Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

| By | | 314 Comments

Picking The Best Egg Chair For The Back Porch

Since I’m Genetically One-Quarter Egg Chair… (John described me that way in this post, and it made me laugh because let’s face it, it’s true). I’m also one-quarter dog fur (it’s always all over me) and one-quarter ceramic animal (no further explanation required).

How quickly this post got off track.

Anyway, now that we have a sofa and a coffee table on our back porch, the next thing on our list was a little more seating to round out that side of the room in the form of a comfy chair. Our first option was just to buy the $749 chair that matches our sofa. We liked that it would definitely tie into the color/look of the woven sofa without us having to worry that it would clash or look off. But we wondered if we would wish we went for something a little more fun and a little less matchy down the line, and it did take up a pretty big rectangular footprint, which might crowd the corner where we wanted to put it.

Brownjordanchair

Another contender was a hanging egg chair like this $498 one from Anthropologie, just because we thought it could be fun in a lounge-y outdoor space. But we questioned the comfort factor (without plush seat and back cushions, would it get much use?) and we worried a little about the kid-stunt factor (some of Clara’s friends are a bit more… acrobatic). Didn’t want any broken wrists on our watch – especially with the hard tile below. We also worried about the logistics of it holding enough weight to be safe since John the Builder actually had to reinforce the overhead beams on the showhouse’s front porch to accommodate the porch swing.

Anthro Chair

Then we talked about an egg chair that hung from a stand instead of the ceiling, like this $590 option from Joss & Main, but still didn’t fully trust that we’d want to constantly enforce the whole “do not swing on this” rule (would kids try to twist it around and ride it like a tire swing?). We also thought the futuristic silhouette might not go as well with our outdoor sofa. Although we did remark that Nuni & Nooni would love it.

590 White One

We also saw this one on Pinterest from World Market, which might have gone better with our sofa, but when we clicked over to see the price it was sold out. Oh well, it still had that hanging-on-a-chain-probably-isn’t-ideal thing going on.

Sold Out Chair

Then there was this one from Joss & Main, which was more like a boat than a chair, but it did look pretty cozy. It was too big for our space, and the $1500+ price tag was more than we wanted to spend, but if we ever have a  spare house in Bali to our name we wouldn’t be mad at a few of these out by the pool.

Big Boat

We kept saying things like “I wish we could find something that sits on the ground like the egg chair at the showhouse.” We loved everything about that chair (the color was great, it swiveled, it was super comfortable, etc). And although we checked every shop we could think of, as well as just doing some random googling, we didn’t come up with anything that really compared.

SHOOutdoor Egg Chair

It kind of reminded us of this one that Pottery Barn used to sell for $1300 a few years back, except that one was a little too warm to go with our cool brown/gray sofa, and it didn’t swivel.

Egg Chair Pottery Barn Palmetto

Then we realized we could try buying an identical egg chair to the one from the showhouse directly from GreenFront. We just had to see if they had another one in their store. And as we were telling one of the folks from the showhouse this story they said “why don’t you check with John (the Builder) to see if the showhouse egg chair is one of the borrowed pieces that he’s planning to return, because if so I bet you can buy it over the phone from GreenFront (around 50% of the GreenFront furniture we got was on loan and they were picking it back up after the show).

So we called John the Builder to ask about it, held our breath, and… he said we couldn’t buy the chair. Sad clown. But the reason he wouldn’t let us buy it was because the whole team wanted to go in on it as a thank you to us for working on the showhouse with them over the past year! We couldn’t believe it. We’re still doing that “no way just take our money” thing, so we’ll have to report back if we can sneak them the cash somehow (my mom is a fan of the “hide-it-in-their-purse” method, but most of the team is purse-less…).

Egg Chair Final

Doesn’t the wicker look like it was meant to be paired with the sofa? We’re so glad they work so well together. We also appreciate that the seat is Sunbrella fabric, so it should hold up to Clara’s bubble-solution-covered hands and Burger’s muddy paws. As for the side table, we decided it was a little too much wicker for us (you know my love of ceramic garden stools – especially to add color outside) so we sent it back to GreenFront with the rest of the borrowed pieces that they came back to collect instead of purchasing it – but it was nice to take a look at it first to be sure.

Now it looks more like this in that corner (we took this photo after the others in this post, so ignore the wicker side table’s presence and pretend you see this shiny red beacon of garden stool love):

Egg Chair Red Stool

But back to the chair. It has already been getting a LOT of use from this guy…

Egg Chair Burger

… and even some lounge-time from this guy…

Egg Chair Teddy

I’m getting in on the action too. Sometimes I find myself out there, just gently rocking with the baby in my arms while Clara plays with her water table (swivel action FTW). Definitely one of my favorite new spots.

