Chaise Lounges or Chaise Longues - I Love Them

Graceful Chaise Lounge - source

One of my favorite chair styles is the chaise lounge (although my research suggests I may be spelling it incorrectly).

Chaise lounges" is actually an Americanization of the French phrase "chaise longue" (pronounced shayz long), meaning, appropriately, "long chair." source

The chaise lounge has a long history - most experts seem to agree that the versions we see today originated in the 16th century.

The chaise lounge enjoys a long history spanning many cultures. It has been a symbol of luxury and comfort from the days of Cleopatra to today. And it was a favorite in both French rococo and early 20th century design for its structural beauty and ornament delights. source

My favorite style of chaise lounges are the ones with exposed legs and french-inspired curves. The cushions are often down or down blend and the woodwork can be natural or painted.  These types of chaises are hard to find at a reasonable price since they are so appealing and fit into so many eclectic style options,

Sources - my pinterest board - link

Another version often seen is the one-armed chaise lounge which works best placed next to or close to a wall since it can be accessed from only one direction. I am not as fond of this style but it can work in many settings.

Sources - my pinterest board - link

I have a chaise lounge in my bedroom sitting area that is my overall favorite place in the house to read (and nap).  It is probably the most worn piece of furniture in my home. I looked over the chaise lounges I have refurbished and sold over the past several years (my current photo file only goes back to 2010) and found some wonderful pieces that I remember so well. I noticed that I do less than 4-5 chaise lounges per year - they do take up a lot of storage space and, because of the size, are more costly to ship than regular chairs.

I have my own criteria for the chaise lounges I buy to refurbish and find there are a lot of really ugly chaises out there:

1.  Piece must be compact proportionately - not oversized or sloppy looking.
2.  Piece must be well-constructed and structurally sound.
3.  Piece must have a well-tailored (or tailorable) design.
4.  In the case of exposed woodwork, it must be elegant and in good shape.

Here are some of my prior year beauties!

My favorite in this group is the blue check French style - the woodwork was in great condition and the size just right.   

this was a good year for unusual chaise lounges - I particularly liked the top one which was vintage and had interesting wooden details. There are two one-armed examples in this group. 

The top chaise lounge was the most interesting of this group (just sold).  I refinished the woodwork using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) in Cream. 

I am nostalgic for these lovely pieces and hope to find more interesting examples to refurbish soon.

French Furniture - Five Major Chair Styles

This is another blog in my "French furniture series" - see previous entries city vs country furniture and bergere and fauteuil chairs.  This blog is about basic chair styles - defined on this website link.  The author  describes five basic styles:

·      Ladder-Back Chair

o   A popular chair in the French country style, a ladder-back chair is wooden, sometimes with a cane seat. The chair's back is formed by two wooden posts, connected with arched horizontal slats spaced widely apart.



·      Chaise Lounge

o   A chaise lounge, which translates as "long chair," is an upholstered chair with a extended seat made for reclining. Some styles, with a raised back at one end, are known as fainting couches.



French style Chaise Lounge - pinterest board

·      Le Corbusier

o   Arguably the most famous chaise lounge is a modern, black-and-chrome model created by Swiss-French designer Le Corbusier in 1928.


Le Corbusier Chaise - source internet image

·      Rococo Chair

o   A chair designed in the French Rococo style will feature curving, feminine lines--especially curved legs--and an overall sense of aristocratic comfort.

Curved Lines of French Rococo Style - source pinterest board above

·      Louis XVI Chair

o   Named after the king whose reign this furniture first became popular during, a Louis XVI chair is characterized by its straight, tapered legs, clean lines and delicate carved motifs.



Louis XVI style chair - source pinterest board above

Over the years, I have been able to buy, refurbish and sell quite a few of these great style chairs - here are just some of them!

From 2008 Wydeven Design Collection - French Style Chaise Lounge

From 2009 Wydeven Design Collection - Wingback Chairs with Rococo Legs and Trim

From 2009 Wydeven Design Collection - Rococo Legs and Trim Settee

From 2011 Wydeven Design Collection - Chaise with Rococo Woodwork

From 2011 Wydeven Design Collection - French Chair with Rococo Woodwork

From Current Wydeven Design Collection - Silk Wingback Chair with  Louis XVI  Legs

My Love Affair with Wingback Chairs!

