Lounge Act
Chairs – in tactile textures and forms – take centre stage while we recharge at home.
Daiki manages a rare feat for a seat: it evokes a mid-century modern vibe without looking played out. Conceived for Minotti by designer Marcio Kogan, who was inspired after many trips to Japan, the armchair (with armrests, from US$7,985; without armrests, from US$6,490) marries the elegant simplicity of Japanese design with the bold, clean lines of American modernism. The cushions are embedded in a wood shell, which is perched upon metal legs – a material juxtaposition that further adds to the seat’s appeal. Daiki is indisputably the hero of Minotti’s latest collection.
1. Arp, Dmitriy & Co
The Arp chair’s (US$4,250) beauty lies in its simplicity. The piece plays with geometry – at its core, it’s merely three shapes put together – and renders lines and angles in warm, subtle fabrics. The back and seat are soft with down (wrapped around a supportive foam core on the seat). In other words, it’s a cosy chair that majors in style.
www.dmitriyco.com
2. Corolla, Billiani
Trends rise and fall, but mainstays like Billiani’s Corolla (US$1,510) never die. The Italian maker has been crafting chairs for over 100 years and knows details matter. The Corolla gets a dash of fresh perspective courtesy of new creative director Cristina Celestino, who gave the seat extra interest with a wavy line that wraps around the base.
www.billiani.it
3. Kite, Stellar Works
A backrest, while comfortable, is often an aesthetic afterthought. It’s the star of the show for Nendo’s Kite chair (from US$1,870), however, towering over the seat itself. It lends privacy, closing the sitter off from the world on either side. Designed for Stellar Works, Kite is striking, but also plenty functional.
www.stellarworks.com
4. Hathi, DeMuro Das
Wingbacks don’t get much more dramatic than Hathi (US$6,500). Leather upholstery and lacquer-black legs give the cocooning chair a sleek, understated look, a smart juxtaposition to its exaggerated wings, or ears, as DeMuro
Das interprets them. Hathi is derived from the Hindi word for elephant.
demurodas.com