We take them for granted, but these essential items of furniture are rich with history and an item which constantly evolves to cater for our comfort and taste. Sitting in style has never been easier and we've chosen chairs to sigh for!
By Gabrielle Fagan
If there's one piece of furniture that many of us take for granted, it's a chair. While we know they're essential and we regularly park our bottoms on them, few of us look on them as pieces of art.
But all that's changing as we become more 'chair savvy' and focus on the design appeal of the chair - it's rapidly being recognised as an affordable 'star' feature for a room.
Author and BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Judith Miller is a self-confessed chair addict and naturally welcomes the trend: "Chairs are enjoying much more attention these days. Generally, people are much more design-aware and knowledgeable and recognise that a beautiful chair, whether antique or contemporary, can really make a style statement in a room."
She has studied and viewed some of the most famous and iconic chairs in locations all over the world for her new book, Chairs. It features 100 of her favourite chairs, each illustrated, ranging from early antiques such as a 1680 Wainscot Chair and a 1740 Louis XV Chaise Longue, to modern day collectables by designers such as Tom Dixon.
Judith, co-founder of Miller's Antiques Price Guide, explains: "Designers through history have regularly risen to the challenge of trying to create the perfect chair, which is no mean feat as it has to be light, strong and comfortable.
"One designer, Mies van der Rohe was quoted as saying that it 'was easier to build a skyscraper than a chair'. It's hardly surprising because people vary enormously in height and weight, yet a chair has to suit all those."
The mother-of-three has 200 chairs in her home, and changes her seating displays with the seasons. "I rotate them to give my rooms a different look, and store the ones I'm not currently using in my loft. I use them for all sorts of things such as bedside tables and also somewhere to display a collection of treasures.
"So they're certainly not treated as museum pieces - they're used and loved. My Airedale terrier particularly likes a George IV armchair, and if he doesn't think he's getting enough attention he will pretend he's about to bite the upholstered arm, which definitely guarantees I will focus on him!"
Her chairs date from the 17th century through to the present day, and each she believes tell a story about the way we've lived throughout history.
She says: "The chair has always been a status symbol. In early times, chairs were rare and were made for the wealthy. There would only be one chair in a home and the most important person would sit on it, while the lower orders had to either sit on benches or the floor.
"That's how we got the term 'chairman' - signifying the leading person who had the privilege of a seat."
Nowadays we can all have a seat, but to get the best seat in the house, follow Judith's tips and our selection of the smartest chairs around.
:: Snap up a smart seat
Turn a dream of possessing beautiful chairs into reality by browsing auctions, fairs, antique shops and markets, advises Judith. "The cheapest way to get a collection of stunning chairs, whether antique or contemporary, is to look out for 'orphans' - single chairs that have been parted from their sets.
"These will be a fraction of the price, and you can gradually build up by searching for the same chairs - known as a harlequin set, or simply create your own 'set' made up of a variety of designs you admire."
Take a photograph of the chair you already possess before going out to search for another so you can match it, and before buying, Judith advises sitting on a chair several times and for at least three minutes at a time to check the comfort level.
"Upholstered seats are usually more comfortable, particularly important if you're looking for dining chairs, and I prefer a curved back to a straight one." Ensure a dining chair with arms can still slide under a table when not in use if you want to save space.
People change position on chairs approximately every 10 to 15 minutes. A comfortable chair should have the seat space to allow the user to move their legs freely, and feet should be able to rest flat on the floor.
And she warns that in older chairs the feet may have been damaged over the years and may have been removed to improve the piece's appearance. This affects the height and comfort - an average chair height should be between 34" to 36", so taking a tape measuring and checking is advisable.
She also advises looking out for examples of work by designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Ray and Charles Eames and Le Corbusier.
:: Diva chairs
Those who buy a chair to prove that they have taste and more than a little design knowledge will covet the growing number of inspired ranges offered at high street stores.
John Lewis is just one store with a classic selection. Those with super-model aspirations could bag a curved, moulded plastic Panton chair, £177, one of the most iconic chairs in history originally created by Verner Panton in the Sixties.
Kate Moss caused a stir when she posed naked on a white one for a cover of Vogue in 1995. The shop also includes chairs by other leading designers such as Charles and Ray Eames.
Or celebrate the design of today. French designer Philippe Starck has turned his hand to yet another cult design, for high-end Italian fashion house, Missoni. The Mademoiselle Missoni chair, £476, is made from polycarbonate, and all but the crystal clear legs are upholstered in Missoni's trademark vivid psychedelic fabric.
Fashion trends now heavily influence interior style, and even chairs can follow the look of the season as is demonstrated by a chair currently on show. It has been 'dressed' by a pair of Dutch fashion designers with an elaborate white outfit and huge pussy bow, and is on display at B&B Italia's London store until October 18.
