Some pieces of furniture are like utility players: They can work in several types of rooms, fulfilling a variety of design functions.
And the chair, which has been described as the most ubiquitous and important design element in the domestic environment, is a good example.
We decided to test this theory on a versatile piece: The Orchid chair ($271) from Good Works in St. Louis (goodworks ). We asked three designers to fit this same chair into three different rooms, ranging in style from traditional to modern. The results from this 24- hour design challenge proved that a smart piece of furniture can adapt to whatever situation it lands in.
Traditional
Maria DeGange, interior designer with Frank Patton Interiors:
This chair has chameleon qualities. It has a clean silhouette but enough curvature that it can be brought into a more traditional room. Nowadays, people try to do “new traditional,” which is more eclectic. They want classic and timeless, but they also want to soften it up with a piece that is less ornate.
The key is to incorporate the chair with the other pieces, so it does not look foreign to the room.
In this space, we brought in the colors of the window treatments and the art into the chair’s accent pillow. Also, the sofa is not super-traditional, which helps and gives a hand to the chair. The Barbara Barry cocktail table has that same curvature and also works with the chair.
Transitional
Dana King, interior designer with The Design Studio at Phillips Furniture:
This chair works in this room because the color and scale work. You can bridge between styles if you’re mindful about color and scale. Within this room, the chair is neither too small nor too big for the other furniture. The buckwheat color works with the cream color in the area rug and the same cream color in the window treatments.
We had a green chair in that spot before, which created a more clubby, denlike look. For a change, or for summer, this chair works to lighten the room. Transitional is basically a softer version of modern design, a cleaned-up traditional look. Transitional rooms tend to have color and a layered, textured look. It’s not too stark and not too fussy. This is, in fact, a transitional chair. It is simple and beautiful on its own, and it can be like a chameleon.
Contemporary
Meredith Wanamaker, interior designer for Niche and the Lawrence Group:
The Orchid works well in a contemporary setting because of its clean lines and simple form. We paired it with the classic modern table, the Knoll Platner, which is a more stylized piece. The chair complements it and doesn’t upstage the other pieces in the room.
The warm white color is contemporary and allows it to work in a neutral setting. It can act as a canvas for neutral accessories or for accessories that add a pop of color.
Depending on the setting, the chair will either complement its surrounding and let the character pieces take center stage or contrast with it and stand out on its own. The key things to look for in a versatile piece that works in different styles are: a clean line, minimal detailing and a neutral color.
The chair was incorporated into a display unit in Marquette Condominiums, designed by the Lawrence Group and furnished by Niche.
