Everyone Had One In The '60s — Now It's The Rare Chaise We Want In Our Homes

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Homes in the 1960s were full of unique and memorable furniture pieces, including the chic chaise lounge chair. This was arguably the last decade that the chaise lounge held mainstream popularity. The style dates back to the 1920s, when chaise lounges first became commonplace in formal living rooms as symbols of comfort and leisure. By the time the '60s arrived, the earlier ornate styles had been reinterpreted through a modernist lens. Today, the sleek, mid-century version of the chaise lounge is what people covet. These pieces slot perfectly into contemporary interiors. In particular, the rare, original chaise lounge by Greta Magnusson Grossman (GMG) for Sherman Bertram captures the essence of this trend.

Greta Magnusson Grossman, a designer and architect from Sweden, was best known for crafting furniture for Hollywood celebrities. She also had a huge impact on post-war home design in Los Angeles, creating some now-iconic buildings like the Nelson Houses. One of Magnusson Grossman's most recognizable pieces of furniture is the aforementioned GMG chaise lounge, which was first released in 1952 by furniture company Sherman Bertram. It's low and elongated, with a wave-like profile. It doesn't have any armrests and sits on hairpin legs that give the piece a lightweight, floaty appearance. Because of its rarity and historical significance, it holds immense value among collectors — it's a piece of mid-century modern furniture that's now worth thousands.

The high price tag of the Greta Magnusson Grossman (GMG) chaise lounge reflects both its rarity and importance in mid-century design history. It is currently listed on Chairish for $14,995, and the description notes that it's one of only four known examples. Another of the four is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. It is very clearly a significant design object. If you want to invest in a piece of U.S. design history, look out for this unique, valuable antique furniture item at estate sales and auctions. Not only is it stunning to look at and, quite likely, to lounge upon, but it is certain to hold its value.

Do you love the appearance of Magnusson Grossman's chaise lounge but don't have the budget? That's understandable! If you aren't looking for a piece of furniture worthy of a museum collection — and with a significantly lower hit to your household budget — there are lots of accessible alternatives. Amazon carries several chaise lounge options that echo the MGM aesthetic. For example, the Huadeo Tufted Chaise Lounge Chair has a similar wave-like, ergonomic silhouette and comes in a few 1950s-esque colors. It sells for about $184. Likewise, the GDFStudio Mid Century Modern Chaise Lounge in white resembles its GMG predecessor and sells for a far more reasonable $225 or so. While these contemporary takes don't carry the historical weight of the original, they rank among the more affordable furniture ideas for a mid-century modern home.