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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

  2. Pam says

    Love the garden stool so, you need to know, I went on Amazon and did a search for “ceramic garden stools” and your book came up on the list! Too funny! Love the outdoor space!

    Reply

  3. Cathy C. says

    is anyone else having picture problems? I cleared my history and my cookies and cache, and still can’t see pictures. It started this week. In firefox they just don’t show, in Explorer they are red X’s.
    is it just me?

    Reply

  4. Stacy says

    Quick question for you guys. Do you have any sort of wasp or bee issues where you live and how would you do with them if you did? We have a deck/patio in our back yard that attaches to the house/garage. I recently put outdoor furniture out there and would love to use it but there are always bees… everywhere! I’m not exaggerating when I say that there were probably about 10 wasps flying around me and the kids this morning. I’m just curious since it seems like you utilize your outdoor areas often and I have to wonder if I’m just a wimp and worry too much or if others have this same issue.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh man that sounds terrible! Maybe you have an infestation somewhere? I would look for holes they could be emerging from and see if you can caulk them closed to discourage them from living there. Our two ceiling fans generally keep mosquitos and other pests away since they don’t like flying through the current when they’re on.

      xo
      s

  5. Donna says

    I had another concern about the garden stools. I’m afraid some of my rambunctious men would knock them over and they would shatter. That’s why I’ve never gotten one (or more). What do you think?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      They’re pretty sturdy! I have walked right into one and it slid a few inches forward but didn’t tip over or shatter if that makes sense. I’m sure they could if you tripped or fell the right way, but they don’t feel particularly dainty or anything. They’re sort of like big heavy ceramic planters turned upside down.

      xo
      s

  6. Erin says

    I love the new chair! Your entire outdoor space looks SO inviting now. I just want to come over and sip iced coffee and play with your baby (playdate? I have a 10-month-old :-)) I agree with the others that you should accept the chair as a gift. They WANT to give it to you as a gift and sometimes graciously receiving a gift is a gift to the gift-giver (how many times can one say “gift” in one sentence?) Also, I 100% support the idea of keeping your dining room chairs outdoors at all times. They look gorgeous around the table and tie in with the rest of your new outdoor furniture. To be honest, I never cared for them as indoor chairs at your old house. Congrats on a wonderful, dreamy outdoor space!

    Reply

  8. Kati says

    What a sweet gift of them! And it really does look great. I’m all for simplicity and like the “open concept” you’ve got going on. Doesn’t feel sparse to me! :-) I would just want to add a tall plant on the porch-side of the couch for some vertical attention.

    We have been shopping outdoor stuff lately (two weeks ago) – I purchased two blueberry bushes and a raspberry plant for my Hubster for father’s day. We got these fabulous, massive teal plastic planters for our apartment-dwelling selves at Lowes for half off. I bought them at two separate times (we went back for more) and the first time I remembered to poke out the perforated holes in the bottom of the planter to allow for drainage. The second time – nope. Totally forgot. My husband kept saying “Man, that raspberry is not doing good at all. Kind of soggy.” Soggy? We went out for a look and as he pulled the planter into the sun, it *sloshed* in the planter. Talk about a ton of extra water! We found that out at 10 pm last night. We were gardening by moonlight, and it was hilarious.

    Reply

    • Kati says

      I said pulled it into the sun – I meant, that we pulled it out from under a tree, thinking that perhaps it wasn’t getting enough sun- even though we were doing said pulling at night. Or maybe we were just gardening REALLY slowly LOL.

  9. Rachel G. says

    I cannot tell you how jealous I am of this space (in a completely friendly way of course!). I live just a few miles away from you all. My daughter is almost exactly a year younger than Clara (5/17) and my son was born almost exactly a month before Teddy. And I am having the toughest time getting good outdoor play time in with my daughter this summer because we don’t have nice shaded areas around our house and the baby gets way too hot in the sun. Last summer we lived at the pool, but that just isn’t an option this summer. So to say I am lusting after that space and your egg chair is an understatement :) Oh, and I really like the dining chairs outside!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw, thanks Rachel! I hope this heat dies down a little and you guys can play outside! I have been in Clara’s baby pool this season out on the blazing hot deck. No shame. Haha!

      xo
      s

  10. Jeanna says

    I had one of those hanging chairs when I was younger! So much fun……… they bounce and swivel :)

    Reply

  12. Jenny B. says

    We finally bought outdoor seating this summer (after going 13 years without any!), and I LOVE it. It’s like having a second living room! We got the Threshold Heatherstone Wicker loveseat and two club chairs from Target. We bought the color they carry in stock at the store (tan), and got 20% off with a Cartwheel coupon, so we were able to furnish our back porch (including throw pillows) for just under $800! I am so happy! :)

    Reply

  13. Tracie says

    I am currently furnishing & decorating my screened in patio. I actually changed my mind on the wicker chair(s)/set we wanted after I saw the Jordan Brown one you ordered, so thanks for the inspiration. I just bought a great red iron bistro set for like $126 on Joss & Main that might work in your patio. You should keep an eye out to see if it pops up again.

