New York Post, May 2005

The hot seats: 6 chairs that can make a room

By Jason Sheftell (view original article )

Buying a chair can feel like buying a car — there’s that much variety. You can spend $1,694 for a simple Barcelona chair by architectural legend Mies van der Rohe, or get a stackable plastic chair for $3 at the local dollar store.

But a chair can be the centerpiece of your room —cheaper than a painting or a sofa.

"Chairs are a form of art," says Kip Kotzen, manager of German design store (and manufacturer) Vitra. "Almost every major designer has tried their hand at chair design. And nearly every conceivable material has been used…."

If you really want to be a trendoid, realize that this year, wood finishes like mahogany, oak, bamboo and even cork are making a hit in homes as defenders against the high-tech synthetic world that surrounds us.

If you want to look at wood in a modern way, try the $125 folding barrel stave chair from from 70-gallon barrels salvaged from California wine country; if you don’t get caught in the spindles, you can lick the wood for a quick Chardonnay fix….

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