chair glossary
Home decorating can be tricky. And I’m not talking about the practical part (the planning, measuring, and producing)–that’s pretty straight forward. I mean the making good choices part. Our friends often ask us if we can teach them to identify furniture pieces by name. Since we both love languages, this part of the subject has always been fun for us. Even Lauren, after all these years of shadowing me, knows what’s what. But I know that home and apartment dwellers who are out shopping for key pieces for their homes are often flummoxed. By learning to recognize key furniture styles, you can get a feeling for which you’d like to live with in your own space, and then you can narrow down your choices–otherwise it can be so overwhelming. Here are a few to look for:
1. A tufted slipper chair like this one seems old fashioned, but upholstered in the right fabric, it can be be a wonderful addition to bedroom or a small living room. 2. Rounded back upholstered chairs like this one are pretty hard to find. They’re perfect for apartment living. Easy to move around and always comfortable. 3. The Edwardian tufted library chair is perfectly designed for a gentleman (or a lady) to sink into to read or just plain lounge in. The scale of it is usually quite big, so be sure that you have the space for it before you take the plunge. 4. We love wing chairs, but often the modern versions are just too big for most rooms. An older version like this Louis XVI style one is easier to manage in any room. The distressed wood frame also makes it feel less imposing. 5. We adore caning on any furniture pieces, and seen on this open arm chair, it is just gorgeous, and always in style. I like to use open arm chairs for balance when there are too many upholstered pieces in a room. 6. The legs on this chair are splayed and more feminine, though a chair like this one is generous and comfortable for many body types. It’s the kind of chair one can sit back in and cross their legs comfortably. This chair is also called a Bergere chair in French. Chair’s are great investments. If you find a pair that you absolutely love at the right price, buy them. They’ll stay with you forever, and have many reincarnations. – S
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We're a mother-daughter design team with a unique approach to style. Suzanne is an Emmy-winning producer, garnering five Emmys over her decade-long career at Martha Stewart Living Television and Lauren is a former fashion features writer for Teen Vogue magazine.
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Hi There!
Let me start by saying that I love, Love, LOVE your blog! It’s my go-to spot when I have a quite moment to myself…
Could you tell me the type of fabric that was used to upholster the Barrel Back Club and the French Open Arm chairs? I’ve been trying to locate a vintage blue in the same fabric but have NO idea what type of fabric it is!
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
Monique
The Barrel Back Club is just a knobby linen, and the French Open arm chair is a white muslin. You can find these fabrics at most fabric or even dressmaking fabric
retailers. When you select fabrics like these, try not to select those that have a yellow hue. Best to choose something white or grey for best neutrality and flexibility.
[...] Chair round-up – {Good Bones Great Pieces} [...]
Thank you so much for the information!! Are you sure that the French Open chair is a white muslin? The Louis XVI looks like white muslin…
Thanks again!!
I love your blog, and I enjoy knowing the names for things also. To wit, the first chair is not actually a slipper chair: A slipper chair has no arms. Thx!
I knew someone was going to comment on that slipper chair! I still feel like it’s a slipper, because the arms are so low and small. Ideally, a slipper chair is unique
because it can move around the room easily, and this one surely can! Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for your comment:)