Get the Look: 30 Modern Rocking Chairs

A few weeks  ago I did a small roundup of modern rocking chairs to accompany a decor story in the Boston Globe. (Every Monday my lovely colleague Jaci Conroy writes an interior design article for the Globe and I pull together a corresponding group of furnishings & accessories.) I found so many great modern rocking chairs + contemporary rocking chairs that I figured a blog post was in order.

These all have great styling and are a far departure from traditional rockers or overstuffed gliders for the nursery. We have an Eames molded plastic rocker in sky blue on the Cape that we bought for my son, though I think it’s in our room now. Sometimes I use it on our little deck. I didn’t include that iconic example here, but there are other examples (mid-century modern furniture replicas), like the #16, the Swerve which has jaunty cut-outs and a full wooden base.

I love the look of  #5, a very spare rocker from NYC shop Matter, and of love the tall mint-upholstered one by Normann Copenhagen. And if only I could place that blush colored Artifort rocker in the model apartment I’m decorating. Probably thought, the one that makes the most sense for my lifestyle is Gus Modern’s GT rocker (#13). It is definitely a contemporary rocking chair in style, but with enough cushion to be comfy.

Shop 30 modern rocking chairs from StyleCarrot partners and other favorite shops.

Contemporary & Modern Rocking Chairs

1 Comback Rocking Chair by Patricia Urquiola for Kartell, $890 at YLiving.

2 Taxed Rocking Chair by Segis, $1,309.99 at AllModern.

3 First Rocking Chair, $3,170 at Matter

4 Buttercup Rocker by Blu Dot, $899 at Lumens.

5 Era Rocking Chair by Normann Copenhagen & Simon Legald, $1,860 at A+R.  

6 Terra Rocking Chair by Antonio Forteleoni for ATIPIC, $1,172 at AllModern. 

Contemporary & Modern Rocking Chairs

7 Outback II Rocking Chair, $329 at CB2.  

8 Hand-Woven Rocker, $299 at Urban Outfitters.

9 Geneva Wood Patio Rocking Chair by Safavieh, $216 at Target

10 500 Series Rocking Chair by Artifort, $4,006 at YLiving. 

11 Stingray Rocker by Thomas Pedersen, $4,537 at Danish Design Store.

12 Luxembourg Rocking Chair by Fermob, $1,024 at Horne. 

Contemporary & Modern Rocking Chairs

13 GT Rocker by Gus Modern, $1,150 at 2modern

14 Rapson Rocker by Ralph Rapson for Loll Designs, $1,159 at YLiving.

15 Aquios Bentwood Rocking Chair by CorLiving, $102.05 at Overstock

16 Swerve Rocking Chair by Modway, $299 at IFN Modern

17 Regatta Rocking Chair, $499 at Crate & Barrel.

18 POÄNG Rocking Chair, $169 at Ikea.  

Contemporary & Modern Rocking Chairs

19 Risom Rocker, $2,470 at DWR.  

20 Version 5 Rocker by A. Jacob Marks for Skram, $5,302 at Lumens.

21 Voido Rocking Chair by Ron Arad for Magis, $985 at YLiving

22 Mod RockerBy Iglooplay, $326 at 2modern

23 Mid-Century Rocking Chair, $599 at Land of Nod. 

24 Mod Lounger by Lisa Albin for OFFI, $599 at YLiving

Contemporary & Modern Rocking Chairs

25 Rocker Chair by Guidecraft, $109.95 at AllModern.

26 Sleepytime Rocker by Nursery Works, $499 at YLiving

27 Rapson Greenbelt Rocker with Arms by Ralph Rapson, $1,695 at YLiving.

28 Wicker & Chrome Mid-Century Rocking Chair, $850 at Chairish

29 Springwood Rocking Chair, $799 at Land of Nod

30 Mademoiselle Rocking Chair by Artek, $1,538 at 2modern

Contemporary & Modern Rocking Chairs

31 Windsorrondack Single Rocker by Board by Design, $4,100 at Aha Life

32 Rocking Chair in Scrapwood by Piet Hein Eek, $921 at The Future Perfect. 

33 Rocking Chair by Adrian Pearsall,$3,000 at Azalea Modern, 1stdibs.

34 Upholstered Mid Century Rocking Chair, $281.71 at shopladder, eBay. 

35 Rocking Bent Wood Chairs, $1,875 at S.Julian, 1stdibs.

36 Do Do Rocking Chair by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poltrona Frau at Switch Modern.

Swatching: Bathroom Floor Tiles

We’ve been enjoying the Florida condo immensely. Last weekend, the painter started, and I’ve signed the contract to have very cool (and inexpensive) cork floor tiles put in throughout. Except in the bathrooms. One bathroom is remaining in its pink tile and flamingo wallpaper glory. But the master bath is getting a simple upgrade. (There’s a before photo at the end of this post.)

