Words Robyn Alexander
From chunky and covetable to classic and collectable – not to mention cool and contemporary – these designer lounge chairs set the scene in style and are bound to inspire you.
These are pieces on which one can sit and be enthroned – or simply lounge on, feeling utterly relaxed.
NUAGE 2 BY ROBERTO TAPINASSI AND MAURIZIO MANZONI FOR ROCHE BOBOIS
Superbly sleek and sophisticated, the Nuage 2 chair is upholstered in leather or fabric, and features a pivoting base in lacquered or chrome-plated metal – with automatic return function and memory position, too. It has a fluid and sculptural feel that will suit both minimalist and more layered interiors. roche-bobois.com
KNITTING CHAIR BY IB KOFOD-LARSEN FOR MENU
Designed in 1951 and re-issued in 2018, the Knitting chair’s distinctive cut-outs for resting the elbows are a boon for crafters, and rather lovely for just about everyone. Add triangular construction and an enveloping seat and back, and you’re looking at optimal comfort. menuspace.com | nest.co.uk
PACHA BY PIERRE PAULIN FOR GUBI
Originally created in the 1970s by Pierre Paulin, and recently relaunched to much attention and acclaim, the Pacha lounge chair takes up very little floor space – yet it’s very comfortable. It’s also a highly crafted piece: achieving such an organic form is no easy feat. gubi.com | cremadesign.co.za
CITIZEN LOWBACK BY KONSTANTIN GRCIC FOR VITRA
The Citizen combines a tubular steel frame with a freely suspended seat cushion that appears to float above
the base. The frame is deliberately left visible, giving it a utilitarian feel. Available in various upholstery options – and in an even more comfortable highback version. vitra.com | cremadesign.co.za
BYRON BY CORICRAFT
Sporting a visually appealing woven bamboo frame, this is the perfect armchair in which to ensconce yourself poolside all afternoon, clad in a designer kaftan and sipping on G&Ts. (Gossip companion, à la Princess Margaret in The Crown, is an optional extra.) coricraft.co.za
ROLY-POLY BY FAYE TOOGOOD
There hasn’t been a new chair so perfectly designed for curling your legs up under you since the 1970s – and that’s not the only reason we love the Roly-Poly. Those four charmingly chunky legs, and its sturdy, tactile fibreglass construction, also help make this dish-shaped seat a winner. t-o-o-g-o-o-d.com
FAN BY TOM DIXON
Dramatic almost to the point of being over the top, the throne-like Fan chair is worthy of a particularly stylish Bond villain. It’s also a particularly modern take on the wingback: once you’re safely seated and engrossed in a book on this seat, it’ll be crystal-clear that you should not be disturbed. tomdixon.net | cremadesign.co.za
LOOP BY DOKTER AND MISSES
Adriaan Hugo and Katy Taplin’s Loop lounger mixes materials – timber, leather and powder-coated aluminium – with their customary aplomb. It’s “designed with ergonomics and utility in mind”, they say – but it also manages to exude both serious style and effortless cool. dokterandmisses.com
KENT BY YANIV CHEN FOR LEMON
Local designer Yaniv Chen’s Kent chair is a thing of serious beauty – the sort of statement piece that is sure to form the focal point of an interior. Its graceful lines were inspired by Italian design of the 1950s, ranging from decor to architecture and cars. lemon.za.com
TROPICALIA BY PATRICIA URQUIOLA FOR MOROSO
This take on lounge seating by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola is all about the age-old technique of plaiting. The Tropicalia range is available clad in multicoloured polymer threads, as a sophisticated leather option, or with elegant, simple cords in one or two colours. moroso.it
OFFICINA BY RONAN AND ERWAN BOUROULLEC FOR MAGIS
One of the Paris-based Bouroullec brothers’ characteristic combinations of practical ease and design elegance, the Officina chair is supremely comfortable, and available in a range of fabric and leather upholstery options that make it work well in a variety of environments. magisdesign.com
UDGE BY FAYE TOOGOOD
Handmade one piece at a time, the Fudge chair is avant-garde designer Faye Toogood’s latest playful foray into seating design. Delightfully reminiscent of a child’s drawing that shows what a “grown-up” chair looks like, its asymmetrical charm will make it an instant talking point in any living room. t-o-o-g-o-o-d.com
Looking for more? Here are 10 rattan-style buys for your home.
