The lounge chair is arguably the ultimate vehicle for artistic statement in the contract setting. It is highly variable, has a rich history to pull from, and is the perfect scale for expression. Le Corbusier famously once said, “Chairs are architecture. Sofas are bourgeois.”

The lounge chair exists as many well-known archetypes including the armchair, the wingback chair, and the club chair. Martin Brattrud has a heritage in all of these with our earliest versions dating back to the 1940s, when we catered to a high-end residential market.

As a more modern aesthetic became desired in residential markets, Martin Brattrud took cues from the Bauhaus flavor of modernism, developing a range of strictly geometric lounge chairs without frills or ornamentation. This stout and robust form lent itself well to contract as well as residential settings, and many iterations were created as Martin Brattrud transitioned our business to serve the contract market. Our club chairs began to find their way into airport lounges, bars, public spaces, reception settings and more.

Today, lounge chairs are expected to be not only physically comfortable, but also provide a a more creative level of tactile and visual sensory experience. The sculptural expression and material statement must operate at a high level while incorporating sustainable sourcing and responsible use of materials. Our latest offering, Toluca, meets all these expectations.

Toluca with metal base with Tulita sectional and Jetty coffee table

Toluca with metal base with Makayla

Toluca with solid Ash base in natural finish

Toluca with solid Ash base shown with Monterey sofa and Cumbia side table

Toluca with solid walnut base

Toluca with solid Ash base with Jalama water-based stain finish

Toluca with metal base

Toluca offers an inventive mix of wood, upholstery and metal, acting as a collage of independent moment that create a greater unified expression. With a sculptural shoulder rest made of solid wood, a base that can be either integrated solid wood or metal, and an upholstered seat and surround, the visual expressions are truly unlimited. Explore Toluca.

Though the design story of the lounge chair continues to evolve, some things remain unchanged.

“Then” we were residential.
“Now” we serve the demands of the contract market.

“Then” tools and techniques in our frame shop had pragmatic limitations.
“Now” cutting edge technology makes possible a more sculptural expression of wood.

“Then” we created furniture in a more conservative flavor.
“Now” we create a wider range of design-driven forms.

To learn more about our story, please visit our history page.