I’ve always been fascinated with chaise lounges.  My mother had two in a sun room.  Another one sat next to a fire in the master bedroom.  To assuage my fascination with this object, I looked it up in Wikipedia:

“A chaise longue… is an upholstered couch in the shape of a chair that is long enough to support the legs.”  (Wikipedia)

We Americans insist on calling it a “chaise lounge” because – that is what it seems like to us – a place where you lounge.

And perhaps that explains my fascination with a piece I keep circling around, at a lovely new shop here in West Nashville, Surroundings:

But let’s face it, chaises have a rep for being – ah -  feminine….. And this vintage early 20th century French one definitely has some of that going on in its sensuous curves (the better to lounge on)…..

But what if…..

I kept the curves, but switched out the light green velvet upholstery for…..

…..some dark leather and nail head trim (with perhaps a cowhide pillow, of course – this is Nashville after all)…..

Well, that changes everything!

(Okay, confession.  This is a bike tube upholstered chaise.  But that works too, and is very eco-chic.)

Now this chaise can move out into….. the living room…..

…..before a fire…..

(okay this is not leather, but is utterly gender neutral…..)

….. in the corner of a room…..

…..or before a window, to gaze out while reading…..

…..Now I can chaise lounge away anywhere I want….. 8)

1 & 2) Via Surroundings, 5200 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN  37209

3) Via greatgreengoods.com

4) Via thedesignerpad.com

5) Via marthastewart.com

6) Via plushpalate.blogspot.com

7) Via isabellaandmaxroom.blogspot.com

8) Via greytheblog.com

9) Via remodelista.com