Design Inspiration: The Chaise Lounge

May 18, 2017

DESIGN INSPIRATION: THE CHAISE LOUNGE

The term ‘chaise lounge’ refers to a long reclining chair whose roots date back to Egypt. Back then, the chaise lounge was looked at as a mix between a chair and a daybed. Today, it is viewed as a long chair and is used in decor as an alternative to a traditional chair or sofa.

Over the years I’ve been a bit indifferent to chaise lounges mostly because the only styles available were the Victorian designs. I don’t have anything against Victorian designs but this style of chaise can feel stagnate and old if it hasn’t been updated with fabric.

In the last 10 years, the look of chaise lounges have evolved and the designs are sleek and modern with a traditional undertone. And when it comes to decorating with a chaise, there is so much inspiration out there.

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I love the idea of using two chaise lounges to create a relaxing sitting area especially if you have a view that can be enjoyed from the perch.

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In a sunroom or covered outdoor space, a chaise lounge (or two) creates a more relaxing retreat than a sofa might.

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A chaise is a great option for a reading nook and can nestle into a corner but still feel connected to the room.

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In an oversized bathroom, a chaise adds the ultimate touch of luxury and glamour especially when upholstered in a luxurious velvet fabric.

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My friend Erika of Erika Ward Interiors used two chaise lounges in a master bedroom sitting area. This type of seating is perfect for creating cozy space to relax or for that Saturday afternoon nap.

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I love a backless chaise as added seating in a living room. Because the design is open on both sides, this style is a great filler piece in large rooms.

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In smaller rooms that don’t get use often, two chaise lounges can be a unique seating option.

Style At Home

What to put at the foot of a bed? is a question I get a lot. A chaise lounge is something I often recommend because they add style and a functional to a bedroom.

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Inspired? Now let’s go shopping..

My Favorite Chaise Lounge Chairs

#1–The Alton Roll Arm Chaise from Pier 1 is a modern take on a one arm chaise. I love the squared off back and the grey velvet fabric. This item is on clearance for $429.98 so you’ll need to act fast to snag it.

#2-–Crate and Barrel has several chaise lounge styles but the Montclair Chaise is my favorite. The design is clean and simple and there are a multitude of fabric options so you can customize the look for your home-$1299.00. For a more masculine space, check out the Garbo Leather Chaise.

#3–The Iris Chaise Lounge from Joss and Main has beautiful lines and the tufted back gives it a classic touch. I can envision this space as part of a library or it a ladies lounge. $464.99

#4–Another great option from Joss and Main is the Kiera Tufted Chaise. This piece has a smaller scale making it ideal for a small room or corner sitting area. $659.99

#5–The Carlisle Upholstered Chaise from Pottery Barn would look great in a sitting area off a bedroom or in a bathroom. The rolled arms and tailored profile along with over 50 fabric options are just some of the reasons why I love this piece. $1449 to $2649 depending on fabric.

#6–If you’re looking for a budget friendly option, the Kivik Chaise from Ikea is an option. At only $350 this piece has a removable cover which will make cleaning easy. And if you want to change the look down the road, the Kivik is a great candidate for a custom slip-cover.

Design Chat: Selecting a Sofa (and developing an accessory plan)

April 28, 2016

I’ve got another installment of Design Chat for you today, where I answer and provide design advice to a readers question.

Like many of the other Design Chat questions, Kimberly’s design challenge centered on finding the right sofa for her living room. Here’s the question Kimberly posed about a sectional she was considering…

“I read your blog about the do’s and font’s of a sectional and I am strongly considering this sectional for my room. Here are my questions…
1. Is the sectional too dark? I have tons of sunlight. I am wanting to steer away from the tan/beige, and I hear grays are very neutral, but I don’t want it to be a fad thing. The size is 115 X 115.
2. The back of the sectional would face the direction of looking into the room to define that space b/c I don’t want to block the bay windows.
I have a family of 5 and we purchased a single couch with the intent on adding more chairs, but they hated it b/c we couldn’t all sit together. Therefore, that’s why I am looking at the sectional, I know it limits us when it comes to moving furniture around. What do you think? ”

Here’s the space that Kimberly is dealing with. You can see that the room is pretty large, has a great span of windows at the far end and a fireplace and bookshelves that sit on one wall.

And here’s the sectional that Kimberly is considering. She spotted this piece at End Up Furniture in Greenville, SC.

Ok Kimberly, here’s what I think.

Given the size of your room I think this sectional is a great option. The scale looks good and the sofa will really anchor the room. As far as the color goes, the darker grey get two thumbs up from me. Grey is definitely considered a neutral and are a great alternative to a lighter khaki or tan colors. You can feel confident that grey will not go out of style in the coming years.

Looking at the other elements in the room here’s a couple of suggestions I have to round out the space.

♦ Place side tables at both ends of the sectional piece that sits along the wall and add tabletop lamps to make that sofa functional for reading etc.

♦ Highlight the window with drapes. You could either hang panels at the far ends of the bay window or at all the break points along the window which would give you four hanging panels. Curtains will add softness and allow you to bring some color into the space.

♦ I’d also suggest to create vignette or small sitting area at the window so that space feels purposeful. Maybe place an upholstered bench under the center window or two accent chairs with a small side table between.

♦ Finally, I’d hang a larger piece of artwork on the wall over the sofa to balance the TV wall and overall scale of the room. And relook your rug, maybe adding something with minimized pattern work. Both of these areas give you another opportunity to bring some color and pattern into the room.

Here’s a quick inspiration board I pulled together, to give Kimberly an idea for a color and accessory palette to work with her new sofa.

update: Kimberly purchased the sofa and it was delivered earlier this week. She’s on her way to a new space for her family to enjoy.

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Design Guide: How to Style a Sectional Sofa

September 24, 2014

One of the design consultations I had recently got me thinking about the do’s and don’t of styling a sofa. Not just any sofa, a sectional sofa.

I think a lot of people are attracted to sectional sofas because they offer abundant seating and because they seem to provide a bit more comfort than a traditional sofa.

After a while I think people can become disenchanted with their sectional sofa because they recognize that a sectional can limit the traffic flow within a room and sometimes a sectional feels overpowering in a space versus relaxed.

In my years of designing rooms, I’ve recognized that it’s not always the size, scale or placement of a sectional that causes the disenchantment, but instead its the fact that the sectional and the space around it are not styled or accessorized in the best way.

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