The tulip chair, an icon of Mid Century style
The Tulip chair takes its name from its unique leg with its soft lines and tapered silhouette, and its ergonomic seat that evokes the tulip. This iconic creation from the 1950s is among the most imitated pieces – although the original model is still reissued to this day.
The original Tulip Chair is a creation of the American designer of Finnish origin Eero Saarinen. A follower of minimalist spaces, his ambition is to visually lighten the interiors by removing the “clutter of feet” that accompanies the furniture. In the 1950s, he applied himself to creating a table and chairs perched on a unique and elegant foot. With its slender and organic lines, this avant-garde furniture breaks with standards by offering more comfort and freedom of movement.
The original Tulip chair
The original Tulip Chair – or Saarinen Chair – is still produced by Knoll. Over time, it has been able to adapt to trends by coming in a variety of colors. However, it retains its specific design, as well as another particularity that has contributed to making it popular: a sturdy and comfortable fiberglass seat.
In total look with the Saarinen table, in addition to the living room or combined with a desk, the Tulip™ Chair Armless remains a timeless classic. An essential element of the retro interior, it is also sublime in a contemporary decoration. It is of course your best ally for adopting a refined decoration.
In recent seasons, we like the convivial and cocooning dining room. It is therefore the table chair that is on the rise. To reconcile cutting-edge design and comfort, fall for the Tulip™ Armchair – or Tulip armchair.
In small spaces or in mix and match with the chair, it’s hard to resist the Tulip™ Stool!
Not only are the shell, the covering and the color of the cushion of the Tulip chair and its variations customizable, but you can opt for a fixed or swivel leg.
The contemporary Tulip chair
Having become a classic, the Tulip Chair continues to inspire designers, and many decoration brands now offer their own variation.
IKEA is known for its many collaborations with the biggest names in design. Willingly avant-garde, the brand also knows its classics, and it does not hesitate to bring them up to date. With BALSTAR, it offers one of the most interesting reinterpretations of the Tulip chair of the moment.
We love its dual-material design, since it combines an opaque structure in white or black and a transparent backrest. This feature gives it even more lightness than the original model. It features a swivel leg that makes it just as smart a choice for the dining room table as it is for the desk.
Dear Artifort, the Petite Tulipe chair has a more discreet foot, while the lines of the seat evoke a flower with open petals. Under its very contemporary look, this creation by Pierre Paulin was born in the 1960s. Reissued since 2016, this chair is available in very current colours. This real chameleon will therefore adapt to any interior.
The Tulip chair that combines a low price and a pretty look is Circle, the model offered by Maisons du Monde. It has an adjustable foot: it is therefore a very good choice to accompany the desk in your teenager’s bedroom. Especially since with its timeless look, it fits in with almost any decor.
With Bloem, The Concept Factory offers a Tulip chair with a very convincing look! It is distinguished by its generous cushion, which gives it a very cocooning character.
In the office chair category with a hot look, we love Aiko, the tulip chair with adjustable legs offered by Atmosphera. This model is available in a very classic white, but also in very current colors – in particular an ultra-trendy khaki green.
How to adopt the Tulip chair at home?
The Tulip chair is known for its comfort. It is therefore suitable for all situations – and for all rooms.
In the dining room, it is generally associated with the tulip table – for a dining area in large or small format that is both convivial, intimate and airy.
With its organic lines, the Tulip chair creates a pleasant contrast with the square or rectangular dining table.
The Tulip chair is an excellent choice as an office chair. This icon brings a twist of elegance to a telecommuting desk.
And on the purely decorative side? It’s very simple: the Tulip Chair is able to blend into almost any atmosphere!
Both design and so chic, the Tulip chair is perfect for modernizing a Haussmann interior or, more broadly, any classic interior.
A Mid Century icon, the Tulip chair is indisputably in place in the retro interior, especially if you like to mix new and old in the decor.
A fan of colorful interiors? Whether you fell for the Color Block trend or for an Arty decoration, the white Tulip chair is made for you! A very colorful frame will perfectly highlight its lines.