We spend a great deal of time at the computer — between two full time design jobs and our blogging gig here on AT, our behinds are glued to a desk chair for the majority of the day, everyday. So when we decided to graduate from using our laptops on the couch to a legitimate desk-chair-home-office the issue of "Which chair?" was a big one. We think we have found the perfect fit...
Our "home office" is really just a corner in our dining room so, first, we chose a desk whose size was substantial enough to define the space but light and open enough not to overtake our dining table: Blu Dot's Desk 51 in white. Its a cantilever design which begged for a complimentary chair. But none of our spare chairs quite fit the criteria of being both (a.) comfortable over extended periods of time and (b.) aesthetically complimentary to our new cantilever desk. After much deliberation we settled on the Panton Chair.
We have loved Vitra's Panton Chair from afar and dreamed of having a dining table full of them but never, ever imagined using one as a desk chair. Not only does the cantilever design allow you to bounce lightly while working but the molded plastic form hugs you from calf to shoulder blade — a gentle, comfortable reminder for good posture.
If you're in the market for a desk chair and cringe at the thought of those black mesh, infinitely "customizable" wheelie office chairs, a quick trip to DWR might be worth your while to give Panton a test drive. We love how beautifully the 50-year-old form compliments the new Blu Dot design — a testament to the quality of both pieces.
Panton is available in white, blue or red at Design Within Reach for $260 plus shipping or Design Public for $245 with free shipping. In our opinion, it is worth every penny.
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TopDeq has, in my opinion, an excellent selection of office chairs.
This is what I use at home.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liquidstereo/1361730212/in/set-72157600195882099/
I have a different chair of theirs in my office. Its some 9 years old and I love it.
Are those prints of children wearing dunce caps?! I love them-- and think they'd be rather appropriate around my own workspace much of the time!
I like the panton chair in the set up above. For myself, though, I need arm rests. I would consider using a panton chair for a more occasional desk.
yeah, i enjoy armrests while at the computer as well.
good suggestion though, i am currently in need of a new desk chair. my office max gray padded special is on it's way out (and currently lives in the closet by itself) and it needs a suitable replacement.
I have considered the eames shell chair with arms. I really want to, but the cost gets me. I'd much rather just get the modernica version, but basically the same price. I like the wheeled bases, but that also ads to the price. The rocker base would be nice, but after reading it's height, not for a desk chair. Eiffel base could work, but i like to be able to slide it out of the way easily (hence wheels or rocker)
maybe i'll just break down and buy one. a new one with the wheeled base is around $400....
I'll try the panton if i get a chance though.
Surprisingly, I have found that the Blu Dot Real Good Chair works quite well at a desk. The back has some nice springiness to it.
We don't think the Panton chair would make a very good desk chair.
Good choice! I like the chair but I *adore* the table! My dream office chair is one that was made by Arne Jacobsen. It's like the '7', clad with leather and has armrests and wheels. It's a beauty, but I don't think they make it anymore...
http://www.notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/
ah, I found a tiny picture of it:
http://www.dr.dk/NR/rdonlyres/58A92371-98E3-4DFD-9871-8AB01004CCA3/138379/ca11f50124ad4c5391dc74feaa11b425_uds15kontorstol.jpg
do check it out, it's just fab!
http://www.notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/
I use the Eames shell chair, the Modernica version. It's comfortable although I am sure it is ergonomically terrible. (I know the plastic is more environmentally friendly, but the fiberglass is so beautiful). I have a red in the home office and a pink in the office office.
jmorey-
We have both a new (HM) Eames rocker with arms and vintage side shell chairs for our dining table. We love them all and think any of them would be a great choice. From my experience the rocker wouldn't work- it naturally leans back. The rolling shell might be nice but we have found the back support a little low on the rocker and the side shells have a very similar profile to the Panton chair but the back support on the Panton is a little wider. The Panton has a little more flex and bounce which makes it more comfortable for us to sit in for a longer period of time.
That said, you should try them out and get whatever fits you best.
Good Luck!
Not the best choice if you enjoy the continued use of your wrists. It's fine if you're just sitting and browsing, but any extended typing, drawing, etc. and you'll end up with shoulder problems.
Aeron chairs aren't pretty, but if you work at a desk all day, they're the most ergonomic and comfortable.
"our behinds are glued to a desk chair for the majority of the day, everyday"
How many of "you" are sitting in the same chair?
This "we" thing is ridiculous.
In any other posts you can complain about our collective AT "we" but here "we" are "Wes & Kayla" and "we" each use the chair when "we" use the computer and "we" also have full time jobs outside our home but this chair gets about 2-3 hours of use a day.
and there is usually two of us in the chair, either one of us and Bacon.
seriously,
who did those dunce cap paintings?
love them.
Bacon's back!
What has he been up to lately?? Can you post the link to his photo album again?
A Bacon fan
I don't think the chair shown works......how about the Memphis 'First' chair (perfection) or the new Starck 'Mr. Impossible' chair.....or the Gehry 'Squiggle' chair?
We like any chair with a bit of Bacon on top.
Kayla here -
As you can tell Bacon loves the new chair and it matches him (and our white theme) perfectly :-)
The dunce cap paintings are by one of my favorite Etsy sellers, Black Apple:
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5617845
They used to be the decor in my much-smaller dining room:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/small-cool-2008-east/east-13-kaylas-hall-of-blues-047624
That chair has the color of a faded 50's beauty salon. Otherwise the room is great and I love those prints.
I know it isn't for me, I don't like the single moulded piece. Would prefer a Nelson swag leg with arm rests, or (for half a month's pay) a sumptuously padded Eames.
I have a knock-off panton chair as extra seating in my home office. I have a generic mesh backed office chair at my desk - I like to be able to adjust the seat height and I like to swivel so I will probably always use an office chair for desk seating. I think the panton chair is very comfortable and I sit in it to read.
Agree. The Panton is a deceptively comfortable sit. It's no Herman Miller Aeron, but it's only about $250.
I've used an Eames (the real one) plastic side chair at my desk for a few years. After that I used an Eames plywood desk chair. Both are super comfortable and good for short term sittings - 1-4 hours. (if you're looking for an eames chair on a wheeled base check eBay and craigslist - 3-4 at any given time)
Panton is really comfortable as well, but i dont like how it wiggles if you lean back.
I have a Vitra Panton chair at my desk and everyone thinks I'm crazy...next time I will direct them to this post!
I love the panton chairs ! I have a question though... I have seen some on ebay for a fairly good price, they have the "verner panton" written on the base of the chair, does this mean they are most likely authentic? Ebay makes me nervous but they are a little hard to come across on my side of the globe (Australia).