Don’t Miss This Limited-Time Sale on Classic Herman Miller Pieces
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.
Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Charles and Ray Eames had ideas about making a better world, one in which things were designed to bring greater pleasure to our lives. Their iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (1956) began with a desire to create a chair with “the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.” The result embodies what it really means to lounge. In continuous production since its introduction, this set is widely considered one of the most significant designs of the 20th century. Combining soft, inviting leather or mohair with the sleek form of molded wood, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is the culmination of the Eameses’ efforts to create a club chair using the molded plywood technology they pioneered in the ’40s. Even today, each piece is assembled by hand to ensure the highest level of quality and craftsmanship, and you’ll be pleased to discover the set gets even better with use and age. Cushions snap in and can be removed and changed. This is the authentic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.
ShopHerman Miller Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair (LCM)
The iconic LCM — or Lounge Chair with metal legs (1946) — began as an experiment in Charles and Ray Eameses’ apartment, where they were molding plywood in what they called the “Kazam! Machine.” The machine pressed thin sheets of wood veneer against a heated membrane that was inflated by a bicycle pump. From these humble beginnings came what would become one of the world’s most widely recognized and highly coveted chairs. Low-slung, and with an expertly crafted molded seat and back (no more bike pumps needed), the LCM cradles you in a comfortable position; rubber shock mounts between the back, seat, and frame buffer against any jarring movements. This original is an authentic product of Herman Miller, Inc. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller. Made in the U.S.A.
ShopHerman 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.
ShopHerman 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.
ShopGirard 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.
ShopHerman Miller Nelson Saucer Bubble Pendant
While outfitting his office, architect and Herman Miller design director George 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,” he said. This is the authentic Bubble Lamp, produced in partnership with the George Nelson Foundation. Bulb (not included): LED, CFL or incandescent; E26 base; 60W max for small, 150W max for others. UL Listed. Made in U.S.A.
ShopVitra 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.
ShopEames 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
ShopHerman Miller Nelson Platform Bench
For Herman Miller's influential design director George Nelson, utility was as important as beauty. Originally designed for his own office, where Nelson hoped the slatted top would discourage visitors from sitting too long, the Platform Bench (1946) is both timeless and functional. Available with finger-jointed wood base or slender chromed metal legs for superior strength. This is the authentic Nelson Bench produced by Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.
ShopHerman Miller Striad Lounge Chair
Markus Jehs and Jürgan Laub designed their Striad Lounge Chair (2016) in layers, like a ski boot, to deliver exceptional comfort. “How a design looks should not be far from what it does,” says Jehs. “Function brings its own aesthetic.” Striad features 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.
ShopHerman Miller Nelson Swag Leg Desk
The Swag Leg Collection (1958) was named for a manufacturing process that uses pressure to curve and taper metal tubing. This desk perches lightly on signature sculptural legs stabilized by a solid walnut stretcher. Brightly colored dividers create storage cubbies, and the center cubby fits most laptops. Includes removable organizer trays in its drawers and adjustable glides to ensure a level work surface. This is the authentic Swag Leg Desk by Herman Miller.
ShopHerman 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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