Know Your Chairs: The Panton Chair

Aside from vivid, vibrant, psychedelic interiors in the 60s and 70s, Verner Panton created quite an array of mind-bogglingly modern seating in his years as a designer. But none of them can surpass the popularity of the eponymously titled Panton chair.

The deliberate sensuality of the curvy, S-shape keeps the design from being sterile. Created from a single piece of molded plastic, the chair is stackable and, of course, quite durable.

Of course they look good in a sleek, modern setting, but they also look good mixed in with vintage pieces. Remember Design Mantra #1, "Contrast brings interest."

Above: Design, styling, and photography by Emily McCall. Photo used by permission.

Black Panton chair lurking behind the table...

The iconic has inspired modifications and other designers as well.

St. Bartlomiej Church in the Czech Republic was designed by Maxim Velcovsky and Jakub Berdych from Qubus Studio and features Panton chairs instead of pews!

The Him and Her chair by Fabio Novembre was inspired by Panton. It's a logical extension of the sunsuous form.

Vitra UK's National Panton Chair Competition in 2010 asked designers and architects to modify or reimagine the Panton chair. First place went to Jump Studios for their highly conceptual (and non-functioning) design of a hollowed the Panton chair strungt with fishing line.

Although Verner Panton died in 1998, there is an online museum of his work at:
http://www.vernerpanton.com/
His interiors are amazing and look like sets from sci-fi films in the 70s.

And of course his chairs can still be purchased through:
Vitra, the company that originally produced the chair and
Design Within Reach

Happy designing!

Sizzling Ceilings

In interior design, ceilings are an oft-overlooked element. But all it takes is a tiny bit of imagination to come up with a show-stopping ceiling treatment. I have a client now who has an uplit tray ceiling that is just begging to be gold leafed!

This amazing ceiling below was designed by Verner Panton (stay tuned for a post about the iconic molded plastic chair he designed, seen at the dining table below) for a private residence in Binningen, Switzerland.

This stunning ceiling treatment utilizes what appears to be a mandala type of ethnic design that feels Indian, despite the Portuguese bed. It's just gorgeous...

I am not at all a fan of cutsie-wootsie nurseries, and especially gender-specific nurseries. But this bee motif for a baby's room is clever, whimsical, and charming without being clichéd or imposing gender stereotypes on a human soul that is unformed and full of possibility.

Coffered ceilings offer the perfect canvas for stencils or wallpaper since each compartment can contain a smaller design.

New York artist David Wiseman created this breathtaking three dimensional ceiling treatment of a cherry blossom canopy.

A ceiling of flames on a gilded ground in another Indian/Moorish room...

This vaulted ceiling is made all the more special with the addition of gold leaf squares.

Interior designer Elizabeth Gordon created a simple yet supremely luxurious ceiling feature for the home of comedian and television personality Joel McHale: some beautiful, exotic wallpaper on the ceiling framed with decorative moulding, but the real attraction is the marvelously unexpected starburst mirror reigning over the cool, sophisticated space. Photo used by permission.

This fascinating design around this ceiling light fixture is reminiscent of Secessionist design from the early twentieth century (think Gustav Klimt).

Even something as simple as painting a bold color in coffered areas of a ceiling brings fun and interest!

Don't forget your ceiling and...

...Happy designing!