Rico's Week with the Generation Chair, Day Two

Day Two Today, I was mildly surprised when I walked up to my desk and found the Generation chair still waiting behind it. I think I really like the color – it’s not so much of a shock as it was when it was sent over from our Studio in the first place. It’s true that Lemongrass isn’t really that color, but I’ve decided that it sounds neat, so what the heck. As I look at the arms of the chair, they seem aesthetically different than most chairs, and I think that’s because they were designed to not be in the way while still being there for your arms to rest on if you want them to be. This chair has the Height Adjustable arms, rather than the High Performance version. Having not used the High Performance arms, I’m not sure what the main difference is, but these have enough cushion, go up and down easily and lock into place just fine. While they move around a lot and feel loosely connected to the frame, they actually stay locked in place better than most of the performance task chairs I’ve sat in recently. One of my pet peeves is when I put the arm where I want it to be and it decides that it wants to move somewhere else when I lean on it. These feel like they were meant to be leaned on, both by my arm and (if I feel so inclined) by my back when I’m sitting sideways in my chair. That does bring me back to what I started talking about (regarding why the arms look aesthetically different than most chairs); they are designed to be out of my way when I’m sitting sideways with my legs under one arm and my back against another. They are successful at that job and do not infringe on my leg’s personal space, and while my arm-backrest isn’t super comfortable, it doesn’t cause me pain. I find that, rather than sit sideways, a more comfortable position is to turn about a quarter of the way around, counter-clockwise, and use both the back of the chair and the armrest for support. It’s actually surprisingly comfortable to sit like that while typing this.

Rico's Week with the Generation Chair, Day One

In the realm of ergonomic task seating, the Aeron was first, a groundbreaking chair in both design and comfort. Following on its heels was a host of chairs that mimicked the design and couldn’t touch the comfort. But recently, with the Embody’s advent and the quality chairs produced by Steelcase and Humanscale, the discomfort of the consumer can be alleviated in any number of ways by any number of contenders. If you’re a fan of being able to sit in the best position possible for your body and for comfort, you have choices. But what if you don’t want to sit still, with your feet flat on the ground and your arms at a 90 degree angle, and your back straight? What if you move a lot, or need to use the same chair to task and to collaborate? What if you (gasp) like to sit crooked? This week I’m testing the Generation chair by Knoll, created with just such needs in mind. The one I’m sitting in has a Lemongrass colored seat and back and a polished aluminum base and frame. It’s the kind of color that would look horrible in my parents’ house and super cool in my friend’s condo. The basic adjustments of this chair are the levers built into each armrest for up and down movement, a paddle built into each side of the seat’s underside (left to adjust seat pan depth, right to adjust seat height), and a lever at the right rear of the seat to adjust degree of tilt. The tilt adjustment has three settings: Slacker Recline, Moderately Relaxed, and No Recline for You. The rubber back has a ton of flex to it, so each of those positions incorporates give, and stretching is easy and even encouraged by the back’s flexibility. Even though it doesn’t have any additional lumbar support, I don’t feel like the chair is lacking in that area as I sit in it. We’ll see how the week goes!

Matt & Aeron, Day Three

Yesterday I covered the PostureFit Lumbar Support that is one of the main options on the Aeron Chair. Today I wanna talk about another unique feature that was pretty groundbreaking at the time. This is the patented Pellicle fabric that was developed by Herman Miller. Pellicle is a breathable, flexible synthetic material that is outstanding in every way- in my opinion, at least.

Breathable is the key for me. Pellicle ventilates extremely well- and it covers the entire seat pan and back. And because Pellicle covers a suspended seat pan on Aeron (meaning its just fabric supporting you, not fabric over a cushion over a solid seat), you're behind and back are pretty much completely exposed to the air. This is a different feel from standard seat pans over foam and generic upholstery, where you can have many stifling inches of materials between you and the open air. Pellicle is so thin you can literally see through it. Also, it feels good to drag your fingernails across and it makes a cool noise similar to a zipper. It's not the softest material out there, but it's not rough at all. It's just not as soft as say, a standard leather or the Embody Chair fabric.

