Eames leather chair and ottoman: Review and rate

Charles and Ray Eames were a furniture designer team that lived and worked in America, and became incredibly famous during the height of the modern furniture era. Today, one of their most famous designs, referred to as the Eames chair, is still at home in modern and contemporary environments and can even add a nice twist to the traditional. The chair is both beautifully designed and comfortable, making it a great piece - if you can afford it.

The look

Distinctive The Eames chair did not become one of the most famous lounge chairs in history for no reason. The chair is a true work of art. Most often, upholstered in black leather, the lounge design of the Eames is very distinctive. The Eames chair consists of two parts: an ottoman and a comfortable seating chair designed with a built-in head rest. The back and bottom of the chair itself is in wood, usually a walnut veneer or real walnut, and is very distinctive in style. There are many knock-off and imitation Eames chairs that use these same elements together in order to try to recapture the iconic beauty of the chair designed by Eames.

Comfort

The Wassily chair While the Eames chair is undeniably beautiful, the purpose of a chair is for you to sit on it. This is where the Eames leather chair and ottoman excel over other modern furniture design from the same era. For instance, the Wassily chair is a beautiful example of modern furniture, but clearly one not designed for comfort with a stiff upturned leather seat and metal arms and legs. The Eames, on the other hand, was made to be a leather lounge chair that people can relax in and put their feet up on. Sitting on the chair is every bit as nice as looking at it, which is a real accomplishment considering that most reclining or lounge chairs tend to be less attractive than they are functional and comfortable.

Cost

The one downside to the Eames lounger chair is the cost. Since the chair has become so iconic, even knock-off versions will cost several hundred dollars. When buying high end versions of the chair from stores like Design Within Reach (DWR) or when buying authorised reproductions, you can expect to pay thousands.