute delight and urge to rush out and buy when I saw this chair.

It's called the Bibliochaise (geddit) and is designed and manufactered by Italian company Nobody & Co.

Its ingenious designs features storage space for a wide number of books and I love it. How bloody clever - a chair that keeps your books in check.

Snooker Loopy

2009-03-30T17:58:00.002+01:00

I've certainly never made a secret of the fact I love retro and reclaimed chairs.

The Internet is full of beautiful treasures and if I had the money, well let's just say, food, heating and water would be low down on the list of necessities...

This chair is simply divine and is covered from none other than the cloth that is traditionally used for snooker tables.

It comes from the ever-expanding stock at Retrouvius, where you'll find beautiful and carefully sourced furniture nestling among clocks, mirrors and lighting.

Danish Pastry or Danish Chair...

2009-03-24T14:04:00.002Z

Tough call, right? But I know what one gets my vote and it's not a flaky, sweet treat.

I've blogged before about loving Danish furniture. Let's just say it's an obsession of mine.

In fact, it's probably a good thing I don't live in Denmark because I have a sneaky suspicion I would have snaffled up all the good stuff and not left much behind.

Which would be a shame because then people wouldn't be able to find little treasures like this.

This particular specimen comes courtesy of Fragile Design, a Birmingham-based vintage furniture shop.

And as well as some beautiful 20th century furniture, they also have great range of vintage fabrics, glassware and ceramics.

So, yet again, it's breakfast 0 - bloody lovely furniture 1 - well, I can always have a croissant...

Big Boned

2009-03-20T09:33:00.003Z

Graham & Green is fast becoming one of my favourite destinations for on line, virtual chair shopping.

Comfortable, beautifully designed pieces mingle with 20th century classics from Kartell.

My latest discovery from their extensive catalogue is this Rams Head chair which is made from inlaying bone into wood.

It makes for a very pretty occasional chair which would be perfect for a bedroom or hallway.

The Midas Touch

2009-03-19T08:05:00.005Z

Oh sod the recession, I mean it. 2m people unemployed, companies collapsing all around us and a whole new generation of graduates facing a scary end to their degrees in a couple of months (jeez, it was hard enough to find work in 2000...) it's just way too depressing.

So, in a bid to cheer myself up yesterday, I set about trying to find a ridiculously expensive and decadent chair. A sort of cathartic sticking two-fingers up to the economy.

I DID find one of the most expensive chairs ever sold, it was Yves Saint Laurent's Dragons Chair by Eileen Grey which was sold for a whopping £19m but I have to say I don't really like it and even in my "bugger the recession" frame of mind, it is a ridiculous price tag.

So, instead I've settled for this gold chair by Fredrik Mattson for Swedish design company Bla Station.

Its covered in 24-carat gold leaf but I think it's anything but bling. In fact, I really rather love it and its sleekness while be an unashamed show off.

Right, that's me cheered up (well until I hear the news again), how about you?

Dear Jim, Will You Fix It For Me...

2009-03-16T09:26:00.005Z

...to be the designer of fabulous restaurants?

I know it's a bit far fetched but seeing though I never actually wrote in asking to be Kate Adie when I was 7 (always thought she might not want a small, inquisitive child following her round Gaza, Tiananmen Square et al) maybe I stand a chance of getting this "fix it"

The reason? On Friday I was whisked around London for a fabulous and planned-within-an-inch of its life Magical Mystery Birthday Tour.

It included an amazing lunch at Skylon. Next to design, food is my other passion and knowing this my boyfriend had carefully selected a Conran & Partners designed restaurant.

"This is the type of restaurant I would design" I gushed during my Bellini "look at the lights, the tables, ooh look at the chairs"

And just look at them. Sleek, show-stopping, beautiful and elegant. It's amazing how wrong people designing restaurants and bars get it sometimes.

They should all take a leaf out of Skylon's book...

Fares Please!

2009-03-11T09:20:00.004Z

I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried on the day the last Routemasters made their journeys round London.

Ok, I'd been to a press show and had a little champagne but as I boarded the last ever southbound 159 (Marble Arch - Streatham Bus Garage) I felt incredibly sad.

The Routemaster was iconic feature of London, as much as Buck Palace or 10 Downing St, so much so that on my boyfriend's first trip to central London, he insisted on jumping on one going down the Strand, just for the hell of it.

But the Routemaster meant a lot more to me than just being another tourist attraction.

As a lowly and very badly paid editorial assistant, it was my main way to get into central London. I couldn't afford the tube or train, so instead would board the 159 at some ungodly hour and travel on this rickety, freezing or boiling vehicle (the temperature controls it seemed had never worked) and make my way from seemingly-suburban Streatham to the flashing lights and glamour of Piccadilly Circus.

Please forgive me my indulgent trip down memory lane, there is a reason for it.

That being, I adore, love and immediately had a nostalgic yearning for this deckchair.

It's from fabulous interiors site Pedlars and designed by Tony Davis. It's made from a selection of original Routemaster destination blinds which actually rotate on the chair so you can choose what destinations you display.

What a piece of genius and a wonderful way to remember these iconic friends of London.

Urban Myth?

2009-03-10T10:37:00.002Z

Someone once told me that if you stand at the Eros statue in London's Piccadilly Circus for 45 minutes, you'll see someone you know.

I'm not sure if that's true (and I've never had the time to hover for long enough) but I quite like the idea of this urban myth and have often wondered if I did have time to spare who I'd meet.

What I really like and have since I started working in interiors, is the Eros chair by Philippe Starck for Kartell.

It's available in a wide range of jewel-like colours - although my particular favourite is this dramatic red - strange seeing though it would go with nothing in my flat and I also recently talked some friends out of having a bright red kitchen.

I love the way it looks and feels and how simple it is and of course being designed by Monsieur Starck it's bound to be in my favourites list.

All You Need Is Love

2009-03-05T09:01:00.003Z

I know Valentine's Day is well and truly behind us but I just had to show off this chair from One Eco Home.

The Senna Love Seat by Ami McKay is the perfect antidote to all the tales of doom and gloom that fill all our news outlets.

After all, you might not have loads of spare cash at the moment, possibly you've lost your job but what does a bit of love cost?

Ok, shocked myself a bit there with my over sentimental statements so let's look at the design nitty gritty of this chair.

It's so deliciously vintage looking with ruched back and carefully turned slender legs but best of all, there's room for two - great if you're so in love you aren't even paying attention to the recession and even better if you can't afford two chairs...

Glam It Up

2009-03-03T18:46:00.005Z

Wanna put some glamour back in your life?

Well, look no further than Jimmie Martin's pimped-up chairs.

I must admit, at first I wasn't too sure about designers Jimmie and Martin's treatment of antique furniture but I've come round to them and find them both stylish and amusing.

