I've always loved the idea of chaise lounge chairs, but somehow I've managed never to have one. I'll have to fix that, and I'm thinking this Poltrona Chaise Lounge is very appealing. It has simple, classic lines, with the most attractive feature (for somebody moody like me anyway) being it's flexibility to either serve as a long inviting recliner or a straight-backed and more formal chair. Designed by Stefan Heiliger and available from Bonaldo, the Poltrano is available in either black or beige.
I know I said I wanted a chaise, but I personally think it looks the best converted to the chair!
Try to say "Loopty Loopy Loopita" ten times fast -- it'll put your tongue in a twist that looks something like this chair I bet. Every so often a design puts off a vibe that's pure happiness, and to me this is one of those designs. The name obviously inspires laughter, but the chair itself looks like a big orange peel to me -- which inspires more laughter. What does it look like to you?
Designed by Victor Aleman, it's flexible as far as how many "loops" you want and how far apart they're spaced, and it's made from a single piece of red oak coated in high-density foam. Talk about interesting seating arrangement possibilities by mixing and matching several Loopty Loopy Loopitas together in the same room! Definitely not for the serious at heart.
At the spring Milan furniture fair, Philippe Starck once again brought the sexy with his Prive collection for Cassina. The pieces are made of black or white tufted leather. The leather lounge chair is particularly alluring. It is a big sprawling expanse with armrests, chair backs that seem to invite a variety of different lounging positions. The lounge also has leather strips along the base and leather hand-straps on the back cushions. There are also two different type of types of padded chairs available. It's not revolutionary but it does look like a perfect match for some of Starck's modern apartment and hotel designs.
This sounds just heavenly: the Cleopatra Classic Heated Lounge Chair. Cut from a single piece of high-density limestone, the entire chair emanates radiant heat for the ultimate "warmth therapy" experience. Ergonomically designed for comfort (yes, a large slab of stone can be comfortable), it can be used indoors or out and is easily cleaned just by wiping it down with a cloth. It also comes in a variety of colors, although I like the plain and natural stone pictured -- looks very "spa-like." $14,650
Although these chairs don't look outrageously comfortable for lounging around in on a lazy Sunday afternoon, they more than make up for it in bold artistic style. And they're not completely devoid of creature comforts, designed for a natural reclining position and treated to prevent heat retention on those sizzling summer days. As part of a three-piece set including a table, a chair, and a chaise, the Horchow Contemporary Outdoor Furniture collection will create an outdoor atmosphere all on its own with few to no other accessories needed. Made of metal and fiberglass, the pieces will develop a patina over time, giving them even more character. $1849-$3099 each piece.
Jeanne Scandura, landscape architect and founder of Float Furniture, intended her designs to evoke a sensual modernism. Using materials inspired by surf culture, she gives hard surfaces movement by sculpting them into graceful curves. The wave chaise is cast from fiberglass-reinforced resin and is suitable for use inside or out. The chaise is available in several wood veneer finishes for indoor use or with a marine-grade coating in a rainbow of colors for outdoors. Prices start at $3,800.
Part day bed and part chair, the Bahia Chaise Loungers are an elegant way to relax in the summer sun. They have aluminum frames that are wrapped in a material known as Ty-Flex, which looks similar to wicker, but is far more durable, and the backs of the chairs have five adjustable positions. The plush cushions are made of dry-fast foam, so they will recover quickly after a summer shower or if you choose to recline after a swim. They are upholstered with marine-grade white vinyl that is long-lasting and easy to clean. The single lounger is on sale for $2,677, while the double lounger is $4,579.
The Aquarium Chaise is part of a new collection from designer Ilan Dei. Dei was inspired to try an utilize natural lighting in the design of his collection, which includes a coffee table and matching chair in addition to the chaise, and did so by constructing the chair with transparent, tinted acrylic panels. The panels are supported by a frame of weather-resistant (marine grade) plywood, which is finished in a natural color. Dei mentions that the chair could be used indoors, as well as out, but it is fairly obvious that it was meant to be beside a sparking pool. Price: $780.
In this month's issue of Elle Decor, their design team picked out the 10 most inviting pool chaises. Each and every one will have you lounging luxuriously at the poolside. The only real objection I have to their selection is the inclusion of several chaises with wheels, a feature that can be practical, but still looks a bit dated to my eye. The Duval Sun Chaise ($6,080, in blue or white) reminds me of the Gandia Blasco Day Bed, with its simple, geometric lines, and the Paola Lenti Wave Chaise by Francesco Rota ($4,850) is striking and comfortable-looking. The list is definitely worth a read.
The Ercolina is a
chaise that doubles as a nifty piece of sculpture. It was designed by Paolo Grasselli and provides an elegant place to
recline. When you are done you simply flip up the chaise and it goes vertical making it a great space saver. The chaise
has a steel frame and polyurethane upholstery with pivot weight. It has a removable leather cover that comes in cream,
red, black, lime green and orange. It sells for
$1,386.
Most
furniture companies are now releasing their lines of outdoor furniture for spring/summer, and this chaise
lounge from Room & Board is
one of the more original pieces I've seen. Wicker makes the chaise (called the Montecito)
classic-looking, while the teak wheels and aluminum base lend a modern feel. According to the company's web site,
there's also a storage compartment beneath the backrest. Price: $1,599.
We are a few months from summer but if you are dreaming
of the perfect chaise to sunbathe on, this could be it. The Leaf from
Dedon is a beautiful woven chaise in the shape of a giant leaf. It is made of Hularo, a man-made weatherproof
fiber woven over an aluminum frame. There are three pieces in the collection, a regular chaise, a double-sized chaise,
and a delicately curved side table.
