I was so honoured when Barbara at Hodge:Podge asked me to be part of her So Canadian, eh? series. Barbara has been introducing her readers to decorators and designers from all across Canada, and today’s instalment is her interview with me :-) Click here to pop over to Barbara’s blog and check it out. And while you’re there, be sure to take a look around at all of Barbara’s great design projects. The diamond tufted headboard that she made for her daughter is one of my very favourite projects :-)
There’s just something about an Adirondack chair that says “summer” to me. It’s relaxed, comfortable, casual – the perfect spot to sit and read a book, sip a cold drink, chart with friends, or just enjoy soaking in views of the water or sunset.
Image via Adirondack Chair Blueprint
The first Adirondack chair (originally called the Westport plank chair) was designed by Thomas Lee in 1903. He was on vacation in Westport, New York, in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, and needed outdoor chairs for his summer home. The original Adirondack chair was made with eleven pieces of wood, cut from a single board. It had a straight back and seat, which were set at a slant to sit better on the steep mountain inclines of the area. It also had wide armrests.
Image via Deviant Deziner
Thomas Lee offered the design for his chair to Harry Bunnell, a carpenter friend in Westport who needed a way to make money in the winter. Mr. Bunnell realized the chair was the perfect item to sell to Westport's summer residents, and without asking permission from Thomas Lee, he filed for and received patent #794,777 in 1905. Mr. Bunnell manufactured his plank chairs for the next twenty years. Today, the Adirondack chair is a staple in backyards, on patios and decks, and even in houses all around the world…
Image via Completely Coastal
Colourful Adirondack chairs…
Image via boston.com
Image via Forma Pura Living
My friend Victoria painted her Adirondack chairs orange…
This one takes painting your chair a step further…
Image via Alderman Arts
Of course, I have to include a purple Adirondack chair :-)
Image via Chair Blog
Adirondack chairs in Nova Scotia…
![blue rocks house 2[3]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aOTOWZ7lYx8/TgdEvBIueDI/AAAAAAAAEcI/5ZVm3izOmk8/s1600-h/blue%252520rocks%252520house%2525202%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg "blue rocks house 2[3]")
![red school[3]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YB0uglszKzE/TgdExYNPVII/AAAAAAAAEcQ/XlTtpuDwmKI/s1600-h/red%252520school%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg "red school[3]")
Hahahha! isn’t the fish chair cute? :-)
![fish bench 2[3]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hcDx7uQZtow/TgdEy9rT7HI/AAAAAAAAEcY/f1UDFU_X90Q/s1600-h/fish%252520bench%2525202%25255B3%25255D%25255B7%25255D.jpg "fish bench 2[3]")
And another take on a “Fish”irondack chair…
Image via Washington Post
A couple more variations on the traditional style…
Image via Gear Patrol
Image via Furniture Home Design
There’s even a lucite Adirondack chair!
Via vivre.com
No reason why you can’t use Adirondack chairs indoors as well as outdoors.
Image via My Design Chic
Ah, the perfect ending to a perfect summer day – enjoying a beautiful sunset from an Adirondack chair :-)
Image via Hub Pages
