In keeping with our Tullsta renovation theme from earlier, we couldn't help but notice that IKEA's chair bears a strong resemblance in form to the brilliant Tokujin Yoshioka's Panna chair for Moroso. With a few inexpensive tweaks, we think you could transform an already inexpensive chair into something much more interesting.

Yoshioka is known for his innovative use of materials, often creating furniture out of startling substances like natural crystal. His Pane chair, which evolved into the Moroso version, was initially baked whole in it's raw state until solidified.
The Panna version, created using a similar concept but utilizing more practical manufacturing methods, is upholstered in "a puffy white quilted industrial fabric used for carrying precision instruments, pulled over the chair form". We think this "industrial fabric" looks almost exactly like standard-issue moving blankets, which cost around $5 each.

Using a couple of these per chair, along with some simple cotton batting and a staple gun, creating a similar version (at least visually similar) at home would take very little time, and even less money.
Quote taken from Dezeen.com; images via Tokujin Yoshioka Design
Originally Published 10.14.2008 - AA
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Comments (91)
It looks like it's getting packed for travel. No thanks.
ugh.
ditto the previous sentiments.
Ew. And plus, as a previous owner of that chair, those things are back breakingly uncomfortable.
Hideous.
I agree. It reminds me of those tacky crocheted toilet paper covers.
no....
no.
Those chairs are so ugly why would anybody want to copy that?
I've seen this chair in person and really liked it. The silhouette of sweeping curves and pointy seams and edges has popped up at a few of the european collections. It really does look like the love child of the B&B Italia Bombole chair and a piece of whipped confection.
That said, I think the idea of transforming the Tullsta is interesting in the abstract, but the materials selected probably won't work. The upholstery needs to be light enough to hug to lines and the pattern on the upholstery needs to be much smaller than the chevron pattern on a moving blanket. I fear this makeover is way beyond the skills of the typical seamstress/diy-er.
The good news is that that level of complexity makes this chair a nice design investment. Due to the labor intensive processes involved, you probably won't be seeing any reasonable facsimiles from CB2 or Ikea any time soon.
I'd rather see the chair get kitted out in some lovely Anthropologie-type fabric instead.
blech
Wow. Ugly. So very ugly.
I honestly don't get people that just post "gross" as a comment. Use your words, for chrissake. Don't like it? I'm glad to see a different opinion! Try letting us know why you don't like it. And not just because "They had this in the 80s and it was a bad idea then." or "My grandma has this couch." RichardinLA's comment, for example, is both descriptive and constructive, and therefore interesting to read.
Interior design doesn't mean one design, it means a variety of designs from a variety of eras used in creative and interesting ways. Just because something doesn't look like it would fit into your Ikea model home doesn't mean it should be dismissed with a monosyllabic grunt.
It has seriously reached the point that it's not worth reading the comments on AT, which is a shame since so many of the posts are about how you, the readers, would use and construct interesting objects and spaces.
I don't mind it so much - At least it doesn't look like a crappy uncomfortable chair from IKEA anymore...
ugleh
I don't find this attractive. It looks unfinished and bulky. The lines of the chair are ok but with the fabric treatment those simple lines are lost. I never did like clothing that was sewn purposely inside out to expose the seams. Some things look better hidden. That said, I can appreciate the artistic intention of doing something unconventional to a common object. Like some runway fashions though, this one only works on the runway.
Ok, someone on here said they wanted explanations so here goes: This chair reminds me of a wadded up kotex or a used baby diaper, sans poop. Neither of these remind me of anything artistic or innovative, but for some I'm sure they do. Sorry, but that's my opinion.
This is simply unappealing to me. 'Nuff said.
Beatiful, great idea! I wish we could all see how the DIY "replice" looks like.
Gross.
so groos-Not! :)
Sometimes one word is more expressive of your thoughts and feelings than an entire diatribe. I hate the way this looks. I don't need to explain why.
Hard to believe but the before was better.
Packing Fortune Cookies.
I really hate the fabric on the Yoshioka chairs, but the amazon moving blanket fabric looks a lot better, so maybe it could work?
To agree with organs... if one word describes your feeling, why say anything at all? This is a place for conversation.
On that note, while I like the idea of the chair and even the style, it's the fabric I take issue with. I think this chair offered in a patterned fabric would be more striking.
Also I think that this would be hard to replicate, however the replication idea still sounds like a good way to rehab the Tullsta. Will someone try this and post pictures?
Maybe it's the way the moving blankets are photographed, but I think they look like a gun-metal grey, which I love a LOT, and I think that if someone actually took this project on, they might come up with something that actually surpasses the thing they want to imitate. No. Really. I mean it.
Oooops, I like them. But then again, I like all those tee shirts with the seams on the outside. I think this would be great in a simple nursery or toddler room-it would take wear and tear, and it looks like fun. I'm not sure what other sort of decor this word work with, though.
not my style but i like the creativity of it and i am sure someone could work it into a room and rock it well.