Egg Chair Final Angle

So that’s the Great Egg Chair Hunt of 2014. Although when you pan out it’s clear that we still have the other side of the sunroom to furnish. I’m thinking a little bistro table under that second fan would be nice since there’s still room to walk around something like that. And of course we still need to build a box to cover those ugly wires that snake down the brick wall.

Egg Chair Final Pulled Back

Here’s a wider shot from further back. You might notice that we parked our dining chairs around the table just because we thought they’d get more use out here in the nicer weather (they’re outdoor chairs so they ain’t afraid of no ghost rain). The jury’s still out whether it’s a temporary move for them, but Burger has already been found lounging on their plush seat cushions, so that’s one vote for them staying outside over the folding chairs that were there before.

Egg Chair Full Deck Dining Table

Are you guys shopping for any outdoor stuff lately? Are you one-quarter garden stool? I might be too. Hey, maybe we’re related.

Psst- For more what-we-considered rundowns like this one, here’s one about doorknobs, one about kitchen lights, one about rugs, one about dining tables, one about sectionals, one about washers & dryers, and one about our outdoor sofa.

Comments

  1. Peggy McKee says

    Let the John the Builder’s crew give you a gift. By trying to pay them back with money, you are depriving them of their generous impulse.

    If you want to give them something in return, bake each guy a batch of cookies!

    Reply

    • Lauren says

      Egg salad?!?!

      That was nice of the team! The wicker on the chair really does match perfectly!

      P.S. If you took new pictures of the chair with the red stool…why wouldn’t you take new panned out shots at the same time? Not understanding that one…

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Clara and her friend were out there having a play date and I didn’t want to clear them and their stuff out since I already had those wide shots, so I grabbed one pic of the garden stool and called it good.

      xo
      s

  3. Isabel says

    Looks great! And you should totally accept it the gift, you guys deserve it :) There’s always the gift card option, they can’t give you that back! I have been pining for a hanging egg chair (particularly the one from Pier 1) for years now. It’s not that expensive but it feels like a luxury so I haven’t been able to pull the trigger. Then again, plants are luxuries and I can’t seem to stop myself from getting them…

    Reply

  4. Wendy says

    I love the new chair! I also really like the wicker dining chairs outside. I almost feel like they are maybe too casual for your new, more formal dining room (since its set away from the kitchen I always think of that as a more formal space). I feel like that outdoor dining table is screaming for a colorful paint job!

    Reply

    • Lisa E says

      I agree with Wendy. Didn’t think of it that way, but it’s true. Those wicker chairs are a bit too casual for that space. Good call. It’s great that you have a lovely large back area in which to use them and they are a great fit there.

  5. Daisy says

    You seem to have a perfect amount of furniture out there right now- if it were my space I’d be dreaming about a fun container garden on the other half of the sun porch. Something that isn’t permanent, so the space could evolve as your needs evolve.

    Reply

  6. Kristen says

    My vote for the dining area is to bring back the folding chairs but spray them red to tie in with the accents on the other side (I think they are yellow right now?) and then leave two of the dining room chairs out there, one at each end of the table. That way it ties in to the lounge side but isn’t wicker overload.
    Looks like such a cosy place to lounge. And I too am probably one quarter garden stool. :)

    Reply

  7. Allyson says

    That chair really does look comfy. My husband actually got me one of the hanging chairs from World Market for Christmas last year, and I LOVE it! I go outside all the time to just hangout, read, whatever. While we don’t have kids, yet, I can picture myself swinging back and forth next year with our little one (Due in December). Y’all really are creating a great outdoor space back there!

    Reply

  8. Shanny says

    2 more reasons why you guy rock – incoporating my fave SNL skit Nuni/Nooni along w my fave line from Anchorman 2. Strong work you 4!

    & great eggy like chair!

    Reply

  9. Amanda B. says

    What a nice gesture, them buying you the egg chair! I totally respect your no-swag policy and it was so admirable that you donated your design fee for the showhouse, but in this case, I’d hope you would just humbly accept the gift. You deserve it, and you dishonor the givers’ intentions by trying to sneak money to them.

    If you really feel strongly about it, a different gift back to the givers would make you feel more equitable while still honoring the relationship. (Restaurant gift cards maybe? Anything but cash.) Or you can decide on a $ amount and donate it in their name. I’ve done that with a friend who wouldn’t let me pay her for some expensive baby gear. Gift-giving is a tricky cultural business, and you guys are always so thoughtful, I know you’ll take care with whatever you decide!