I’ve already had the pink wall tile and pink tub re-glazed in white. The wallpaper was removed this week, and the walls painted white. The vanity cabinet will be painted white too, and be treated to new brushed chrome knobs from IKEA. The countertop is pink Formica, with an overmount pink sink and awful cheap faucets. I don’t have a plan for that yet. (I’m thinking of tiling the counter since stone is way too expensive.)

Meanwhile, the floor is an easy fix. The pink floor tiles must go! I think they’ll even be able to tile right over them, which will save money. I looked around for inspiration, including Waterworks, Urban Archaeology, ABL Tile & Bathroom Centre, Overstock.comHome Depot, and of course Pinterest.

I might just do a plain white penny tile on the floor. We have that in the boys bathroom and laundry room on the Cape, and I love it. Or, something in an airy green.Here are 22 blue, green, and white tiles that caught my eye, along with my thoughts. Feel free to chime in.

Bathroom Floor Glass  Tiles InBlue

Interesting mix of materials (metal, concrete, glass), but too busy.

Bathroom Floor Pebble Tiles In White & Blue

Adore these flat ocean pebbles, but won’t work with the overall Scandinavian decor.

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Simple gray penny tile—total contender.

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Love the color palette, but a basketweave tile pattern is too traditional.

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Love these skinny gary horizontal tiles. Is the shape too on trend/contemporary?

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Dreamy colors. Definitely a possibility. Possibly perfect.

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Three-dimensional pattern in green concrete. Would work well with plain white tile. Too design-y?

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Gray, clear and white in a mix of materials. Maybe?

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Green and blue glass is fresh and pretty. Too right now? Too sleek? Too slippery for the floor?

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Pretty penny tile in ombre, but the lavender hues are annoying.

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Basic white penny tile. These are kind of small, and marble; I’m thinking glossy porcelain.

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The rest of the condo flooring will be cork. Should the bathroom be cork too?

blue-penny-tile

I’m so attracted to the blues, but really I want the bathroom to be green.

emerald-green-penny-tile

Emerald green penny tile. Intense.

mint-green-penny-tile-

Green penny tile. Perfect.

robins-egg-blue-bathroom-tile

More blues.

oval-bathroom-tile

Oval white tile. Fresh clean but not too modern.

organic-white-bathroom-tile-

Organic white tile. Very pretty, but maybe too fashion-y for such a basic bathroom.

mixed-green-penny-tile

This is fun. Blue, white, and green together.

bathroom-tile-green-mosaic-porcelain

Nah. Too kid-like.

jade-green-penny-tile

Beautiful deep celadon green.
pale-green-penny-tile

Also love this lighter cleadon green penny tile. Lighter, fresher, better with plain white.

 B E F O R E 

delray-beach-bath-before

Here’s the bathroom.  Imagine it in white. 

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Design Diary: Stephanie Sabbe’s (Big) Small Style

I’ve been acquainted with Boston interior designer Stephanie Sabbe for a while, but just recently got the chance to formally collaborate with her. (I did run into her outside my apartment one day—we recognized each other from our blogs!)  I wrote  “Made To Measure” about one of her projects, a 1,000-square-foot South End condo, in the newest issue of Boston Home magazine. Doesn’t she look great? Can you believe she was really, really pregnant in this photo? Stephanie had her baby last week. Congrats!

700 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA; Stephanie Sabbe Interiors

Stephanie Sabbe

Doctors Christine Liang and Andrew Bond, who purchased a1,000-square-foot South End condo in the summer of 2011 after considering a larger house in Jamaica Plain, knew that in order to make their urban choice work, they’d need to be efficient. That they’d also be frugal was a given. Interior designer Stephanie Sabbe, who spent seven years designing commercial office space, immediately understood the couple’s mindset. Sabbe points out, “Corporations pay rent by the square-foot, so efficient space planning is key. Similarly, city apartments are too expensive for people to not be utilizing every square foot to its maximum potential.” Working with a few pieces they already owned, including the living room sofa, Sabbe balanced thrifty buys and cost-saving, crafty solutions with custom designs and a few well-placed splurges to create a space with an effective floor plan and a look that’s anything but big box.