Best buy: If you love designer chairs but can't afford the price tags, Dwell's range is inspired by retro and mid-century design. A curved one-piece chair which looks like a homage to a Panton is only £59.
:: Snug seats
Snuggling down into a cosy armchair is surely one of the pleasures of winter, and this seat should feel like a comforting friend at the end of a long day.
Fortunately these days that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style as designers have worked their magic and ensured that even sink-into-cosy seats can be chic rather than saggy.
As velvet's one of this season's most popular fabrics, chairs upholstered in this soft, sensual fabric would be a fashionable choice.
Two of my favourites are Nick Munro's sturdy looking Collection chair, £795, covered in an ivy green velvet, called Canterbury Willow, and Graham & Green's Dream Button back chair, £1,195, which is a beauty upholstered in Midnight blue velvet.
If the budget's tight, go for the Snowdrop armchair, £530 from Sofa.com, upholstered in brushed linen cotton. It comes in a variety of colours but Raspberry would suit this season's passion for rich, berry Autumn shades.
Best buy: A handsome Spitalfield armchair, £695 - another star from Graham & Green - could have been plucked from the set of a TV period drama. It's upholstered in linen and has a high back and deep seat.
:: Divine dining
These days there's no need to follow convention and have a set of matching dining chairs, as having a variety of pieces will give a setting a distinctive, eclectic look.
Judith says: "All the dining chairs around my table are different but date from around the same period, 1770 to 1790. I chose them all individually for their different backs, and I think it's more quirky and less predictable than having a set of one style. Also, they've cost me a fraction of the price compared with buying a set."
Mixing antique and modern is bang on-trend, and transparent Louis Ghost chairs, a design classic by Philippe Starck for Kartell and one of the most popular contemporary chairs, can look fabulous contrasted with an antique or wooden table. This pairing helps reduce the dominance of a dining room set in a room - an added bonus in small rooms.
A Kartell Louis Ghost armchair, £162, Kartell Victoria Ghost chair, £137, and an Upholstered dining chair with a rattan back, £235, complement each other well, and can be sourced from Graham & Green.
Since the recession, prices have become increasingly competitive on furniture, so it's not hard to find high style for a low price. Furniture Village's range includes a contemporary Metropolis set, extending table and four chairs, £1,199.
Have fun by truly personalising a chair with an image of your choice, perhaps a photo of a family member of one from a selection from Digetex. An Oval Backed salon chair, £299, can feature on its back images such as the Mona Lisa, Lips, the Girl With A Pearl Earring, or personal images photos or fabrics.
Best buy: For sheer elegance and comfort, be tempted by Laura Ashley's Provencale extending dining table, £850, a pair of upholstered chairs £575, and upholstered Magdalene chairs dressed in Edwin natural loose covers (aka wedding reception style) £325.
:: Rocking around
Just the thought of sitting and rocking in a leisurely fashion is soothing, and these seats are no longer limited to traditional 'Granny-style' rockers.
Habitat has a sleek rocker, £399, and Dwell's taken a streamlined approach with a Ripple rocking chair, £129. It's a sculpted curved seat without rockers upholstered in white or black faux leather.
Alternatively, hark back to the past with Laura Ashley's new Bramley chair, £200, which could make a lovely nursery seat, or one for fireside daydreaming.
If you wish you could replicate the style you've seen in hotels, online company Occa-Home could be just the source. Its design team use their experience of leading hotel clients and it's up-to-the-minute ranges include chairs. A Charles and Ray Eames RAR rocking chair, £348, reproduced for Vitra. (And proving that chairs can be glamorous, a Sophia Loren softly rounded occasional chair is upholstered in cashmere for £182.)
:: Seating sources
Laura Ashley: 0871 230 2301/www.lauraashley.com
B&B Italia: 020 7591 8111/www.london.bebitalia.com
Digetex: 0161 873 8891/www.digetex.com
Dwell: 0845 675 9090/www.dwell.co.uk
Furniture Village: 0800 7833833/www.furniturevillage.co.uk
Graham & Green: 0845 130 6622/www.grahamandgreen.co.uk
Habitat: 0870 411 5501/www.habitat.net
John Lewis: 0845 6049 049/www.johnlewis.com
OccaHome: 0844 879 4258/www.occa-home.co.uk
Sofa.com: 0845 400 2222
Upcoming:
Oct 15: INTERIORS Flag: Flying the flag's not just for the patriotic, it's a style statement for homes. Check out the red, white and blue emblem making an impact in our rooms.
Oct 22: INTERIORS: Halloween
Halloween may be scary but its style is distinctly gothic-chic. Conjure a spook-tacular style using fashionable black and hints of silver, you'll have a room that's a definite treat and will be the envy of visiting spirits!