I particularly like this chandelier one, although Jimmie and Martin also put images of dogs and birds on the backs of chairs.

Has Spring Sprung?

2009-03-01T15:50:00.004Z

In contrast to the snow of a few weeks ago, it has felt positively Spring-like these last couple of days.

And what a difference it seems to make in everyone. Smiling faces. Doors being held open. Although I have to admit the person I saw wearing flip flops on Friday was taking it a little too far.

But with today the first day of March and it being Spring officially only just around the corner, I thought I'd choose this chair for today's post.

I've always loved these "book"chairs from Purves & Purves what could be better than reading a book in a chair with a book's cover.

Bold And Beautiful

2009-02-25T19:26:00.002Z

I've talked before about how I love the way fashion and interiors seem to intermingle and it seems this is happening even more now than ever before.

Missioni are on the whole predominately known for their gorgeous clobber but they also do a mean line in interiors too.

From rugs and cushions to china and towels, they've covered it all.

But I didn't know about their furniture until I stumbled across American website Unica Home.

Missoni Home's collection of seating ranges from exquisite loungers and comfy armchairs to this piece of design genius.

I love everything about this chair. I love the shape. I love the colour of the wood. And I adore the bold print fabric.

Ok, so now we've established I love it, I'm off to buy it (well, in my dreams anyway...)

Every Cloud And All That

2009-02-23T09:17:00.004Z

Although this chair is more silver covering than silver lining.

But still, however tenuous my headline for this posting might be, it seemed more than appropriate for this gorgeous chair.

Brissi, is a great interiors website, one that stocks beautiful and simple homes accessories and furniture.

Sometimes in life, the simplest things are the most beautiful and this chair is no exception. It would be perfect for a bedroom, perhaps a hallway or if you were feeling particularly decadent as elegant dining tables round a simple table.

Degisn Maestro

2009-02-21T09:35:00.002Z

Anyone who follows architecture or any aspect of design, will have heard of Le Corbusier - he was one of the most important players in the world of modern architecture.

To celebrate his work, the Barbican have put together an exhibiton, Le Corbusier - The Art of Artchitecture. Which, I can't wait to see and promises to be a real treat with talks, events and imagery of this amazing man's achievements.

Of course, he also designed a chair or two as well! In fact, it seems everyone who's anyone in the design world, has at some point designed a chair.

I love this LC1 chair (design is now under license by Cassina) and short of being able to afford one of his buildings, I'll settle for this chair to add to my ever growing museum of design classics.

New Find

2009-02-19T08:07:00.003Z

I blogged the other day about how Twitter is exposing me to American interiors blogs and so opening up a whole new collection of shops and websites.

In fact I'm seriously considering cashing my pounds for dollars (although the exchange rate isn't exactly great at the moment) and heading for the states to stock up on gorgeous homewares.

The newest one I've discovered is Brocade Home.

Their furniture is simply beautiful and I particularly adore this pretty, cut work chair which is also available in white.

Vintage Vibe

2009-02-18T08:52:00.007Z

It's no secret I adore vintage furniture. While I can appreciate modern designs and embrace new designers, it's vintage furniture that really gets me excited.

There's something mystical about vintage finds. It's not just the fact they've survived the years (especially in a time when things are bought and thrown away without a second thought) but I love imaging who owned it, where it came from and what it was used for.

Take this gorgeous desk chair from H is for Home for instance. Was it a writer who owned it or perhaps it sat at a lady's desk used for RSVPing to fabulous parties.

I've been thinking a lot about desk chairs recently, which is odd seeing though I don't have a desk, but working from home for me at the moment means sitting on the sofa or leaning on the dining room table.

Neither are ideal and I'm sure I'd be much more productive if I had one of these...

Wonderful Wood

2009-02-16T09:58:00.004Z

Isn't the simplest things if life that often provide the most beauty and pleasure?

Take these chairs for instance. Stunning as they are, they're no amazing design feat and they're not going to challenge you in the way some furniture can. But I adore them.

They're by Bryce & Kerry Moore for Context Furniture and I love their use of different shades of wood and their thoroughly modern seats and backs complimented by the turned wood legs.

Wouldn't they work beautifully with a chunky, battered old table for the perfect dining room set?

Gently Rocking

2009-02-14T12:01:00.004Z

I think I'm becoming slightly obsessed with rocking chairs.

It seems, I just can't get enough of sleek chairs on rockers and after the RAR chair by Charles & Ray Eames and Reno Bonzon's Gaivota design, now I've found this little gem by Blu Dot, an American design company which is fast becoming a favourite of mine.

I love the way the wood has been moulded to look like fabric and how it appears to gently drape.

This post is a bit exciting for me because it's the 60th one since I started back in October 08, I love blogging about chairs even more than I did when I started and I can't wait to write my 120th post...

Winging It

2009-02-14T09:34:00.003Z

Tom Dixon is without a doubt one of our most prolific and important designers. After all, you would kinda have to be to be given the role of Head of Design at Habitat.

So I decided it was high time, on this decidedly frosty Saturday morning, to feature one his creations.

This is the Wingback Chair and I adore everything about it.

Firstly, I love its shape, so dramatic and curvaceous, then I love its colour. I would usually steer clear of black furniture but you can't really imagine this theatrical chair in any other shade and lastly I love the fact that it looks so comfortable.

It looks like it would swallow you up, not a bad thing when the temperature outside continues to drop.

Miss Potter?

2009-02-13T08:47:00.003Z

Not entirely sure Terence Conran for Content by Conran had Beatrix Potter in mind when he designed and named this chair as I fancy she would have preferred something a little more floral.

I, on the other hand, love this Beatrix chair and everything about it.

I love the shape (comfy enough but still with a design edge), I love the colour (most unlike me - I usually wouldn't have anything other than cream or dark brown leather) and I love its little spiky legs.

I have to admit, when I first started this blog back in October 08, I worried I would struggle to find new chairs I liked. In fact, a few people even asked me if "I'd run out of chairs?"

The answer is no. In fact a resounding no, because as fast as I can write about them, there are designers dreaming new ones up and long may it continue.

Just What The Doctor Ordered

2009-02-12T16:27:00.004Z

I could really do with this chair at the moment.

I'm in the middle of having my entire flat decorated, which has meant by day I tiptoe round the painters, trying (and failing miserably) to not get paint on my clothes and by night, me and the boyfriend re-shift all our stuff from room to room.

You'd think it would be cosy sitting in one room all day but it's not - when I think of cosy I think of a chair like this.

The Lansdowne by Terence Woodgate at SCP is possibly one of the comfiest chairs around.

Observe (now I sound like David Attenborough) but anyway, look at how the arms would positively hug you and it's deep seat and button back only add to it's beauty.

I think it's an all round winner so it's definitely going on the wish list/book...