Matt & Aeron, Day Two

So, today I'm going to talk about the PostureFit Lumbar Support on the Aeron Chair. To start, I have to preface by saying that the Aeron Chair really did make an impact on the office furniture scene when it came out in the 1990's. The lumbar support feature was pretty revolutionary in that it was designed to allow you a make small tweaks to the amount of support you felt. Herman Miller has come out with a number of office chairs in that time, but the lumbar support on Aeron still very much holds its own.

There's a little knob underneath the seat on the right side of the chair that has three little grooved prongs sticking out of it, so it's easy to grab, and it's fairly awesome. When I sit back in my seat, I can feel the padded support hitting the lower part of my back, as it should. The level of adjustment is pretty comprehensive, so if you think its a bit intrusive, you can turn the knob as you're sitting back and feel the pressure give. And the best part is, it doesn't really move in increments- you can move it out or back just as much as you want. What I mean is, some adjustment mechanisms have settings, say 1-5, with 1 being no support and 5 being lots of support, and some poor soul might find themselves wishing there were a 3.5 setting. This isn't an issue with the lumbar support on the Aeron Chair. The level of support you feel is only limited by the dexterity of your fingers. I would strongly recommend this feature because it's definitely a strong point of the chair.

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our signature line + another happy customer

Below is a before and after shot of our signature line and a happy customer. Smart Shelves continue to please our customers. request a catalog

Happy Customer With Happy Toys

Unbuckle the fun with buckleyboo. BuckleyBoos encourage cognitive development through multi-stage learning. Buckleyboo's look great on Smart Furniture shelving. BuckleyBoo, We love you too.

Groovy

I love customers. I love our customers even more when they take pictures of their Smart Furniture swag. I really love our customers even more when they take pictures of their Smart Furniture swag and I grew up with them for the first 18 or so years of my life. I'm digging my sis' new furniture selections, starting off with a Calligaris Regency Oval Dining Table and getting some additional Kartell Victoria Ghost Chairs to match the pair she already had, topped off with some Kartell Louis Ghost Chairs at the head of the table.

A Week With Karen & Cobi

Day Four ...with my lovely cobi. Today has begun like a sprint out of the starting blocks. Except for me, that means I'm glued to my chair. The phone is ringing nonstop, and I am multi-tasking like there's no tomorrow. I think I heard someone say the recession is over. Whether or not this is true, I'm pretty excited that cobi is affordable, starting at $399. For all of you design-savvies out there, you will appreciate cobi's delectable colors, Coconut, Root Beer, Wasabi, Tangerine, Basil, Licorice and Malt, to name a few. cobi has also received the prestigious Red Dot design award, an international competition ranked among the largest design competitions worldwide. cobi is beautiful, extremely comfortable and ships free in 5 days. And it's manufactured by Steelcase, a leader in the global office furniture industry, who is committed to protecting the environment and passionate about helping you, "Love How You work®". What more can I say? cobi is perfect. vroom..vroom..

A Week With Karen & Cobi

Day Three Another hectic day filled with phone calls, unplanned (but important) meetings away from my desk and one here in my office. This is lucky, since I have cobi. In meetings, I like to curl one leg up on my seat. With cobi, it feels great. I shift sideways and lean one arm over the seat back. I note how easy and intuitive changing positions is in cobi, the seat back flexing softly under the weight of my arm. Meeting is over. Now, I am seated forward, perched at the front edge of my seat, looking intently at my screen. I have come to recognize this as my "working position," or what others refer to as "being in the zone." During these moments of heightened concentration, I am really focused (and extremely productive, I might add). With cobi's flexible seat front, I don't even have to think about how I sit – I am simply comfortable. In contrast, my regular office chair is sub-standard, hard-edged, unsupportive and non-conforming. It is the opposite of ergonomic. Work is often interrupted by the resulting numbness and pressure against my legs. It then takes several minutes to find a comfortable position. Maybe I'll try to curl my leg up on the seat again. Or maybe I should lean back. I could try sitting forward... Maybe I need my own cobi.

