Relaxing in Style: The Adirondack Chair

Go outside, take a seat, lean back, and relax. Sounds great, doesn't it? To make it even better, choose an adirondack chair as your seat of choice. These wooden thrones are large, comforable and look sharp too. Adirondack chairs are prominent additions to many coastal and lake homes, sitting nicely on front porches, in backyards or by swimming pools. Increasing in presence, I began to wonder where the adirondack originated, so I did a little research.

Surprisingly, for a wooden chair, adirondacks are barely over 100 years old. They were first created by a man named Thomas Lee in 1903 who took matters into his own hands when he couldn't find the proper outdoor furniture for his summer home in Westport, NY. Lee created this distinctive, rustic, and quality chair style himself, then called the Westport chair. The westports were made of 11 pieces of wood, had arm rests big enough to rest a drink on, and were painted green or brown blending well with the natural environment. Lee's friend Harry Bunnell patented and began to manufacture the chairs after realizing how unique and comfortable they really were.

Today, though the design is much the same as the original, you'll find Adirondack chairs in a variety of natural wood finishes or painted beachy colors. There are even quite a few plastic and recycled material variations out there. Expanding the design into tables, stools, swings, rockers gliders, and chaise lounges, the Adirondack chair has evolved into a key outdoor element of beach and lakeside homes. If you're handy Like Thomas Lee, you can even build the chairs yourself with a do-it-yourself kit.

If you've never experienced the comfort of an Adirondack, I encourage you to give it a shot. You'll sink right in, and you might even feel compelled to get a couple for your own porch or backyard.

Blue Adirondack

Do-it-yourself Adirondack chairs and table

Chaise Lounge