It’s been ninety years since Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld unveiled his ‘Utrecht’ chair for the Metz & Co department store in Amsterdam. Rietveld was part of the pioneering De Stijl movement, also known as neoplasticism, which was characterised by primary colours and abstract, angular shapes. Produced by Cassina since 1988, the chair has come to symbolise the energy of De Stijl and has become a favourite for interior designers around the globe. Here, we show exactly why…
The Madrid apartment zoned by bold colour
Designer Blanca Rosa Gutiérrez installed a quartet of iconic furniture pieces in this Madrid living room – two sunflower yellow ‘Utrecht’ chairs are accompanied by Mario Bellini’s ‘Camaleonda’ sofa and an Eames lounge chair and ottoman, while Isamu Noguchi’s 1944 coffee table design holds court in the centre.
The London home that mixes old and new(ish)
This south London home is an eclectic mix of mid-century furniture, 17th-century artwork and kitsch tiki décor. In the living room, homeowner Tim McInnes chose a navy blue pair of ‘Utrecht’ chairs to frame a ‘Haller’ shelving unit by USM while a painting by British-Nigerian artist Ṣọlá Olúlòde hangs above.
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Gilt and glamour in a Parisian apartment
Modern and classical styles clash to spectacular effect in this opulent Parisian home. A reading nook in the study features an ‘Utrecht’ armchair paired with a ‘Flo Lounge’ floor lamp by Foster + Partners for Lumina and a ‘Mer Noire’ side table by Damien Gernay from Galerie Gosserez. The starburst-like sculpture on the floor is by Curtis Jeré from Galerie LMG.
A reimagined Victorian home
Designed by architecture and interior design studio Michaelis Boyd, this Victorian renovation in north London seamlessly blends the old with the new. In the living room, painted panelling ‘hints at the past but avoids pastiche’ while a pair of mustard ‘Utrecht’ armchairs offer a welcome pop of colour to the otherwise pared-back palette.
A Lake Como home with a verdant interior
This living room is framed by delicate wool curtains (CC Milano’s ‘Camelot’) that serve as semi-translucent screens and give tantalising glimpses of vistas across Lake Como. The soothing green palette is inspired by Piero Portaluppi’s architecture in Milan, such as the enchanting Villa Necchi, where colour is used to balance the elegance and playfulness of the space, while a ‘Utrecht’ armchair for Cassina injects the space with playful pink.
The home full of ‘forever’ furniture
‘They will own those pieces of furniture forever, and that’s good design,’ says designer Holly Canham of the classic pieces she chose for this family home in London’s leafy Brockley. The living room in this Victorian home elegantly balances the building’s original features and grand proportions with those carefully chosen ‘forever’ pieces, including a ‘Utrecht’ chair in dove grey. Natural materials ground the scheme, including a Peter Page ‘Ellora’ jute rug and curtains made from a Designers Guild linen.
A Highlands retreat rich with pattern
This Scottish home is brimming with vibrant colour and print. In the living room, the angular form of the ‘Utrecht’ chair is the perfect foil to the whimsy of House of Hackney’s ‘Damas’ wallpaper, while a pair of wooden ‘Backenzahn’ side tables add an earthy, natural note to the scheme.
The London home with a bar for entertaining
Designed for clients who love to entertain, this Chelsea home features a bespoke bar designed for the cosy proportions of the room. With routed timber and curved edges, this well-stocked cabinet has everything that’s needed to mix drinks for guests, while the pair of cornflower blue ‘Utrecht’ chairs are most inviting for kicking back with a perfectly mixed tipple.
