close

French Connection Home Collection

I’m including this in the August updates series because some of these pieces have gone on sale since I first posted about them. That red leather chair for one…..

8X1DJ_4

It is a little known fact that red is actually a brilliant neutral. Fashiony people are often singing the praises of the red handbag on the basis that it will actually go with a lot more than you think. An all black outfit is given a little bit of zing with a red bag or red shoes. Even, at its very basic, a slick of red lipstick can work wonders. I am so convinced by this that the other day I nearly did buy a red bag. I bottled it at the last minute as I was wearing an olive green top and panicked I would look like a Christmas tree so I went for burgundy instead, but I definitely left a little bit of my heart behind with the red bag in the shop.

8X1DN_5

So imagine my joy then when I saw this red leather dining chair and matching bar stool from the new French Connection Home collection. I have said before that I think FC have a really strong team in the homewares department and I am really really ( I mean REALLY) tempted to buy a red bar stool to sit next to my black kitchen cupboards. Or even a red chair. The other one is navy not black by the way, although as my cupboards are painted Railings, which can look navy in some lights, that might even go as well.

8X1DS_5

There was a small fracas in The Mad House at the weekend over this chair above. I really want a new, small leather chair for the library. Himself does not agree. I want the chair above. He wants a pair of the chair below. He really likes the one below. I really like the one above. We’re not not speaking but we are currently not speaking of chairs.

8X1DV_5

Mind you I didn’t show him this next chair, which I also like. Perhaps we shall spend ALL our money on chairs. One small leather and two of these as compromise. I’m not even sure why I typed that. It ain’t gonna happen.

Chairs though. I love chairs. And they’re expensive because they’re hard to make. I haven’t even shown him the one I really like from Anthropologie. Mies van der Rohe (him wot made the Barcelona) said that it’s almost easier to build a skyscraper than a chair. And he should know.

Screen Shot 2016-03-21 at 14.13.00

Funnily enough I sat in a Barcelona chair for the first time the other week. Now it’s a piece I have always admired for its shape and design but I have always thought it looks so uncomfortable that I can’t imagine why anyone would want one.

Then I sat in one. Oh. My (to coin a phrase) God. So comfortable. Now I get it. Now I want one. Mind you for the price of one of those I could probably have about 12 of these French connection chairs.

And I only want three. Bargain. Now where’s my credit card?

Screen Shot 2016-03-21 at 14.12.46

What do you think of these chairs? Would you be tempted by red leather?

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.

6 Comments

  1. Ahh, you say your kitchen cupboards are in Railings. My new kitchen is also Railings. But I am really struggling with a wall colour to go with it…what did you use?

  2. I have lusted over the Barcelona chair forever, but it never seemed right for my interior which was always partial to the XVIIIth century….I know, I know, pretty schizophrenic, but there it is. Now that I’m almost 61, I’m tempted to say, the hell with it, and get on with the mélange!

  3. Wow, the red really does compliment the navy blue perfectly. I didn’t mean to betray you, but I’ll have to go with the chair your husband choose I absolutely love it!

  4. Love the leather chair but not sold on your hubbies choice I have to say. The wooden frame one seems a good compromise on the two but stick to your guns. That leather one is a keeper !
    Re red: kids have this colour in their rooms as it’s quite vibrant for them against their clutter but have to say not a colour I’ve gone to in ages for me personally……… Must change mindset……

Comments are closed.