Comments on: Midcentury Chair

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 11 May 2009 07:11:49 +0000

I find them relatively comfy- I used to have a vintage one like that in my apartment. But I sit in an eames shell chair much of the day (with a pillow at my back), so my opinion may be skewed. It is not something I would use as my only seating- I always also have a couch.

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:11:26 +0000

Seconding the recs for thrift stores and Craigslist. I have a chair basically exactly like that one (except nicer wood) that I bought for $50 on Craigslist–and I live in Manhattan!

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 10 May 2009 05:27:55 +0000

I’m pretty sure that style is referred to as Danish Modern, if that helps searching for one. We had a chair like that when I was growing up.

By: ansley

ansley — Sun, 10 May 2009 05:22:30 +0000

My cousin had something similar. The back was pretty far back, so a small pillow was needed for lumbar support, otherwise it is decent. But I agree about it being non-cozy.

By: megan

megan — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:03:41 +0000

jjzach – Thank you, I sat in a similar style in a coffee shop recently and found it comfy, but I was pretty sure this UO chair would be smaller and probably less nice to sit in. Thanks for the confirmation! The space I was thinking of for it is tight so it might still be good.

By: Kris

Kris — Sat, 09 May 2009 14:34:35 +0000

I’m so glad a couple of people suggested the University of Washington surplus store – I’ve found some great furniture there for only $5 or $10 each. Worth checking out! It’s right near the Agua Verde Paddle Club – where you could also stop for coffee or happy hour…

By: jjzach

jjzach — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:48:28 +0000

I sat in it last weekend. It was comfortable, but not cozy comfortable. It would work well if the space is limited and you weren’t planning on taking a nap in it. It took up less real estate than similar chairs that I have tried at used furniture stores.

By: maggie

maggie — Sat, 09 May 2009 09:41:07 +0000

Jeeze, I want to know what thrift stores you guys go to. I’ve been looking for a vintage chair this style for ages. I never run across good mid-century scores at the thrifts in Seattle.

By: M.E.

M.E. — Sat, 09 May 2009 08:49:18 +0000

Hahaha… no, really, not ANY Goodwill or Salvation Army, sorry, peeps. :) Stuff like this is very difficult to find in my area (around Ohio State U. in Columbus) outside of vintage stores. You’ll notice if you read Apartment Therapy that the “Craigslist Finds” for the midwest *rarely* include anything in Columbus.

It can also be pretty difficult in Florida, because there’s been a population boom there since this furniture was current.

If you do live in an area where this kind of thing overpopulates every thrift store, be grateful for it.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sat, 09 May 2009 04:16:34 +0000

I’m yet another who will chime in with hitting your local thrift shops…or CraigsList. These chairs are everywhere. We have 3 in our house. Most you’ll find will need some TLC, but that UO price is OUTRAGEOUS!

By: Mirvana

Mirvana — Sat, 09 May 2009 02:33:18 +0000

That chair looks just like the ones that my grandmother had when I was a little kid. I don’t remember them being very comfortable, but you can remove the cushions and build an excellent fort with them. :)

By: megan

megan — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:01:40 +0000

Thank you so much to everybody for the advice, I’ll forget about these and keep my eyes open. Thanks for all the suggestions on places to look to find them, though I find it daunting since I rarely stumble across good stuff (no luck).

By: Brooke

Brooke — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:11:30 +0000

You can find those EXACT style chairs at any Goodwill or Salvation army! They are comfy too!

By: growler

growler — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:27:47 +0000

Wow, that is pricey.

I had two chairs just like that, which I got from the Salvation Army. The style is comfy, even for long sits, though as stated above curl-up potential is limited.

By: Lola

Lola — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:03:29 +0000

I haven’t sat in the chair, but when I was admiring the display model (it is pretty!) I noticed the dowels were coming out of their sockets and the whole thing felt a bit rickety. If you glue all of the joints it will probably hold up under light use, but for that price you could get a far sturdier chair and have it reupholstered.

By: just barrie

just barrie — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:16:36 +0000

that whole link seemed a bit one-sided. i’d love to read what the CEO has to say to defend himself.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:13:32 +0000

I have a couple of vintage chairs that look just like this and they are pretty comfy. I’ve been meaning to paint and re-upholster them… this may just be the inspiration I needed to actually do that project!

By: Jenni

Jenni — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:08:57 +0000

I second the UW surplus store. It’s open to the public on Tuesday afternoons. They have some representative photos on their site. I think it’s cash only.

http://www.washington.edu/facilities/transportation/movingandsurplus/inventory/

By: Veronica too

Veronica too — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:06:14 +0000

I’ve got the teak hand-me-down version. Lourdes is correct, it is not a curl-up chair and it sits quite low.

By: Lourdes

Lourdes — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:12:18 +0000

To actually answer the question, yes, it is comfortable if your are going to sit in it for a while but it is not a comfy, curl up in chair. It looks good too.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:05:15 +0000

It doesn’t look as great in person as it does online; I was pretty disappointed with the quality up-close. We were found a really great similar chair at Area 51 in Capitol Hill,and they seem to always have them in stock. Sometimes they post their inventory on Craigslist, too. I’ve also seen them for super cheap at Antique Importers in Pioneer Square, although those needed reupholstering.

By: megan

megan — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:39:37 +0000

Fert – Thanks, I didn’t know there was one (as I didn’t go to UW).

Veronica – Thank you, I’m aware of all the anti UO and Anthro arguments and generally look elsewhere.

By: Veronica

Veronica — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:36:24 +0000

I won’t shop at Urban Outfitters (or Anthropologie either) so I can’t tell you. Here’s why (though this is an old-ish link): http://citizenship.typepad.com/isebrandcom/2006/10/okay_its_time_t.html

By: fert

fert — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:30:52 +0000

m,
if you feel like a small project, go to the surplus store at u.w. they have a lot of great mid-century modern pieces that just need a bit of tlc. cheap and pretty cool.