Q: I just hacked this IKEA Vika table into a wall-mounted desk, and I'm desperately looking for an office chair or stool to go with it. Unfortunately, my sub-$100 college student budget is limiting me to the standard fare — bargain basement plastic chairs and ugly dentist's stools. Wheels are a must, and a tiltable chair would make my day. Something like an Eames Aluminum Group chair would be ideal. I can scour flea markets and yard sales for a deal, but I'd love to find something before Fall classes start later this month. Any suggestions??Thank you!
Sent by Matt
Editor: It's going to be hard to find a decent task chair for under $100. Your example of a knockoff of an Eames Aluminum Group chair seems like a fair price at $200. I have always been impressed by the task chairs made from bungee cord (super comfortable) and they are available from places like CB2 ($189) and we've seen similar designs at A&G Merch in Williamsburg. You might also try Two Jakes in Williamsburg as most of their vintage furniture comes from offices. Does anyone else have suggestions for Matt?
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Comments (17)
Buy a secondhand chair. I know it costs more, probably around 600 dollar but it's the better investment.
Why?
-You can also use it when your graduated (without any shame)
-It keeps it's value; you can always sell it for 600 dollar :)
-It's sturdy and classy.
So, get a summerjob and buy the chair you want.
Overstock has many look-a-likes, but the prices are around $200.00:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Office-Chairs/2024/subcat.html
SALVATION ARMY.
Find the biggest SA center near you, and go there. They quite often have vintage office chairs from the 20s and 30s through the 90s, for $15 or so. The nice thing about SA is that people donate stuff there when they don't want to bother with a yard sale, or when they've had their yard sale and couldn't sell the stuff. So, frequently, really nice old task chairs end up dumped there - unseen by pickers looking for stuff for their stores. Not everone knows MCM stuff is cool - a lot of people think it's old and tacky and just want to get rid of it when Grandma dies or they downsize.
Go now!
I too dealt with this problem as my post college budget was slim and I was starting my own freelance business from home. I opted to go cheap for the chair, as long as it was comfortable. My bet: Search target.com. There I found my chair (altought no longer listed) for under $100. It is functional and comfortable, and although it is certainly not designer, it blends into the room nicely. They also have one that looks similar to the eames chair you mentioned: http://www.target.com/Merrill-Low-Back-Chair-Black-Chrome/dp/B000VHSGAI/ref=br_1_30?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&searchView=list&searchNodeID=578653011&node=578653011&searchRank=price&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&id=Merrill%20Low-Back%20Chair%20Black%20Chrome
I have actually seen some pretty good looking chairs under $100 at..yes...Office Max. Some in groovy colors too to add some punch while you save up/scour for your perfect Eames.
or how bout this one:
http://www.target.com/Media-Office-Chair-White/dp/B000L9O60K/ref=br_ln_reviews_1_3?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&node=13006341&activetab=Reviews#scripted_tabs
but I also definitely recommend Good Will / Salvation Army / Thrift Stores . . . you never know just what you're going to find.
I just bought one of these from IKEA and I'm really happy with it:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19859100
I think it's so comfortable. It really supports my back. My husband, who's about 8 inches taller than I am, thinks it's just as comfortable. (I know it doesn't have arms like your inspiration chair, but the old desk I bought has a teeny opening and this was one of the few chairs that would fit.)
This one's not an Eames by any means, but at $99, the price is right!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60112165
Best Buy: http://www.bestbuy.com/site//olspage.jsp?id=abcat0809002&type=category
Ditto on Salvation Army. Also Google around for places that sell used office furniture -- in NYC, you should definitely be able to find something cheap.
I'd love more info on the hack. I've been thinking of doing the same sort of DIY wall mounted desk (possible with IKEA countertops) but haven't been able to find the right kind of mounting for such a deep shelve. I'd like more info on what he used.
I have a vaguely-inspired-by Aeron Chair from Target ($80), which was comfortable at first, but has now been worn down to nothing in the padding department. My boyfriend has a nicer, but no more accurate, fake-Aeron from Sam's Club that is actually a pretty good chair - I think it was in the $150 range. They don't seem to have anything Aluminum-Group-y, but there are some cheap options...
check "sit on it" chairs. the on call is very inexpensive. have an architect friend? you can get it for a good discount.
the armless on call should be around $160
http://www.sitonit.net/home/product-overview.asp?product=oncall
can you tell us what brackest you used to hold the table top to the wall?
check out "sit on ot" chairs. the on call is inexpensive. have an architect friend? you can get the chair for a discount from a dealer. I'd think the armelss would be around $160.
http://www.sitonit.net/home/product-overview.asp?product=oncall
can you tell us what brackets you used to support the tabletop?
ditto on salvation army. also search "office sale" or "business closing" on craigslist, sometimes you can get good deals on used office chairs that way. or ask office depot or a place like that if they're selling any floor samples or discontinued stock models at a discount.
I really like the 'Moses' chair from Ikea ($40). It's not as nice as some of the other ones mentioned here, but you do get a lot more than what you pay for.
a little out of your range but would be a good fit and a smart buy:
http://www.officefurniturecenter.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=41&idproduct=99