We built a pretty cool modern home a few years ago and for the most part, bought new furniture too. Most of the new furniture was of a modern style and fit nicely with the home. I feel that finding modern furniture of reasonable quality at a reasonable price to be somewhat difficult. There many knockoffs available on line, but I much prefer to experience the comfort and quality in person. This limits my choices mainly to large retailers that offer some modern furniture, specialty retailers and second hand dealers. All of these are fine if you can find what you are looking for.
However, I feel that most new modern furniture is priced somewhat out of reach of the average person. Maybe I am wrong, or maybe I am just too frugal. But when Dwell runs a section on modern bar stools and the average price is $1000 each, I just have to shake my head.
The exception to the new modern furniture in our home would be my old leather recliner. I had had my leather recliner for about 14 years. It had served me quite well with many, many naps for myself as well as a few where I was joined by my small children. Sure, my old recliner looked a little out of place, but hey, it was long paid for and it was really comfy!
But then one day, most likely due to extreme age and countless successful efforts of arresting the pull of gravity on my butt as I sat down, a spring in the seat broke. I guess it was just it's time. Or at least it's time to be relegated to the basement family room where the kids and their friends do things to furniture that we cannot discuss on a civilized blog!
And so began my quest for a new chair. My new chair required several qualities: clean modernish design, leather upholstery, reclinability, shoulder and head support to enable a medium tall person to take a good nap, and of course a reasonable price. While I was willing to spend many hundred dollars, I was not willing to go over a thousand. When discussing the expected cost of my replacement chair with my 15 year old son, he thought I was quite crazy to even consider spending so much money on a chair. Keep in mind that he is 15 and has no idea what things like furniture cost. But I did need to be pretty cost conscious just because there are always many other things more deserving of funds that a new chair for me.
I looked at lots and lots of chairs. Many on the internet and many in various stores in Kansas City. There are a couple local stores that have a number of modern chairs of some sort. Most were not the classic designs you might be familiar with, but those were out of my price range any way. The majority of the chairs I found were just not that comfortable. Finding that right balance of style, comfort and price was proving difficult. I did have the opportunity to tryout an Egg chair at a local second hand store. It is a cool looking chair, just not all that comfortable.
Like many, many guys, I have always lusted for an Eames lounge chair. They are so beautiful and sleek! They are the essence of modern lounge chairs. I thought I desperately wanted one! I had seen them many times, but had never had an opportunity to sit and relax in one. A real one was simply out of my price range. The knockoffs on Amazon look pretty nice, but your never know.
So I decided to first find the real thing, new or old, and try it out for size. Through a little searching, I did find one that I could try. To my dismay, it was no good (at least for my needs). It was too small or too short in the back. The top of the back hit me about mid shoulder, it did not come close to reaching my neck unless I slouched, a lot! Plus it had no type of head rest. If you have never done so, napping in a chair without a head rest is near impossible! I am sure the Eames lounge chair is fantastic for reading, etc, just not so much for relaxing and possibly napping.
I did finally find a chair that met my needs. I had actually found it fairly early in my quest, but had passed it by thinking it was not cool enough. I was holding out for the ideal chair and not being practical. It is made by Lane, part of their Leather Essentials Contemporary line. It is soft and comfy, reclines and has a tall back for support. And best of all it was a little under $500 including the ottoman.
It has worked out better than expected. When initially purchased, I felt that I was making a compromise in the name of practicality. I was not real psyched about the chair, but I had exhausted all other options. But as I got used t the chair, I came to realize that it worked really well. My wife and children have learned this too! If I am not sitting in my chair, there is a very good chance that my wife or one of my children is. So, I guess that is a solid vote of approval.
So, if you are looking for a nice modern reclining lounge chair at a reasonable price, check out the Lane ....
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