An antidote to the fussy Victorian furniture of the 19th century, the Adirondack was first conceived by wealthy homeowner Thomas Lee, who was seeking sturdy outdoor seating for his vacation getaway in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. In the early 1900s, a friend of Lee’s, carpenter Harry Bunnell, retooled the original’s whole wood planks with cheaper wood slats and patented the design.

The model that we know today remains instantly recognizable for its angled seat set deep between generous armrests. While Adirondacks seem equally at home on the sundecks of ski resorts and the porches of quaint cabins, it’s hard to imagine them out of a woodsy context. That said, there are dozens of variations today, the best of which stylishly streamline the bulky original construction—and some that might even fit on a city balcony.

Keep reading to see our six favorite designs—and hear more on the history of Adirondack chairs from Emily Orr, the associate curator and acting head of product design and decorative arts at Cooper Hewitt in New York City.

Palmetto Adirondack by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

Lollygagger Swing by Loll Designs

Modern Adirondack by Polywood

“There are some crazy images of Victorian people putting their parlor furniture on the front lawn. The Adirondack chair was different for its time because it was actually made for use outdoors, from local materials that reflect natural surroundings. It’s really part of a larger design story with the cabin and the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when people were fleeing cities and an escape to the mountains was seen as curative. Some chairs in this rustic style were made from branches, but the proper Adirondack was more manicured, with its smoothed, cut boards assembled in a geometric composition.” —Emily Orr

Between Lines Deck Chair by Skagerak

Medici Outdoor MC4 by Konstantin Grcic for Mattiazzi

Roger by Atra Form

Woodside Adirondack by Terra Outdoor

Read more: Our Favorite New Takes on Classic Outdoor Chairs

Edited by Meredith Mendelsohn
Selections by Gabrielle Golenda

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