What We Think About THINK

Day Two with Cyndi I was very excited when I was asked to “test drive” the Think Chair by Steelcase.I am not a woman of many words so I was concerned that maybe I was not the best choice for this “test drive” and analysis, but nonetheless I agreed. When I first sat down in the Think Chair I immediately noticed the very cushioned and comfortable seat. I also noticed how comfortable it was when I leaned back. You see, I ruptured a disk in my back a few years ago so there aren’t too many chairs that are truly comfortable. So I need a chair that has great lumbar support and helps my back relax while sitting. The Think chair does have a great lumbar support which really helps my posture while sitting, not one of my strong points. I also noticed the dial on the right side that allows the chair to recline more or less, depending on my preference. The chair I normally sit in has a lever to allow the chair to recline slightly or not recline at all. So the dial on the Think Chair gives me more options depending on the way I feel for the day. I am a woman and yes I change my mind often. I am looking forward to my second day in the Think...

What We Think About THINK

Because of our continuing curiosity about what it’s like to use the great chairs we sell, we here at Smart Furniture have prevailed upon two of our fine employees to test the Steelcase Think chair. Mark Rico (our resident rendering specialist) and Cyndi Brackett (our accountant extraordinaire), have graciously accepted the opportunity to share the Think for one week and write about their experience.

Mark, in addition to his superb SketchUp and facial-hair-growing skills, is glad to spend life with his wife and two daughters. He hopes to one day hike the Appalachian Trail with his family and is currently reading about insects and spiders because they’re amazing.

Cyndi works out of our office three days a week and is at home the remaining four. She is very blessed to have a wonderful husband and two amazing kids. Her son is entering middle school next year and her daughter will be entering Kindergarten next year. Yes, she drives a minivan and hauls kids around all day but loves every minute of it. She hopes to go to Europe on vacation at some point in the future. On those days when she doesn’t have a minute to herself she looks forward to being an empty nester!

Day One with Mark

Today I started a week-long test of the Steelcase Think chair. Steelcase isn’t really the first brand many people think of when they’re considering modern furniture, or even seating for their home offices. However, the Think pretty well demonstrates that Steelcase doesn’t just make conventional office furniture; it’s beautiful to look at (especially the one I’m sitting in – white seat, white mesh back – stunning) and super comfortable. The real question at this point is how it performs every day.

The first thing I did was read the little how-to-adjust-the-chair tag that came with the Think. It’s only a one-page diagram that tells you what the knobs do, and it’s really all that’s necessary. Think is a very intuitive chair to adjust. The lever thing (there’s only one – simple) is for adjusting the height. The knob thing (there’s only one – again, very simple) is for setting the tilt limit, and there are 4 settings. Under the front of the seat, there’s a bar very similar to the bar you’d find under the front seat of your car, and you lift it and scoot the seat forwards or backwards to increase or decrease the seat depth. There are about 2 inches of adjustability for the depth which turns out to be enough for me, and I’m 6’1”.

The armrests are by far the most fun function. They move in/out in front and back, independently, so that you can find the best position without pressing buttons or being confined to a preset location. Throughout the day, as I’ve gotten used to sitting here, I’ve gotten comfortable enough to just move the armrests with my elbows as I change position.

More tomorrow, but my first impression is that I like the way it feels almost as much as I like the way it looks, and it looks incredible. This is the kind of chair that I want to have in my home office and just “happen” to leave the door open, hoping my guests will see it as I purposefully lead them past the doorway …

Kartell Componibili Storage

The Componibili Storage Unit, one of our newest additions to our selection of products from Kartell, was recently captured in the wild by one of our favorite blogs about design and modern furniture, Design-Milk.

It's pretty neat to see the product online and in our Studio, but nothing beats checking it out in its 'natural' habitat - being used in an actual home.

For more information, visit Smart Furniture today.

Now On Sale: Trilogy and Pyramid Shelves

Two of Smart Furniture's most unique shelving designs, the Trilogy and Pyramid bookshelves, are now on sale for a limited time! Check them out and see what else is on sale today at Smart Furniture.

