Sathya is thinking about adding some new pieces to her living room and sent an email: I'm toying with the addition of two Wassily chairs to my living room. But I'm worried that all that silver and black will drain the color from my living room, which already has white walls and a white coffee table. Any thoughts on how to keep an air of joy and playfulness despite the addition of some rather stark chairs? I'd love to see some examples of Wassily chairs in colorful---and comfortable---living rooms. Thanks AT!
(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
chicago(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
i was going to suggest some geometric needlepoint pillows and perhaps a cowhide to keep things colorful and interesting. though i think he's a bit overrated, look at Jonathan Adler's interiors-- he punches up black and white rooms quite nicely...
view my little apartment's profile
maybe you can place a small moroccan table between the two chairs as a nice contrast.
view shoepins's profile
Because you haven't bought them already, I'm going to be contrary and say don't! There's a reason you don't see them often in residential settings, they are very stark, and anything you put with them to soften them is probably just going to work against them and seem confused.
There are things with hard lines that work well with contrasting fun or softness, but I don't think the Wassily chairs are like that. Colorful artwork and rugs could help - think '70's, or I could see them in a room with lots of big built-in bookshelves, with the books adding color - like a library room.
I think it's going to be tricky though to make a room that seems like a warm, fun home, and where the chairs still stand out and look like themselves.
view ARC's profile
Wassilly Chairs are some of the most uncomfortable "Machines for Sitting" I've ever encountered. I had a pair and my guests hated them.
But if you must, try them in brown leather - that alone will soften things up (slightly)
view bepsf's profile
really bepsf? my in-laws have a pair and i find them surprisingly comfortable. theirs are white leather, which is now worn and looks lovely. they're roman, and in true italian style, mix them with lovely antiques, persian carpet and more a simple white and gold stripped sofa and it all looks fantastic. i wish i had a pic to attach. i think the most important thing is that buying something like this doesn't mean that everything else has to "match" .
view sherry2's profile
I like the chair for its historical significance (I'm into chairs) but I agree with bepsf and ARC -- this is not a great living room chair.
Rather, it's a decent reception chair in a commercial setting, where a visitor to your office is not sitting for a very long time and they're not lounging in comfort.
When Breuer designed it in the 1920's, the Bauhaus was exploring new materials like tubular steel -- they weren't overly concerned with what we today would call ergonomics. With certain chairs of this era -- the Wassilly and Van der Rohe's Barcelona chair come to mind -- I find insufficient head support for the severe degree of lean, which puts a big strain on the upper back after more than 15-20 minutes.
view lightspeed's profile
Wassilly chairs are so uncomfortable, better take a pair of Paulistano armchairs, so nicer and so comfortable.
Also a bit cheaper !
view raph's profile
I was going to post my experience with Wassilly chairs yesterday, but chickened out. I was worried it was off-topic. Now that others have said it, my confidence is renewed. So: I agree with Lightspeed and others completely. I'd advise against Wassilly chairs as being very uncomfortable. Very cool looking, though.
view Chzzy's profile
I've been reading AT for quite sometime however, this is my first post. So here goes... This is a good question for me as I have two Wassily chairs of my own in my living room. When we have guests over this is where we gather. I can't say its my number one choice for lounging but for a few hours visit its fine. People are often surprised at how comfortable they can be. For the warmth factor I would agree with bepsf and go with a brown color. My chairs were redone with saddle leather. They are a little beat up and I love that about them. I have a picture of my living room and would be happy to share it with you if you like.
view Healeygirl's profile
Bepsf - good reference, but wrong designer. LeCorbusier made "machines for living", but Breuer designed Wassily.
That being said - they are somewhat stiff until they are broken in. A friend has a brand new one, and an old one. The old one is awesome! New one...well...give it time.
But I also like Ralphs suggestion of Paulistano from DWR. A little more organic in shape, and a little more comfortable out of the gate -and you can get a lovely warm brown leather for it. Definitely get the stainless frame though, the black frame has a texture like super fine sandpaper...freaked me out when I saw it! (think nails on a chalkboard)
http://www.dwr.com/product/paulistano-armchair-slipcover.do
(for some reason they are showing a crazy fabric color - but I think the leathers are still available)
view Modfan's profile