700 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA; Stephanie Sabbe Interiors

The main challenge was to create a formal dining area without overwhelming the space. After “a lot of studying with masking tape on the floor,” says Sabbe, they realized they’d need a dining table that was narrower than standard ones, but not as skinny (or high) as a console. Striking out on the retail front, Sabbe convinced the clients to spend a little more for a custom piece. Sabbe commissioned Jim Sears to weld a metal base and Cambridge-based Harvard Glass to cut a 30-inch wide by six-foot long glass top.

The couple requested a reclaimed barn wood table, but Sabbe convinced them that glass was the smarter choice, being less of a “visual space eater.” Bond says, “She was firm about the table, and totally right. We love its airiness.” Sabbe assembled an eclectic mix of seating options around the piece that all but disappear when not in use. A pair of chairs from IKEA stand at either end, while two ottomans, also from IKEA, and a handmade bench by Providence-based Darn Good Barn Wood, spotted at the SoWa Open Market, tuck under the long ends of the table. The low profiles keep the line of vision towards the city view free and clear.

In the kitchen,  Sabbe recommended just a few enhancements. She used magnetic blackboard paint on the side wall so things could be tacked up there rather than the fridge, which faces the main space. They added a pair of  Vintage Farmhouse Caged Pendants by  Junkyard Lighting, doing the work themselves. Also, a new industrial style faucet scored on Overstock.com. At the kitchen counter are machinist stools, which swivel down from bar to table height, and allow two more people to squeeze in when needed. The copper wall clock is from Pier 1.

Stephanie Sabbe Boston Interior Designer

Sabbe created semi-custom hybrid slipcovers for the IKEA armchairs in the dining area by attaching the long skirt from the company’s HENRIKSDAL slipcovers to its NILS seat covers. Excess fabric became lumbar pillows for each chair. The ottomans are SOLSTA PÄLLBO footstools (only $15!), with leg extensions added on, and slipcovered with IKEA curtain panels.

Stephanie Sabbe Boston Interior Designer

 

You’ll recognize the West Elm chevron rug, a steal on sale that Sabbe snapped up knowing the homeowners would be psyched, along with some throw pillows. They already owned the sofa, which works just fine. They added the trio of ceiling lights from Barn Light Electric, which cast pretty shadows on the ceiling. The concrete style Elements coffee table is  from CB2 and the table lamp is from local design shop Lekker.

700 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA; Stephanie Sabbe Interiors

Bond spent a month priming and painting a vintage Dansk credenza in their garage parking spot. “The BMW owners on either side of me were definitely nervous when they saw the chartreuse paint,” he jokes. The couple, who are huge Craigslist fans, found the piece on the site for just forty bucks. The floor lamp is from IKEA, the black leather armchair they already owned, the artwork around the TV is mainly from the SoWa Open Market, and the used books are from the Brattle Book Shop in Cambridge.

Stephanie Sabbe Boston Interior Designer

Sabbe is the first to admit that she used a number of mass-market retail pieces here, but her expertise lies in her ability to pair them with other budget-friendly finds to create a space that hums with personality. “We wanted a collected look,” she explains, “so it was important to set the tone right away, in the foyer.” Luckily, the grass cloth wall covering was already there, costing the clients nothing but supplying plenty of hearty texture. In need of a super skinny table to fit the narrow space, the homeowners tapped Darn Good Barn Wood for a reclaimed wood table. Above, Sabbe hung another piece of Americana, an eagle-topped convex mirror in order to break up the linearity of the hallway. A framed painting, a sketch from an antique shop, and the “I Love This Town” print from Etsy complete the tableau.

700 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA; Stephanie Sabbe Interiors

The couple purchased a new bed, a floor model from Crate & Barrel in Cambridge, but—and Sabbe agreed—saw no need to throw out a perfectly good, if not dull, plain white duvet. Sabbe asked a seamstress jazz it up with a solid chartreuse border, and also had her make matching drapes. Custom coordinating Schumacher pillows add extra polish. The sconces, which the homeowners installed themselves, are by Visual Comfort.

The black and white photos above the bed, which make a punchy, graphic statement and pick up on the gray tones in the striped West Elm bedding, are photos that Liang and Bond took on their travels. Sabbe used Photoshop to make them look like Polaroids, then spent $30 at Kinkos to have them printed and laminated. She used wooden trouser hangers to hang them on the wall. Crafty girl!

Photos 1, 2, 5, 6, 7  by Bob O’Connor

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Does someone in your house often misplace the remotes? Think about getting extra replacement remote controls to have hand, just in case. Store them nearby in the credenza or bookshelf, with the DVD player and such.