BH | Studio Kendal Upholstered Velvet Dining Armchair

Dining sets have long included a pair of armchairs for the ends of the table, the seats of the host and the guest of honour. Later in the twentieth century, designers began to upholster them all over, legs included, turning them into soft, sculptural blocks as at home in a study as at the table.

This chair is upholstered over every surface, legs included. Broad, squared arms run down into the front legs, the legs angle out slightly for a steady, low stance, and a low back closes the boxy frame. The seat rests on elastic webbing, interlaced straps that give a little as you sit, under a thick cushion of dense foam that stays comfortable through a long dinner. A bracket system holds the back firmly in place. The cover is a stain-resistant performance velvet, so spills lift away before they settle. It is rated to hold 500 lbs, comes with floor glides, and needs some assembly.

Put a pair at the ends of a long dark dining table, with candles and a decanter between them, or set one at a writing desk in a study, where it doubles as a comfortable guest chair. It is compact enough for a reading nook or a bedroom corner. The velvet pile shifts where the light catches it, and it is wonderful with dark green walls, brass and old leather books. This listing is for one chair.