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Seattle, WA 98134
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A local commercial furniture manufacturer is rolling out its first indoor-outdoor lounge seat.
Grand Rapids Chair Co. said Tuesday, Jan. 25, it is introducing Rita, the latest lounge seat in the company’s newly revamped product family and the first designed for indoors and out.
Created with sustainable, exterior-grade materials and an easily customizable design, Rita is designed to make “a lively addition” to hotel lounges, co-working offices, outdoor patios and everything in between, the company said.
“Grand Rapids Chair Co. has completely redone its entire portfolio over the past seven years,” said Dean Jeffery, the company’s creative director. “We made a conscious effort to create a foundation, including chairs and tables for dining spaces, but now it’s time to put our stamp on lounge and outdoor areas.”
Designed by longtime Grand Rapids Chair Co. collaborator Filter Studio, Rita incorporates powder-coated steel frames and rounded edges with an emphasis on comfort. Defined by two angular, intersecting cushions, Rita is meant to be “cozy yet sturdy for productivity and engagement in commercial spaces.”
Available in three variations — a base model with optional arm caps or a 10-inch side table — Rita can hold everything from laptops and notebooks to happy hour cocktails.
“After two years of remote work, we want Rita to attract people to communal spaces, whether it be a café, office or hotel,” Jeffery said. “We love that Rita is designed for comfort, as well as work, conversation and dining. It toes the line between what people love about home and what they need to be productive.”
Following a trend of communal spaces incorporating hybrid indoor-outdoor environments — such as open garage doors and expansive window walls — Rita’s powder-coated steel frame, textured wood-inspired details and cushions are designed to withstand the demands of climate and weather changes.
The chair’s arm caps and side tables are made from ACRE, a sustainable wood alternative composed of discarded rice hulls. Originally intended for exterior siding, ACRE is UV-resistant, pest-resistant and has thermal plastic capabilities. Unlike wood, it will not splinter or rot when exposed to water, according to Grand Rapids Chair Co.
Rita is one of ACRE’s first applications on commercial furniture, the company said.
Rita’s Dri-Fast outdoor-grade foam cushions are meant to capture the look of residential lounge furniture while withstanding the elements. The cushions’ foam has an open-cell structure that doesn’t hold onto moisture or let bacteria grow. The cushions also are velcro-attached and easily can be removed for cleaning or winter storage.
Available in 29 standard powder-coated steel colors (two of which are custom-designed by Grand Rapids Chair Co.) and custom-upholstered with fabrics designed by partnered textile mills, Rita can be mid-century modern, ’90s retro or Scandinavian modern with a different combination of colors and patterns. Rita’s optional ACRE features also are available in 11 stains, including wood-grain-inspired options.
“Rita’s basic form lets designers personalize and manipulate it to be different in every installation,” Jeffery said. “Its flexibility and malleability allow designers to make Rita their own, making sure that no two seats will be exactly alike.”
Rita is designed and made to order in Grand Rapids. The lounge chair meets Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) standards and has a six-week lead time once fabric arrives at the Grand Rapids Chair Co. factory.
Standard Rita Lounge Seats start at $2,100, Rita with the ACRE table attachments are an additional $1,350, and Rita with ACRE arm caps are $2,350.
More information is online.
meet the team
We’re inspired by diverse design perspectives, innovation, technology, art, and the world around us. We live for the chance to create and disperse powerful, genuine messages that resonate.
amy golden
principal
amy@paxsonfay.com
Growing up in Seattle, Amy was always exploring the great outdoors but she found a particular thrill in traveling. During a visit to New York City at age 10, she knew that was where she wanted to live. After high school she left her home in the Pacific Northwest behind for the great unknown to attend Fordham University in the Bronx. Upon graduation, Amy received a phone call from CNN offering a job opportunity of a lifetime working in television ad sales at Manhattan's Time Warner Center. When a job opportunity in Los Angeles opened up a few years later, Amy couldn't say no to a new adventure back on the west coast. But Seattle eventually called her back home and Amy returned to pursue a Master's degree in Business Administration with the hopes of learning the skills she needed to feed her entrepreneurial spirit. Before graduating, Amy co-founded Paxson Fay with Tessa Andrews in 2015. Amy focuses on marketing strategy, public relations, social media, and partnerships.
tessa franchini
principal
tessa@paxsonfay.com
Tessa graduated from Fordham University in New York with a dual bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. During her time at Fordham, she worked for an interior designer and at NBC News where she developed her love for both design and communications. After graduating, Tessa managed marketing at 3form, a pioneer in the sustainable building products industry. During her tenure, 3form was repeatedly named one of the most recognized manufacturers in the design industry among architects and designers, and the company won multiple awards for its innovative product launches. After 3form, Tessa consulted on marketing efforts with leading product manufacturers in architecture and design before starting Paxson Fay with Amy.
colby wood
account executive
colby@paxsonfay.com
After graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a handful of marketing and PR internships, Colby moved to Boston to manage marketing for a small, women-owned, creative consulting agency. While in that role, Colby managed public relations and marketing efforts for some of Boston's most prominent events and public art initiatives, including the Boston Pickle Fair and The Bulfinch Crossing Projections in downtown Boston. Colby gained experience crafting brand stories and identities through social media marketing and creative copywriting, seen through the successful launch of a premier Massachusetts adult-use dispensary and the revamp of her agency's own website. After two years, Colby decided it was time to figure out what the West Coast was all about. Looking to blend her marketing experience with her passion for design and architecture, Colby found Paxson Fay, where she focuses on social media strategy and management and public relations.
stasha vincent
communications specialist
stasha@paxsonfay.com
Originally from Spokane, Washington, