When looks rank as high as comfort

For everyone who thinks most comfortable loungers or chairs are ugly, Thos. Moser introduces the Kinesis chair and ottoman.

David Moser, who designed this carved chair on a bronze base, will appear from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the company's showroom in the Tree Studios, 607 N. State St., Chicago.

Through March there also will be an exhibit and sale of artwork by Bernard Langlais, a well-known artist who lived in Maine, where Moser is headquartered.

The chair, which is covered in leather or suede cloth, is $6,500 in cherry and $7,000 in walnut. The ottoman is $2,100 or $2,300.

Call (312) 867-4900 or visit thosmoser.com.

New looks come with ancient crafts

Steppingstones might be a strange name for elegant pillows, but here they are.

These hand-woven, hand-dyed silk pillows are from Lulan Artisans.

The idea is that contemporary design blended with age-old Southeast Asian techniques can beautify your home while helping people in that region.

The company, started by Eve Blossom, also tries to be environmentally sensitive. The architect discovered the hand-weaving traditions when she was in Vietnam restoring French villas.

The pillows range from $129 to $279 in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Other products include table runners and place mats.

Currently the only ways to buy are by calling (843) 722-0118 or working with a designer. Visit lulan.com.

Believe it - tough can be good looking

"Slob Proof" (Alpha Books, $19.95), is designed for people who want to live in nice houses but happen to share their living spaces with people who don't care that much (usually husbands and children).

Author Debbie Wiener is a Maryland designer with ideas that are both tough and attractive.

Here some of her tips:

• Spend your money on materials that will hold up on the floor and the furniture you sit on. And color, pattern and texture can hide stains on the sofa and rugs.

• Lighting is also important, and you want to put most of it in the ceiling because those football, basketball or soccer players will knock lamps over.

• Pick colors from crayons and markers for your wood stains and paints. That makes it easy to fix nicks.