Home

---

One wiry classic of mid-century design. Two contemporary chairs that nod back to it. Which one are you?

the CLASSIC

WHATThe Bertoia Side Chair for Knoll
WHO Sculptor Harry Bertoia
WHEN 1952
WHYFile this one under “legend in its own time.” From the moment thatmodernist sculptor Harry Bertoia finished the last weld on theprototype, his Side Chair became a status symbol, popping up in all thebest mid-century homes and offices. (Look back at any good architecturebook from 1952 and afterward, and you’ll see the chairs everywhere. Infact, New York’s Museum of Modern Art still uses them in its courtyard-- talk about an endorsement.) The steel-rod chair is timeless not onlyfor its see-through appeal -- it goes with any decor, because it takeson the vibe of whatever room it’s in -- but also for its elegance andlight weight. You can pick it up and put it anywhere. Yes, even next totraditional pieces. From $421 at Design Within Reach, (800) 944-2233; www.dwr.com

the CONTEMPORARIES

WHATThe Ronde Armchair for Emu
WHO Designer Aldo Ciabatti
WHEN 1994
WHYLike the Bertoia, the Ronde is lightweight and versatile: Its curves goequally well with modern or Mediterranean styles. (The ability to fitin anywhere is the mark of a design classic.) The Ronde’s micromeshsteel is surprisingly comfy to sit on, too, which means you won’t mindspending a couple of hours pecking on your laptop or chatting it upover dinner with friends. $100 at Design Within Reach, (800) 944-2233; www.dwr.com

WHATThe Myto Chair for Plank
WHO Designer Konstantin Grcic
WHEN 2008
WHYAt this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York,one brand-new little chair became the literal and figurative seat ofpower: the Myto, penned by a German industrial designer and molded fromBASF Ultradur High Speed plastic, an advanced material usually found incars, not casas. The chair’s clean lines and perforated texture recallBertoia’s classic, but the absence of back legs (a feat ofcantilevering, to cut down on the amount of material needed) gives theMyto an ecocentric edge -- and secures its future status as an icon. $575 through ICF Source, (800) 237-1625; www.icfsource.com