    Reply

  15. Maureen says

    I was just wondering, and please forgive me if you’ve answered this question, but how is accepting chair in line with your no swag policy. I love how upfront and honest you two are, and that you don’t accept freebies just for space on your blog; so I was hoping you wouldn’t mind explaining how this is different (and I understand it wasn’t the company directly that gave it to you, nor did they ask for a review on your blog).

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You can read more about our No-Swag policy here, but it was born as a way to keep you guys from wondering if we’re waxing poetic about a product because we like it or because it was given to us for free in exchange for a positive review. As you pointed out, that wasn’t the case here. The chair was a very thoughtful thank you gift for a year-long side job that we recently completed, just like others might receive a year-end bonus or a gift from their boss.

      xo
      s

  16. Lizzie says

    Love the chair there!

    Sorry if someone else already mentioned this, but could you just paint the wires something close the brick to make them blend in more, rather than having to build a box for them?

    And I agree – accept the freebie! You guys did so much work on the show house – you deserve it!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think we could paint them to blend but there are some missing bricks in a hole around the box where they all connect – so we have to do something to cover or fill that. I keep joking about a giant clock! Haha!

      xo
      s

  19. Caroline Betcher says

    Looks great! I think I might have to buy that couch for our soon to be screened porch!
    I also LOVE the dining chairs outside! I think the scale works better out there than in the diningroom…
    Take the gift graciously– you deserve it and they wouldn’t do it if they didn’t want to!

    Reply

  21. DKL says

    Your sun room is set up perfectly for mosquito curtains on a curtain rail or rod. Not sure if you all are getting bit as much as we are here in D.C., but I am in love with my curtains. What a difference, and they can be washed in the washing machine.

    Reply

  23. Lillian says

    Love the update! It looks so wonderful. I can’t believe what y’all do to that sun porch. It’s amazing.

    Question for you though – how do y’all find all of those good ceramic side tables?? It seems every time I find them they have quite a few more $$ than I would like to pay.

    PS love y’alls blog so much!

    Reply

  24. Milky says

    OBVIOUSLY you don’t need my advice, you of course know what you’re doing :) But seeing as we’re throwing around outdoor furniture ideas, I second a PP’s mention of outdoor beanbags. We have two giant ones (and a hanging egg chair! Which the kids are very good at only gently swaying in) on one of our decks and they’re so handy for casual seating/hanging out because they’re so easy to move around. On the deck, down on the lawn, in the car to take to outdoor movies – and in winter we bring them inside into the kid’s playroom where they’re perfect for watching TV when it gets dark so early.
    On our other decks FWIW we have clusters of acapulco chairs for G&T drinking, herb gardens, a barbecue, and outdoor dining under a big umbrella.
    Speaking of the outdoors, have you guys considered getting a trampoline? Every house has them in our country, but they don’t seem so popular in the US. What other outdoor fun things (tree house, sand pit) are you considering? :) I’m currently trying to convince DH the kids need a jungle gym :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Sounds like a ton of fun! We would love to add a playset with swings/etc down in the grass. An herb stand on the deck where Clara and I could plant things would be fun too!

      xo
      s

  25. mp says

    It’s well-established that you and John are ethical, principled people, and I understand your wanting to pay for the chair … but I think you should honor the generosity of the givers. They watched you two up close, and even when you could have legitimately slacked off, you didn’t. So accept the chair, donate the money to a good cause, and consider this a great gift from good people and the universe.

    Reply

  26. Juliet says

    Just a heads up for anyone interested in the egg chair from World Market – The store I work at still has 3, so try calling your local store to see if they have any in stock. They’re on sale for $360 right now and are super comfy! I’ve been trying to justify the purchase ever since it came in!

    Reply

  29. SH Milam says

    I am TOTS part ceramic animal and garden stool! Just picked up a pretty turquoise ceramic stool with rosette cut outs (on SALE & coupon, what, WHAT?) for our Master Bath.

    Reply

  30. Heather says

    A little lesson I learned from my mom and grandma (because they were constantly pursing money back and forth) is to accept the gift graciously, say thank you and enjoy the heck out of it! We are currently on the prowl for discounted patio furniture for the concrete patio we are having done in our backyard. Concrete is expensive but thankfully patio furniture gets discounted early in the summer in Minnesota!

    Reply

  31. Amanda K. says

    oh my gosh NUNI & NOONI!! they are so hilarious. i laugh out loud every time i watch one of those skits.
    hadn’t seen the one you posted so thank you for an evening chuckle!

