Deal of the Day: Moderndose "S" Chairs

Through December 1, online retailer Moderndose is offering a two-for-one deal on its "S" chairs: Buy one chair for $245 and get the second free.

The molded plastic chairs -- which come in white, black, green, red, and orange -- are a copy of Verner Panton's iconic 1967 chair for Vitra. (So how you feel about this sale will depend on how you feel about knockoffs -- generally, I'm OK with them as long as the price is right and the "inspiration" is explicitly acknowledged, as it is here. It's worth noting, though, that you can get a licenced repro of the Panton chair from retailers like DWR or HiveModern for $230 each. The original fiberglass version will run you $1,250 or more.)

Whether you go for an original, a reproduction, or a knockoff, I think these chairs look especially great in white and grouped around a rustic wooden table for contrast. You can stack up to four of them for easy storage, too -- which makes them handy extras to have on hand for dinner parties or upcoming holiday gatherings.

Learn more about Moderndose's special deal on the chairs right here.

eBay Find of the Day: Bertoia Chair

A modern classic.

Designed by Harry Bertoia for Knoll in 1952, the iconic Bertoia Side Chair is constructed of powder-coated wire formed into a metal filigree that sits atop a steel frame. Today, the proliferation of licensed reproductions from companies like Design Within Reach (which run hundreds of dollars) and knockoffs (like West Elm's Wire Mesh Chair) prove that the appeal of this simple but striking seating endures.

Want the real thing without spending a bundle? Check out this original up for auction on eBay.

Current bid: $10.

Low to High: Egg Chairs

I've been noticing a lot of furniture "inspired by" the classics lately -- everything from subtle homages to straight-up ripoffs -- as well as some very similar styles in non-trademarked designs that are available at a startlingly wide range of price points.

So I'm trying out a new blog feature called "Low to High" that will compare the high-end designs and the knockoffs side-by-side. (Please feel free to alert me to other examples, and to share your thoughts on buying high vs. low -- and the quality and aesthetic compromises that entails.)

Here, we have Arne Jacobsen's iconic 1958 Egg Chair. Well-preserved originals and authorized reproductions, which are made from the original plans and often by the same manufacturer at the same factory as the real deal, command several thousand dollars. Unauthorized reproductions are a bit less, but probably don't quite measure up in terms of quality of construction and materials, as well as investment value. Finally, there are the pieces that are clearly modeled on the original, but that sell for a fraction of the cost -- and often offer a fraction of the quality and long-term value.

To wit:

Top to bottom and left to right: IKEA Karstad Swivel Chair, about $490; Commander Swivel Chair, $499, from EQ3; "Bolero" Egg Chair Reproduction, $1,150, from Modern Furniture Classics; Egg Chair in wool, $4,892, from Hive Modern; Egg Chair in leather, $10,680, from Design Within Reach

Clearly, DWR's authorized leather Egg is the best-looking of the bunch, and will likely retain its value in the long run. But is it $10K worth of better looking? I guess that depends on your standards -- and your bank balance. Hive Modern's wool version -- which is also manufactured in Denmark by Fritz Hansen, the maker of the original Egg -- is equally swanky. The Bolero looks OK, but I don't think I'd spend more than a grand on a chair whose provenance and authenticity was a little murky. EQ3's polyester-covered Commander just looks a bit saggy, sad, and shabby in comparison to the others.

Personally, I think the IKEA Karlstad is a fine-looking chair at a reasonable price, and it's upholstered in real wool. (This chair is currently available only in the United Kingdom, but I'm hoping it hits these shores soon.) Of course, being from IKEA, I know that it will probably fall apart in a few years. Maybe someday I'll be in more of a position to choose "investment pieces." But for now, that's my pick.

What's yours?

Color Obsession: Yellow Fever

Suddenly, yellow is everywhere. You can barely crack a shelter magazine these days without seeing the sunny shade splashed across its pages. (Personally, I blame Kelly Wearstler and the bright canary frock she wore on the cover of Modern Glamour.)

Yellow is a perennial favorite, of course. But the color we’re seeing now isn’t the warm, muted honey or ochre hue of years past. Instead, it’s a clear, bright, strong shade -- picture the color of that Seventies “smiley face” icon and you’ll be pretty close. In fact, the recent resurgence of yellow owes a lot to the influence of that over-the-top design decade. But today’s interpretation has an added sense of sophistication and luxury. Think Palm Beach and Hollywood Regency.

Pair yellow with dark, intense charcoal grays, smoky taupes, and lacquered blacks for a super-chic salon sensibility, or with bright blues and greens for a more youthful, cheerful take on the trend. Either way, nothing can beat yellow for a dose of pure pop.

Here, a selection of furnishings, lighting, and textiles that’ll add a shot of sunshine to your décor:

Left: Moderndose Petite Sunny Side Table, $149; center: Design Within Reach Hee Lounge Chair, $230; right: Shine Bloom Stool $490


Top: Vintage Campaign Table, $3,500; bottom: Shine Spencer Table, $780


Left: Hexagons Wallpaper, $80 per roll; center: Florence Broadhurst Yellow Floral Tudor Wallpaper, $448 per roll; right: KWID Imperial Trellis Wallpaper


Left: Glass Lamp, $279; right: Urban Outfitters 3-D Chandelier, $25


Left: Shine Palisades Pendant, $640; right: Biltmore Lamp, $352


Above: Vintage Yellow Resin Lamps, $1,250


Top left: Weego Home Bamboo Pillow, $100; top right: Crate & Barrel Atrium Granada Stripe Pillow, $30; bottom left: Anthropologie Day’s Eye Pillow, $98; bottom right: Victoria Hagan for Target Yellow Trellis Floor Pillow, $30


Left: Marimekko Stilla Fabric, $39 per yard; center: KWID Couture Stripe Fabric; right: IKEA Katrin Fabric, $5 per yard


Left: Anthropologie Isola Bella Rug, $298; right: Bev Hisey Moroccan Rug