I have a Tullsta chair, (and for me it is very comfortable, as it happens to be a good match for my leg and body lengths) While the inspirational Yoshioka chairs are âinterestingâ looking as conceptual art, they do not look very practical for the actual function of a chair:to be an inanimate participant in the life of a home, where people actually sit in it.
It wouldn't be impossibly difficult to make a slipcover from movers blanketing, or other pre-quilted materials. The part of this that seems horribly impractical to me is having the seams on the outside and unfinished. The "stuffing" would likely come loose along those edges and not look attractive. And if you tried to wash the coverings, it would have disastrous consequences for your washing machine.
If I wanted to re-construct this look, I would make a quilted slipcover in whatever fabric desired, and pipe the edges with http://www.sahuc.com/know-how/p019_moss.htm>"moss fringe", a trim which is designed to give a fluffy fringed edge look, choosing a pale color to give the look of the original inspiration.
Oh Sorry, somehow my attempt to show what moss fringe didn't work. The link is here Moss Fringe
it is hideous...
awful. no thanks.
no. and, it's soooo no that i don't feel it needs further explanation.
Each to his own. For me, the finished product is something that you'd want to transform, if you could even imagine it's being transformable, into something else (like a Tullsta chair, even). Clearly, there are people who like the Panna chair, but I'm not one of them.
It's wrapped in GAUZE for Pete's sake!!
Reminds me of the elastic waist on the Depends diapers my patients wear at the hospital. No thanks.
Not my favorite look but it could work in the right space. It's more of an arty, don't sit on it kind of chair. It's about how it was made.. I think it would look really awful it somebody tried to hack it. Has anybody seen any images of an attempt? I don't mind the Tullsta chair - it is what it is.. inexpensive seating, and small scale for a first apartment/home - for all of $99. Not like you'd leave it to your grandchildren..
I thought it was going to look rather John Saladino-like -- he often uses shipping blankets in his work, but in his case, they look extremely elegant...
I don't understand it.
I love my tullsta since the back made a perfect headrest for someone my height :) I bought a yellow one then soon added the fuschia slip cover and never looked back.
Eep. This takes a basic, clean-lined chair and turns it into a total eyesore. Like citygirlincountry said, it looks like it was upholstered by Kotex. :p
I really really like the look of the Yashioka chair - with the exception of the white/blue color scheme. Imagine if it were white/charcoal or some other color; the blue does summon uncomfortable reminders of diapers.
I like the chair because it looks comfortable to sit in. If not, there's really no point to it. But unlike so many things I see at AT, in tableaux or as single pieces - one random chair/lamp vignette in a landing that nobody in the history of the household has ever sat in; a bench in a living room that is only sat in when every other comfortable chair is taken - I can actually see sitting in this chair comfortably.
(Doesn't hold with the Ikea one, which I have sat in & is not exactly sigh-with-contentment comfortable.)
It may be fun, but it is not artistic.
I really didn't think this could be the finished product. No.
I kept waiting for the "after" picture.
I too kept scrolling down for the after picture. I thought the finished one was just showing how and where it was sewed together and that once you flipped it over it would be done. I guess I don't like this for the same reason I wouldn't wear my clothes inside out - it doesn't look neat to me. I like clean lines and no extra poufyness (probably not a word!) in my furniture design.
Exactly who is this targeted at anyway? Ohh, I love that panna chair and I don't have the money to purchase it - thank god Keehnan wrote a vague posting on AT on how I might be able to make my own Frankenstein version! I'm sure that Yoshioka would be flattered with my half-assed attempt to copy his design!
I encourage more posts of this nature - complete speculation based on nothing more than a crackpot idea.
i love it
there is nothing refined about this. Either you like messy things or you don't. I'm not a fan, but I know some hot shot young hipster client of mine would adore something like this...
These chairs look like they are wearing underwear, and not the fancy type either. What do they wear on top?
I got really excited about the blanket in your lead photo, and then I clicked through. Blegh.
they look like the elastic sides of diapers. To take a perfectly nice chair and turn it into that abomination... well, words fail me.
It's a waste of time and materials.
It's ugly.
It doesn't look comfortable.
It looks like bad DIY.
There was a home tour in New York magazine recently that showed a moving blanket used to reupholster a sofa. It looks great!
I hate it. Sorry.
Seriously, Keehnan Konyha? You think AT readers like 'stuff' like that. That's nasty looking. It looks like gauze was wrapped all over it like it was injured. Ditto the Kotox comment.
ummm....not so sure about this one...
http://www.mylittleapartment.blogspot.com
"they look like the elastic sides of diapers." by lorijo
This comment!!
Oh my. Not a fan.
Wow, this is a doozy. How'd you guys give this passing marks?
What? WHY?
As I scrolled down I thought the first picture was an unfinished version, then I realized it was the end product! Ew. It looks like a half-a**ed DIY job.
Sorry, but this looks terrible.
Thank you for your version of posting instructions, organs. Nevertheless, sometimes a few or even one word conveys it all. In this case, Ugly, Hideous and Ugh communicate the poster's feelings about the chair.
Be nice.
The chair? Kotex pad. Two words.