Classic  Wingback Chairs in Black and White Patterned Fabric and Painted Black Legs (source Pinterest)

I have had a love affair with wingback style chairs as long as I remember.   I remember seeing them in old (and newer) movie sets and have often been as mesmerized by the furniture in the background as I have by the action and dialogue.   What I really like about wingback chairs is their structure and shape.  They are truly classic and look good in just about any fabric.  They can also be very contemporary.  I have been refurbishing upholstered furniture for almost eight years (excluding for personal use) and have sought the wingback style chair more than any other style.  It is just hard to go wrong with a wingback.  More recently, I have been "modernizing" the look not just with fabrics but also painting/refinishing the legs - some of the results have been amazing!

Classic Wingback Chair - Clean Lines and Queen Anne Legs (source Pinterest)

In addition to showing (and showing off) some great wingbacks in this blog, I wanted to review the history and "pedigree" of this great style.  From my research it appears that the wingback was first used in the 1700's and became widely used in the 1800's - many of today's styles are very similar to the looks of these early chairs.

Modernized Wingback Chairs (source Pinterest)

Wingback Chairs used as Dining Chairs (source Pinterest)

I found the best information on this site link to eHome News and will summarize some key issues here.

High-backed upholstered armchairs that we now call wingbacks first appeared in the late 17th century. Their most striking feature was side pieces that projected forward from the back at a 90-degree or wider angle. These projections functioned to protect the user from cold drafts and to shield the face from intense heat when seated next to a fireplace.

The tradional wingback chairs of the 18th and 19th centuries were fully upholstered. English wingbacks had more curves to the arms, and wings and were often upholstered in leather with brass nailheads. French styles exhibited more angles on the wings, with exposed wood trim on arms and back and luxurious fabrics as covers. 

Traditional wingbacks were not skirted. Legs were straight or cabriole, depending on the period and country of origin. Classic hardwoods like cherry and mahogany were most often used.




  

Modernized WIngback Chairs - Modified  Wings and Straight Legs (source Pinterest)

Like the earliest versions, the wingback chair is still often used in front of the fireplace in a living room or den. Sometimes a pair of chairs creates a cozy seating area with a small table between them. One or two wingbacks can be found in many master bedrooms and sometimes large guest rooms. One of the modern versions of this chair makes an ideal piece for a young person's bedroom.

Some of my favorite Refurbished Wingback Chairs (source link to website

Queen Anne style furniture emerged in the 18th century as a reaction to the more elaborate French designs of previous centuries. The Queen Anne wingback chair features a horseshoe-shaped cushion for the seating area of the chair. The back of the chair features fluted upholstered wings that encase the shoulders and head of the seated person. One of the most distinct features of the Queen Anne style of wingback chairs is the elegant cabriole legs. 

Classic Wingback with Deep Wings and Cabriole Legs (from Wydeven Designs Archives)

Classic American Style Wingbacks with Straight Legs (from Wydeven Designs Archives)

An American style of wingback chairs emerged at the end of the 18th century. American wingback chairs were inspired by Queen Anne style wingbacks with a few notable distinctions. Rather than the curved cushion, American wingbacks featured a more subdued flat cushion. The decorative cabriole legs were swapped out for simple straight legs. 

Modernized Wingback Chair - Love this Fabric (from Pinterest)

Contemporary wingback chairs draw inspiration from the dramatic wings of the chair but add a modern element through fabric, color or shape. A majority of contemporary designs forgo the elaborate legs and details of the traditional wingback chair; instead newer designs feature simple lines, straight legs and subtle stitching. Some modern designs introduce a dramatically arched back in addition to side wings; other chairs add a pop of color with unexpected prints like orange white damask or black and white toile.

Modernized Wingback Chair - Modified Wing and Painted Queen Anne Legs (source Pinterest)