Call It A Day

2009-02-12T08:33:00.004Z

It's been a while since my last post. It's not been out of sheer laziness but more that I tripped and dropped my laptop last Wednesday and the screen went blank.

Panic set in, my Mum called and said she was glad I hadn't fell over (I know that's a Mum thing to say but personally, I wished it had been me that had landed with a thud rather than my brand new, beautiful machine) and try as I might it just wouldn't work.

Anyway, it's back in action and so am I. It made me think though how reliant we are on technology and machines.

Accessing email was a problem (no one talks on the phone anymore - so I was effectively cut off from the world) I couldn't have the access I wanted to Twitter or Facebook and most importantly couldn't check Gorkana (despite the lack of jobs - I like to regularly log on to the site - I think it's probably some weird kind of self-imposed torture!

Sorry, clearly off on a bit of a tangent there. So here's the first chair for a week:

I thought long and hard about what my comeback chair would be; something large and traditional, something quirky, something bright or something serene.

In the end, I plumped for something classic.

Day Birger et Mikkelsen are best known for their fashion but they actually produce a great range of simple, classic homewares.

I love this Woven Leather Camp chair. It's so simple in its design and but really, really beautiful.

However, I think it's way too nice for camping (I definitely wouldn't risk it at Glastonbury) perhaps I could take it Glamping...

Family Heirloom?

2009-02-04T09:24:00.002Z

I'm sure we had one these chairs in the family home when I was growing up. I distinctly remember it sitting in the dining room, ready to accommodate unexpected guests.

Thing is I don't know where it is now. Probably another casualty of my parents downsizing from a large Edwardian terrace house in London to a beautiful (but considerably smaller) Georgian cottage in Wiltshire.

But I always loved this chair, so was really pleased to find out what it actually was.

It's the 14 chair by Thonet (available at SCP) and is made from bentwood, which was created by using steam to bend the wood. That was back in 1830 and since then has become a design classic.

Annoyingly it would look rather good in MY dining room, so I'm off to call the parents to find out where on earth it is...

New Launch

2009-02-03T18:50:00.004Z

I recently attended the PS Ikea launch which threw up some amazing finds.

We all know Ikea is a trusted and much loved store (and you get to eat meatballs too!) but if you actually think about the design of their products, functionality is usually key.

Sturdy bookcases, colourful, plastic moulded CD storage boxes and the student and first-time buyer staple, the Klippan sofa.

So, it's always exciting to see they haven't lost their mojo when it comes to designing cutting edge and thought provoking pieces.

Take this Slingra chair, at first glance, it wouldn't look out of place at Tent or 100% Design. It's elegant sweeping armrests, use of colour and texture and you have a statement piece on your hands.

Much is written about mass produced furniture, usually with the design glitterati adding a condescending sneer but not everyone can afford designer furniture.

That doesn't mean they don't know about style, that doesn't mean they don't want their homes to be just as beautiful.

So for all its huge queues, sometimes unfathomable layout and screaming kids (my tip: never, ever visit Ikea on a Sunday) it seems Ikea has got it right.

Affordable, stylish furniture that your average Joe can afford to bring into their homes.

That definitely gets the thumbs up from me.

Let It Snow

2009-01-31T15:33:00.003Z

It's supposed to snow this weekend/next and I'm rather excited about it.

For one, I don't have to commute, so I won't be avoiding slushy pavements and battling with London coming to a standstill like it seems to every time we experience severe weather conditions.

No, instead I'll be wrapped up in my cosy flat (ok, so a Victorian conversion with high ceilings isn't exactly cosy), watching the flakes fall, which made me think that sharing this chair was rather appropriate.

This is the Poltronas Showtime chair by Jaime Hayon for Bd Barcelona Design.

And it made me think of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Yes, I know the White Witch was pretty evil but I bet she'd want this as her new throne.

I wonder if Jaime Hayon (who incidently is a prolific designer, having worked for companies such as Bisazza, Swarovski, Established & Sons and Moooi) had this in mind when designing the chair?

Maybe he'd let me know...

It's A Winner

2009-01-31T10:32:00.006Z

Had a very indulgent read of the February issue of Wallpaper* the other night or should I say very early morning (I've been helping out on the launch of the brilliant smarta, which was a bit of shock to the system after having not worked for five weeks and also hence the lack of blogs)

Anyway, the reason I loved the issue so much was because it's their 2009 Design Awards.

Wallpaper* has long been regarded as the authority on cutting edge style and design and this issue was no exception.

And it was great to see chairs well represented in the awards.

But it was this Coen chair by Michael Young for Accupunto that really caught my eye, obviously the eyes of the Wallpaper* judges too, because it won the best dining chair category.

And I for one agree fully with the judges: It's so simple in it's design, it speaks volumes, much more than an elaborate, quirky design and also, surprise, surprise, I love it's slight homage to Scandinavian design.

Metal Magic

2009-01-23T10:25:00.000Z

It's been a while since I've blogged about dining chairs, it seems this blog is always about cosy, armchairs so I wanted to share this one.

I first saw these classic French cafe chairs in Isabelle Smith's house, which was recently featured in Easy Living.

Manufactured by Tolix and designed by Xavier Pauchard, they're available from Graham & Green.

While some might think they're cold and stark, I love their simple style and functionality.

I think they'd look great around a battered, chunky wooden dining table or, as they are suitable for use outside, use them as your new garden chairs.

And if the varnished steel isn't the look for you, they're also available in eight colours, including yellow, red, orange and blue.

Word Up

2009-01-22T10:48:00.000Z

They say the pen is mightier than the sword and I, for one, think there has never been a truer statement made.

This is quite possibly because while being relatively good with words, my fencing skills leave much to be desired.

So how great to find a chair made up of words.

This design is from Canadian design company Palette Industries and if you can't completely make out what it says, it reads: STAND.FORGET.BREATHE.AKNOWLEDGE & OBSERVE

Personally, I would call it my thought chair. I mean, what a great mantra to read (or sit on) when life gets a little bit too hectic.

Palette Industries also have a great lamp with words too - but that will have to be for another blog...

Cosy Up

2009-01-21T11:40:00.001Z

Apparently, staying in is the new going out and the rise in pizza orders and DVD rentals are testament to this.

People are feeling the pinch and entertaining themselves at home but if your social life is starting to take place at home rather than out of it, then you better get your furniture sorted.

Chances are you're going to spend a lot of time on your derriere which means you'll need something comfy to sit on.

But remember, we never repeat never should compromise style over comfort or vice versa.

I mean, who wants an ugly but comfortable chair and likewise who could cope with the most stylish chair in the world if it was really not great for sitting on.

So, bearing this in mind, I decided to try and find a really comfortable chair.

And I came across this one from Ochre. I love it because of the colour (this soft blush tone looks great in almost any room and scheme) and because it's huge, perfect for snuggling up with a hot chocolate, a good book, a great film or even a loved one.

