The legendary Eameses were a power couple in the mid-20th century that brought the Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman to fruition. We proudly carry the Eames Lounge reproduction. To greater prove how fantastic this chair is, we’ve gathered some quotes by the designers, which are as savvy as the chair and ottoman itself. Besides the acuity of the quotes, they also resound in the components of the lounge chair. Below we take a look at how these inspirational quotes about design work translate in the classic lounge chair and ottoman.
“The details are the details. They make the product. The connections, the connections, the connections. It will in the end be these details that give the product its life.”
Our lounge chair and ottoman reproduction is ripe with detailed finishing. If you take a close look at our replica, you’ll notice that it is a true product of meticulous work. It has 400 stitches that make up the piping, removable cushions, zippers and industrial Velcro, the highest standard of assemblage. We match that with high quality wood that creates a hardened, long-lasting shell and genuine leather. In the Eames Lounge replica, it is truly the details that will sustain the product for many years, making for an exceptional shelf life.
“We work because it’s a chain reaction: each subject leads to the next.”
This couldn’t be truer in regards to how the Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman came to be. It was no singular idea or moment that generated the classic chair and ottoman, but rather a long process of different events. You can read more on that in our history of the Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman post. Preceding the first chair to use molded plywood, Charles had worked for the US navy during World War II, crafting splints for the officers. It was this period that allowed Charles to perfect the art of wood bending. This gave rise to the very first ancestor to the Eames lounge chair: the molded plywood chair, of which we carry a replica, our plywood chip chair. It was during the production of this chair that lead the Eameses to the discovery of how to bend wood and weld the wires to make possible what the lounge chair it is today. A chain reaction indeed.
“Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design.”
The success of the Eames Lounge Chair was not due solely to its unique and futuristic look, but to its functionality. It is the throne of relaxation. Resting is a basic need, and it was as much a need in the mid-20th century as it is now, save for the fact that there was less innovation to support that need back then. The idea for a lounge chair sprung when the Eameses observed another creative, director and friend Billy Wilder mulling around on his film set, assembling his own lounge chair. Thus, the creation of the chair and ottoman was not due to the curiosity of combining wood and leather alone, but as a response to the need of a chair that contributes to ones relaxation in a way a regular chair could not provide.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts.”
Ray Eames hit the nail on the coffin within this insight, because our Eames Lounge chair and ottoman reproduction uses “what works good” in its makeup. For example, although concealed under the leather, our lounge chair and ottoman is cushioned with memory foam, the best material for shape retention, as it forms back into its original shape after the user leaves the chair. It is also very soft, which will make you want to sit on it again and again. Our use of braided stitch thread ensures durable piping and minimizes the seams from going loose. Although our shock mounts cannot be readily seen, they connect the arm, the back and the base, providing longevity for leaning back.
“The most important thing is that you love what you are doing, and the second that you are not afraid of where your next idea will lead.”
Passion was undoubtedly a major driver of the Eames Lounge Chair. The Eameses have worked on various architecture and design projects, all of which have propelled by the pure love of designing. As the Eames Lounge chair and Ottoman presents itself as the embodiment of the used of baseball mitt the couple had envisioned, it is easy to see that they were never deterred by fear of their ideas. This especially rings true as Charles Eames did not graduate college, yet persisted in working as a designer.
