SEATS OF POWER

I don’t know about you, but for me, 2009 got a slow start.

The cold winter days convinced me that curling up in our new over-sized chair with a cup of vanilla tea (from Vintage Weave) and a pile of decorating magazines was that the perfect way to spend New Years Weekend.

Flipping through the magazines stacked on the floor next to me, I found myself focusing on the chairs in the photos.

I’ve always been attracted by upholstered chairs, and there’s something particularly sexy about tufted ones. These Casama slipper chairs by C.R. Lane are hand-crafted in a small village in India using an exotic patchwork of one-of-a-kind fabrics. Great tufts!
Totally different but equally intriguing, is Habersham Feathers’ new Marie chaise lounge. Inspired by furnishings in the historic Biltmore Renaissance-style chateau in Ashville, North Carolina, the glamorous chaise has flirty tassle trims.

When it comes to classic chair shapes, you can’t go wrong with a wing chair. This one has a traditional yet edgy personality thanks to a glorious stylized floral from Thibaut.

If you’ve been searching for a fabulous chair that is also blissfully eco-friendly, you’ll want to consider C.R. Laine’s Margaret chair. Hand-crafted in the USA from natural materials, including 100% certified organic cotton and soy-based foam, its cozy vintage silhouette feels fresh and modern with a chic floral motif in a captivating shade of cherry-red.

Some of the chairs I admired were skirted like this one from Maine Cottage.

Others weren’t-- which exposes their legs for all to see. This kilim-covered club chair (George Smith) is stuffed with boar bristles and has wheels for easy mobility.

I’ve always been attracted to great gams –on chairs—and the nicely-proportioned turned legs on this Shoebridge chair (C.R. Laine) caught my eye.
As did the simple supports on this Josef Frank Lijevalch easy chair. They look like an organic part of the fabric’s plankton pattern.
This beauty from Maine Cottage has outstanding tapered legs. Its shapely scrolled arms and back aren’t bad either!

And speaking of seats of power. It’s only 14 days until the inauguration… and I’ve been invited to one of the Inaugural Balls!
My excitement is tempered by my angst about shopping for something to wear.

I have a feeling that finding something on short notice that will look drop dead gorgeous -- and won’t blow the budget -- will be a challenge.