apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Close-Up! Diana's Butterfly Chair

11-28-08 diana1.jpgWe grew up with butterfly chairs, and so we have a certain fondness for them. In our House Call: Diana Fayt, Diana has one (that she found on the street!) in her bedroom, and although we don't usually think of them as indoor chairs, it looks fabulous.

 
 

11-28-08 diana2.jpgWe see the old-school ones for sale on Craigslist from time to time, and we may just have to snap some up.

11-28-08 diana3.jpg

Related Posts:
House Call: Diana Fayt
Close-Up! Diana Fayt's Glowbowls
Close-Up! Diana's Shelf
Close-Up! Diana's Blue Ceiling
Good Questions: Leather Cover for Butterfly Chair?
Butterfly Chairs from Circa50

Tags

Close-Up!, outdoor furniture, seating - sofas & armchairs

Related Links

Share

Comments (14)

I would love to sit there on a summer night with a breeze blowing through. So, so nice.

posted by Rick Roberts on November 28th 2008 at 9:34pm
view Rick Roberts's profile

i came across that top pic the other day and i love it, so cozy. i'm seeing those butterfly chairs all over. i want one. i think its a sign!

posted by eribear12 on November 28th 2008 at 10:32pm
view eribear12's profile

What a serene and relaxing room...

posted by bepsf on November 28th 2008 at 11:20pm
view bepsf's profile

Very nice space with just the right touches.

When I was in college I had a butterfly chair in my Echo Park flat in LA with a Nagel poster, hardwood floors and a simple rug, those were the days.. nice to see the Butterfly chair in a mature and lovely space I think this chair is under rated.

posted by LoriSF on November 28th 2008 at 11:45pm
view LoriSF's profile

I've always thought the butterfly chair was one of the most elegant of its era -- and it's dirt cheap.

posted by Lisa Hunter (Montreal) on November 29th 2008 at 12:06am
view Lisa Hunter (Montreal)'s profile

in addition to the chair, I loooooooove that chandelier =)

posted by lovelyrita on November 29th 2008 at 2:55am
view lovelyrita's profile

Cheap? Not in Europe! An original "authentic" Butterfly Chair with the seat in (nicely beat-up) leather was on sale in a fancy shop here for 1600 EUROS!! It may STILL be there, ha! (Lisbon, Portugal)

This chair must have been knocked-off so many times that the "real" ones are no longer made… thus the premium price for an old one.

Having said that, I love the look (grew up with them, too) but, in all truth, they don't support your head when you are sitting, unless you tilt to one side or the other. Sigh…

posted by BlueAholic on November 29th 2008 at 5:44am
view BlueAholic's profile

For many years I had butterfly chairs indoors. They make a nice modern graphic statement. Mine were black. I still have the frames in my shed. The cloth seats had been replaced and worn through again. Great chairs!!!

posted by eekns on November 29th 2008 at 9:41am
view eekns's profile

My grandparents had a bunch of these (oh, how I wish I had claimed their entire mid-century furniture collection before they moved into the nursing home... oh for the love of Herman Miller and Eames!), and while they're comfy for the first 15 minutes of sitting in them, the lack of head support always bugged me.

They're also really difficult to get out of.

My grandpa always sat in an orange one to read the Financial Times and drink a scotch in the evenings.

posted by twitteringbirdie on November 29th 2008 at 11:18am
view twitteringbirdie's profile

Love the light cast by the pendant! Anyone know of anything similar I could get?

posted by northernkate on November 29th 2008 at 12:22pm
view northernkate's profile

In her home tour she says she got it at the Alameda flea market for $40 and describes it as gilded and Italian. There are a couple shots in the home tour where you can see it close up.

posted by fisheggs on November 29th 2008 at 1:19pm
view fisheggs's profile

I have four butterflies for my garden. They are a delight, and they fold up to a nice small size when not in use.

posted by mskk on November 30th 2008 at 1:27pm
view mskk's profile

Another lover of butterfly chairs here! I spray painted the frame white and put one in our guest room. It isn't a great photo, but here it is: http://flickr.com/photos/emilymch/212040540/in/set-72157594232135805/

posted by emilymch on December 1st 2008 at 7:54am
view emilymch's profile

I found a frame on the street, and bought a leather cover from circa50!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjburke/3067513087/

posted by jen64 on December 1st 2008 at 8:45am
view jen64's profile