Yuck.
But a real tutorial on creating a cool slipcover or DIY upholstery project for this basic chair would be cool.
BARF.
I agree with the majority.......ugly!
To me these look like they are waiting for the fabric having just received the stuffing. The thing that was nice about the original chair is its clean lines which are totally deformed by this treatment. I can think of a dozen ways to cover that Ikea chair, any of which would be preferable to this.
Where the moving blanket might come in handy on such a small piece would be in a child's room, however the fact they've stapled it on rather than slipcovered it makes it unwashable, therefore: no.
This does look like an art "piece" however in an apt or small home we need our furniture to function as well as look good and this doesn't nail it for me. This chair would be perfect with different slipcovers for different seasons, courderoy, sheepskin or flannel, floral, in a bold beachy stripe around a patio table... all the ways to dress a chair and they come up with this... looks like when you acidentally send a new tampon through the washing machine and dryer.
Sometimes one word is all that needs to be said. I'm reminded of Bette Midler's Baby Divine, whose entire vocabulary consisted of only one word, "more!" ~:o)
I saw the Tullsta at IKEA years ago and thought it was super cute. And then I sat on it. It LOOKS like one should just sink into the cushion, but instead it is hard! One of my favorite things to do back when I was single and had no obligations was to go to IKEA and wander and eat meatballs. I would always sit in the chair section for a while and watch people sit in the Tullsta for the first time. The surprised looks as people stopped short instead of sinking in was funny.
And I think those bag things above are ugly. Cheers!
i think it's the styling....if it was in some jonathan adler room with a beach chic vibe with this chair as the "special" item in the room people would probably look at it differently.
I like the chair purely because it ISN'T the eames chair.
If it takes so little time and so little money why wasn't it done as a hack before this was posted? As I'm not a fan of the (expensive) original anyway, I really doubt that a budget DIY knock-off would look great. Might be more interested if there were actually one done that we could see though.
I enjoy the brief comments on AT as well and sometimes skim over those that go into great detail. That being said, I say nuh uh to this re-do.
These chairs are perfect examples of why designers need to use COLOR.
In white and blue: kotex.
In browns and greens, to go with the already rattan-ish texture: lovely.
awful! Maybe to some these are wonderful, but to me they are simply awful!
I like these chairs and love the idea of transforming something with common, inexpensive materials. I usually hate things from IKEA, but can really get into the idea of using the nondescript forms as a base for something much more interesting. I often click through on any before/after transformation project, mostly because I like process and also because as someone without the budget to realize all my aesthetic impulses through purchase, I may be tempted to recreate the project at hand. That being said, I'm always happy when the before/after project doesn't involve spray paint and brightly colored, big patterned fabric as it often does. Not that that's a bad thing, its just not my thing. And I've seen it already. Waaaaayyyy too many times.
I don't like the fabric 'cause of its "passing" quality, I wouldn't feel relaxed, only reminded that it's not meant to last. But I love the design! So so stylish!
(As about the majority of comments --yes, the one-word ones-- I don't feel surprised after seeing some of the rooms the readers have voted for. :p )
Oh I hate to say this but these chairs look like the panties/underwear that they give you in the hospital after you've had a surgery!
Yeah, NO!
I really like it. I think it is fun and I would be interested in seeing it with the other side of the blanket and if might take on a very space age feel. It looks cozy and would go great in my very brilliant, artistic son's room. I must admit however, It does look like something we would have come up with at RIT in 3D design class.
I wouldn't have thought it would cause such intense feelings thus making this a very interesting comment section to read, a bit like reality TV.
Both the original and DIY look very uncomfortable. Looks hard to get out of and after awhile the seat would be sagging to the floor. I think my cat would like it
With what you were given and the original chair look... good job. Not my cup of tea personally but nice execution. Looks like the real thing.
Maybe if the fabric used was black in color like the one in the first picture?..... No... still no. They both look unfinished and very very far from the sleek lines of the Tullsta chair.
@Emika.. this really does look like Kotex, now that you mention it. Thanks for the laugh :)
Yowzah - I think maybe you were on the right track but somewhere along the lines had a bit too much Christmas eggnogg? I can imagine guests would just keep wondering if you're in the middle of packign.
I love this! The fabric used make it look very cozy, and the way the chair appears to "hug" the person only adds to that. The "unfinished" look is what makes the chair unique, homey and modern. It is a huge improvement from the original drab Ikea chair. I love the contrast of straight lines and curved lines.
However, I might be concerned that the fabric would be loose.
This was fugly two years ago. Why did you bump the post?
A matter of individual taste. If you're into that kind of chairs I'm sure it works for you. Personally, I prefer the unaltered Ikea chair.
Without doubt one of the ugliest things I have ever seen on AT.
The heinous Kotex chair is back.
Why?
Maybe this post is satire?
Otherwise it's a shame.
I like the shape and the seams a lot... unfortunately, the fabric shown in the final product looks like a diaper/feminine hygiene product. Very hideous.
If the final look had actually used the gunmetal gray fabric from the first picture, it might be very cool.