We saw this chair a few days ago when Grace said "i'm a sucker for colorful stripes," and took note of the very Eames-like update from Omar de Biaggio, but we didn't think it had legs. Then, this morning, we received this small email from P2: "I LOVE this new chair at DWR."
We swear we don't think he's drinking the Cool-Aid, but perhaps this chair has more legs than we thought...
I want to design a whole apartment around these chairs, then sit on one wearing a Paul Smith shirt.
Now I am SUPER pissed that DWR credit was not the prize for last year's Smallest Coolest contest.
I think they are very cute - but not sure if the stripes will have 'timeless' appeal. Consequently, I wouldn't buy them at the DWR price. But then I have serious issues with spending money...therapy of a different kind is probably needed. I'm a design voyeur-masochist.
I saw these at the store this weekend, and the colors are not nearly as bright as the photos make them look. Or I thought so anyway. The laminate looks somewhat dull and cheap in person. anyone else see them up close yet?
p(too). If you wore a PS shirt and sat on this chair, how would we ever see you?
Jennifer--
So what do you do when these are a DWR exclusive, not available anywhere else?
Plus, I don't think the pricepoint is all *that* horrible. It ain't Ikea, but, um, it ain't Ikea.
But, oh matt, say it ain't so!
Enrique--
But the camouflage effect would be very slimming.
They make me think immediately of Jamie Drake apartment, particularly his yellow bedroom, with it's Albers prints on a window wall.
DWR has some HOT new stuff... but with some really wacky disclaimers!!
One item is "flammable" and best kept "out of direct sunlight to avoid possible warping." Another item cautions: "Due to some potentially sharp edges, we recommend wearing gloves while assembling this item."
Dangerous design. Love it.
Love those chairs!
To be seen in the next Christopher Coleman project, no doubt.
Yes! (esp in reference to my Hot or Not comments on the 4 Thonet chairs below)
P2 - what WAS the prize last year?
as if you need slimming!
Anne--
Weekend for 2 at a lovely luxe hotel on the UES (sadly, still unused...)
And god bless you. :)
There is DWR one-block from work. As well as a WestElm shop. Even at radically different price points, I feel that both stores have problem with getting their products to 'represent' in real-life.
(I'd be happy to walk over to the stores to check out specific products for anyone)
I have problems with the word "laminate" and "veneer" at the typical DWR price point. If they had said "lacquer" or "resin" or something new-fangled, then I might be interested.
i have two jacobsen 3107 series in blue for a while. how could i transform them to a stripy version like this. i think i could do with a change. any tips or tape products in different colours which can be directly stuck on the chairs.
I know what you mean, but what about "molded plywood" or "extruded aluminum"?
Both sound humble (aka, "cheap"), but one describes an Eames chair, one describes a Starck Emeco chair (as examples).
I like "humble" materials used in interesting ways.
For the record, I also very much like CB2's Online Chair as a slightly different alternative to this DWR hottie...
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=115&f=1051
Meera, automotive pinstriping might work....
I love this picture! I feel like I might have seen it at decor8 as well. I love stripes.
Also, I've been thinking a lot about the comments "that house screams 90's" or 80's, or "it's not mid-century modern" and I can't help but think, "yeahhh? so what?" I'm getting a bit tired of walking on manhattan streets in my down coat (warm, yet still creates a slender line) and seeing 2000 other people wearing the "correct" coat. Or going out and seeing 100 other people with tight jeans tucked into tight boots.
And while I like the look of an all mid-c modern room, I don't want to live in one. So I would buy these chairs (unless they really do look yuk in person), because they make me smile, and I would enjoy coming home to them.
If we all turn things down for not being a certain style, then won't the super-cool places we are building now look soooo 2000's in about 4 years?
I think it was guido who said he was sick of cool-hunting, and I feel the same way lately. I'm much more about doing things that just appeal to you instantly, instead of searching for what's cool, even if you don't get an ooh or an ahh from everyone who sees it.
I think DWR prices are way too high.
I think we're going to see a knock-off at Target before too long.
LOVE these chairs -- could they be paired with a pine (relatively dark, simple shaker legs) in a "transition" kitchen? (cream cabinets, green glass tile backsplash and soapstone counters)
Matt - I'm so convinced that good photography can sell anything! That's why I hate to buy things online.
RE: DWR Prices
Maybe I wouldn't be so annoyed with them if they had a different name that didn't conflict with my reality of things being out-of-reach. It just seems a little snobby.
I love cool-hunting because things that are new and innovative are inherently appealing. But the cool-appeal is different than lasting-appeal. For me, the latter is the most important decision in how I choose to accessorize my life.
I think the "Within Reach" part of the DWR name has been an albatross for them since Day One.
Originally, it was never meant (from what I read back then) to imply anything about cost... but about accessibility.
That seems somewhat silly now, given the proliferation of online sources duplicating the DWR offerings since they opened shop, and it seems VERY silly to New Yorkers who've long been blessed with access to high-design goods.
It's also meant to emphasize their better-than-industry lead-time on delivering most of their goods.
I think it's why they go out of their way to NOT go by their full name anymore, but instead DWR, hoping no doubt the "budget" mis-implication will go away too.
Similar to the "Affordable Art Fair" now going by "The AAF".
I've said it before: Rob Forbes is one of the Good Guys to the design community (imho) and why I stay loyal to (or defend) the DWR brand whenever the opportunity arises.
Bless you, Matt! I went over to DWR yesterday and immediately headed for this chair...and was disappointed. Immediately, my gut said "stupid and not worth it." The colors weren't great and yes, it did look cheap. The stripes reminded me of something that came from one of those early ink jet printers.
And I had thought this might be a decent splurge.
Hmmm, just went to the DWR site and they still are using the full name pretty prominently, so (aside from the part about what I think they intended by the "Within Reach" part, never mind. :)
(and I still like Rob Forbes)
anne
I know what you mean. this is the EXACT reason I still have no bed! The only bed I still even WANT is the blu-dot hot-rod bed, and I fear that its only because I have yet to see it in person. The pictures on all the sites look nice.. but.. Has ANYONE seen this bed? damn.
Too bad about the stripey chair.
While I've not seen that specific bed, I have seen other blu dot stuff in person and it all seems well put together.
As far as the stripey chair, hopefully we'll all see it in person at the Smallest Coolest launch party at DWR Tribeca.
I bought two bludot hotrod beds for my kids and they are really cool. The beds are low to the ground though so that might be a minus for some but they are very nice beds.
finally! someone. a miracle. I like that its low. thats pretty much WHY I like it.. I was mostly curious if it was solid and sturdy enough for an adult (or two). the legs look very skinny. but thanks, person!
Dont worry Matt......they are very sturdy beds.
I'm with Wende, I'll wait for the Target knock-off.
Matt - FYI, Target sells the Hot Rod bed online:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_6/601-3892522-0082519?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00009ZLIS
...for $130 less than the Blu Dot site
Best,
Is that THE Jonathan A??