everyone’s talking about... 5 PLAYTIME CHAIRS
Bold forms meet fabulous finishes in designs with a high fun factor
All eyes are on this lively furniture look. The defining characteristic? It’s the bulbous but beautiful sculpted curves. Mix this with a playful colour palette and perhaps a multi-texture make-up and – voila – the result is an aesthetic that oozes a confident and carefree attitude. Those who have a preference for discretion and hushed interiors might want to look elsewhere because these boisterous creations are never going to sit quietly in the corner (although a neutral colourway could appeal). In the best sense, prepare to reconnect with your five-year-old self.
CLASSIC STANCE
Originally designed in 1973 by Italian architect and designer Cini Boeri, the Botolo chair has matured into a certified classic in the interiors world and is one of our favourites of her designs. Not only is it cutting edge, but inside those cylindrical legs are wheels, giving it a superbly practical dimension too. Sensing the increasing requirement for varied furniture design, Boeri created two types of Botolo chair: a high dining version and a shorter style inspired by the increasing trend for ‘living at a low level’. Choose from a selection of bright (orange and red), bold (palm leaf print) or neutral fabric options. Botolo chair, from £1,304 (arflex.it)
PRACTICAL PLAY TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS
Step into a world of standout furniture at Royal Stranger. We’re not sure whether to sit on the aptly named Glazy chair or try to eat it. The high-shine lacquer finish on the sculpted frame makes the already delectably rich colour options look like glossy icing sugar on top of a sweet treat. Matched with a tactile velvety cushion pad, this chair design is one that deserves to be prominently displayed. Glazy chairs, from £1,900 (royalstranger.com)
Mixing 1970s style cues with recyclable materials, the new Dudet chair designed by Patricia Urquiola for Cassina is a fierce force entering the furniture design field. Much like the other contenders in this edit, the Dudet is described as playful. Its legs are shaped in such a way that they protrude upward and then curve into the armrests. The fabric is a zipped cover so at the end of its life this chair can be disassembled for ease of disposal and recycling. Dudet small armchair by Patricia Urquiola for Cassina, £1,500 (aram.co.uk)
GOLD STAR
The chic silhouette of this chair from the clever designers at Oliver Bonas has been made even more beautiful with the glow that the mustard velvet fabric upholstery gives. Whilst it doesn’t have the kudos of a famed designer name attached to it, this seat does offer an accessible way to enter into the realms of the fun chair trend. Tress Mustard Yellow velvet chair, £375 (oliverbonas.com)