There are the film stars of the world: Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Bridget Bardot, Meryl Streep. Such talent and beauty. But we’re more interested in the talent behind furniture beauties: Saarinen and Bertoia and van der Rohe.
Knoll designs have featured prolifically in film, from the classical to the contemporary to the futuristic - evidence that Knoll is Modern Always. Whether it’s a Bertoia Chair in Devil Wears Prada or a Platner Chair in Quantum of Solace, furniture can often hijack the attention of the audience, away from the action and dialogue of a film to communicate values and mood wordlessly. A well-chosen sofa, chair, or table can subliminally tell us more about a character’s personality or an environment’s tone than many pages of script.
When a production designer needs to convey a character’s good taste and discerning style or when they simply need an extremely handsome piece in a domestic or office setting, we’ll often spot a Knoll. With the Oscars upon us, allow us to recognize some of our most prominent leading characters to grace the big screen. EERO SAAR INEN
THE WOMB CHAIR was a groundbreaking design by Saarinen at Florence Knoll's request for "a chair that was like a basket full of pillows - something she could really curl up in." This mid-century classic supportas countless positions and offers a comforting oasis of calm—hence the name. And resulting in being staged on countless sets for a sense of chic comfort and style. THE WOMB CHAIR IN LEGALLY BLONDE
“Endorphins make you happy…” and so does good design. The relatable and charming Elle Woods is seen in the exact position envisioned by Florence: curled up, cozy, and ever chic. Utilizing this chair on set was an intentional decision to bring a sense of easeful style that speaks to the character’s fashion sensibility and supports her studious Harvard lifestyle. THE WOMB CHAIR IN DOWN WITH LOVE
Renée Zellweger’s character Barbara Novak owns two beautiful, pale pink Womb Chairs in her fine Manhattan apartment, which is teeming with great choices of decor and furniture that evoke the movie's 1960s setting. As with every thoughtful detail in this film, the Womb Chair speaks to playfully sophisticated style and inspired design. THE WOMB CHAIR IN WIDOWS When they’re left with the debt of their dead husband’s criminal activities, what’s the ideal place to huddle and scheme for the women of Widows? Nothing less than a group of calming Womb chairs. HARR YBER TOIA
THE DIAMOND CHAIR is an astounding study in space, form and function by one of the master sculptors of the last century. Bertoia found sublime grace in an industrial material, elevating it beyond its normal utility into a work of art. Harry Bertoia’s wire chairs are among the most recognized achievements of mid-century modern design and a proud part of Knoll’s legacy and future. THE DIAMOND CHAIR IN DEVIL WEARS PRADA
How do you bring the Vogue-inspired Runway offices to life? Add a couple of bold Bertoias at the entrance. The Devil Wears Prada set was supposed to represent a fashion and style mecca, and as such, designer Lydia Marks incorporated these modern beauties for a sense of obvious sophistication. EERO SAAR INEN
THE TULIP CHAIR represents a true classic alongside the Pedestal Collection. It was Saarinen’s way of resolving the "ugly, confusing, unrestful world" underneath tables and chairs. The collection is a defining accomplishment of modern design and remains a timeless icon. THE TULIP CHAIR IN STAR TREK A groundbreaking design from the 1950’s that feels just at home in 2364, the time period for Star Trek’s futuristic setting. The single leg profile and innovative shape make this a timeless classic for today’s enterprises as well as the USS Enterprise. Very befitting of the famous saying “live long and prosper.” THE TULIP CHAIR IN HIDDEN FIGURES
Saarinen’s Tulip Chairs and Dining table couldn’t have been more appropriate in Hidden Figures, a film that follows a team of female African-American mathematicians who were primary contributors at NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. MIES VAND ER ROHE THE BRNO CHAIR is another modern work of art by Mies van der Rohe. Crafted in 1930 for his renowned Tugendhat House in Brno,
Czech Republic, the Brno Chair reflects the groundbreaking simplicity of its original environment. The chair, an icon of 20th-century design, is celebrated for its lean profile, clean lines and meticulous attention to detail. THE BRNO CHAIR IN BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN
In this 2016 Warner Bros creation, Wayne Manor has been burned to the ground, forcing Bruce to live in a nearby lake house. And what a lake house it is to behold! Perfectly befitting of an older, sophisticated Batman, complete with Brno chairs in the dining room. They speak to Bruce’s values of minimalism, sophistication, and artistry. WAR REN PLAT NER THE PLATNER CHAIR captures the “decorative, gentle, graceful” shapes that were beginning to infiltrate the modern vocabulary. The craftsmanship is created by welding curved steel rods to circular and semi-circular frames, simultaneously serving as structure and ornament. PLATNER CHAIRS IN QUANTUM SOLACE
It took many Bond films until Platner took centre stage in Quantum of Solace (2008). Deep in the Bolivian desert stands a hotel come hangout for Bond’s latest nemesis. And in the hideout’s restaurant, which needed to convey glamour and exoticism, the Platner Side Chairs and Tables make an appearance. PLATNER CHAIRS IN NO STRINGS ATTACHED
Another Platner spotted on film, this time in a more laid-back everyday setting of a modern Los Angeles home in the film No Strings Attached. Adam, played by Ashton Kutcher, is a young production assistant with a quite stylish bachelor pad. The Platner serves as design eye candy in an approachable way. MIES VAND ER ROHE THE BARCELONA CHAIR is arguably one of the most recognized objects of the last century, and an icon of the modern movement. The design exudes a simple elegance that epitomizes Mies van der Rohe's most famous maxim–“less is more.” Each Barcelona piece is a tribute to the marriage of modern design and exceptional craftsmanship. THE BARCELONA CHAIRS IN TRON: LEGACY
Sexy as hell, an icon of the modern movement and a favorite classic, the Barcelona chair is a star performer in Tron: Legacy‘s digital world “Safehouse”. It’s an interesting choice by Production Designer Darren Gilford in his mission to create the digital-age decor for Tron, given that the chair was in fact designed in 1929. Another testament to the fact it’s a timeless classic and a genuine furniture icon. THE BARCELONA LOUNGE IN TWILIGHT The Cullen’s wooded residence is a modern design beauty that radiates simple elegance, including a Barcelona lounging in Edward’s bedroom. In a space filled with literature, traveled relics, and a variety of cultural interests, the chaise reinforces a sense of relaxed style and craftsmanship. If you’re going to live forever, it should be with a Barcelona. KNOLL IS MODERN ALWAYS BECAUSE MODERN ALWAYS WORKS.