Seating

Staff -- Interior Design, 9/30/2001 12:00:00 AM

Edra: Elysée, a modular seating system by French designer Christophe Pillet, offers enough configuration and upholstery options to be suitable for both contract use and domestic bliss. It features a square base and a wooden frame (covered here in polyurethane). Available through Dilmos, 3930 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 105, Miami, FL 33137. www.edra.com.

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Montis: Liking Mike is easy: it's one of the most supremely stylish dining chairs we've laid eyes on. The shape of the sinuous (and supportive) backrest is emphasized with a racing stripe of stretch material, which adjusts to the motions of the lower back. A variety of fabrics and leathers is available for upholstery—and since the back and seat are covered separately, experimentation with different color and material combinations is possible. Montis America, P.O. Box 1253, Carrboro, NC 27510. www.montis.nl.

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David Weeks Studio: A favorite of ours for his innovative lighting designs, David Weeks continues to impress us with his line of furniture. We especially like his clever Leather Lounger No. 501, whose sensuous form reminds us that the designer began his career as a sculptor and painter. It features a matte finish stainless-steel frame and a thick, white leather seat. David Weeks Studio, 61 Pearl Street, No. 612A, Brooklyn, NY 11201. www.davidweeksstudio.com.

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M2L: According to designer Eero Aarnio, "a chair is a chair is a chair, but a seat does not necessarily have to be a chair."

It can, he asserts with this reedition of his 1973 design, sometimes be a Pony. It is available in white and black, as well as decidedly nonequine shades of orange and green. Gallery M2L, 215 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022. www.m2lcollection.com.

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Emmemobili: The Kia chair, a sleek Italian design, is crafted of gracefully curved plywood. It is available in a natural oak or wenge wood finish for a subtle—and trendy—touch of exoticism. Available through Property, 14 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10013.

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Thonet: Stuttgart-based designers Markus Jehs and Jürgen Laub have come up with the ingenious S555 lounge chair and ottoman, the latest additions to Thonet's line of timeless seating. Comfort and stability are achieved with a molded beech plywood shell, offered in natural, white lacquer, or black stain and a steel frame in chrome-plated or matte finish. Available through ICF Group, 704 Executive Boulevard, Clarkstown Executive Park, Valley Cottage, NY 10989. www.icfgroup.com.

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SCP: Brit design star Michael Marriott created Double Elephant, whose name is derived from its galumphing, cartoonish profile. Straight-on, however, the sofa—which measures 89 in. by 34 in. by 26 in.—reveals its more elegant side. Made of solid beech (lacquered white on the arms), high-density foam, and elasticated seat webbing, it's shown here upholstered in a handwoven wool-and-linen design resurrected from the '50s. Available through Temple, 454 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

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Walter Rossi: Walter Rossi's design flexibility is evident, both literally and figuratively, in his new Spring chair. Its seat and back are detached from each other, but supported by a pliant frame that adjusts to the sitter's weight and springs back to its original shape when unoccupied. Made of stainless steel and brass, it has a seat depth of 14 in. and an overall height of 32 in. Walter Rossi Custom Iron, 231 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002.

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KorQinc: Leave it to über-designer Kevin Walz to come up with the Kidz stool, which manages to be both adult- and child-friendly. It is part of the KorQ/Walz furniture collection, the first on the planet to be made of 100 percent natural cork. Lightweight and resilient, it is available in natural, flame, and scorch. KorQinc, 155 East 56th Street, New York, NY 10022. www.korqinc.com.

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Brueton: The calculated lines of the Checkmate chair almost make it seem poised to leap into motion. Its solid maple legs are available with a natural, red, ebony, or espresso stain with satin finish. A wide range of leather or fabric upholstery selections is also offered. Brueton, 145-68 228th Street, Springfield Gardens, NY 11413-3934. www.brueton.com.

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BK/Barrit: The retro cool of the Chancellor 281, designed by William Sklaroff, deserves notice. We like its angled arm with distinctive center panel, as well as its segmented back. It measures 24 in. wide by 27 in. deep by 32 1/4 in. high and is available in a variety of finishes on natural cherry or maple wood. BK/Barrit, 1850 East Sedgley Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124. www.bkbarrit.com.

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Lucien Rollin: The Art Moderne styled Aubusson counter stool measures 28 in. high. It's constructed of beechwood with lemonwood veneers. Available through William Switzer & Associates, 611 Alexander Street, Suite 6, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6A 1E1.

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Altura Furniture: The Chevron chair features soft corners and an upholstered seat and back. Shown here in dark walnut. Altura Furniture, 3500 North Mississippi Avenue, Portland, OR 97227.

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Halcon: Ken Reinhard brings a civilized aesthetic to his Capri guest seating, featuring a finely crafted framework of wood and metal. Halcon, 1811 Second Avenue NW, Stewartville, MN 55976.

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Lee Weitzman Furniture: With a nod towards the classic design of the 1930s, the Santiago club chair still manages to be thoroughly contemporary. Lee Weitzman Furniture, 1500 S. Western Avenue, #4C-N, Chicago, IL 60608. www.leeweitzmanfurniture.com.

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Dessin Fournir: Modeled after an Italian bench design, the Ovato sofa's clean lines and dramatically tall back are urbane and luxurious. Dessin Fournir, 308 West Mill, Plainville, KS 67663.

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Jiun Ho: Designer Jiun Ho's Ceylon chair evokes a far-off time and place yet still seems quite of the moment. It features a distinctively low profile with carved maple ribbing along the back. Jiun Ho, 133 Steiner Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. www.jiunho.com.

