What is a cheap alternative to the Herman Miller Eames lounge chair?
I'm in love with the "Herman Miller Eames lounge chair":http://www.hermanmiller.com/Products/Eames-Lounge-Chair-and-Ottoman. Problem: They're ludicrously expensive. What's a good, cheap replica?
You could check out Advanced Interior Designs. They make replica furniture from many mid-century and designers. They have a replica of what you are looking for and it is $895. http://stores.advancedinteriordesigns.com/-strse-122/Eames-lounge-chair%2C-Eames/Detail.bok
7 Answers
The Poang chair from Ikea is a great cheap lounger. It doesn't have wheels, but I have one in my living room, and my friends fight over who gets to sit in it. And it's only a $100!
A popular knock off of the Eames Lounge Chair is a Plycraft Lounge Chair. They look very similar and are actually good quality for a knock off. They're from the 70's, roughly the same time as the Eames. I have no idea where to buy them except for keeping an eye out on Craigslist. Prices can vary. My friend picked one up for me for $40, no ottoman. A few weeks ago, she sent me another Craigslist posting for the chair and ottoman selling for $300. A week later, there was some lady selling TWO full sets for $30 each. If you buy it from someone who knows what they got, expect to get it for around $200-300.
You could check out Advanced Interior Designs. They make replica furniture from many mid-century and designers. They have a replica of what you are looking for and it is $895. http://stores.advancedinteriordesigns.com/-strse-122/Eames-lounge-chair%2C-Eames/Detail.bok
Not sure if this will help you, as this particular company seems to deliver only in Australia, but this site is a place to buy imitation designer furniture and coincidentally, they have just released an anniversary edition of the exact chair you are looking for AUD$799.
i was referred to an eames chair replica from someone off of a modern furniture message board... i've seen several reproductions and haven't really been satisfied with the quality, but i took a risk and ordered this one... eames lounge , it was $999 and i think i had to pay for shipping too, but it's definitely worth it. it comes fully assembled and the quality is spot on. definitely impressed and would buy again.
Jane - I took your advice about the Eames Lounge chair and made a purchase from Manhattan Home Design. I couldn't be happier! The chair came so fast, in great condition, and fully assembled. There was an extra charge for assembly but it is totally worth it. The chair is amazing.
I inherited my late grandfather's old lounge chair that I had spent years believing was an Eames. Its been broken for just as many years and recently I decided to enlist Herman Miller's help in finding a place to fix it cheaply. The guy at Herman Miller dealt specifically with this chair and was incredibly helpful. After sending him some photographs I discovered the chair was not an Eames Lounger at all, but instead some knock-off by a company called Plycraft.
Plycraft doesn't exist anymore (from all the searching I've done anyway), but you can still find Plycraft items on eBay and sometimes craigslist. I considered buying another chair and attempt the repair myself, but I still couldn't bring myself to do it because I'd be afraid of messing up (as I've never "refinished" furniture before, especially such valuable .
Anyway, here's a link to a small handful off of eBay: http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=plycraft+lounge&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=plycraft&_osacat=0 The price range varies, in fact when I had checked eBay before the most expensive one was $650 tops, but I see a listing that's near $1500 there.
Also, you may obviously try searching for "Plycraft" or "Plycraft Lounge" on whatever your favorite search engine is.
Plycraft is the closest alternative that I'm aware of. Best of luck in your search!