As the immortal Bruce Springsteen once sang, “Everybody Needs a Place to Rest.” Here’s a look at some of the latest chairs to have that rest.
Norwalk Furniture—Kim Salmela Collection
Norwalk Furniture and Los Angeles-based designer Kim Salmela are expanding their partnership with the launch of several upholstered seating options designed to appeal to a younger consumer and the interior design community.
The company attributes the quick success of the collection to Salmela’s distinctive design aesthetic that combines a young, bold and stylish mix of textiles with fresh seating silhouettes that are inspired by her extensive world travels.
“I truly believe in designing what you love and not worrying about any design rules,” said Kim Salmela, regarding the four new upholstery items that made their debut at the recent Las Vegas Market. “Featuring a modern, west coast design aesthetic, these new pieces—as are so many of my designs—are inspired by my extensive world travels. The low-slung Nash Chair, for example, presents an undeniable Mid-Century, Scandinavian look and has proven to be very attractive to the next wave of millennials who want to furnish their homes with a laid-back, modern bohemian vibe.
Sitting atop a natural walnut base, Nash features a tight back, a pad-like seat with center welt detailing and unique diagonal seaming on its outside arms and back which add interest from all angles. “I always like to add a bit of juxtaposition into my designs– modern with vintage, feminine with masculine and light with dark – these contrasting elements are often some of the most interesting details I discover during my travels.”
Wilkahn—Intra
Wilkhahn, German manufacturer of office and conference furniture that encourages well-being, health, creativity and performance has collaborated with Phoenix Design for the new Intra 295 Range, a collection of contemporary chairs that combine form and function.
“The design of the Intra is a contemporary response to the cultural changes in conference and cooperation areas, said Sven Feustel of Phoenix Design. “Dynamics and interaction, familiarity and well-being are more important today than the manifestation of hierarchy and power.”
The overall height of Intra’s seat can be precisely adjusted, while the synchronous, motion-stimulating mechanism automatically adapts to the weight of whoever sits on it. The seat cushioning and fully upholstered backrest also allow for maximum comfort, without compromising style. The seat shell covers from Wilkhahn’s fabric and leather collection open up a broad range of design options for interior designers to meet various needs and highlight different settings, while the base options allow the chair to move freely across all flooring types.
Stellar Works—Taylor Collection
Stellar Works has unveiled the Taylor Collection designed by Yabu Pushelberg. Grounded in clean, comfortable and functional design, the global design studio sought to create a collection of essentials that effortlessly work together but are not tied to a specific genre. Taylor creates a duality of new and familiar, enabling the collection to translate into a multitude of environments, from restaurants and hotels to residential projects.
“We designed the collection in a similar way you tailor a bespoke suit; with precision and patience,” said Pushelberg. “Once you have a suit that is fitted to your measurements, it becomes an essential piece in your wardrobe. With this approach in mind, we designed Taylor, a collection of essentials that can fit well in traditional or contemporary environments. The simple, subtle, elegant detailing allows each piece to have a sense of belonging no matter where it lives. The name itself is a clever ode to the word tailored, personifying the virtues of the collection while still being a contemporary, unisex name.”
The range grew from the initial creation of a sleekly profiled wood framed chair. From there, Pushelberg evolved the design to create a full collection featuring sofas, chairs, tables and a cabinet.
