Bev's Keen Eye on Design

Wingback chairs first made their debut in the 1700's in Europe where they quickly became popular in the American home.  The design of the "wings" were really to shield delicate female skin from the roaring, hot fires as well as to shield the sitter from the drafts.

The design of the wingback chair hasn't changed much until more recent times.  In the 1950's and 1960's we saw moderism redefining how we experience furniture and challenging us to see the traditional form within a nontraditional style. 

I've always loved wingback chairs and wanted to share some of the new styles being shown in showrooms today that are so not your mother's wingback chair.   The new styles work in both traditional and contemporary homes. 

The photos to the left are a few of my favorite wingback chairs at the Seattle Design Center.  The first from Designer Furniture Galleries is a cream leather wingback with nailheads that really define the clean line of the chair.  It has a very commanding presence with the overly tall back to it.

The second photo is a beautiful teal leather chair from Baker Furniture the color is deeper than the photo to the left and would richen up any room and give it a pop of color which makes it so fun!

The third photo is probably one of my favorites in that it is so different with the very  curvy lines that seem to envelope you when your sitting in the chair and also, the gorgeous peacock fabric that Robert Allen has used for the fabric which is so unique.  This chair with this fabric would be the center of attention in any room.

I hope this inspires you to take a second look at the new styles of wingback chairs out there for your home and hopefully, you have a spot next to the fireplace for snuggling on these cold winter nights!