The club chair craze 10 years ago drove up prices and drove down the stock of the authentic 1930s classic Fauteuil Club. While you can still find them at the brocante or on French ebay, used club chairs are often in terrible shape -- with cracked skin and busted springs -- and require costly restoration and hassle. So many who want the look of an old club chair with the benefits of a brand new chair turn to a Paris specialist who makes custom chairs in a choice of styles and colors.

Many inferior club-style chairs are made with fake leather, but the chairs at Decor Actuel are made from sheepskin leather with authentic marks that is aged to give it an authentic-looking patina that will only increase with time. Decor Actuel has a promotion right now with chair prices starting at 795 euros.

Visit the store in the 5th arrondissement or online at Decor Actuel.

- Kristin Hohenadel blogging from rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, France. She can be reached at kristinh @ apartmenttherapy . com
"authentic marks", "aged to give it an authentic-looking patina" - Clearly a cut above the many inferior club-style chairs...
view southernwayfarer's profile
Restoration Hardware had a beautiful club type chair called the "Library Chair". Great sleek deco styling. Unfortunately they no longer make it.
view southernwayfarer's profile
Real leather? Oh my! Seriously, though- this reads like a cut and paste from the manufacturer's website. And they may be "authentically marked", but they look like Naugahyde.
view erica's profile
seems like 75% of AT's content these days is just (not so) glorified product placement.
view southernwayfarer's profile
as pointed out in another comments section, the bloggers are paid by the post. and it's showing.
view erica's profile
Thanks for this, Kristin!
As luck would have it, I've been thinking about a club chair for my apartment in Paris, and this could be really helpful...
view Jaze's profile
American Leather (.com) has them and they look pretty good.
view Valerie's profile
Glad to be of help, Jaze. I put this post up because "Where can I find a club chair" is one of the most frequent questions I get here at AT.
view Kristin Hohenadel's profile
Ya right. Let me run over to the 5th (with $1500 american)and bring a fake chair back home to NYC.
view labchick's profile
At 2 for $950, I bet these from Overstock.com would make nice substitutes.
http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/L10540822b.jpg
view quiltmaster's profile
despite lacking authentic marks and the authentic-looking patina...
view southernwayfarer's profile