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Reviewer: Elise Portale, contributor
Model tested: Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
The details: You don’t need to be a hardcore AD fan to know that the Eames Chair has appeared in countless incredible homes over the years. Do a Google image search for “midcentury-modern design” and you’ll see the iconic silhouette in multiple frames. First developed by lifelong couple and design partners Charles and Ray Eames in 1956, the lounge chair was the duo’s interpretation of a 19th-century club chair—designed to resemble a worn first baseman’s mitt and made of high-quality materials like supple leather, wood veneer, and cast aluminum.
“The Eameses really changed the way that people considered what a chair is supposed to look like,” says Amy Auscherman, Herman Miller’s head of archives and brand heritage. And while details like its upholstered cushions signal inspiration from earlier, more traditional furniture designs, features like the molded plywood and shock mount technology made the chair revolutionary at the time. The point is, ever since the set debuted with Herman Miller in 1956, it has been a staple of modern design—and there’s a very good reason why, 65 years after the original Eames lounger debuted at the Arlene Francis Home show, we’re still talking about it.
Sit test: Is it comfortable?
I have a confession to make: I wanted this chair to be bad. The iconic Eames design is so beloved, so coveted, a part of me really hoped it wouldn’t live up to all the hype. It has a great look, sure, but was it really so much better than any other chair? Cynicism be damned, that lounge sure is comfortable. In terms of ergonomics, the seat is permanently tilted back in a way that is almost distressingly low to the ground, but when I threw my legs up on that ottoman and let myself actually sink in, I felt as if I had never properly enjoyed a chair before in my life. Everything has been considered—sit up and enjoy a morning latte, sink down and rest your head on the rounded plush headrest, stretch out, curl in, sit sideways, swivel, rock back and forth. The Eameses built the impossible: A chair that’s comfortable no matter how you want to sit in it. I used to just flop on the sofa to chill and watch TikTok during my spare time. But since my new 65-year-old roommate moved in, I find myself with a new hobby: Sitting just to sit in it. It’s remarkable.
Is it durable and practical in a modern home?
You know what you don’t usually see in photos of homes with the lounge and ottoman? Kids and dogs running around. And I get it: I’m a little wary of spills and drool on a grown-up piece of furniture like this too. But also, it definitely seems built well enough to take it—and is soft enough it probably won’t hurt anyone too much if they were to trip over it. Care, as with most things, is up to you to either invest in or not, though Herman Miller has recommended annual adjustments and cleanings. (Mostly, they recommend specific cleaners for the upholstery and tightening some bolts from time to time.) Ultimately, the leather upholstery feels pretty sturdy and handsome with a little patina (the seat and ottoman cushions are also interchangeable, with the idea that even wear can be created between the two). But if you get something like mohair, just know that dog, kid, or takeout stains might be a bigger deal to remove.
Do the photos do this product justice? Was there anything you were surprised to see IRL?
What surprised me was how much it truly demands attention. This is no small piece. The lounge chair itself is massive and requires a wide berth, not to mention an ottoman that is large enough to be a seat in its own right, which explains why it works so well in sprawling, minimalistic spaces (and why owners of those spaces just have to have one).
How much does it cost? Are there payment plans available?
I have to interrupt this reverie to get real with you because comfort like this? It’s not cheap. It starts at $5,995, to be precise. From day one, the Eameses designed the lounge and ottoman for a luxury market, and the level of craftsmanship and quality materials involved is hard to argue with. Luckily, Herman Miller does offer financing options for those of us design nerds on a budget, which is especially great when you consider how many tempting knockoffs there are on the market. Trust me: The last thing you want to do is overpay for a chair that’s got the looks but not the goods.
Where can you shop it?
The Eames lounge chair has been manufactured by the Herman Miller furniture company since the famed furniture makers acquired the technology from the Eameses in the late 1940s. In fact, Herman Miller still partners with the Eames Office—now overseen by a team that includes Charles and Ray’s grandchildren—on all updates or changes to the original designs, though not much has been tweaked since the lounge chair debuted in 1956.
Outside of Herman Miller and Vitra (who is the sole authorized manufacturer of Eames products for Europe and the Middle East), prospective buyers can turn to authorized Herman Miller retailers like Design Within Reach and the MoMA Design Store, or try their luck on 1stdibs, Craigslist, and even Instagram—if you like a good chase. “I’ve known people that have found them in like a Goodwill,” says Amy, who frequently finds herself, and the rest of the Herman Miller team, fielding through requests from chair owners to verify if they’ve got the real thing. Amy recommends studying up on the chair before you buy secondhand to recognize the copycats. “Familiarize yourself with both the specific and minute design details so that when you’re looking at something that’s not authentic, you know,” she says. For reference, an authentic Eames chair will have a small sticker on its underside clad with Herman Miller’s logo and an Eames signature.
What are the upholstery options?
The classic rosewood and black leather look is truly iconic, but Herman Miller offers the Eames Lounge and Ottoman with quite a nice range of customizable options, such as seven shell wood finishes and 18 upholstery colors, from gray mohair to red flamiber, and, of course, leather.
What is the lead time for delivery?
Each lounge chair is hand-crafted in West Michigan with most in-stock options ready to be delivered to your doorstep within two to three weeks. For customized options, lead times may vary but estimated timeframes are indicated on the Herman Miller and DWR website. Additionally, customers can choose between in-home delivery for an extra $249 or in-home delivery at a specified time frame, which will run you an additional $349.
Is this chair suitable for particular decor styles and if so, which?
That molded plywood shell, those buttery leather cushions—it’s not only a classic design, it’s a work of art (just ask MoMA, which has it in their permanent collection). It’s both sophisticated and Space Age-y, which is no doubt why it was everywhere back in the day, from the hip Palm Springs living room to the Madison Avenue corner office. Like everyone else, I was quite familiar with this chair in photos, but as you stare at your living room thinking about which color combos might work for you, remember that this chair needs its space, physically and visually. For smaller homes, consider building your seating plan around your new Eames chair, or opt for just the lounge half of the set. Because if you’re going to bring home an American icon, you’d better make sure she’s the star of the show. It’s a trophy, a collectible, a conversation piece, and, in theory, a great place to relax.
Additional reporting by Audrey Lee
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