We culled inspiration for the Martine Settee from the roaring twenties, classic nineteenth century French design, and just a touch of Mid-Century modern (we can't help our selves!). We started the design with a hand-channeled back, a unique curved shape and gracefully flared arms. The bench seat, popular during Napoleon's reign, is clean and comfortable - as a love-seat should be.

To finish off the design, Martine has slender cone legs, the simplicity of which highlights the rest of her charms. Then we dressed her in rich cotton-velvet, the lofty pile of which highlights the beautiful channeling and subtly catches the light. Martine's heirloom quality and impeccable design adds drama to any room.

You can also shop the collection on our website, or find one of our fabulous dealers near you!

Want a closer look? Check out the great video by The Home:

Fall '11 Market Interview with DwellStudio from TheHome.com on Vimeo.

The George Sofa is the star of our Fall Catalog  - we love it so much we had to put it on the cover! George has a simple, easy-going shape - with a few luxurious details, like the slight swoop of the arm and the extra cushy seat. Here's a look into the design process we went though with George... 

What do you think of George? (if you haven't gotten the fall catalog yet don't worry, you can browse online here>!)  

As seen in Lucky Magazine, the Franklin in French Oak/Gold Leaf

The Franklin in Smoke/Silver Leaf

It all started with our Robert Allen fabrics - then sketches and more sketches....

Color groupings, textures, wovens and prints all pull our signature pattern looks together...

We worked very hard to make it easy for anyone - professional or not - to pull together a beautiful layered look.

We also added in a full range of amazing solids and fashion colors - this season we are feeling lavender, aubergine and all shades of gorgeous purple.

The dusty lavenders and purples made a dramatic group...

And room....all of the fabrics are created to go with the furniture silhouettes.

It was incredible to pair fabrics with forms.  The furniture came alive.

We hope you get as inspired as we did mixing colors, textures and shapes.  Happy designing!

If you need help pulling your whole look together - let us know!  We are always available.

In Jakob Jordaens’, As the Old Sang, So the Young Pipe (1638-40), you can see an elderly woman in a hooded wicker chair designed to protect the sitter from draughts and chills.

Wingback chairs developed during the 1600s in England and the Netherlands, where cold winters made the hearth the center of the home. There, furniture makers were producing special chairs with little wings so as to protect the sitter from harmful Northern European draughts and, when positioned in front of the hearth, to retain the warmth of the fire. 

’Sleeping Chayre’ from Ham House, c. 1670s, with red silk upholstery brocaded with silver thread, and an adjustable back.

In the second half of the 17th century, furniture in England got considerably more comfortable and sophisticated; this was when upholstered furniture became the norm, with armchairs and sofas replacing hard wooden seats. During this era, a new chair type was developed that was so comfortable that it was known as a ‘Sleeping Chayre.’ This chair had wings that helped the sitter stay warm, and its back could also ratchet to different angles for sleeping.

An English Wing Chair, c. 1750-60, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
 

In the 18th century, furniture got even more comfortable with the advent of spring upholstery. Easy chairs could be found in English and American homes by the early part of the century, and as designers embraced S- and C-scrolls, these became even more relaxed and cozy.

 
Hans Wegner’s “Papa Bear” Chair from 1951
 

The 20th century can be epitomized by the family room, the emblem of a new, informal lifestyle defined by leisure time and the nuclear family. In this context, the wingback chair became a stately 'status' chair for the heads of the household and their guests, but one that still served its cozy fireside purpose. Modern and postmodern designers have enjoyed tinkering with the wingback, exaggerating its curves or its imposing upright back, or adding a touch of anthropomorphic whimsy.

DwellStudio Cooper Chair

DwellStudio’s own wingback chair, Cooper, combines a modern aesthetic with the wing chair’s centuries-long tradition of melding style and comfort. Would you sit with Cooper?? 

You can also find a dealer near you and check out the line in person. We'll have it available for sale on our site and at the ABC store starting in early October.  Let us help you design your dream home. 

Did you know we're on Instagram now? You can follow us @DwellStudio. We've been sharing peeks of the new furniture collection, you don't want to miss out...

Don't have an iPhone? Don't worry - we're posting some of the peeks over on our Facebook page too, check it out and let us know what you think! 

A lot of you have been asking where you'll be able to see the new furniture collection in person.  Drumroll please...click on the image below to find one of our wonderful retailers near you. 

Working on blackberries in between shots.

A shot in the making...

Furniture lined up, waiting its turn.

Intense discussion.

As always, keeping up with my Twitter.

We have so much more to show you...the line will be revealed on our website in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can see a little of the article in the online version HERE.