May 31, 2007

FatBoy


The Fatboy original is quite a piece of furniture (or alternative furniture). Apparently this company put out the first beanbag chair, released in 1968 by an Italian company, and called “Sacco” (which probably means something very like “sack”). In 2000, Finnish designer Jukka Setälä introduced the newest and possibly the largest of Sacco’s spawn: the Fatboy. I think what truly sets these pieces apart from other beanbags (more than just their size) is their versatility. While a normal beanbag very nearly lets you do quite a few things almost comfortably, Fatboys, thanks to their defined shapes, are genuinely useful as multiple kinds of furniture. You can prop it up on itself and sit in it just like a chair, but you can also recline in it, roll it up and lie against it, perch on it horseback-style--and since it’s 55" x 70", you can really sleep on the thing. It's great for kids too because it's coated-nylon fabric exterior wipes clean with a damp cloth. They even have some special-editon Fatboys with the Marimekko Unikko pattern. Their complete line runs from $89 to $300 and includes cat beds, dog beds, hammocks, junior fatboys, baby fatboys, originals, and more. Check out the Design Public website for more details and to purchase.

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