Dotty About Chairs

2009-01-21T11:09:00.000Z

A few years ago, I worked near Highbury Corner and at lunchtime would often have a wander up Upper Street, having a nose in the fashion and interiors stores.

I used to call it research although truth be told I would find myself in a really cool (but very expensive) clothes shop more than I would all the second hand furniture shops.

The exception to this was After Noah, it was always a favourite to have a mooch around, from it's children's toys to reconditioned Bakelite phones and simple yet stunning furniture.

They also have most of their products online now, which means I can also do a virtual shop.

Their selection of chairs is amazing but I've fallen for this Alfred tub chair which I just love in this spotty fabric.

Stick 'em Up!

2009-01-17T10:39:00.001Z

I have to admit sometimes I get a little bit carried away with Chairs, Chairs, Chairs and start thinking about ways to make it a bit more abstract.

I've blogged before about chair products that aren't actually chairs, and while I said I wouldn't do it again I have.

It's all in a good cause you understand and anyway, I think it's good to have a bit of humour on a Saturday morning.

So I would like to present for your delectation...

...chairs stickers!

Ok, it's not as crazy as it sounds. Stickers are big in interiors at the moment. I'm not talking Disney ones that small children may stick to your wall when your backs turned. No, these stickers are far more elegant, intricate designs that are designed to brighten your home.

So I was really pleased to find some chair stickers from Supernice.

These ones are actually very practical. Bored of your chairs? Then you simply give it a makeover with one of the classic back stickers.

And while I grant you, that these are a little bit more out there, they make a cool alternative to conventional wall art. I love the idea of putting a simple stool against the sticker to create an actual seat.

So next time you can't decide on a chair or fit it in, put up a sticker instead...

Olive Pick

2009-01-16T09:21:00.001Z

Jonathan Adler is fast becoming my favourite designer of the moment. Yesterday, I blogged about his innovative and quirky cushions, ceramics and lighting and today, it's his fantastic furniture range.

I found it really hard to pick a chair from his collection; each and every one tickled my fancy but finally I settled on the Baxter Club chair.

The first thing that grabbed me was the colour, you don't see many olive green chairs and being one of my favourite colours, the first box was ticked.

Secondly, I love the shape. It just looks so cozy without compromising on style and of course, it's got a button back so it's bound to be a winner for me.

Lastly, look at the legs. The sleek, steel legs are not the type you'd expect on a chair like this and I love to be constantly surprised by furniture.

So all in all it's a winner all round.

Probably The Best Chair In The World...

2009-01-14T21:42:00.000Z

So it's no secret that I adore retro chairs and even less of a secret that I'm a strong admirer of Danish design.

This chair ticks both boxes, so when I found it whilst have a quick browse on MetroRetro, I was really pleased.

I love this 1960s leather and rosewood chair for so many reasons.

1) It's leather and aged leather at that - don't get me wrong my obsession with leather furniture isn't some weird fetish thing.

2) It's shape is so simple but just so exquisite.

3) It's got a tale to tell; the thing I really love about retro furniture is that you could spend ages thinking about who owned it and where it came from.

MetroRetro is a treasure trove of retro delights, choose from chairs, sofas, lighting, desks and more.

I also happen to think it's a good thing, MetroRetro is based in Essex as seeing though it's a county I don't frequent that often, both their stock and my bank balance is safe...

Rockabilly

2009-01-14T09:33:00.000Z

I've talked before about not liking traditional rocking chairs, they're jut a bit countrified for me and besides anyone who's ever seen The Woman In Black will understand my slight reluctance to like them.

The RAR chair by Charles & Ray Eames for Vitra is completely different to my other alternative rocker and that's what I like about it.

No horrible turned wood, but instead retro sleek moulded plastic, steel legs and delicate rockers.

The chair is available in six colours all of them beautiful, I would like one in each, possibly as an alternative to my dining chairs, although I admit the rocking could hinder you slightly when eating soup.

Charles & Ray are without a doubt my favourite chair designers and I would have loved to have met them, that's not going to be possible of course, so I'll just keep writing about their creations.

American Beauties

2009-01-13T08:57:00.000Z

I'm having my dining room ceiling pulled down today, which means I'm pretty much trapped in the living room, still at least the TV and laptop's with me.

So while looking for new and exciting chairs, I thought I would share some delights I've found from across the pond.

I actually found two new interiors sites while browsing American website CasaSugar (follow them on Twitter too for regular updates)

This first chair is called Anson and is from Room & Board and I love its retro 50s shape, button back and sleek legs. It's available in five leathers and 11 fabrics and also with a matching sofa.

This one's pretty gorgeous too. And ok, I admit it not dissimilar to the Anson.

It's from Design Within Reach, which I think is a great name for an interiors company.

Called Bantam, it's available in 15 fabrics and gives you the option to choose from four woods for the legs, allowing you to create a bespoke piece.

And the good news is, that while both companies don't yet have stores outside the US, they do ship internationally.

Now, what colour shall I choose...

Spot On

2009-01-12T18:28:00.001Z

It's all very well and good featuring designer chairs and vintage delights but we're in the midst of a recession and I, for one, am counting the pennies.

Apart from that, it seems it's becoming increasingly important to support our high streets what with the demise of The Pier and Woolies.

So, it's refreshing to see that the aforementioned high street aren't resting on their laurels when it comes to designing and producing furniture.

This is the Porto from the SS09 collection at Next but you could be forgiven for thinking it had come from a small upholsterer.

I love the spot one for fun and the cream one for pure sophistication but what I really love is the shape.

I love furniture with curves and these chairs seem to me to have a definite nod to the 1920s.

So, well done Next for not churning out formulaic, furniture and instead coming up with something a little bit special.

Après Ski

2009-01-11T10:45:00.000Z

It snowed in London yesterday, albeit for a nanosecond but deepest, darkest South London sure had a slight Narnia feel to it.

So it was rather fitting I found this chair by David Linley; called St Mortiz after the ski resort and with its definite curve you can see how it was inspired by a ski jump.

Personally, I think its got a little bit of both the Eames lounger and Barcelona chair about it. What with the padded, button leather upholstery and elegant dark wood.

They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery and with this chair I think that's never been truer.

Fit for a prince

2009-01-10T09:55:00.001Z

There seems to be a bit of a Danish theme going on with my two blogs at the moment; a cushion from Ferm Living on Cushions, cushions, cushions and now this chair from Louise Campbell, a designer who is half Danish, half English.

You can read more about her esteemed and varied career on her website (this lady sure's got a lot of impressive design credentials under her belt) but what I really love of hers is this Prince Chair.

Originally designed for a design competition - it didn't win (and I for one want to know why - had the judges perhaps forgotten their glasses that day?) but regardless of this, Danish furniture manufacturers, Hay put the chair into production.

