Winter-weary Canadians often say buying a new parka or heavy coat in the dregs of February can make the last throws of bad weather bearable.

In an equal but opposite way, buying new garden furniture now – and now likely on sale – can help add extra sizzle to the end of summer.

For this last celebration of great weather we highly recommend the super sleek and stylish Solair chair, a terrific bit of Canadian-designed and -made excellence. The chairs, with a certain Mad Men appeal, are made of plastic with metal frames and available through a handful of downtown Toronto shops specializing in mid-century modern furniture.

The Solair, manufactured in Quebec, was created at the height of modernist design inspired by the energy of Expo ‘67, a time when Montreal and the whole of Quebec were uber design conscious and at full power. Available in a range of colours from white to magenta to black, the chair is essentially a comfy basket on metal legs, both of which snap together and apart for easy stacking when winter actually hits and they are relegated to the garage, basement or locker.

While the chair was hugely popular in the 1970’s, it had been left to languish until Kate Eisen, owner of modernist boutique Inabstracto, and art dealer Duncan Farnan got busy online to track down its makers.

Eisen says she first fell in love with the chairs as a kid traveling to the east coast via Quebec with her family. If there is such a thing as hotel-chic, meaning pared down to the essential elements, then the Solair is motel-chic – the practical and hardy chair outside the motor hotel to welcome weary travelers.

“I remember them in the front of each room at the motels when we pulled our station wagon up to settle in for the night,” says Eisen. “I remember sitting on them after swimming in the motel pool all morning – and being surprised at how comfy they are. I remember the bright orange and yellow of them – they somehow look “happy”.

“In some ways this is really a product of Quebec because Quebec embraced color especially orange whereas the rest of Canada was pretty beige, blah and not into color at all — afraid of color even.”

Eisen says she is personally drawn to Solair because “the design rivals any Eames, Italian, or Scandinavian design – it is a beautiful chair that deserves respect in the mid century design world and for Canada.” The best news is this high impact design is a steal at just $125.

But for Eisen, there’s an added element to recommend the Solair.

“What grabbed me was the minimalist design the simplicity of them, the comfort — but especially appealing is just how great people look sitting in them,” she says. “I think this is important. How often do you get a comfortable chair that looks sexy and stylish and at the same time you look wonderful framed by it. I think these are irresistible characteristics to anyone.”

So, sit pretty and enjoy the end of a great summer.

Solair is available at the following Toronto retailers:
Inabstracto (1160 Queen Street West, 416-533-6362)
EyeSpy, (1100 Queen Street East, 416-461-4061)
SMASH (2880 Dundas Street West, 416-762-3113)

Or, contact Kate Eisen at 416-533-6362, kate@inabstracto.com

–Tracy Nesdoly

ShareThis