Douglas Snelling

Over the past five years I have been battling an addiction. Yes readers I have succumbed to the boomerang-like charms of the Snelling chair. I should actually correct myself and say 'chairs' as I have three profiles ranging from the simple dining, a covetable armchair, and finally the languorous lounge piece shown in the photo above. Douglas Snelling (1917 - 1985) is another Australian designer with a remarkable and indeed tangible legacy. His pieces sit proudly in the Powerhouse Museum Collection and are regularly featured throughout editorial stories in interiors publications. His unique spin on re-using parachute webbing at the end of the Second World War pre-empted industrial recycling. 

I have restored and re-webbed many of his chairs in a diverse range of  hues. They hunker down nicely in any setting involving 1950's style furniture or graphic fabric prints. To me they always have a 'welcome home' appeal.  The way the fabric molds itself to you belies it's simple wooden substructure. One word of warning to those considering putting one in a sunny corner of your home. I have another chair identical to the one shown above which resided in my Sydney store for some four months. The webbing went from a rich red to peach after a daily dose of sunshine. I have a set that I'm re-webbing for my dinner table in the spring. I'll show my progress with this DIY adventure as it gets underway. I may even share some tips from my sensational upholsterer!

Image : Brian Tunks