Hello AT,
I'm trying to find a chair to serve 2 purposes - First as a comfortable computer desk chair, preferably with adjustable arms, and Second - that will also work as a normal sitting chair in the living room.
I have built an office into a closet, like a "Murphy Office" where I have everything but the chair dissapearing into the closed closet. Now my office chair on wheels looks stupid by itself. If instead I could pull a nice looking chair into the room, it would work as part of the existing seating arrangement when the "office is closed." Anything you've seen?
Thanks, Jeff
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Quick! Scroll down and nab that Helikon Swivel Armchair!
OK, I am horrified by the brand/licensing on this...but it just might work...John Elway (yes, the football dude...) has a line of furniture and the dining room chairs have wheels. They have very clean lines and they are pretty nice. Here's a linky:
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=351549
It's from Bassett furniture, so you can order a chair from just about any multi-brand furniture store.
I recently completed an office-closet as well (and I LOVE it) but my office is begin enough to leave the chair in. Still I wanted an attractive enough chair that it could blend in as in a pinch guest seating or an extra dining chair.
I went with the PATRIK from ikea (after much searching) -- http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15600&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=43004&langId=-1&categoryId=15879&chosenPartNumber=70074950
Comfortable, relatively clean lined and attractive.
Congrats on the new office. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.
I have to say I really like the overlapping squares chair at West Elm. Also, a vintage fiberglass shell chair or Saarinen armchair could be nice. I was just browsing http://tri-stateantiques.com/modernchairs.htm
and saw some neat things. Did you know there is a flickr group called CHAIR? It's a fun one. Good luck!
Find an old oak desk chair, like your school principal probably had in the 60s. Make sure you can adjust the height; the mechanism might be a little rough from lack of use.
I have such a chair, from the Eastern Market flea market. It's painted white, which I can live with. It would be great to have one of the refinished ones, but mine cost $20 and they don't. Mine is solid hard wood, rolls easily, and is already a good height. Even if I could redo it, I suspect the paint was added to cover water stains or some sort of flaw that you can't refinish away.
Or get the chair that looks like one of these, the IKEA Joel. If I hadn't run into my chair at the Market, I'd have a Joel. Click my name for the link.
How often do you use the chair as a desk chair? I think one good option is the cardboard chair (http://www.cardboardchair.com) - i think it looks great. Oh, you wanted arms though. You could also go with a Starkk Ghost chair?
I think what most people are saying is what I have done with my desk which is a foldable, collapsible type thing which sits in my living room - I just use one of the dining chairs (ikea) as a desk chair when I need it.
If you are using your office more often, just do to dwr and sit in all the dining chairs and find one that is most comfortable - they are all nice as an accent chair.
if i had the money - i would get the round-armed cherner dining chair - maybe the one maxwell and sara-kate bought? i forget...
If money is not an obstacle then get the Herman Miller aluminum group chair with casters. With or W/O arms it's a beautiful design and a very comfortable task chair. Available in a plethora of fabrics and leather. This is what they use on the Colbert Report for interviews. A timeless classic built like a tank.
http://www.highbrowfurniture.com/seating/products/alumgroup/
The Giulietta chair from Design Within Reach is great for a dual purpose.
http://dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=4724
The Leap Worklounge by Steelcase/IDEO is a bit pricey, but if that's not a concern then i'd take a peek. The aesthetics are nice and the ergonomic support is the same that's built into their other leading task chairs.
http://www.steelcase.com/na/leap_worklounge_ottoman_products.aspx?f=11873
We use the "Freedom Saddle Seat" from Humanscale (avail. at Ultimate Back Store online and other places) - it is a rolling stool which has no back, so it just slides under the desk when not in use. Our apt. is so small, there would barely be room to walk around the bed if there were a normal chair at the desk! I find the stool super comfy - it is supposed to promote good posture, too. My husband also likes it, even though he was always the type to lean back in regular office chairs. It comes in dozens of colors, and costs about 300 bucks.
I'd second the Eames Aluminium tast cahir. It's so beautiful and timeless.
One of the nicest attributes of the Eames AG chair is that it was conceived as a truly multi-purpose chair. He designed it to suite use as both a lounge chair and a task or office chair. It makes a gorgeous dining room chair and is as comfortable and practical a work chair as you will find.
http://www.westerncontract.net/assets/images/Eames-Soft-Pad-and-Aluminum-Group-Chairs.jpg
http://hivemodern.com/products/?view=sub_product&sid=1502&cid=339&cid2=346
I had the same problem and found 04. from Maarten Van Severen
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Maarten_Van_Severen_.04.html
The chair has a plain design, is comfortable and is offered in different colours. Although not cheap, I am happy with my decision.
Ohh, get a Louis Ghost Chair, if only so I can live vicariously through you. I have wanted one of those FOREVER.
How about the Catifa? It comes padded, with or without castors.
I want 2 for dining/kitchen/office because I can't afford the Eames Aluminium. And probably can't afford theCatifa either. I keep hoping Ikea will do a rip on either ....
http://www.suiteny.com/products/product.php?nCategoriesID=8&nProductsID=44
How about the Catifa? It comes padded, with or without castors.
I want 2 for dining/kitchen/office because I can't afford the Eames Aluminium. And probably can't afford theCatifa either. I keep hoping Ikea will do a rip on either ....
http://www.suiteny.com/products/product.php?nCategoriesID=8&nProductsID=44
IMHO ghost chairs make your bum look big.
Maybe something like this?
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Piero_Lissoni_Paper_Chair.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Werner_Aisslinger_Juli_de_Luxe_Armchair.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Christophe_Pillet_Sun_CB__Chair.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Jasper_Morrison_Lotus_Armchair.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Alfredo_Haberli_Lady_and_Lord_Armchairs.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Bjorn_Dahlstrom_Supersonic_Chair.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Rene_Holten_Nina_Chair.html
I like those oak desk chairs with the arms and the rollers. I don't know what they are called or even what period they are from. Timeless.
I love these classic upholstered/padded Saarinen Knoll office/conference chairs, both on casters and non.
http://www.knoll.com/products/product.jsp?prod_id=560
http://www.knoll.com/products/product.jsp?prod_id=617
New ones cost a ton, of course, but sometimes, you can get a vintage one in vintage stores or on Craigslist.
I have my office in my living room, and I was able to get one in a color that was close to my sofa's. With a textile upholstery, it looks grown-up, but soft still.
You have given me great ideas to go out looking now! After your ideas, I think I'll know it when I see it.
Thanks!
Jeff