A Chair with a Trunk?

Feeling a bit whimsical today, so I thought I’d put up this adorable blue elephant chair. This one I spotted at a design exhibit at Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris — it was a display of designer chairs from the middle ages up to now. This cute little fella came from the sixties, if I remember right — feel free to correct me if you know better. Unfortunately I didn’t save the info!

Getting the Ball Rolling…

Today is a very exciting day! I’ve finally gotten permission to post about the new ball chairs, which will at last be available August 1st.

This ball chair is based on the concept of exercise balls (aka yoga balls). These days everyone knows how bouncing on one of these giant, plastic balls engages core body muscles and helps with balance and posture… Unfortunately, they’re a little low and, well, unpredictable for working at a desk. So Topstar took one of these balls, put it on an attractively designed “octopus” base, and covered it with brightly colored fabric to create the Topstar Sitness 5 Octopus chair.

These chairs are very hot right now — I even heard a rumor that Disney placed a big order for its offices.  I’ve been dying to post them ever since I first saw the picture, but they weren’t coming in until August, and I didn’t want to get people excited just to make them wait. But they’re going to be available very soon, now! Better yet, we’ve ordered a tester for the office, so watch this space for my own personal review, coming soon.

ErgoHuman

Got too busy to post yesterday, and you know why? People kept calling to ask about this chair, the ErgoHuman Mesh High Back, by Eurotech. It was weird, actually — the chair isn’t new or anything, and while it’s always a big seller, I have no idea why suddenly yesterday people couldn’t get enough of it. Did someone post a big article about it somewhere? Or maybe it showed up on the last episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

Either way, I’m not surprised it’s popular. We have one out on our showroom, and I gave it a test “drive” a while back — I have to say, it’s a really great chair. I love the mesh seat, which is firm and springy in just the right combination, and that weird-looking back gives really terrific, targeted support. Oh, and as if that’s not enough, it’s made from 97% recyclable materials and comes in colors, too!

More on Mesh

Seating blog has a great review/history of mesh chairs today, definitely worth checking out if you’re considering making the switch.  These chairs are very popular these days — they’re among our biggest sellers.

Book Chair

Another cool chair from my trip to the MoMA…  This one is called the Libro, or “Book Chair”, designed by Gruppo DAM in 1970.  See how the cushions flip like the pages of a book?  This is one of those chairs that straddles the line between conceptual and comfortable; I want to believe I could actually curl up on this chair with a book,  but it’s definitely more cool than cozy.

Think Pink

We all know how much I love colorful chairs, but did you know that you can brighten more than just your own day with a vibrant color choice?

With every purchase of a Seatability Pink Elite Task Chair, $10 will be donated to the Komen for the Cure foundation, supporting breast cancer prevention research.  So if you’ve been thinking about getting yourself one of these stylish and comfortable bungee chairs in an eye-catching color, now you have one more great reason.

Still not sure?  Read more about bungee chairs here and here.

Blue Chair

Busy Monday, and I’m looking for something calm and soothing to get me started on the week. Check out this video for the Morcheeba song, Blue Chair.

And while you’re listening, think about curling up in a big, squishy blue chair and napping until Tuesday.

Web-Slinger

It’s Friday, so I’m treating myself by posting another colorful chair.

This Now Seating Inertia Side Chair is one of our most popular sellers, especially for people who want an eye-catching look for their offices.  The two-tone color design, space-age arms and webbed back add a certain flair, as compared to the dull, workmanlike designs seen in waiting rooms across the country.

It’s also available without the arms and in a variety of cheerful colors, including my favorite — orange!

Mushroom Chair

I found myself at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan a couple of weeks ago, and thought I’d wander through the design section while was there. The design section is, of course, mostly chairs — there’s something about chairs that really seems to inspire designers to stretch themselves and produce their most innovative work. Say what you will about cars and MP3 players, the chair is the perfect canvas for design creativity.

This was one of my favorites. Designed by Pierre Paulin in 1963 and manufactured by Artifort in the Netherlands, it’s called the Mushroom Chair — I love its psychedelic, organically-inspired shape. Too bad the museum doesn’t let you try them out!

On Your Knees

Have you ever tried to sit on a kneeling chair? It can be a bit of a challenge, at first — the thing hardly even looks like a chair, and it’s awkward figuring out exactly where your legs are supposed to go. Once you get the hang of it, though, these funny looking chairs can be one of the most comfortable seating options available.

Instead of babying your back with loads of cushioning and support, this style of chair forces your body to do a little work of its own. It’s a challenge at first, but as your muscles get used to holding your body up, you’ll end up with better posture and fewer back problems. Check out this excellent review for one user’s experience switching to a kneeling chair. Office chair advice also has some useful descriptions and explanations.

We carry quite a few versions of this design ourselves: The Izzy Design Balans chair (pictured above), plus others by Jobri, Boss, and Office Star. Check them out and see if there’s one for you!