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5x5 Design: Channeling the spirit of Gerrit Rietveld, the Bix chair affirms the ongoing relevance of classic modernist design. Handmade and handfinished, it is particularly lightweight and comfortable. Shown in dark mahogany, it is also offered in natural or dark walnut. 5x5 Design Studio, 649 Morgan Avenue, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11222. www.5x5design.com.

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Warisan: We like the breezy attitude of the Neo-Primitive sofa. Made of handcarved teak wood, it's just right for verandas and porches. Warisan, 7470 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. www.warisan.com.

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Bright Chair Company: Style and comfort cohabitate in the South Street lounge chair. It features a softly pitched back and a plush seat. Bright Chair Company, 51 Railroad Avenue, Middletown, NY 10940. www.brightchair.com.

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Geiger International: The Wicker Back chair offers some appealing choices in guest seating. One or both sides of the backrest can be specified with a woven panel for a light and artisanal effect, or it can be upholstered for a more traditional look. A broad range of textiles and leathers is available. Geiger International, 6095 Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30339. www.hmgeiger.com.

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Arcadia: Chassis, new office seating by 5D Studio's David Ritch and Mark Saffell, is lightly scaled but aggressively styled. Its basic platform, with an exposed suspension back, can be dressed up with a fabric or leather "vest," and grommets can be added for additional interest. Arcadia, 5692 Fresca Drive, La Palma, CA 90623.

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Herman Miller: The Caper multitask chair is attractive, functional, and easy on the environment. It weighs an average 50 percent less than similar chairs—making it a breeze to move, while significantly reducing the raw material and energy consumed in its production. A spectrum of colors is available, from subtle neutrals to strikingly saturated primaries. Herman Miller, 855 East Main Avenue, Zeeland, MI 49464. www.hermanmiller.com.

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Steelcase: It's alive! The Leap WorkLounge chair utilizes the company's patented Live Back, which changes shape to mimic the spine's movements, as well as its Natural Glide System, which enables the seat to glide forward as the sitter reclines. It took a team of physical therapists, biomechanical engineers, and ergonomic experts to develop this advanced design. Steelcase, 901 44th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508. www.steelcase.com.

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Haworth: X99 seating was developed with the belief that "people have an emotional connection to their chair." Precisely engineered for personalized ergonomic support and comfort, these chairs offer a vast array of health-smart features. A variety of fabric, mesh, and leather upholstery is available, as is a choice of metal finishes. Haworth, One Haworth Center, Holland, MI 49423. www.haworth.com.

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HBF: In a market saturated by "mesh wannabe" office chairs with enough levers and controls to stock a hardware store, HBF decided to go against the tide. They asked the always original Michael Vanderbyl to design an elegant alternative featuring passive ergonomics with a minimum of mechanical adjustments. We think they succeeded with the beautifully tailored MV9 chair. HBF, P.O. Box 8, Hickory, NC 28603. www.hbf.com.

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Vitra: The Ypsilon Chair, by father/son designers Mario and Claudio Bellini, blurs the line between work and relaxation. Spurning the convention that work must be done in the full-upright-and-locked position, this chair allows smooth adjustment and proper lumbar support when reclining with a laptop. This striking design is available with a choice of seat coverings and several accessories. Vitra, 149 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. www.vitra.com.

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Kron: In the case of J. Luis Perez Ortega's Slim, the name says it all. Its sleek and slender profile is attained with an elastometric fabric. Kron USA, 1631 South Dixie Highway, Pompano Beach, FL 33060. www.kronusa.com.

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Allsteel: Pendulum chairs are a hybrid of a classic lounge chair and an impromptu work area. They can incorporate attached tablet arms and coordinated tables. Allsteel, 2210 2nd Avenue, Muscatine, 52761. www.allsteeloffice.com.

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Atrium: The T-One Bench was originally designed for Terminal One at JFK Airport by architect Amur Busuioc. We're intrigued by the aerodynamic note it would bring to a corporate or commercial setting. Consisting of a stainless-steel, wire-mesh top and a powder-coated steel base, it is available in custom sizes. Atrium, 21 Van Nostrand Court, Little Neck, NY 11362.

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Dauphin: Refined Swiss design and craftsmanship enhance Visita, a new guest and conference chair. Its polyester mesh back and chrome-finished tubular steel frame create a spare, almost transparent appearance, and its seat is offered in aniline-dyed leather, a variety of standard fabrics, or COM. Dauphin, 300 Myrtle Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005. www.dauphin.com.

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Westin-Nielsen: The clean lines of the Argenta series chair would be at home in restaurants, meeting rooms, and public areas. Ready for action, the polypropylene seat and back are reinforced with fiberglass for added strength. Metal tubular legs and aluminum arms have a silver powder-coat finish. Casters and tablet arms are optional. Westin-Nielsen, 4301 White Bear Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55110. www.westinnielsen.com.

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Keilhauer: The Net chair, part of a series by the European design collective EOOS, makes a simple statement with curved lines and planes. The tubular steel frame is offered in a full palette of powder-coated or nickel-plated finishes, and the seat and back are a single tube of black, woven-polyester mesh. Keilhauer, 1450 Birchmount Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1P 2E3. www.keilhauer.com.

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Knoll: Architect Emilio Ambasz turns up the design rheostat with the uniquely sculptural form of his Visor stacking chair. The lustrous plastic seat and ergonomically flexible back are available in a selection of willow, chalk, flax, bluke (blue-black), and storm, and the frame is offered in bluke or silver. Knoll, 105 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10013. www.knoll.com.

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