5 Reading Chairs 5 Gentlemen – Which one are you?
Words: Holly
We’re creatures of habit, from childhood preferences when in our parents’ cars, to the personal choices we employ around a dining table, where you choose to sit and upon what kind of chair can shed light on something about us as people – our characters, personalities and even our careers. So when it comes to “sitting soft” you’d do well to choose the right reading chair for you. Here, we take a look at 5 reading chairs and the types of gentlemen who just might choose to reside within them…
1. THE TECH MOGUL
ABOUT YOU: You’ve got a start-up under your belt, an App in the pipe-line and your house runs itself through the click of a button by your bedside. When you eventually find a second or two to yourself you can be found legs up, iPad in hand reading up on all the latest that Silicon Valley has to offer.
YOUR GENTLEMAN EQUIVALENT: Mark Zuckerberg
THE CHAIR FOR YOU: This modern take on an old classic is the perfect reading chair for you, with high-side wings to deter from the hubbub of everyday life and a simple minimalistic design and colour that will fall effortlessly into your tech-savvy world. From naughtone.com
2. THE LUXIST
ABOUT YOU: You fly First Class purely for the privacy, have weekly grooming appointments and are on first name terms with bespoke tailors in 3 different continents around the world. When you’re not frequenting top restaurants with beautiful women you can be found martini in one hand, novel in the other and velvet slippers on, of course.
YOUR GENTLEMAN EQUIVALENT: Tom Ford, Michael Kors
THE CHAIR FOR YOU: Luxury knows no bounds and this is one of Timothy Oulton’s most celebrated designs. The Mars chair transports elements of Art Deco to the future of furniture design. From timothyoulton.com
3. THE SARTORIALIST
ABOUT YOU: Your style defines you. You know your Balmain from your Belstaff and can spot a trend before it even hits a runway, let alone the streets of the world’s trendiest cities. You spend weekends in New York and do your shopping in Milan or Berlin. Don’t be mistaken though, a fashion victim you are not. You know the importance of classical pieces, and timeless design is paramount to you and your wardrobe.
YOUR GENTLEMAN EQUIVALENT: Eddie Redmayne
THE CHAIR FOR YOU: This timeless and iconic lounge chair and ottoman from Eames is as classic as it comes in terms of reading chairs. Just picture yourself putting your well-heeled feet up and whiling away the afternoons with your latest copy of The Gentleman’s Journal in one hand and a Cuban in the other. From £3,286 – think-furniture.com
4. THE INTELLECTUAL
ABOUT YOU: You know your Keats from your Shelley and your Byron from your Bronte. With a penchant for fine wine and literature your reading chair is as precious to you as your first editions. A safe haven away from the torments of modern living, your reading chair is so much more than just a seat, it’s a sanctuary.
YOUR GENTLEMAN EQUIVALENT: David Attenborough, Stephen Fry
THE CHAIR FOR YOU: Comfort comes before design for you and this one from Timothy Oulton ticks all the right boxes. The worn-in leather will make you feel like you’ve been sitting in this seat for decades and the subtle detailing is the perfect nod to old-school style. From timothyoulton.co.uk
5. THE DESIGNER
ABOUT YOU: You have a degree in art or architecture and a studio in Shoreditch, your flat is the perfect blend of modern design with traditional accents and you are most likely to be found in the latest artisan coffee shop or trawling through East London markets for unique one-off pieces that you’ll no doubt customise yourself. When you’re not designing eco-friendly country retreats or throwing paint on canvases, you’re sifting through the pages of Wallpaper or hefty design-led coffee table books.
YOUR GENTLEMAN EQUIVALENT: Charlie Casely-Hayford, Richie Culver
THE CHAIR FOR YOU: Stylish, unusual and made to stand out. If you could design one yourself then you would, but in the meantime this one will do the trick with its reclaimed vintage style and unique hessian cotton-mix fabric. From £499 – made.com
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