deciding: outdoor lounge chairs

Hi all!  How was your weekend?  Mine was very full and a lot of fun:  visiting with friends, eating great food, cleaning windows, napping with the dog, and of course putting glitter on things.  The weather has really been warming up, so naturally it’s time to talk about furniture.  Patio furniture!

Now, as some of you may know, my husband has recently bestowed a new nickname on me:  The Decider.  You see, he really appreciates the intense and time-consuming research that I put into any purchase … and the subsequent indecision after generating a (usually perfectly reasonable!) number of options.  Even if it’s two or three options, I’ve been known to agonize for entirely too long before deciding on one.  It’s a condition, of sorts.

I thought I’d start this series about things I want to (someday!) decide on, so you can get a peek into what my obsessive research looks like.

Here’s the deal:  right now only one of us can truly lounge in the backyard at a time.  We have a lounger, which is great, but all of our other seating is decidedly un-lounge-y.  Most often if we want to enjoy the yard together, The Other Person Not Using the Lounger (usually me) is perched on an Eames chair hauled over from the dining room and it’s just weird and not relaxing.  I want some backyard relaxing times, damnit.

So, let the backyard relaxing times begin!

OPTION 1

photos:  Vartnya Hus | OK Design | Real Living

Ah yes, the totally throw-back Mexican patio chair in so many yummy colours.  Depending on your colour choice, they can be super bright and fun and almost kitschy.   Like it would only ever be right to be sipping on a margarita whilst sitting in one.  Or they can be graphic and serious and quite sophisticated like the black pair pictured above.

Based on what turned up in my mailbox last week, CB2 now makes it in a black+blue combination which is pretty fun, but I’m liking the one-colour versions a lot more.

Worry:  one unsupervised child + one pair of scissors + 30 seconds is all it would take for complete Acapulco obliteration.

OPTION 2

photos: The Parker Palm Springs | Martha Stewart | The Brick House

I love the suuuuper laid-back vibe of butterfly chairs.

Just look at how well they go with a roaring fire and mid-century architecture!  They also remind me of The Parker Palm Springs, one of my favourite spots to visit.  I’ve never stayed there, but getting lunch at Norma’s and then taking your time walking the grounds (and maybe playing a game of croquet) is a great way to enjoy it.  I digress.

I really like these from a practical standpoint too — I could change out the covers with different coloured ones over time, and the good folks at Circa50 have a nice selection of them.

OPTION 3

photos: Knoll | Design Within Reach

This is certainly the priciest option based on what I’ve seen, and these are not so easy to come by vintage.  They’re more swank mid-mod than the others.

Clearly this is a chair to be enjoyed either with white wine or strong coffee, and most likely some serious intellectual conversation with your guest.  While wearing black turtlenecks.  Too serious?  Maybe.  I do love the lines and grid patterns of these, very much.

What’s your vote?