The Embody Chair by Herman Miller

You point. You click. You fixate on your screen. And you sit still for yours - mesmerized. Your body screams 'MOVE!' -- unless you're seated in Embody. Only available through select retailers, Smart Furniture presents the Embody Chair -- Herman Miller's newest seating creation for those looking for an office chair with unwavering comfort and supportive ergonomics. And, Smart Furniture is the only retailer to let you customize your own Embody Chair using the Smart Designer® tool. Now that's Design on Demand®.

Airia Collection Earns GOOD DESIGN Award

As part of Herman Miller's Lifework™ Portfolio of home office furniture, the Airia™ Desk and Media Cabinet has been honored by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Design and Architecture with a GOOD DESIGN™ award in the furniture category. Hundreds of the world's leading corporations and designers assembled in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles to compete for the prestigious award. "Founded in Chicago in 1950 by architects Eero Saarinen, Charles & Ray Eames and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., GOOD DESIGN bestows international recognition upon the world's most prominent designers and manufacturers for advancing new, visionary and innovative product concepts, invention and originality, and for stretching the envelope beyond what is considered basic product and consumer design... The latest advances for design and innovation, sustainability, creativity, branding, ecologically-responsible design, human factors, materials, technology, graphic arts, packaging and universal design were submitted by a staggering number of the best industrial design and graphic design firms on behalf of their clients representing the world's leading FORTUNE 500 companies." For a closer look at the Airia™ Desk and Media Cabinet, or for more information on Herman Miller's Lifework™ Portfolio, visit us today at www.SmartFurniture.com.

Smart Furniture's New 2009 Residential Catalog Preview

Smart Furniture is pleased to announce the new, upcoming 2009 Residential Catalog, filled with world-class furniture items, home decor and accessories from Herman Miller®, Blu Dot®, Kartell®, Steelcase®, BDI® and Chattanooga's very own Smart Furniture®.

Visit www.SmartFurniture.com to shop now, and request a catalog to be put on our mailing list and to download an interactive PDF preview of our new catalog.

Smart Cubes & Cubitec Original Designs

Smart Furniture is now the sole US retailer of the original Smart Cubes (also known as Cubits) and Cubitec designs by Doron Laschisch. The injection-molded polypropylene of Cubits and Cubitec gives them remarkable strengtch in a lightweight package. both designs can be built vertically or horizontally, easily adapting to the needs of your space. Optional doors and backs can be added to Cubits for a concealed storage solution. A new Cubitec design has recently been introduced and sold at Design Within Reach (DWR). While this product carries on the strengths of the original design, they are no longer compatible and will not allow customers who purchased the previous design to add on to their current kits. Smart Furniture is committed to carrying the original designs and supporting customers regardless of where the original purchase was made. Our offering - with the sharp, square corners of Cubitec and the angled corners of Cubits - gives you a choice to the style that best suits your personal style and space. For additional information on Cubits and Cubitec shelving, call us at 888-467-6278 or visit www.SmartFurniture.com.

Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas

Looking for a gift to give your friends, family, and maybe even yourself for the upcoming holiday season? Visit Smart Furniture today for a wide selection of products ranging from home decor and accessories to seating, tables and our signature line of Smart Shelves®.

Our interactive Holiday Gift Guide offers a variety of gift-giving ideas that are perfect for any season or occasion. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, purchase gift cards which are now available online, giving you the gift of flexibility.

Smart Furniture offers also gift ideas for various budgets:

Gifts under $100 Gifts under $500 Gifts for a Lifetime

For additional holiday gift-giving ideas, visit www.SmartFurniture.com today or give us a call at 888-467-6278.

Smart Furniture Introduces Steelcase to Product Offering

Smart Furniture is pleased to offer Steelcase home and office furnishings as part of its already-unique product line, with innovative items such as the Leap® and Think® chairs, along with accent pieces and office accessories from the Turnstone and Details brand lines.

For more information or to view our Steelcase product offering, visit us at www.SmartFurniture.com or call 888-GO-SMART.