So much of home decor is about blending in. We set the stage with the perfect paint colors and floor coverings. We orchestrate a lighting design that will appear seamless and unobtrusive. The sofa and the coffee table are correctly sized for the room in which they sit.
It’s all so perfectly cohesive and, well, kind of boring.
Perhaps that’s why, when designers get to the accent chair, they’re ready to mix it up. Take, for example, the Eames Lounger for Herman Miller or Philippe Starck’s Louis Ghost Chair for Kartell or the Panton Chair. These attention-grabbing icons reveal one of those rare decor truths: It is and always has been about the accent chair.
Even the industrial designer George Nelson, whose genius shaped the trajectory of design throughout the 20th Century, famously said, “Every truly original idea—every innovation in design, every new application of materials, every technical invention for furniture—seems to find its most important expression in a chair.”
Read on for four new accent chairs that live up to the hype.
Le Jardin Accent Chair — Christopher Guy
Coco Chanel knew how to create a look that commanded attention. Today, Christopher Guy pays homage to the first lady of fashion and her signature bloom, the Camellia, in Le Jardin.
Made from solid mahogany, this ennobling chair features a delicate high back topped with carved camellia details—an elegant statement for the dining room or parlor. Le Jardin is available as a single chair or as an asymmetric pair.
Casablanca Accent Chair — Badgley Mischka
Designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka of the eponymous fashion brand look to the glamorous Hollywood of the 1940s to inspire their effortless but oh-so-elegant eveningwear and accessories. The brand’s new furniture collections like Astair, Crawford, Mulholland and Casablanca bring that signature aesthetic to the home.
Pictured here, the design duo’s Casablanca desk chair features Moroccan motifs, hand-gilded gold finish and thick ebony linen fabric. Searching for a way to elevate the task of opening mail and sorting the bills? This seat is it. Here’s looking at you, kid.
Soleil Accent Chair — Boca do Lobo
Cirque du Soleil, which began in the ‘80s as “a bunch of crazy people who wanted to do things,” has become an institution with more than 20 shows performed around the world, movies, nightclubs and boutiques. Through it all, the company has stayed true to its vision to invoke imaginations, provoke the senses and evoke emotions.
Borrowing from that energy, luxury furniture brand Boco do Lobo created the Soleil armchair. Soft, sultry curves and playful brass details make this design a showstopper for the living room.
Chandra Accent Chair — Koket
For the woman whose shoe closet is bigger than most New Yorkers’ apartment, the Chandra chair is the perfect fit for a bedroom or luxurious powder room.
Decidedly feminine but not without Koket’s signature edgy, dramatic flair, this glamorous design features delicate polished brass legs and Satina lux upholstery from the Koket Textiles collection.
Which of these accent chairs speak to your or your clients? Share with us in the comments!
