KI

recently introduced their seating collection intended for college students. According to the designers, Patrick Fricke and John Blomstrom, Sela began with an oversized chair for non-prescriptive seating. The first incarnation was the Sela Chair and a Half ( or 1.5 in computer lingo), a generous chair that college students can flop into and which is comfortable in many positions. KI is trying to appeal to a new generation of budding academics by offering “an oversized scale with an increased degree of recline.”

Sela Collection. Designed by KI.

Students can "sit however they want," Fricke explains. The arms are padded so that they will not disturb loungers with uncomfortable parts pressing into the skin. This is very intentional: Fricke and Blomstrom "did a lot of research." As it turns out, college kids tend to work collaboratively. They like to move around and move the furniture around-which is why Sela has a sled base and is lightweight. Should bookworms abuse the furniture, KI's lifetime warranty will come in handy: “Sela responds to the realities of lounging and the rigors of use.” And the designers anticipated some specific construction/destruction concerns: the seat and back of Sela Chair and a Half are entirely separate from the arms. In case of collapse, the side panels can be easily replaced.

The Sela Lounge Chair (or 1.0, if you will) is a smaller version of the Chair and a Half. Equipped with Tablet Arms (optional), this lounge chair is ideal for more casual classrooms such as creative writing workshops. Of course, KI’s smaller Sela seating crosses over into the commercial market. Its 33.5" seat depth is just right for the above-twenty crowd. Combined with the collection's glossy Square Coffee Table that's also on a sled base, this smaller lounge chair is perfect for collective brainstorming-a great set-up for advertising agencies and architectural firms.

Sela Lounge Collection also includes a loveseat, sofa, ottoman, and end tables. Fricke, who graduated from Pratt, and Blomstrom, from UW Stout in WI, have paid particular attention to angles. The entire Sela Collection is chunky, triangular, and distinctive. KI explains: “Boasting a residential influence, the pieces reflect popular mid-century modern elements.”

More pieces are due to be added to the Sela Collection, including rectangular coffee and side tables, as well as lamp tables. It’s difficult to describe just how comfortable the Sela Lounge Chair is, so you’ll have to take my word for it. Yoga proponents can sit properly, and slouches can sit in any type of flop–if you like to sit sideways with your legs hanging over the arms, Sela is a perfect fit.