Design Seen: The Recline of Style
May 3, 2004
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
“Most recliners are hideous,” says designer Eric Villency of the ubiquitous
reclining chair, whose chubby lines have changed little over the past 40 years.
“Sure, they’re comfortable, but who wants to look at them?” Maurice Villency’s
Helena recliner, however, is designed to appeal to all of the senses. The smooth
leather and streamlined silhouette are so polished that even when reclined, the
chair is much more Le Corbusier than La-Z-Boy. “We started with a frame that had
great lines and turned it into a recliner. It retracts into a Z position so most
people aren’t even aware that it is a recliner, whereas most recliners form more
of an L shape,” he says. (Click image to enlarge); function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
The chair ($2,795) has been raised on steel legs to
give it a sense of weightlessness; all the mechanisms are concealed underneath.
“As with all of our furniture, we design around its potential look. We look at
the lines and style we want and then find a way to make it work,” explains
Villency, who is the grandson of company founder Maurice Villency. “While we
pride ourselves on making furniture that is sturdy and holds up well, it also
has to fit certain design needs.” The tug of war between husbands and wives over
recliners may be a thing of the past. “Men mostly do gravitate toward it because
they like the leather and the lure of a chair that reclines,” admits Villency.
“But, in the end, it’s ultimately the women who approve of the sophisticated
design.” (Click image to enlarge)
Maurice Villency
212.725.4840
www.mauricevillency.com
advertisement
