Castlery is a lesser-known direct-to-consumer furniture brand that strives to offer high-end and well-made yet fairly affordable furniture, and the Desmond chair is a testament to that. From the brass tipped legs to the deep rubber wood frame to the neutral-colored foam and fiber-filled seat, the Desmond is a classic midcentury-modern-esque piece that stylishly lends itself to most home decor aesthetics, and also functions as the perfect reading chair. The Desmond is available in cream fabric or leather can also be paired with a matching ottoman.
A stellar design from Maiden Home, one noteworthy quality of the Dune chair that reviewer and digital design editor Zoë Sessums found was its height—which she felt made her sit with better posture. The neutral look also makes it especially versatile for most home styles. And if you feel concerned about how a high quality chair like this would fare in a home, worry not. The chair can get covered in a number of performance fabrics that are resistant to stains and spills, and you can purchase slipcovers whenever you want to change things up. We’ve tested several pieces from Maiden Home over the years (including the Dune Sofa) and turn to the brand for contemporary silhouettes with a laidback polish.
As tester, contributor Erika Owen, writes in her review, you probably already know about the Wassily chair, even if you haven’t sat in it yourself. Inspired by a bicycle frame and first made in 1925, it’s stylish and especially ideal for a Scandinavian-style home while still staying durable and practical. Plus the negative space of the chair means it won’t feel like it takes up as much real estate in your home. It’s a true icon of modern design, but you might want to keep it away from kids and pets.
Lila Allen, senior editor of AD PRO, really put the Serena & Lily performance fabrics through the ringer when it came to her Miramar Chair. To test its stain-resistant claims, she boldly poured a full mug of coffee on the Miramar and watched it simply…disappear. (Okay, more accurately it beaded and rolled off with the assistance of a paper towel.) Performance aside, the Miramar gives big chair energy, which Lila claims was her favorite part of the experience, allowing her to sit in all of her “crisscross applesauce” glory. She also praised its firm and supportive construction, though she warned it might be better suited for large spaces.
If you’re looking for a chair that floats more into reclining territory, then the MR Lounge chair is right up your alley. Described by Rachel Fletcher as the “Birkin bag of chairs,” this design classic offers beautifully crafted and ultra plush leather that curves in just the right way to mold to your body. Its longer profile lends itself to larger homes with big spaces that allow the piece to spread out. Plus, the premium leather will positively perfume the air while you’re luxuriously suspended in space.