    Reply

  32. rebekah says

    I’m reading, I’m laughing, I’m imagining Clara and Co. being silly in swinging chairs, I’m loving….OMG!!! Are those Honest diapers?? LOL!!! Total mom-mode while reading this. Mustache diapers are all the rage over there this summer. Love the new chair on the back porch!! (excuse me, ver-AN-da)

    Reply

  33. bethanyb says

    Way off topic BUUUUT, I thought you guys were doing cloth diapers again. was I wrong? I’d LOVE to hear how that is going or why you guys chose not to this time. I’m expecting #2 and did cloth with #1 and plane on doing them with #2 also but I know how life throws you a curve ball sometimes and with parenting there is almost never a 100% fool proof plan. Just wondering and trying to learn a little from a moms who’s been there :).

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Still planning to use them, we just need to wait until they fit him. The leg openings are a little too large so they’d leak, but hopefully soon enough!

      xo
      s

  34. Mags says

    Its a great chair, and the red stool looks adorable with it.
    I guess I’m confused about the timeline of this all, and your process for Homearama. If you were the ones responsible for filling it up, wouldn’t you be the ones responsible for returning all the goods? Why was John the builder planning to return this? And- why would the house have sat with all the stuff in it for over a month since Homearama- wouldnt the person responsible for doing the returns want to get going right away?
    I’ve always been a fan, and not trying to be mean or snarky, but just trying to understand more about your processes.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Like many other houses from the show, John the Builder has decided to use this house as a model for a few more months, so that’s why he’s only returning some of the less necessary GreenFront pieces and buying the rest to use here and in future models (we selected these pieces for the house but it’s his call what he wants to buy or what he wants to use as a loaner piece). GreenFront has always coordinated directly with the show organizers for when they send trucks since there are multiple homes using them as a source. I’m sure many houses wanted to hold things a little longer to help them show/sell, and GreenFront doesn’t mind because if a buyer likes the house with that furniture, they could score those sales.

      xo
      s

  35. Alice says

    I love this story! You guys deserve a treat, and I’m so glad it came in the form of this chair. It looks great out there!

    Reply

  36. bfish says

    The whole outdoor room looks fabulous — it’s really come together nicely! The way it looks now (compared to before) really validates your vision.

    Reply

  38. Shannon says

    Please, please, please leave the dining chairs where they are. They look super sharp around the nice table on the deck, but woefully silly indoors. This is a great place for them! :)

    Reply

  41. Peggy McKee says

    One more comment on accepting a gift:

    “Not what we give, but what we share,–
    For the gift without the giver is bare;”
    James Russell Lowell

    By giving you a gift (especially one that you really want!) the crew are sharing their love of your work.

    I know you’ll accept with graciousness! Also I think you’ll embarrass them if you try to give them money in return.

    Reply

  42. Jeanie says

    I absolutely love your porch. Your careful thought that went into the decorating definitely shines. I wish I had your talent. If I keep reading your blog maybe a little will rub off on me. One can only hope.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You’re so sweet Jeanie, thanks so much! We have definitely felt our way through the whole making-a-house-a-home thing (blindly at times!). But mistakes are cool because they help you learn what you love (and don’t love, which is just as valuable). Just trying something – even the wrong thing – is a step towards a space you love. All the best!

      xo
      s

  44. Joseph@littlehouseblue says

    That chair is so great. My son really enjoyed it at the show.

    I’ve really been wanting to get some outdoor furniture lately but it just hasn’t been in the budget for us. I’m hoping once we get some other stuff out of the way we can get something in time for next year.

    Reply

  45. Rosie S says

    This thank you gift is a wonderful thing! IMHO, you should just write a thank-you note and maybe surprise the builder’s team with some home made cookies/donuts and coffee on a rainy morning, something simple, but letting them know their gift is appreciated! I get kind of frustrated when I cannot thank someone without having them ‘out thank’ me back. Does that make sense? As someone who has participated in show houses/events, I know firsthand of the enormous amount of effort and dedication of everyone involved. Let them thank you! You deserve it!

    Reply

  47. Diane says

    Love the scale of that chair and I am sure you guys more than deserved it for the work on the showhouse.

    I would recommend a pub height table and two chairs on the other side to balance out the height of the egg chair instead of a bistro table. Just sayin’ :)

    Reply

  48. Cheryl says

    You definitely need a buffet table out there. What about a tall long table with stools under the fan that can double as a place to layout food during a party. Its looking good out there so far!

    Reply

  50. Frannie says

    I’m going to apologize for asking a random “where did you get that” question! I did try to search it first :)
    In some of Clara’s big girl bed posts, there’s what looks like a white chenille blanket/quilt. It might not be chenille, but has that look to it. Any idea where it came from? My little girl has a crib sized blanket like that and she loves it, but she’s also starting to talk about her “big girl bed.” Thanks in advance, and sorry! :)

    Reply

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