Swiss Swank

Karen D. Singh and Mark McMenamin -- Interior Design, 4/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

If seating begins to supplant watches and chocolate on Switzerland's export market, blame four ultracool office introductions from De Sede.

Antonella Scarpitta delivers asymmetrical elegance in the curved armrests of her DS-207 guest or conference chairs, also available with two standard arms. In either case, the seat is supported by a tubular-steel base in high-gloss chrome, matte chrome, or a powder coat in numerous colors. A swivel chair, the DS-2100, has been informally nicknamed the Skeleton for the leather-covered polyurethane components that connect like vertebrae to the stainless-steel frame. The stationary style is for guests; an executive version has castors, tilt and height adjustment, and a headrest.

In modular mode, Hugo de Ruiter offers 15 components that combine in countless configurations as the DS-1264 bench. And the sectional turns topographical with Ubald Klug's DS-1025, with covers sewed over layers of polyurethane foam, glued together.

The frames of all but the Skeleton are either beech or steel. For upholstery, select four leathers or any Kvadrat fabric. Ask about made-to-measure options, too. 41-56-268-01-11; desede.com. circle 416