Made from laser-cut steel, rubber and felt, I adore its intricate design and that favourite combination of mine; something that should appear soft but is in fact hard as nails.

This by the way, is my 40th post since I started back in October, so perhaps as a little birthday present, Hay would like to send me one of these and I'll rename it Princess Chair...

Another Orla

2009-01-09T09:53:00.001Z

I feel a little bit cheeky blogging about another Orla Kiely for Heal's chair, but the truth of the matter is I just love them so much, I want to tell you about all of them!

This is the Lusk armchair which is available in three colours: this gorgeous, vibrant Pumpkin, a delicious Moss green and an elegant purplely-brown Henna.

I love the colours this chair is available in (mostly because they'd really fit in with my flat) but what I simply adore is the shape.

I've blogged before about loving retro furniture and I love the way Orla has emulated the style in a modern day collection.

However there seems to be a bit of a problem; this is my 39th post (just one away from the big 40) and I want all these chairs, so it seems I have one of three options:

1) Win the lottery to feed my addiction

2) Move to that Cornwall mansion to fit them all in

3) Keep blogging about all of the world's most beautiful, innovative chairs

Oh sod it, I can't choose - it'll have to be all three!

Here's looking at you kid

2009-01-08T08:30:00.000Z

I recently had some friends to stay with their two young children and I'm ashamed to say, they didn't really have anywhere to sit.

I know, I know, shock and horror, how can you write a blog about chairs and not be able to provide adequate seating for your guests.

So I started doing some research to see what I could find in the way of cool chairs for cool kids.

Not surprisingly Philippe Starck has it covered and designed miniature versions of the Louis Ghost chair he created for Kartell

The Lou Lou Ghost chair is available in red, black, white and clear and if you fancy one or two for your rugrats you'll find them at Nest

It's never too easy to start a child's love affair with Eames, which is why if you want your kid to be a design expert, you have to invest in one of these now!

The Eames Elephant (ok, it's more a stool then a chair but hey it's cool) was originally a prototype design by Charles and Ray that never went into mass production.

Luckily for us Vitra have recreated the original design in plastic. It's available in five colourways and if you fancy Nelly for your sprogs, you'll find them at Nest

Baby it's cold outside

2009-01-07T08:48:00.000Z

I can't quite believe how cold it is at the moment, being a southern softie (I fully admit I am) all this -5C or whatever it was the other night seems a bit wrong for south London.

I even expressed delight to my boyfriend that our neck of the woods had been mentioned on the news regarding the extreme weather (it takes very little to get you excited when you're on your own all day)

Anyway, what I'm getting at is that leaving my toasty flat yesterday was a massive shock to the system and when I got back I kinda looked at my beautiful leather sofa and armchair a little sadly.

Yeah sure they're sleek, stylish and comfortable, but well, in these chilly times, leather can be a little bit cold. Just like in the summer when it gets hot and sticks to the back of your legs, in the winter it feels like lying on a slice of ice.

So I started looking for cozy armchairs and found this little beauty from The Conran Shop (yes I know The Conran Shop is really expensive - but this IS virtual shopping)

This is the Eleonora armchair which is covered in mohair velvet (how cozy does that sound?) I love it and while I'm not about to chuck out my trusty furniture, I think this will be a welcome addition if anyone's feeling generous...

Working 9-5...

2009-01-06T08:45:00.000Z

...well actually, I'm not at the moment, more like working sporadically and job hunting.

But while waiting for replies to my freelance work requests, I thought I'd do some virtual office chair shopping.

I knew there had to be a silver lining to this being made redundant lark (and no it's not watching Jezzer - jeez can only imagine what his house looks like...) it's au revoir to nasty office chairs.

You know the ones, usually black or grey with nasty, scratchy upholstery encased in hard plastic that has ambitions to be a pilot ejector seat when you try and alter the height.

Thankfully, someones seen the dark side and combated it with this gorgeous stainless steel and white faux snakeskin design from Graham & Green, now where's my credit card...

Rock on

2009-01-03T13:04:00.000Z

I've always loved the idea of a rocking chair but find those country-style ones don't really do it for me, a little bit twee, a little bit Grandma but still I like the idea of gently rocking while reading a good book.

Which I was really pleased to find the the Gaivota chair by Reno Bonzon which I found while browsing Not On The Highstreet

I like the fact its streamlined while being classic but what I really like about it is that instead of that awful, orangey-pine so often used for rocking chairs, it's a gorgeous made from lovely walnut stained beech.

Now, where's my book...

Smokin'

2008-12-23T09:11:00.000Z

So for the last post before Christmas, I thought I'd share something a little bit special.

This is the Smoke Chair by Moooi, a Dutch design company that counts Marcel Wanders as one of its founding members.

At first glance, this chair may seem like just another Baroque-style offerings but would you believe in order to achieve the dark wood, they actually set the chair on fire?!

Me either at first, but it's true; the wood is burnt and then covered in an epoxy to preserve it.

No while I don't recommend everyone start setting fire to their furniture, I am quite taken with this chair.

Patchwork dreams

2008-12-20T09:51:00.000Z

Ok, so admittedly, this chair is a little bit mad but I love it and more importantly, I love what design company Squint do to create this chair and many more.

Squint was started in 2005 by founder Lisa Whatmough who decided she wanted to show off her collection of antique textiles.

The result was a range of chairs, sofas and chaise longue covered in a patchwork of vintage fabrics.

What a simple yet truly fantastic idea. I've said before that some of my chairs can be, well a little bit plain, not that they're not beautiful in their own way but seeing though it's Christmas, I thought I'd bring a little colour to the blog.

Lovely lace

2008-12-15T21:08:00.000Z

On a recent trip to Lille, it became apparent that the French are as nuts about chairs as me. I should have known really, seeing though one of my favourite chair designers, Philippe Starck, hails from across The Channel.

So until I sort out uploading some of the chair pics I took (yes, I know other people take shots of architecture and scenery) here's a bit about one I spotted in a very chic interiors store in Vieux Lille (which is the old town to you and me)

This one is called Miss Lacy and is by Philippe Starck for Driade, it's not hard to see why it was given its name; as it looks just like a piece of moulded, metallic lace.

What I love about it, is much like the Roses chair I mentioned last month, it's laser cut and combines both the softness of lace and the hardness of steel.

I'm not sure Father Christmas will be able to get one of these down my chimney (not least because I live in a ground floor flat) but it's sure on my wish list...

Time to sit and ponder

2008-12-11T20:37:00.001Z

Never could a phrase be more apt for me at the moment, which is why I found it a little bit spooky to come across this Chairs wall clock by Joseph Joseph

Featuring the iconic Series 7 Chair by influential Danish designer, Arne Jacobson, the chair also played an important part in one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, when it maintained Christine Keeler's modesty in the portrait by Lewis Morley.

If you fancy the real deal which is available in an amazing 12 colours, they're available from Mojo Interiors

And now I promise, it's back to actual chairs...

Not a chair!

2008-12-09T12:45:00.001Z

Ok, so it's been a while since my last post but there kinda have been some reasons for that, which I'm not allowed to divulge at the moment but ho hum, there are still chairs that need blogging about.

Don't worry, I haven't totally lost the plot and am more than aware that these aren't actual chairs but these cushions by Snapdragon for Not On The Highstreet, prove that there are people out there who love chairs just as much as me.

Which got me thinking...what else would people put pictures of chairs on? Which is when I found this tea towel at one of my favourite websites Rockett St George.

So now we've established that I am obsessed enough with chairs to even want prints of them on my soft furnishings, I'm thinking someone, somewhere might like to design me a dress with prints of Eames chairs on, which I think could be pretty, darn cool...

Build your own

2008-11-25T20:53:00.000Z

Because I'm going away for a few days, I thought I better get a chair on before I go, besides my laptop looks like its about to give up the ghost, so here goes.

I suddenly realised that my chairs seem a bit well soft but not this one...

...this one is the Mechano chair by André Klauser and is available from Thorsten van Elten in five colours including this sunny yellow, which I thought was perfect for cheering up a grey November day.

I love the naivety of this chair and it's no surprise that it takes its name from the famous Meccano sets.

I think I'll take one in every colour...

Eat your greens

2008-11-24T21:05:00.000Z

I feel like I'm slightly cheating here, seeing though I have already mentioned the Orla Kiely for Heal's collection, but hey with the 3rd posting of the day, I'm on a bit of a blog roll.

This is the Rowan dining chair; available in this gorgeous Moss green and Kiely's iconic multi coloured Stem print.

It reminds slightly me of my own (might be G Plan, might not) dining chairs (which incidentally my boyfriend recently repaired) and I love the beautifully classic lines combined with the bold fabric choices.

Size does matter

2008-11-24T20:44:00.000Z

Sofa Workshop perhaps not surprisingly sells some great sofas; in fact I happen to be sitting on one at the moment, which has become a welcome addition to my flat.

They also however, which everyone may not know, sell a fantastic range of chairs.

New to their collection is this rather stunning Steinbeck model.

Now as I've said before, while I believe chairs should be stunning, I also think they should be comfortable and this chair is just the ticket.

Sleek enough not to dominate a room but large enough to really curl up and relax, it's also perfect for creating a real statement.

That's not all though and I was a little shocked to read this myself but you can have it covered in amazing 2,200 fabrics and leathers, yes that's right 2,200!

I love retro

2008-11-24T11:31:00.000Z

I love retro furniture as much as I love chairs. One of the first things that sold the rented flat, I've called home for six years, to me was the beautiful teak sideboard in the dining room.

I know it's probably not G Plan (what happened to them by the way? Beautiful, elegant furniture in the 60s and now all they seem to make is overly floral sofas) but it's mine, well sort of.

So I was really pleased to find this design classic on a recent virtual trip to Retrouvius

This ladies and gents is a genuine 658 chair by Robin Day, which he designed for The Royal Festival Hall in 1951

Just look at the beautiful lines and simple yet carefully thought out design and I love the slightly distressed finish to these ones in particular.

They're POA (price on application) which I'm guessing means they're not exactly cheap but in a climate of doom and gloom, they'd definitely put a smile back on my face.

Seaside dreaming

2008-11-21T08:40:00.000Z

Cornwall will always hold a special place in my heart because I spent three, glorious years of my life there while studying for my journalism degree.

It's said (not sure who says all this stuff but you know what I mean) that Cornwall attracts artists and designers because of the light. In fact the place oozes art, from the famous University College Falmouth to Tate St Ives, not to mention all the independent galleries and art shops.

So I was really pleased to see that one of the design companies that impressed me most at 100% Design, was MARK Product of Cornwall, not just because I loved their simple and sure to be future classic designs but also because they're based in Penryn, just down the road from where I studied at Falmouth.

My favourite is this Net chair by Sam Johnson, mostly because its been inspired by fishing nets left to dry in the sun.

With so much furniture being designed and made in Italy or trendy Shoreditch warehouses, it's nice to see a company operating out of sleepy Cornwall.

Viva Kernow!

Vintage flair

2008-11-21T08:26:00.000Z

As much as I love and choose chairs for aesthetic reasons, I also adore chairs with a good story behind them.

Reusing furniture is a hot topic right now, it's a way of being eco friendly and also injecting some vintage style into the home.

Milly Rose is a relatively new interiors company and has been started using a simple, yet really clever idea.

Owner Alison Parmar scours the UK looking for beautiful chairs that have seen better days and then takes them home, strips the frame and reupholsters them in a wide range of stunning fabrics.

I particularly like this Holly desk chair which uses fabric from Harlequin.

They say the best ideas are often the simplest and how I wish I'd come up with this one...

Ooh la la

2008-11-19T21:13:00.001Z

To be perfectly honest, I'm a little bit ashamed, it's been a week since my last posting.

I thought I'd got the hang of this blogging lark and promised myself I'd try to write at least three times a week but erm, that seems to have gone out the window...

...anyway, I'm back and got a new chair to share (it would also appear I'm a budding poet!)

In honour of my impending visit to Lille (a trip being made purely to eat brie, bread and drink fine wine) I thought I should blog about one of my favourite interiors websites.

The French Bedroom Company sell a great range of all things classically French, think Palace of Versailles and Marie Antoinette's boudoir and you're halfway there.

Amid the beautiful Louis XV chairs, is this rather handsome specimen the Very Velvet Blofeld chair I love its high back (perfect for hiding away from the world), its gorgeous velvet covering and lo and behold, its even got one of my favourite chair details: a buttoned back.

Everything's coming up roses

2008-11-12T20:35:00.000Z

Walking around the Spring/Summer 09 shows wrapped up and battling against the gale force winds is certainly a little strange but it does make you think of brighter, warmer days which is always a bonus.

So I was delighted to return from a press show marathon to find this vision of beauty appear in my inbox.

The Roses armchair from Vibieffe available at Go Modern, certainly reminds me of an English garden in full bloom.

The chair is made from laser cut metal and proves that the trend is far from over.

I love it because it's hard yet soft, edgy yet romantic and I think it'll fit in perfectly with my ever growing dream collection perfectly.

Read all about it

2008-11-10T20:53:00.001Z

Being a journalist and having grown up with a print production manager Dad, print has always been important to me.

I love the smell of newly printed brochures, the fact that ink still comes off on your fingers with some newspapers and although it's been a while, I always loved the noise a printing press made, even as a small child who could barely see the top of the machine.

