I’ve been obsessed with egg chairs for over a decade, ever since I saw a hanging one in Domino magazine back in college and a striking image from Marie Claire Maison that’s lived in my inspiration folder for years.
So when I walk into a thrift store, I’m always hunting for an egg chair. I imagine hanging one in our sunroom beside the daybed so Clara (or I) can swing gently without risking disaster. That said, hanging options feel risky for our uncoordinated family, so I’m often on the lookout for floor-standing styles that give the same cozy, enveloping vibe without the peril.
One near-miss stands out. In 2011 I saw a Craigslist photo showing a treasure trove of thrifted items, and tucked among them was the most gorgeous egg chair I’d ever seen. I dove for the phone, knocked things off my desk and probably made some embarrassing noises. When I called, the woman on the other end told me it had already sold. I think I said goodbye, but I honestly don’t remember anything after that.
Since then I’ve kept an eye out everywhere, including mainstream stores. Pier 1, for example, sells a hanging-style chair for $280 that reads quite egg-ish:
They also offer a Papasan-style chair for about $80. It’s comfy and roomy, but its wide, reclined shape doesn’t feel quite “egg” enough for me. In short: the first chair is closer to the look I want, while the Papasan fits my budget.
They also have a more refined version that leans toward the egg silhouette, though the cushion looks a bit bulky for my taste.
Recently we visited several of our favorite local thrift shops and I took a lot of photos to document the trip. At the third stop I walked past a small pair of chairs and snapped this picture. That was the start of something good.
Once I uploaded the photos at home I realized both chairs were:
- very egg-like in shape
- affordable
- in need of a little love (which I enjoy)
- safer than a hanging chair while still providing that cozy, enveloping feel
I immediately sprang into action: I nudged John at his desk, pointed at the photo, asked if they could fit in our car, and before he could answer we were buckled in and heading back to the thrift store. About twenty minutes later we were there and, heartbreakingly, one of the pair had already sold. But the other chair remained—perfectly egg-ish, well within our budget, and it even swivels. Total score: thirty dollars.
I celebrated by making an omelette—yes, I celebrated with eggs—and then I started picturing how the chair would fit in our sunroom. It’s not small: the back reaches about John’s shoulder blades (and he’s 6′ tall), so it’s comfortably adult-sized while still being kid-friendly for Clara. The original cushion was a bit grody, so that got tossed into the carport, and the chair’s shape reads much better without it.
I played around with a few pillows to test proportions. They looked a little funny in the trial run, but they helped me visualize the plan: make or find a properly shaped seat cushion and add a taller back cushion for real comfort. The back will be taller than the small pillow I tried so the chair will be as comfortable leaning back as it is sitting down.
Beyond cushions, I’m planning a light refresh to give the chair a cleaner, updated look. I may have already started that project—more on the finishing touches in a few days once everything is dry and ready for pictures.
Meanwhile, work continues slowly but steadily on the deck, so we’ll have another update there soon. Inch by inch.
Note: We announced this week’s big giveaway winner on our site.