    Reply

    • Gretchen says

      I’m with Amanda – if they won’t accept payment, a donation is a nice way of saying thanks.

    • Danielle says

      I agree – i would not try to toss them money for it, although I don’t think you really plan on doing that in reality. I think it’s perfectly fine that you accept the chair – you donated all of your time and didn’t accept the money from the job you did. . I’m sure you are trying to cover yourself from all the people that will wonder about your no swag policy. I do not really understand though why you returned the side table if it was a gift, that just seems like it may have been awkward of a convo :)
      Also, I like the outdoor chairs outside (the dining room chairs).

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Danielle! The chair was the gift, but the side table was a separate loaner piece from GreenFront that we had the option to buy or send back to them with the rest of the loaned furniture :)

      xo
      s

  10. Meg says

    It looks awesome, and how sweet that they gifted it to you! I’m sure it’ll seat many a happy visitor (and a happy pup!) in the years to come.

    Reply

  11. Nikki M says

    The veranda looks so inviting! I’d love to sit out there with a lemonade or tea and feel the breeze on my face while watching your cutie play! :)

    Reply

  12. MC says

    What a nice surprise gift! Those are the best kinds :)

    On a general blog note, I love that you two write so well! Yours is by far my favorite blog on the web. So many other bloggers do fabulous things and have great ideas, but their writing drives me crazy after a couple of posts. Thank you for editing your posts and writing well! It really keeps me coming back for more.

    Reply

  16. Gail says

    Love the outdoor room!!!
    It is almost perfect (will be when finished). GREAT job!
    The wicker egg chair is the perfect side chair.

    I found it online…it is from Lane Venture Furniture, Summer Garden – Raymond Waites Swivel Lounge Chair w/Hood.
    http://www.laneventure.com/Furniture/Outdoor-Furniture/Summer-Garden-Raymond-Waites/i701217-Swivel-Lounge-Chair_W-Hood.aspx
    I could only find it for sale at Neiman Marcus, at a very inflated price (2-3x retail)
    http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Summer-Swivel-Lounge-Chair/prod157000012/p.prod
    I also found it thru 2 other retailers, you have to request pricing
    http://www.casualfurnitureworld.com/product/lan-summer-garden-swvl-lng-chr-w-hood.html
    and

    As for finding it…what can I say..I have the Google gift!

    Enjoy the lovely gift the Builder and workers gave you and accept it graciously. do nothing else.
    Doing so will acknowledge all the love and appreciation in which it was given to you.

    Reply

  17. Patti says

    Your backyard space is starting to look like a comfy cozy resort! Absolutely love it! Also, as someone whose love language is gifting people to show my affection and appreciation, please let these good folks gift you this chair…sometimes it’s bad form to NOT accept a gift and it hurts the giver…even though that’s not your intention. Been there done that! Love you guys!

    Reply

  18. Leah says

    I say that you just enjoy your present and think warmly of the team whenever you sit in the egg chair.

    My dad is a minister, and he has a great sermon talk about gift giving and receiving. People are always eager to pay someone back for a favor in this tit-for-tat manner. But he reminds folks that it feels really good to do something nice for someone just out of the blue. By having to reimburse that person, you are diminishing that good feeling for them. Instead, pay it forward; do something nice for someone else, and pass the warm feelings on.

    I assure you, the guys feel great about being able to give you a present. Let them have this one.

    Reply

  19. Lisa | Winter Heights says

    Love the chair and you guys are very kind and deserving of it. We try that with my husband’s grandpa…he called us after lunch together furious to find out we paid our check. Gotta appreciate those giving hearts. :)))

    Reply

  20. Liz says

    Awesome score! I like that the wicker from the egg chair goes with the couch without screaming “part of a set”. Maybe you had the egg chair in the back of your subconscious while buying the sofa. Lol.

    Quick question(s). Is it just the shadow from the covered porch, or is the cushion on the new chair white based while the couch is cream based? If so, is this a bad thing, or can shades like this be layered? I am such an embarrassing newby when it comes to decor, so I’d like to hear your input! (I blame my mother’s matchy matchy style for my limitations on colors that go rather than match.)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I like to just layer that stuff (a few touches of white and cream in the space in a few different places helps them layer in and look intentional). I think we need a bit more of the tan color on the sofa to blend that more (we have white in the planter on the garden stool and the white and navy pillow on the couch to tie that into the chair seat) and then we’ll hopefully be happy with the mix!

      xo
      s

  21. Courtney says

    My grandparents had a hanging egg chair, & yeah all the grand kids spun that thing round & round. Totally miss it! It was the best place to read a book.

