COTTAGE FURNITURE BASICS: THE CHAISE LOUNGE

This relaxing piece of furniture originates from France but is known globally as a luxurious seat for all.

This relaxing piece of furniture originates from France but is known globally as a luxurious seat for all.

“Chaise longue” translates literally to “long chair.”

And everyone can identify it as a seating option that allows you to kick your legs up in repose. The chaise lounge, popularized in 16th century France, was designed as a piece of furniture specifically for the upper class that allowed them to rest without having to retire away to the bedroom.

If you want to beef up your French furniture vocabulary, you should know that a chaise lounge that has two separate pieces (the seat portion and the leg portion) is called a Duchesse brisée or broken duchess. A chaise that has two “arms” on either end and no raised back anywhere in between is called a Récamier and a chaise that has a high headrest area and arm that slopes down to a lower foot area is referred to as a Méridienne.

1. Arch nomad armchair with chaise, $895. (877) 877-2796 or burrow.com. 2. 3. Shabby chic tufted chaise lounge, $2,995. (877) 223-6321 or belleescape.com. Eichholtz Cesare longue sofa in granite grey, $3,130.22. Visit sweetpeaandwillow.com.