Cool furniture, design objects and desiderata

Douglas · Jul 12, 2013

It's not as much my thing I guess, but even then, I'd say there is a difference between a wall clock (which functions equivalently more or less no matter how it looks) and a chair (that you are expected to sit in). But hey, maybe I'm taking the honest living thing too seriously. And we all know I have bad taste.

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 12, 2013

Douglas said:
It looks like something pulled out of an old school building. Now that you have identified it for me and I have been able to google it, I can see why. I guess the history is interesting but it looks institutional, and not in a good way, IMO.

They are institutional.

http://www.emeco.net/about-emeco/1944

I like them for their intended purpose; being indestructible. I have a set outside, uncovered, and they remain in perfect shape without corroding. I appreciate the process used to create them, the aluminum TIG welding and hand finishing. With the qualifications you've advertised in other thread I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't find a similar appreciation.

mordecai · Jul 12, 2013

We actually had 4 emeco chairs for awhile, but gave them to my wife's business partner when we got a bench and two bertoias. The emecos are nice with rustic wood tables, and they're incredibly light. A child could lift one with one hand. I'm glad we replaced them but I liked them while they were there.

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 12, 2013

They aren't comfortable to sit on in the least.

Kaplan · Jul 12, 2013

mafoofan said:
I can see the reasoning behind wanting to make the room less American Psycho, but with all the black, overt attempts to add more "warmth" will probably just come across as jarring and awkward.

I'd play the hand you've got. Pick something with either a solid neutral color or bold, large-scale geometric pattern. In the case of the former, you can either go with off-white, to balance against the black furniture, or pick light to mid-grey or tan, to bridge the gap. To further break up monotony, pick something with a pronounced texture (cough cough, shag, cough, cough). I would not pick a dark, heavily saturated solid color. If you want color, go the pattern route.

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree with some (not getting a dark, heavily saturated solid color), disagree with others (getting a bold, large-scale geometric pattern).

For a while I was pretty set on getting something in a mid grey, to bridge the gap between the light floor and the dark furniture, but I'm still hoping that adding some colour and warmth is doable.

SkinnyGoomba said:
I personally like sultanabad persians.

Thanks for suggesting these. My initial response was that they'd be too stuffy for a modern/contemporary setting, but I may be wrong. And I can see how that first one could work nicely on the light floor. Something to consider...

Kaplan · Jul 12, 2013

SkinnyGoomba said:
They aren't comfortable to sit on in the least.

Well, going into the kitchen for a cup of coffee in the morning and sitting down on one of these in your boxers will certainly help you wake up...

mordecai · Jul 12, 2013

I don't think the bertoias are very comfortable either. We just gave away our two diamond chairs. Trying to decide if we should dump the smaller ones as well.

Kaplan · Jul 12, 2013

I only ever see the Bertoia Diamond chair with an extra sheep pelt (or something similar) in it.

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 12, 2013

Coffee is no longer needed after sitting in one of the navy chairs when its cold in the morning.

Bertoia is another one I enjoy the look of but hate sitting in. I actually saw a little kid fall into the diamond lounge (as little kids do) and immediately start crying. LOL.

If I do another set of outdoor dining chairs, I'll probably pick Eames aluminum. or LC7 in stainless. Both are a nice juxtaposition to a wood parsons style table, and both are available in colors other than white. I enjoy the contrast of white and wood, but for some reason white chairs around a wood table never look good to me.

Douglas · Jul 12, 2013

SkinnyGoomba said:
I like them for their intended purpose; being indestructible. I have a set outside, uncovered, and they remain in perfect shape without corroding. I appreciate the process used to create them, the aluminum TIG welding and hand finishing. With the qualifications you've advertised in other thread I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't find a similar appreciation.

I can appreciate any manufacturing process, but there's a lot of marketing mumbo-jumbo masquerading as some kind of special mystique in there.

Forming, welding, grinding, heat-treating, finishing, anodizing- just a few of the 77 steps it takes to build an Emeco chair. No one else makes chairs this way. No one can. It takes a human eye to know when the process is done right, and it takes human hands to get it that way.

You could say that about just about anything.

I am sure they are indestructible, which is useful in certain environments, but I would argue that their intended purpose is, above all, being chairs. And where that's concerned:

SkinnyGoomba said:
They aren't comfortable to sit on in the least.

Anyways, if you think they look great, more power to you.

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 12, 2013

Meh, it all needs to be made palatable to the retail customer.

sugarbutch · Jul 12, 2013

We have the Emeco armchairs, but they have a seat pad (perhaps sacrilege?) and they're plenty comfortable.

otc · Jul 12, 2013

I don't mind sitting in the Navy chairs when they have them at restaurants. Perfectly suitable for a meal.

My mother has a growing collection of the plastic version (looks identical but is made out of recycled bottles) sitting out on the screen-porch and I find them plenty comfortable.

Although you aren't going to lounge in them...which is what I think makes them look a little out of place sitting by themselves next to a sideboard. They are meant to be pulled up to something.

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 12, 2013

I don't see dining chairs as odd next to a sideboard, since a sideboard often serves the dining room and spare dining chairs are often needed there.

I'll amend my statement to say that I think they are OK for a short sit, which is what I use them for (dining).

Desi · Jul 12, 2013

mordecai said:
I don't think the bertoias are very comfortable either. We just gave away our two diamond chairs. Trying to decide if we should dump the smaller ones as well.

tell me more. I am very much into them.

Cool furniture, design objects and desiderata

Stupid ass member

Stylish Dinosaur

Immoderator

Stylish Dinosaur

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Immoderator

Distinguished Member

Stylish Dinosaur

Stupid ass member

Stylish Dinosaur

Bearded Prick

Stylish Dinosaur

Stylish Dinosaur

Distinguished Member

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: