Last night, during a marathon email session, I decided it was finally time to put a decent chair in the white office. The little black stool is fine for quick sits, but that’s it. I didn’t want to put the wheels of this chair (Eames DAT-1, mustard vinyl over black fiberglass; bought for less than $50) directly on the white floor, but I remembered this supercheap IKEA SVEJE rug (can’t find it on their website, but I think it was about $12) I bought a while back but never put into use. Perfect! I thought it would bother me having the stripes running parallel to the lines in the floorboards, but it’s fine. [EDIT: Um, maybe it's fine because they're not parallel, they're perpendicular. Hello! I need sleep.] And my back is much happier now.
(Is it weird that I’ve been putting prices on everything lately? I know I always like to know how much stuff costs, especially if it’s affordable. I’m a big fan of accessible design.)
40 Comments
Where do you find great chairs at such a great price? I ask because I have seen any eames chair (regular shell chair, nothing fancy like yours) go for less then $100 (CAD) on Vancouver’s craig’s list.
no totally great that you put prices on things. i love knowing that you can make a space look so amazingly great but that it’s also affordable. gives me hope :)
I love the rug and chair against the white floors– such a great contrast. I love that you tell us the prices for your design finds, too!
The last couple of years, I have been totally talking prices. If someone says, “I like your couch” I tell them the deal I got. If someone says “I like your bag” I’ll tell them where & how much. I think the switch comes from being proud of some of the deals I get or wanting to share great finds with everyone – like you said, accessible design.
I think sharing prices now makes sense, especially when you talk about creating your space. It’s really great to see a range of prices and stores. Magazines do it because people want to know.
Besides, when a rug is $12 and it totally works, how can you not share that?! :)
I like yellow with black and white. It’s a mix that makes the yellow jump out and smack you in the face (in a good way).
I love this rug, and the fact that it is classic and affordable…I actually bought two in plastic as well for my balcony!!!:)
Hi Ana!
The rug and chair are looking great in that room!
Are you planning on hanging some artwork in that room? What about some shelving or storage? I can’t wait to see your next steps!
Oh how I want your chair!!!
The prices of Eames chairs in the Uk are going through the roof!
Very nice! I love the color of that chair!
I love this. I bet it looks amazing in there.
can we see a room shot?
I love your site, I’m so happy that I came across it. We’ve just bought an old house too, and I’ve referred to your site a few times during the renovation process.
I’m now on the lookout for a chair just like yours.
Thanks for the great posts.
suuuper cute :) with the black wallpaper..i could live in this room :) well i’d need a bed..but you get my point…
Love this. The chair against the stripes really zings.
Fab.
Helen: The best advice I have is to be persistent. I’ve found the bulk of my chairs either in Mid-C furniture shops or on eBay. There are always deals to be had, but you need to keep looking all the time for exactly what you want. Don’t worry about the base, because you can always buy one later (unless the chair is wide-mount, something to be aware of). Also, the plain fiberglass armchairs are generally MORE expensive than the upholstered ones, which are much more commonplace.
Fila: There is shelving in the closet and additional storage in the desk drawer and white plastic unit next to the desk, but I may add a simple wall-mounted cabinet to store some rarely-used electronic equipment in. I don’t really plan to hang artwork in advance — for me, displaying art in my home isn’t really part of the design process. I need to think about where the art itself needs to go (preferably in a location where it can stand on its own), not what needs to go in an existing space. Does that make sense? I don’t like to think of art as a decorating element.
martha: I’m still working on the ceiling lighting, but as soon as it’s all finished, I’ll take more full-room photos. :)
I LOVE that photo.
Hey, I loved your blog.
I need to contact you. What’s your email?
Eric: It’s on the about page. It’s also REALLY easy to guess.
Anna,
I say saving your back is the best plan! Your fab Eames office chair looks great (and you’ll still feel great 20 years from now) I do admire your style and ability to organize and style your rooms to keep “stuff” from view… I’m redoing my living room. I tried deciding on what white to paint, but just couldn’t commit. You shared with me your color combo in your office (loved it in your photos) so I went with your colors and now I have a great start on the living rm! Next step, I have a 1970 dark gold velvet sofa (cool) from the Netherlands and want to recover or slipcover. What to do?
Where did you find the chair?!
Since when do I love that mustard color? Since now, evidently.
Cheryl: If you have kids or pets, I say slipcover! A good upholsterer can make a really fitted slipcover that won’t look saggy or drapey. (How do you like the Moonlight White/Simply White combo??)
AMM: I bought the shell itself on eBay a couple of years ago, but the base was swapped out from another chair — I change the bases all the time depending on what I’m using them for. Unfortunately the chair has a little puncture in the upholstery because the seller packed it really poorly, but I love it anyway. The vinyl was very discolored and dirty, but it cleaned up well with a Magic Eraser. :)
I appreciate the price tags! Thank you.
i love the combo!
please keep putting prices! i love hearing about your scores (though jealously does rear its ugly head on occasion :) … it makes me hunt deeper when i really want a piece but can’t find it at a good price – ‘well, anna found one for $x, surely i can too!’ I have a pair of yellow vinyl armshells just like this one, and they cleaned up really well with a Magic Eraser, too … handy little suckers. Can’t wait to see a pic of the whole room again!
I love that you include the prices. I always want to know. Keep em’ coming.
Hey Anna.
I saw some pics from houses, etc.
My wife (american) and me (Brazilian) are planing to move back to US soon. We are looking some houses. Do you sell too or…????
:D
that stool is super pretty but would kill my lower back – I think the Eames is a good switch and adds a really nice spot of color. I’m using a Bertoia side chair in the office right now and it makes my bottom kind of feel like swiss cheese – it needs a pad.
I always run into that question of putting prices on things I buy and then post online. I still don’t know how I feel…
I stopped doing it for a long time, and have sort of started again. I don’t know what the right answer is. Always listing prices kind of felt like The Price is Right or like Design on a Dime…but I like that people see that good vintage design can be affordable.
I love the price awareness, after all that is the environment that we are in at the moment. Although it has to be said that I am very envious, not only have eames items gone through the roof in the uk but I also live in the very much style deprived rural north east of england, so great design at good prices are very hard to come by!
I love this room, I think it has to be my favourite of all the rooms in your house.
Ana, you explanation about art makes total sense. It’s not about buying art for a spot but rather placing the art in its spot…
Anna – on your art comment – does that mean you buy art that you like, even if you’re not sure it will go somewhere in your house?
To The Brick House – I use a sheepskin rug from Ikea on my Bertoia chair and it makes it very comfy.
I also like knowing your prices, when you say a deal, I think to myself – what exactly is a deal? It helps me out when I go scavaging.
Hi Anna, I didn’t know the plain shell chairs are more expensive. Your posts are lovely and very educational! Can’t wait to see the complete room.
Oh, it looks so nice! The last TWO times we’ve been to our closest Ikea (that is in Sweden actually!) they haven’t had that black and white rug! So frustrating as I really want it for our kitchen.
Anna, yes, I love when I walk into the room and it feels good. Thanks for the info and inspiration! As to the sofa, I do have pets, and I agree with you on the slipcover. The 3 upholsterers in my area (metro Detroit) that I’ve talked are not on the same page! They won’t/don’t do slipcovers anymore because they don’t make money on it. I will keep hunting…I am a little nervous about reupholstering, since I’m not sure how they maintain the original character of a piece after they strip it down to it’s frame…
I love to know the prices. I think the only people who aren’t interested in prices are people for whom money is not an issue at all. i.e. incredibly wealthy people.
Love Love Love. Fantastic picture.
Thought you would like this…
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/22/video-from-1956-of-e.html
I love that you put the prices with things. I always want to know the price of great design and your blog definitely helps, since most don’t include it (and the ones that do usually say things like “it was only $970 for the chair!”, which is completely unobtainable to me!
LOVE the rug. Any clue how big it is?
Including prices…I’d call it the “Domino Effect.” God, I miss that magazine. Keep the deals coming! Love hearing about other people’s scores.
Hi Anna! I, thanks to you, just finished painting all floors on the second level of my house white (cue church bells ringing, crowds cheering). Now, I’m wondering what you use to keep your room clean? I have a kid, but more than that, I have dirty feet thanks to summer time and flip flops. Murphy’s oil? Just warm water?