So I was delighted to come across this chair by Bombus on Not On The Highstreet

You can create a truly bespoke piece of furniture, as you choose which newspaper you want your reclaimed chair to be covered in. It might be your favourite rag or a newspaper from a day that holds particular significance for you.

For my one, and I know this is jumping the gun a bit, I'll have the sports pages from when Chelsea win the FA Cup, Champions League or Premiership....well you can but dream...

A new favourite?

2008-11-04T22:44:00.001Z

I try to be quite diplomatic when it comes to chairs, it feels unfair to have favourites much like it's wrong for parents to have a favourite child...

...but I really, really, really like this one and when I say like, it's up there with the Eames lounger for me at the moment.

The Zzo chair is by Brazilian designer Sergio Fahrer and is available from One Eco Home and it isn't a purely aesthetic reason that I have fallen for it hook, line and sinker but it's also made from 100% FSC certified wood from Brazil.

So you see buying this one means I'm helping save the planet, that's rather good of me I think.

I see your true colours...

2008-11-03T22:43:00.000Z

The head for this post is a bit of an in joke between me and my better half but it's also rather appropriate as when I was looking back at my blog I realised my chairs so far are, well, a bit neutral.

There's brown ones, beige ones, wooden ones and black ones but what appears to be missing is colourful ones, so...

...I'm pleased to share this Jamie Dream Velvet Armchair from Graham and Green I love its velvet covering, classic lines and more than anything its crushed raspberry colour.

Mini me

2008-10-29T19:29:00.001Z

How adorable are these miniature versions of two of my favourite chairs?

They're by Vitra and available from E Furniture, who also stock tiny Eames DKR wire chairs and a rather nifty toy-town scale Le Corbusier chaise longue.

Ok, so they're not exactly very practical but in the absence of the real deal, I think one or two of these would look great sitting on my desk.

And no self-respecting doll's house would be without one although I'm not too sure Barbie would have got classic chairs...

Sheer delight

2008-10-28T23:03:00.000Z

I have always loved Sheer Home, ever since I first discovered their beautiful and decorative wall hangings.

Lucky for me then (well I suppose everyone) that they also produce a range of beautiful chairs.

My favourite, without a doubt, is this classic French Louis armchair.

You can have a the chair upholstered in a wide range of fabrics but this Silver Chandelier one is to of my list.

Ultimately glamorous, a little bit tongue in cheek, it's perfect for any room.

Go Green

2008-10-26T13:14:00.001Z

We're constantly being told we need to be more eco friendly. Whether it's carrying jute bags to making sure we don't keep appliances on stand by; most of us are trying to do our bit.

When it comes to home wares however, there's still grey area on what is eco and what isn't.

Some unscrupulous manufacturers have tried to get on the bandwagon by claiming their products are green, when in fact it's just the packaging that is 100% environmentally friendly and the product isn't.

Bit cheeky I think, which is why it was refreshing to find this little gem.

Reestore is a company which sticks to its ethical principles while still producing stylish, thought provoking designs.

They take everyday items and turn them into functional furniture, such as this sleek Gordon chair which started off life as a wheelbarrow.

Other items include a sofa made from an old roll top bath and a table from a washing machine drum.

I think they prove that being green doesn't mean compromising on style and that's how it should be.

A little bit of NYC...

2008-10-25T12:45:00.000+01:00

Back in May, I went to New York City for the first time; it was love at first sight just like I knew it would be. In fact I loved it so much, it kinda felt like I was cheating on London.

It is everything people tell you it will be. It is huge, it is bright (even the Times Sq NYPD station has a neon sign) and it is very, very sleek...

...which means it's no surprise that this chair takes its name from one of Manhattan's streets.

The 59th Street Armchair is an offering from Content By Conran - and as we know the surname Conran has become synonymous with style and great design , whether it be interiors, dining or fashion.

What I really like about it, apart from the fact it would go really well with my cream leather sofa, is that you can choose to have it upholstered in 91 fabrics or or 23 leathers.

New Yorkers are known for demanding choice, so I think even they would be impressed with this.

Anyone for a snack?

2008-10-19T19:45:00.001+01:00

I love pretzels, so it would seem yet again, I'm lucky to have one of my other favourite things combined with a chair.

This is The Pretzel chair, (you can see why, well I can at least) elegant and understated it came from the mind of American designer George Nelson, who along with two of my other chair heroes Charles and Ray Eames, was responsible for Modernist design Stateside.

To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Nelson's birth, Aram and Vitra have joined forces to release a limited edition version of the chair of which there will be only 1000 made.

However it doesn't come cheap and will certainly set you back a few more quid than a packet of Penn State Sour cream and chive (it's in fact £1,480) but I think it's beautiful and when that elusive lottery win comes through, it will definitely be joining the Barcelona, the Eames and et al.

Danish delights

2008-10-11T08:51:00.000+01:00

A while back I interviewed a Danish home owner who had an amazing array of beautiful mid century Danish furniture in her home.

Expressing my enthusiasm for the pieces (and ok slight jealousy) it emerged that her boyfriend ran a business dealing in and selling original pieces. She asked if I would mind giving the website Kolmorgen a mention so I decided to check it out myself.

I'm not lying when I say I became a little giddy when I logged on. Kolmorgen, for me, is like a treasure chest. It's like opening a secret door to chair heaven.

My particular favourite is this rather majestic leather number by Han Wegner. I adore is winged arms, light caramel-coloured leather covering and most of all it's beautifully buttoned back.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to book my flight to Copenhagen...

Beautiful Barcelona

2008-10-11T07:53:00.000+01:00

Much like I resisted sharing my almost slightly worrying obsession with the Eames lounge chair, it's taken me a while to feature the Barcelona chair.

Perhaps it's because, while I fell in love with it when I first came across it as I started my career in publishing six years ago, it' s kinda become common place in offices, hotels, waiting rooms...what's next, they swap it for those benches at stations?

I suppose what I'm trying to get at is that, for me, it's been kind of diluted.

It was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the German pavilion at Barcelona's Ibero-American Exposition in 1929 and has been a design cult classic since then.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still love one. Which makes me worry slightly what I'm going to do with all these chairs seeing though the dream Richmond mansion is fast becoming just that.

While there are lots of cheaper copies about (which has started a contentious issue amongst the design fraternity) if you want the real deal, head to Knoll who are the official licensee.

My advice, if you do want one, get a real one, otherwise you'll always be looking it slightly disappointingly, like you would a fake Prada handbag.

Special edition

2008-10-10T16:45:00.000+01:00

The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on Sea is one of my favourite places to visit.

I first saw it years ago when shooting a house in the area. At the time it was under going a major revamp so I was delighted when some friends announced they were moving to the area.

It's a truly beautiful place to visit. This stunning Modernist piece of architecture faces the long, wide pebble beach and I urge you to see it even if you're not attending an event.