    Also totally jealous that you guys have dinner outside every night. WAY too hot in FL to do that!

    I see Teddy is still in his Honest diapers, what are your thoughts on those? We use cloth, but I like to have a box of disposable on hand, & a few in the car in case I don’t pack enough cloth. Saw that Target has started carrying them in store now.

    Reply

  22. Liz says

    I like the navy you’ve added to the space!
    I hope the builders weren’t offended that you returned the side table they gifted you!

    Reply

  23. Stacey says

    I know how you can give John the money for the chair!
    Make a donation to the chairty you gave your design fee too in his/the company’s. You were planning to spend several hundred dollars, you seem uncomfortable with such a large gift, so why not “absolve” youself (not that you need absolution for a generous gift) by helping others?

    Reply

  24. Suzanne says

    Re. Outdoor Rugs– I have one from Ballard that I got on sale a few years ago. We have left it on our back porch constantly even through the winters and have had no issues with mold. It has worn really well since we use our back porch to enter/leave the house often. It can be hosed off when needed. We’ve just left it in the sun to try for a few hours. Usually we just sweep it with the broom. It’s been great!

    Reply

  25. Marta says

    I agree with some of the others. You offered and they refused, just pay it forward in the future and all is right with the world. I love how it turned out, it is really coming together out there. Bonus…who doesn’t love picture of cute babies lounging around.

    Reply

  27. Georgie says

    While of course it is nice that you would offer to pay, at a certain point INSISTING on paying is an insult to what the gift-givers are trying to do. I’d go with a sincere and gracious thanks at this point.

    Reply

  28. Suzanne says

    By the way, our Ballard rug is under a porch roof although it does get wet in heavy rain. Even though it isn’t out in the sunlight, we’ve never got mold since having it.

    Reply

  29. Louise says

    Lovely seating, so nice with a protected back when it is against the greenery. I think a rug would work very well, something to bring some light in. Maybe a uniform light, warm taupe to go with the brown in the floor tiles, the wood and the brick. I think it would make it cozy and give it some weight against the dining set. I love fat boy bean bags, so I would vote for two of those for the in-between area, and maybe even a rug for them as well =)

    Reply

  30. Cair says

    That chair is perfect there!

    Maybe thinking of it as a baby gift would make it easier to accept. It does have Teddy’s signature navy and white stripes after all. (Boy, he’s getting big!)

    Reply

  32. Sally G says

    Looks lovely! So glad they were able to surprise you. Sometimes it’s harder to be thanked than to say thank you. Even though you may want to pay them back, my thought/ hope is that you let them share the joy in being a blessing you. Maybe instead of trying to return the favor to them, just think of a way to pay forward someday. :)

    Reply

  33. Betsy says

    Looking fantastic!

    I have several Dash and Albert indoor/outdoor rugs on my deck. Love, love, love them! Same company as your stair runner(I have the same rug by my front door). I have had them out there since the spring of 2013. So far, so good. No mildew/mold issues, and they are incredibly easy to take care of, it’s ridiculous. All stains have come out of them with either oxi-clean(my obsession), or just a little water from the garden hose. Just put the rugs on the fence, spray the stains, and hose the sucker off. Leave it on the fence to dry, and you are all set.

    I left the rugs out all winter(oops), but they still look brand new. They can be a little pricey at full price, but I have been able to find them on sale. I think even at full price, they are worth it. The link below is my rug. I have 2 of them under my outdoor tables, on my deck. I’m at work, or I would attach a picture. Enjoy your new outdoor space!

    http://www.dashandalbert.com/product/view/chevron-black-white-indoor-outdoor-rug–RDB227

    Reply

  34. haverwench says

    Our patio is a lot smaller than your huge deck, so a simple dining set from IKEA pretty much fills it up (as you can see in this blog entry: http://ecofrugality.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-patio-project-stage-8-furnishing.html). We might be able to fit in a couple of potted plants for a splash of color, but that’s about it. But the nice part is that this means we only spent $123 to furnish the patio.

    Interestingly, this post on my blog (and an earlier one I wrote about patio furniture) are two of the most popular posts I’ve ever done. I guess “cheap outdoor furniture” must be a pretty popular search.

    Reply

  38. Sarah W. says

    It looks like it was meant to be there! Love the red stool thingy next to it.
    We’re currently in patio furniture limbo…we just moved into our first apartment that has a patio, so we’re super pumped to buy a set of furniture for it. Home Depot is the only place within our budget, but yesterday my fiance and his mom took a zip car truck over there to buy the set we wanted, and they realized that since it comes pre-assembled,it’s in two giant heavy boxes that wouldn’t fit in the truck. So even though we live literally around the corner from Home Depot we now have to order it online and pay $39 shipping, wait 7-12 days for it to be delivered, then one of us will have to be at home during a work day to sign for the delivery. Just goes to show that you have to be flexible when it comes to this kind of planning! I wish I had your guys’ patience. I threw a tantrum yesterday when I found out we weren’t getting our set right away.

    Reply

  39. LMG says

    Oh, the Honest diapers! Looks like those are still working out. Gotta say–I thought of them as designer diapers and refused to buy them. Then, when my baby kept getting horrible diaper rashes and I found those to be the only ones that didn’t make her break out in a rash. I still gulp at the cost each month but it’s worth it to not have her in discomfort (couldn’t use cloth because of daycare requirements).

    Reply

  40. Laura & the shell says

    That’s the perfect chair for that spot! Well, it would be the perfect chair for a lot of spots! :)

    I have been getting our back yard ready for my daughter’s 5th birthday next weekend. The funnest development was finding an old file cabinet on the side of the road and turning it into a big planter. Total pinterest project. I used your tip of getting hanging plants that are already drip over the sides. And it came out great!

    Reply

  41. aurelie says

    looks great guys! but the scene stealer is definitely teddy with his delicious arm and belly chub. i can’t believe how big he looks now. must be a great little breastfeeder. nice work mama!

    Reply

  43. Nichole says

    Wow! I have the exact egg chair on the stand (the white one) except it’s all brown! It was a little cheaper too (regular price was $499, I got it for $249!) I love in Canada though so incase someone is interested in Canada .. it’s from Rossy!
    I love it, it’s still able to swing/sway just not a huge bunch .. It’s really comfy and relaxing
    However, I absolutely love your choice in chair aswell! It fills out the space nicely and the little model is just precious!

    Reply

  44. Sherry says

    Mama like! Nice touch of adding the striped pillow to the sofa to make it play nice with the seat cushion on the new egg-chair. You have such good taste, Petersiks!

    Reply

  45. jeannette says

    teddy’s looking enormous and pink and alert and curious and about six months old. egg chair do baby good, mmmhmmm.

    Reply

  46. Ann says

    I found the chair listed on a couple of sites with pricing. Appears to be in the $2,000 range. That was a terrific gift! Looks perfect in the space. I’ve used outdoor rugs on my shady screened porch in NC for years without problem. I’ just hose them off in the driveway once or twice a year, and let them dry in the sun. They really make the space cozy.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Ann! We heard back from GreenFront about the chair and it’s $1,200 through them without any builder/decorator discount. Sounds like they’re a good resource for anyone else who wants one since they have floor models, overstock stuff, etc (so it’s often a lot cheaper than resale and also explains things like different cushion colors since other online versions of this chair seem to have cream ones!).

      xo
      s

  48. deb molstad says

    wonderful outdoor space! I’m seeing a play area…outdoor toys, a sand box for baking mud pastries, a permanent water table….maybe an old footed tub with a cushion, made into a reading, play spot…plus, you need playpen area. Don’t decorate the whole thing for adults :(

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Agreed! Clara spends a ton of time out here, so the water table’s out at all times (you can see it in the second to last pic to the left). Sometimes the baby pool comes out too! I think it would be great to build/buy a big deck storage box for all her toys (right now they’re in the water table or lined up on the deck’s ledge) and I think an herb stand would be fun so Clara and I can plant seeds/plants and watch them grow!

      xo
      s

    • deb m says

      Maybe clara and friends could help design it?…clara seems to have opinions! :-) can you tell i’m a retired preschool teacher…

  49. Carla says

    Well, my goodness.

    It actually looks great up against the column. It adds something very international and exciting.

    Your house kind of looks like a Target and Ikea showcase. I’d love to see you get bold and bring in some fun pieces that are different and unique.

    Looks so cozy out there!!

    Reply

  50. Charlotte says

    I love how your outdoor space is coming together. I too am on the hunt for outdoor furniture. I am looking for 6 chairs and patio table (umbrella can be included or not). I have been searching on Kijiji and found a 6 piece teak table set and someone got to it before me. So, even though I’m disappointment my hunt continues. Great job on your space.

    Reply

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *