Take 15% off and score free shipping on a slew of classic midcentury furnishings during Design Within Reach’s sales event.
If modern furniture design is your jam, you’re going to love the Herman Miller sale happening at Design Within Reach, which starts today. Here's what we're adding to our Christmas wish lists.
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
It’s no surprise that Charles and Ray Eames spent much of their careers investigating molded plywood—but when they introduced their lounge chair and ottoman in 1956, they immediately made history. The influential couple aimed to create a modern version of a 19th-century English club that has the "warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt." Each set is assembled by hand with a great attention to detail, and is available in two sizes with a selection of veneers and leathers. The base and back braces are made of die-cast aluminum while the chair base has a built-in swivel mechanism. Both pieces stand on adjustable stainless-steel glides while their shock mounts are made with resilient natural rubber. You won’t need to look far to find this lounger in many modern homes today—its iconic silhouette and comfortable nature has made it a clear favorite among design lovers. Photo Courtesy of Herman Miller
Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair (LCM)
Designers Charles and Ray Eames established their long and legendary relationship with Herman Miller in 1946 with this boldly original molded plywood lounge chair featuring metal legs. Since then, the aesthetic integrity, enduring charm, and comfort of the lounge and its counterpart dining chair have earned them recognition as the best of modern design. Based in Michigan with roots dating back to 1905 Herman Miller, is known worldwide for inventive office furniture design for the modern home and workspace. Herman Miller has a strong commitment to quality by being a pioneer of ergonomic office furniture while being a steward of environmental leadership in the manufacturing process. Available in a wide range of styles and colors, Herman Miller offers timeless furniture, high in style and comfort, from desk chairs to tables. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Herman Miller Distil Desk
Designer Todd Bracher approaches his work by studying how people interact with objects. "I try to capture what’s meaningful in that exchange," he explains. With the Distil Desk (2015), Bracher started with a common object, a cardboard box, and asked questions: "Why does the edge have to be sharp?" which led to curved edges that are easy on the arms; "How can we make it beautiful and strong?" which led to a molded plywood top; "Where would a carpenter hide the wires?" which led to cutouts in the cross-stretchers under the top. These questions and answers yielded a versatile and approachable piece of furniture that can function as an elegant table or as a hard-working desk, with smart cable management provisions. Simple assembly required. Made in U.S.A.
Herman Miller Polygon Wire Table, Small
The name Studio 7.5 comes from an idea to rent a 7.5-ton truck, put a model shop in it and drive from one project to another. Freedom of movement is important for founding designers Claudia Plikat, Burkhard Schmitz and Carola Zwick, who move freely – and smartly – in the creation of their products. "Everybody does everything," says Schmitz. "That’s how we cultivate ideas and maintain our openness and curiosity." In its expression of pure geometry and color, their Polygon Table (2015) provides an elegant solution to the need for all manner of surfaces in the home, office and elsewhere. It’s named for its base, which features three polygon-shaped sides. Use one on its own as a side or coffee table, or group several together to form organic compositions. The smooth Formcoat top is durable and easy to clean. Floor glides protect delicate surfaces. Made in U.S.A.
Girard Color Wheel Ottoman
After being recruited by none other than Charles Eames to become director of design for the Herman Miller textile division in 1952, Alexander Girard was given the freedom to experiment with vibrant hues and patterns in his work. Girard created more than 300 textiles during his tenure there, which lasted into the 1970s. A testament to his prowess with playing colors off one another, his Color Wheel Ottoman (1967) comes in bold yet playful pinwheel colorways that coordinate with an array of interiors. Girard carefully proportioned it to serve equally well as a footrest, extra seat or coffee table. Its flexibility reflects one of his tenets: "Art is only art when it is synonymous with living." This is the authentic Girard Color Wheel Ottoman by Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.
Herman Miller Nelson Saucer Pendant Lamp
Architect George Nelson, who was Herman Miller’s design director from 1945 to 1972, once said, "Every truly original idea seems to find its most important expression in a chair." And then he blew the doors off lighting design. While outfitting his office, Nelson discovered a silk-covered Swedish hanging lamp that he coveted but found too expensive. He then recalled seeing a photo in the paper of Liberty ships being mothballed "by having the decks covered with netting and then being sprayed with a self-webbing plastic," which got him thinking. "And then, Whammo!" Inspiration struck, and by the next night, Nelson had designed his first Bubble Lamp® (1952) by spinning a skeleton of steel wires on a turntable and shooting it with translucent plastic until it was covered in a smooth, washable film. "When you put a light in it, it glowed." This is the authentic Bubble Lamp, produced in partnership with the George Nelson Foundation. Made in U.S.A. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Herman Miller Nelson Daybed With Back Bolsters
For George Nelson, design wasn’t about things; it was about identifying problems and providing sensible solutions. The art of reduction was one of the many areas in which Nelson excelled, and he always challenged himself "to do much more with much less." That approach led to the simple yet sleek design of the Nelson Daybed (1950), which he originally designed for his own home in 1941. For nearly a decade, he continued to streamline it, and when he was finally satisfied, the daybed became part of the Herman Miller collection in 1950. The next chapter for this timeless piece begins with you. This Daybed swiftly converts from sofa to bed with the removal of the bolsters. This is the authentic Nelson Daybed by Herman Miller. Made in Malaysia. Photo Courtesy of Herman Miller
Vitra Nelson Ball Clock
The Ball Clock (1949) was the first of more than 150 clocks designed by George Nelson Associates for the Howard Miller Clock Company, which sold them from 1949 into the 1980s. Nelson Associates, first launched as a studio by George Nelson in 1947 in New York City, employed some of the most celebrated designers of the time, including Irving Harper, Don Ervin and Charles Pollock, all of whom contributed to the clocks. Until its closure in the mid-1980s, the company designed a range of products for many clients, including Herman Miller, Inc., which was established in 1923 by Howard Miller’s brother-in-law, D.J. De Pree. A bit of family history: De Pree also founded the Herman Miller Clock Company in 1926 but turned it over in 1937 to Howard, who renamed it. As for the identity of Herman Miller, he was Howard’s father and De Pree’s father-in-law. The Ball Clock appeared in the original Miller brochure as Model 4755. This is an authentic Nelson Clock, produced by Vitra Design Museum. Uses one AA battery (included). Made in Poland. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Eames Molded Plastic Dowel-Leg Side Chair (DSW)
The unmistakable Eames Molded Plastic chair takes on a different life with each of its base offerings. The wooden dowel legs of the Eames® Molded Plastic Side ChaCharles and Ray Eames believed that "design is a method of action," and they continually updated their work as new materials became available. Their Molded Plastic chairs were originally designed in metal and entered as a prototype in MoMA’s 1948 International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design. They then changed the material to fiberglass in 1950, and today the chairs are made of recyclable polypropylene. Charles was dissatisfied with the fiberglass, and it wasn’t until after his death that the matte finish he desired was achieved, thanks to advances in materials. "The chair that Charles and Ray were designing," explains grandson Eames Demetrios, "is the chair that’s made tomorrow." The deep seat pocket and waterfall seat edge keep you comfortable by reducing pressure on the backs of thighs. This is an authentic chair by Herman Miller, Inc. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Nelson Platform Bench
George Nelson’s Platform Bench (1946) is one of the great icons of midcentury modernism. For Herman Miller’s influential design director, utility was as important as beauty, and his spare rectangular bench is the result of this belief. It serves equally well as table, platform base or seating, depending on need and situation. No wonder it’s been called timeless; something this functional never dates. The Platform Bench’s legs are ebonized and finger-jointed for superior strength; also available with metal legs. Ships with legs unattached; simple assembly required. This is the authentic Nelson Bench produced by Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.
Herman Miller Eames Storage Unit, 1x2
The concept of "modularity" wasn't in the popular lexicon when Charles and Ray Eames designed their innovative Storage Units (1950), which can be configured to fit a space or need. Suitable for office and residential use, these units were designed as storage and display spaces, with two color schemes. The design resulted from work the Eameses did for a 1949 exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the molded plywood and wire supports echo other items designed by the Eameses, such as their wire base tables and chairs. The "multi" color scheme includes birch fronts and brightly colored (red, white, blue and tan) side and back panels. The "natural" color scheme includes birch fronts and neutral (grey, white, tan and black) side and back panels. The shelves in both color schemes are black. The nylon glides are easy on floors. This original is an authentic, fully licensed product of Herman Miller, Inc. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Herman Miller Striad Chair
Introducing a new classic from Herman Miller, the company behind the Eames® Lounge, Aeron® Chair and other revolutions in comfortable seating. To create the Striad™ Chair (2016), Herman Miller partnered with German designers Markus Jehs and Jürgen Laub, who’ve been creating innovative furniture, lighting and interiors – including Suite 606 at the Icehotel® in Sweden and the master concept for Mercedes-Benz® showrooms – since founding their Stuttgart studio in 1994. In everything they do, Jehs and Laub are dedicated to staying true to the form, materials and function of an object. "How a design looks should not be far from what it does," says Jehs. "Function brings its own aesthetic." Case in point: The form of the Striad Chair stems from the designers’ goal to deliver unbelievable comfort. To achieve it, they created the chair in layers, like a ski boot. It has a rigid outer shell for stability, a softer inner shell that’s molded to cradle the human body, and perfectly positioned cushions for ergonomic support. Together, these layers deliver the premium experience of supple, total-body comfort in a timeless, graceful form. Made in U.S.A. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Nelson Swag Leg Desk
The Swag Leg Collection (1958), originally called Swaged-Leg, began when George Nelson asked Charles Pollock, "Wouldn’t it be beautiful to have some kind of sculptured leg on a piece of furniture?" In pursuing this idea, the designers had to figure out how to make machine-formed metal legs that would be identical to one another for ease of production and readily removable for shipping. The solution turned out to be swaging, a manufacturing process that uses pressure to curve and taper a metal tube, which Pollock had experimented with when studying at Pratt. The legs became the foundation for a collection that includes an armchair, worktable and dining table. When the desk was reintroduced in 2007, a grommet was added to the back right corner for cable management. The brightly colored dividers create storage cubbies, and the center cubby fits most laptops. Removable organizer trays in the drawers keep stationery organized, and adjustable glides ensure a level work surface. Ships flat; simple assembly required. This is the authentic Swag Leg Desk by Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.
Herman Miller Spot Barstool
After being schooled in industrial design and engineering at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College in London, Michael Anastassiades founded his own studio in 1994. His work falls somewhere in between the industrial and sculptural, especially in how he’s able to reduce a shape down to its bare essentials. This purity of form can be seen in the Spot Stool (2016), which looks simple but is actually quite complex in its construction. Anastassiades’ pieces can be found in hotels, restaurants and shops worldwide, including the SoHo House New York, Grand Hôtel Stockholm and Sergio Rossi boutiques. Made in U.S.A.
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Related Reading:
10 Classic Midcentury Pieces That Will Never Go Out of Style
15 Herman Miller Projects That Have Changed Our Way of Living
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