As part of the renovation, Established & Sons designed these industrial chairs, which are used in the restaurant and balcony.

Available in Green, White and Black, try one out for size on your next visit and if you like, buy one at Nest

Multi faceted

2008-10-10T14:49:00.000+01:00

While I love a good arm or lounge chair, dining chairs are just as important and can be just as beautiful.

The trend for faceted accessories refuses to go away and I for one am pleased - in fact I wish I had embraced this trend a little more when I first saw it at Habitat's SS08 show.

East London furniture workshop Unto This Last, translates the trend perfectly to furniture with their Facet chair which is available in Oak, White or Dark.

Try a mixture of all three round a simple dining table to create an eclectic mix or use as a lone hallway chair.

The one I dream about

2008-10-07T20:28:00.001+01:00

So, this blog is a week old and I can't quite believe it's taken me so long to mention the one chair I want more than any other.

Perhaps it's because anyone who's seen me walk through the Liberty furniture department knows I can't walk past it without giving it a quick stroke or if there's no one around I might even have a sneaky swivel.

The Eames Lounge Chair by Charles & Ray Eames for Vitra is without doubt my favourite chair ever.

Everything about it is perfect. The way is gently swivels, it's clean and simple lines and to be honest just the entire sheer loveliness of it.

I dream of the day I walk past it, perhaps at Liberty and that it has a whacking great SOLD label with my name on it.

Well you can but dream...

Endless choices

2008-10-07T20:14:00.000+01:00

Laura Ashley, without a doubt, is one of my favourite interior stores.

Season after season, they produce elegant, accessible, beautiful pieces that look just at home in a contemporary scheme as much as a traditional one.

AW08's offering is no different, with classic cabinetry that gives a nod to the 1920s and yet another stunning range of upholstered options.

They also design wonderful chairs (obviously otherwise they wouldn't be making it onto my blog)

This Hathaway chair is the perfect example; it combines good design, comfort and what more should the Rowena fabric in Truffle not suit your scheme, you can choose to have it covered in a wide range of fabrics and leathers.

Happy Birthday

2008-10-06T17:28:00.000+01:00

I'm sure there are those who question my sanity with regard to my love affair with chairs. It's understandable; why would anyone be so fanatical about something that to most is a purely functional object designed to rest one's derriere on?

For the cynics out there, a chair is just somewhere to rest, a four legged item of furniture that folds, stacks, gets pushed under a table or is used, God forbid, as something to stand on when you can't reach a high cupboard.

Well, I tell you this. You definitely wouldn't be standing on this one if it was in my house. And for a start it doesn't have four legs.

The Shell chair or to give it its correct name the Shell chair CH_ 07 was first designed in 1963 by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hensen & Son and to celebrate their 100th anniversary, they have reissued a limited edition version of which there are only 250 available.

I'm holding out for some kind reader to buy me one but if you have saved your pennies and like me have fallen in love at first sight, then head to Brighton's The Lollipop Shoppe to grab one before they go.

Petal power

2008-10-04T19:07:00.001+01:00

London Design Festival was certainly a busy one but I managed to find time to attend the launch of Orla Kiely's new interiors collection at Heal's

Most famous for her handbags and clothing ranges, the designer has transferred her famous prints onto a collection of furniture.

Now, I'm usually not one for colourful chairs but this one is just so, for want of a better word, pretty that it's made it on to the blog.

Ok, granted it might be a little over the top to team it with the matching bedlinen, rug and wallpaper but I reckon in a neutral room, this piece is great for creating a floral statement without being too girly.

And it's also a big thumbs up from me to Heal's and Orla for combining my two great loves - fashion and chairs.

100% Design

2008-10-01T21:25:00.001+01:00

A recent visit to 100% Design www.100percentdesign.co.uk threw up some truly unique furniture and of course lots of chairs.

A walk around Earl's Court on an unseasonally warm September morning is always going to be a little taxing but discovering a design company like Japanese Karimoku Inc www.karimoku.com made it well worth walking around carrying a million press releases.

Their stand was full of delights for a chair junkie, including their sure to be iconic K chairs but what really caught my eye was this Lobby chair.

Reminiscent of, yep you guessed it, hotel lobby chairs, it's perfect for any living room (my living room preferably)

Wish list

2008-10-01T20:55:00.000+01:00

Top of my chair wish list at the moment is this delicious Cole chair from Habitat www.habitat.co.uk

At £1,399 it looks like it could be a while before I get my hands on one, but there's no harm in window shopping.

Available in Brown, White, Black and this decadent Bronze leather, it ticks all the requirements for a chair to make it on to my never ending list of wants.

1. Great design and finish . No shoddy chairs for me thank you very much.

2. It needs to be comfortable. I'm not a style over substance girl, it needs to have both. After all I'm not starting a museum , I'm feeding a passion.

3. Great colour, and this one definitely has that. It's glamorous without being too bling, sleek without being to scary and frankly makes me want to sink into it and curl up.

The one I own

2008-10-01T20:37:00.000+01:00

Some people dream of Manolo Blahnik shoes, some Marc Jacob handbags (I love these too) but what I always wanted was a Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck for Kartell www.kartell.it

Call it a love at first sight, call it an almost obsessional desire but from the day I first clapped eyes on this amazing creation I wanted to own one.

So imagine my delight when a PR called me one day and said she was bringing a gift for me and was having trouble getting on the tube with it, I was, well a little excited.

Excitement quickly turned to mild hysteria when I saw her sitting in my reception with my dream chair.

You see these chairs (available at Nest www.nest.co.uk among other retailers) are special. Just like their creator, they have become a design icon.

My one sits in my dining room waiting for me to save enough money to buy its brothers and sisters and have a beautiful dining table to put them round.

Swedish style

2008-10-01T20:14:00.000+01:00

It's not just designer chairs that get my vote. I love beautiful chairs regardless of price and stature.

This Stockholm easy chair from Ikea www.ikea.com is also top of my hit list and thankfully at £209, it's a little more affordable.

Again it has a nod towards mid century style, but what I really love about it is the shape. I can just imagine being curled up on it with a good book.

It's also available in beige and cerise but I think this sleek, slate grey is my favourite or then again maybe I'll just get one in every colour...

A classic vintage

2008-10-01T20:01:00.000+01:00

I have always loved mid century furniture. In fact if I win the lottery tonight, it would be the first thing I would splash the cash on.

Which is why I was delighted to have this little beauty pop up in my inbox.

It's a reissue of the classic Butterfly chair by Ercol www.ercol.com and it would definitely be top of my list.

There's so much to say about it but my favourite aspect is that it just looks so elegant while being massively understated.

At £425, it doesn't exactly come cheap for a dining chair but I reckon I would be prepared to sit on the floor while saving up for 4 or 6 of them.