betsy

As a NYC lobby interior designer, I’m very sensitive to the architectural characteristics of the buildings we work on. It’s a pleasure and a challenge for me and my staff to help our clients select the perfect flooring, wall treatments, and furnishings that celebrate their buildings’ style and holds up to heavy wear.The selection of lobby seating is a crucial element of each lobby interior design project and happens to be one of the many things we do very well.

Here’s a selection of 10 fabulous lobby seating ideas from recent projects in our office.

I hope you enjoy them!

We chose B + B Italia’s Tulip Sixty chair designed by Jeffrey Bernett for this lobby on East 74th because of its iconic modern profile. These distinctive and comfortable chairs are upholstered in leather and give the room a “pop” of color – deep enough to be practical and warm enough to exude “welcome”! They are made so well that I imagine that the owners will get tired of them before they wear out – maybe in the year 2050!

This built-in retro sleek upholstered sofa-bench is a perfect choice for the lobby of this iconic 1964 period building in Manhattan. It’s truly a fresh take on mid-century modern and fills the space perfectly. The ideal perch while you wait to head up to your friend’s apartment – or to meet your real estate broker!

The wing chairs we selected for this classic lobby on the Upper East Side impart a sense of privacy in this busy lobby. Their “architectural” profile keeps them from looking like wing chairs in stuffy men’s clubs.

The lap of luxury is what this seating reads. Strategically situated directly in front of the concierge station, visitors to this Sutton Place building feel as if they’re entering a sumptuous living room. The owners wanted opulence — and opulence is precisely what they got!

Seating that evokes a hip nightclub atmosphere is what we aimed for in this Upper East Side high rise condominium lobby. It’s actually a bench with lighting below, which makes it look like it’s floating. It’s very, very tall back accentuates the lobby’s incredibly high ceilings and creates more drama. The tufting makes it even more dramatic.

This moderne-style sofa fits perfectly into the 1930’s architecture of this Manhattan apartment building. Note the slightly flaring back, clean lines, and minimal detail drawing the eye to the shape of the sofa and its scrumptious wool mohair upholstery.

Two graceful and elegant chairs greet you as you glide through the glamorous main entrance of this 1929 apartment building lobby. Although they flank a gorgeous moderne-style highboy cabinet, the distinctive sculpted wood backs of these chairs keep them from being overwhelmed. They are elegant stand-alone seating for a quick perch.

We upholstered this petite boudoir chair in “elephant skin” fabric. The shape of the chair is perfect for the show-stopping fabric and was a perfect solution to fill an empty corner. This illustrates how one strategically-placed piece brings drama to an otherwise forgotten area.

A bench is always a practical choice for lobby seating, but for this spectacular 1929 lobby, we didn’t choose just any bench. Notice the splayed arms, roll cushions, and adeptly-matched striped fabric. It’s drop dead gorg!

To break-up the linear characteristics of this elevator waiting area, we presented our clients with this unusual oval-shaped bench, and they loved it! There’s more than just shape that makes this bench a great choice. It’s upholstered a way that keeps the base from being damaged by heavy lobby use.

The next time you enter a lobby and it feels “just right” – stop for a minute to observe the little details, especially lobby seating ideas that were implemented. A professional lobby designer was probably in on it!

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