Sneak Peeking Puffy

Photography: Heiko Prigge

The Puffy Lounge Chair, designed by Faye Toogood, is the first introduction of Hem’s Puffy seating collection, which will encompass a range of chair and stool products, offering a tactile new take on the enduring concept of steel-framed furniture.

The detachable upholstery of the Puffy Chair is fat and plump, its generous shape spills freely over the sides of a tubular steel frame which, in stark contrast, is hard-lined and strong. The two key elements of this seating design by Faye Toogood are in purposeful and playful juxtaposition. The elementary frame is inspired by the rational structure of classic modernist design, whilst the extravagant quilt-like upholstery warmly embraces and envelopes, is comforting and reassuring. The Puffy Chair frame is available in powder-coated or sand-blasted steel finishes and a choice of thick canvas or luxurious leather upholstery.

“The idea behind the Puffy Seating Collection is to emphasise the two almost contradictory ideas at play in the furniture,” Toogood says of the design, “First, stability and strength, highlighted by leaving the stainless-steel framework on display; and second, comfort and reassurance, in the form of the puffy upholstery. The resulting pieces have a dependable durability coupled with all the enveloping warmth of a familiar duvet.”

"I've always admired Faye's work; it is utilitarian, yet extremely rich with reference. She borrows freely from a multitude of cultures and expressions, but always makes it distinctly her own. To be able to work together has been an ambition of mine since first starting Hem. The launch of the Puffy Chair realises this ambition and culminates over two years of research and design development. It has been a real labour of love and we look forward to introducing this distinctive new design to our portfolio, as well as continuing the journey with the launch of the full Puffy Seating Collection in the near future".
— Petrus Palmér, CEO of Hem

[* Editorial note: During the development process, the material of the Puffy Lounge Chair in Natural / Stainless has been changed to a lighter, off-white color, Disco Coex Textile in the shade Natural. View the textile here.]