The porter chair is having a revival. Interior designers have created stunning effects in recent hotel and restaurant projects, including the Tides South Beach Hotel in Miami and the Hotel Sax in Chicago, with the porter chair as the centerpiece. Also called a page or canopy chair, it is impossibly tall and grand with carved legs and a back that arches over the seat. Often covered in leather or velvet, the chair is unmistakable and incredibly glamorous.
Its origins, however, are anything but. The porter chair was named for the porter, or doorman, of 18th century European estates. His job was to sit at the main entrance of a home and determine whether visitors were fit to enter, and since this spot could get chilly, he needed a chair that would keep him warm. A chair with a high back and canopy was born. A humble beginning to be sure, but the porter chair has been transformed in glorious fashion.
A recent issue of Harper’s Bazaar featured the wonderfully chic L.A. home of fashion designers Max and Lubov Azria. The home was designed with the help of interior designer Aly Daly and features pairs of porter chairs in several locations, and proved that it could work well in a home and not just a high-end restaurant or boutique hotel. However, a California mansion is a pretty far cry from a family friendly Ann Arbor bi-level.
Here are five places to make it work in your home: 1. Master bedroom – who doesn’t have a spare corner? Covered in a pretty silk, it can be a very sexy place to put on your slippers. 2. Living room – a pair in soft chenille flanking the fireplace makes a cozy nook for midnight chats. 3. Library – find a beat up pair of porters in old leather and weathered wood and you have a perfect place to literally disappear into a good book. 4. Dining room – cover in a washable fabric for some very practical and beautiful conversation pieces. 5. Foyer – the traditional choice and a great way to welcome guests into your home. And if, by chance, you find yourself sitting there all the time, at least you’ll be warm.
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