Hans J. Wegner, a Danish Modern furniture designer, was best known for his classic yet comfortable chairs that helped shape the modern design movement of the 1950's and 60's. He might have been better known for his Wishbone chair (still produced today by Carl Hansen & Son), or the Chair (also called the Round Chair, which was elevated to fame by the televised Nixon & Kennedy debate where both candidates were seated in The Chair), but there was another chair, also introduced in 1949 by Mr. Wegner, that achieved a great amount of success; the Folding Chair, nowadays often referred to as the "rope chair". More

Designer: Dorothy May "Sister" Parish, 1910 - 1994

From: Morristown, New Jersey

The mother of American country style, Sister Parish was a decorator and socialite who combined classic European furniture with a homey, comfortable feel, so that spaces had continuity and character. A lover of trimmings and chintz, her spaces had personality, yet many of her rooms are quite timeless. More

It's wallpaper week at Apartment Therapy, the perfect time to look at the history of wallpaper. Evidently the Chinese were hanging decorated rice paper on their walls for a couple thousand years, but the history of European wallpaper begins in the 16th century. More

In 1957, Mies van der Rohe said to Times magazine, "A chair is very difficult object. A skyscraper is almost easier." He had accomplished such a difficult feat with the Barcelona chair, designed for the 1929 International Expo with his partner, architect Lilly Reich. After receiving much acclaim for the piece, which was inspired by the folding chairs of Egyptian and Roman royalty, he never designed another chair.

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Universal Design refers to the idea of creating buildings and interiors that absolutely anyone can access and enjoy safely and easily, no matter their level of disability or mobility. But Universal Design doesn't so much refer to adding a bunch of wheelchair ramps to existing structures. It touches on the idea of designing spaces that have wide accessibility built right in — unseen and seamless with the beautiful design elements. More

The Rococo style, which became popular in the mid 18th century, covers the reign of France's King Louis XV. The period is known for an increase in lower, more cushioned furniture that can be gathered into intimate groups, whimsical S- and C-shaped curves, ornate asymmetric flourishes, and a playful pastel palette. The style is preceded by the Baroque style and followed by Neo-Classical. More

Wicker furniture might seem like an invention of the Victorian era, but that's just when it hit the English and American markets. In fact, wicker is one of the oldest methods of making furniture, common all over the world for thousands of years. But wait, I'll bet you're wondering what wicker is exactly, am I right? So let's define our terms, and take a quick look at the history of wicker. More

The Parsons table, with a table top and legs that are equal in thickness, is one of the most ubiquitous pieces of furniture in recent history. Available as a desk, dining table, coffee table, side table and even shelving, it can be found in homes across the world. More

Designer: Gunta Stölzl
From: Germany

Gunta Stölzl designs are bright, abstract and creative. Inspired by modernists like Kandinsky, she applied geometric principles to her textiles, moving away from traditional pictorial forms. She favored patterns that were clear, direct and simple. While studying and then teaching at the Bauhaus in the 1920s, Stölzl transformed its weaving workshop as the first female Master. Her progressive ideas, grasp of the technical, and strong design sense elevated textiles to the status of art.

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Now that we've reached asphalt-melting temperatures in New York, it's time to start thinking about breezes skimming across lakes, icy tumblers full of Pimm's Cup, and the rustic luxury of a quiet hour spent in an Adirondack chair. Which for me, design history nerd, means that it's also time to start thinking, what ARE Adirondack chairs anyway, and where did they come from? More