When a photo of a womb chair dressed up in Proenza Schouler damask hit our inbox today it got us thinking about the other instances of classic chairs in unusual "outfits" that we've seen in the past year or so. It is a trend that seems to be heating up...


Womb Chair in Proenza Schouler Damask at 




Depends in a large part on the fabric - I can appreciate the plaid and flame-stitch Eames Chairs and the Damask Womb Chair...
...but that patchwork Egg Chair is just too much - I can't tell where the chair begins and ends, the shape is completely lost!
view bepsf's profile
although the concept is fine, for some reason the results leave me cold. ABC carpets in new york had several of these on display for what seemed to be years. the chairs always looked odd to me and I kept wondering how they would fit into an interior.
view JonathanB's profile
I like the concept. It is refreshing!
view Amanda H.'s profile
hmmm, i usually love prints, but these designs are so beautiful as is, i think the print takes away from them a little.
not to mention that these are all very pricey chairs, once you get sick of the fabric custom reupholstery would be $$$! then again, if you can afford one of these babies in a custom fabric the price of reupholstering probably wouldn't phase you.
and i really hate the patchwork especially. just never been into that look. the damask on the womb chair isn't so bad, its pretty subtle.
view eribear12's profile
Give me the Eames in Missoni right now!!! Please... :(
view Kennard's profile
i like it :)
view elinka189's profile
It's sad to see that half of all the chairs above are fake ones. Copying these classics is a shame. Ruining the design with these ugly fabrics is even worse. The genuine articles (4 last pics) are definitely the prettier. Maybe that's because they were designed by people with taste and knowledge?
view CREames's profile
whatever, nay-sayers! The chair in the very first picture, the picture at the top of the post, looks great in that folkloric fabric. Love it! It's totally unexpected and cool.
view L1bby's profile
I love these!
view KWorld's profile
For people with disposable incomes these are great, but they will be outdated in about 10 mins.
view peachpie's profile
I like the concept, however, none of the patterns excited me. As some one mentioned before me, the shape of the chairs get lost in the maze of color and pattern except for the plaid, which look smart in the reading area.
view click212's profile
I love the corduroy Eames lounge chair and ottoman used on "House", but don't care for most of these fabrics. I agree that the chair shape gets lost in the pattern of the material. I'd also get really tired of those prints, and quickly.
view Sydney's profile
I've been wanting to upholster a Womb Chair in Fortuny fabric for over a decade (well over)... sigh... Also, saw some gorgeous examples of this on Designers Guild...
view mschatelaine's profile
I love them. All the classics usually come in leather, which I find uncomfortable. I think they're fun.
view ejbrammer's profile
Good god what are they doing to my Eames... :O
view ekoshyun's profile
OMG - i love the Eames in the Panton fabric. The Missoni is a little southwest for me.
view Modfan's profile
i love them but couldn't do it.
for me at least, chairs like these are investments, to live with and then pass along, and these fabrics are too personal, to protect the investment....i can imagine buying one on the secondary market, at a hugh discount, and reupholstering it as a classic.
i currently have a vintage papa bear and ottoman awaiting re-upholstery; part of me wants to go patchwork. i suspect i'll stick with a kvadrat classic.
view healthyhome's profile
I prefer bold pillows and throws to spice up a classic chair. I have two Eames chairs with black hopsack and it can look totally different with the right pillows.
view nicolezh's profile
Sarineen would roll in his grave. But perhaps not the Eames..
Does anyone like stripes?
;-)
view supernormalist's profile
Personally, I would consider a "zany" fabric only for a reproduction piece, never for an original. (I'm not in the disposable classic furniture income bracket. Yet.)
view modtramp's profile
hideous.
view mrs walsh's profile
I agree with CREames above on the shame of not using original furniture - http://tinyurl.com/9wefaw Regarding the patterned fabrics, though, I think the houndstooth and other geometrics work best. I wonder if this trend will grow on me, or whether my initial skepticism will hold? We'll see -
view Annie, bossy color's profile
I like the concept and would do it myself in a minute...but not with any of the fabrics posted. I think softer colours, solids, maybe quiet tone-on-tone patterns but in colours I am especially fond of, would add the touch of personalization and warmth and coordination I am going for without being so visually busy.
view JosieDaisy's profile
I just found a $150 replica eames lounger and am highly considering getting it reupholstered. I'm not to keen on the 'pleather' look.
I love this idea, but like everyone said, will definitely be dated in no time flat.
view marc from vancouver's profile