30 Degrees of Relaxation
Apr 8th, 2009 by Shari
Because we are dedicated to the pursuit of outdoor living happiness, we take our outdoor furniture quite seriously. We also look with admiration and gratitude upon our predecessors who devoted themselves to this cause and inspired us to continue this important work.
One such pioneer was Thomas Lee, who, with his wife, owned a vacation home in the Adirondack Mountains of Westport, New York, on Lake Champlain, in the early 1900’s. That was right at the dawn of the Craftsman Period, which reflected a drastic change in the furniture styles that had been prevalent during the Victorian Era. Instead of building ornate furniture that was often more decorative than functional, the new thinking was that it should be as utilitarian as it was attractive.
Lee took that principle to heart; and, in 1903, when he and his wife wanted new furniture for the garden, he decided to build it himself. After experimenting with many designs, and having his family test each one, the winner was a chair constructed from eleven boards that he had cut from a single piece of wood. Crafting it specifically for maximum comfort on the terrain of the Adirondack Mountains, Lee gave it wide armrests, upon which drinks or snacks could be set, a deep, angled seat that would keep one’s knees slightly raised, and a back that was inclined 30 degrees, which he considered to be the perfect position for napping.
The chair was a smash hit with family and friends, and Lee went on to make quite a few more, mostly from hemlock and basswood. One man who took a particular interest in it was Harry Bunnell, a hunting buddy. Bunnell, who also ran a small carpentry shop, told Lee that he had a hard time making money off-season, and offered to build the chairs during the winter, and split the money from the sales. The all-too-trusting Lee agreed, and lent the plans to Bunnell, who – yep, you guessed it – patented the design as his own, in 1905, calling it the Westport chair.
Known today as the Adirondack chair, its popularity has spread from the mountains of New York State, to the rest of the country, and beyond. In fact, with the combination of Lee’s ultra-comfortable design, and the number of different materials and colors in which it is offered, this chair is now in more demand than ever.
As we carry on the tradition of making fine outdoor furniture, we feature this favorite in many variations, including thin-slat, thin-arm, folding, and rocking Adirondack chairs and settees. We also customize, so call 888-293-2339 and ask one of our design consultants about it, if you have another angle on the chair. Otherwise, just lean back 30 degrees and relax.
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
