Furniture
Ghost chair – team with solid pieces Whether you go for the armed Louis or the armless Victoria – or a mix, as here – Philippe Starck’s barely there Ghost chairs should be the only pieces of transparent furniture in a room. Switching the table in this scheme for a transparent version, for instance, could veer towards overload. Instead, mixing these Ghost chairs with a solid wooden table ensures they look elegant and aren’t lost in the scheme.
Whether you opt for the traditional wood or the more contemporary coloured versions, these chairs by Hans J Wegner must be allowed to shine. While they look perfectly lovely grouped around a table in a matching colour, their standout beauty will be lost in the camouflage. Instead, choose a simple dining table in a contrasting material or hue. Here, these orange-framed chairs look striking around the simple white table.
Galvanise with a Tolix For a huge hit of industrial cool, look no further than the Model A chair from Tolix. Designed in 1934 by Frenchman Xavier Pauchard, it’s also known as the Marais A chair, and is made from robust sheet metal. Our love affair with the tough and stackable Tolix chair, which can be used inside and out, hasn’t waned over the years. It looks good with any style of table, too, either in its raw, galvanised finish or in one of a range of rainbow colours.
A French-style chaise is elegant and fabulously escapist. This Louise XV reproduction chaise is ultra-sumptuous, while the pearly buttoned velvet and gold finish are simply divine.
If you’re a self-confessed bookworm, try squeezing a day bed next to your novel collection. Then you can settle back with a classic read whenever you need a mental holiday from everyday life. This pale blue chaise adds purpose, personality and romance to what could have been a relatively boring wall of books. Tip This day bed is fairly compact: remember to stretch out when buying (or at the least study the dimensions), and ask yourself how you feel if your feet tip over the edge.
If you’re a traditionalist at heart, then a day bed in classic soft velvet, like this raspberry number, could be just the ticket. Before buying, think about what you want from your day bed: if comfort is key, then choose one with suitably squashy upholstery, rather than a more minimal number. Site your day bed near to a fireplace and it will make a great place to nap or read when the evenings are chilly.
Looking for something a little bit different, or don’t have tons of cash to splash? Scour thrift shops and eBay for interesting vintage day beds, like this natty number, which has perked up a simple modern space, along with some intriguing ornaments. A magazine rack placed at close hand and a reading lamp overhead all add to the retreat feel.
Think differently in the bedroom Just as an armoire can be used in living rooms, bedroom storage doesn’t always have to be kept for clothes. The creative owners of this room have used the glass-fronted antique cabinet for linens (so far so normal), but have also added some special glassware into the mix. Bedrooms need decorative sparkle, too.
Ercol Love Seat – position it for perching There’s something quintessentially English about the Ercol Originals Love Seat. Like the indoor version of a (very pretty) park bench, it’s a place where anybody should be happy to sit and wait for something to happen. Consequently, it’s very at home on a landing under a window looking out onto the street below or, as here, in a hallway.
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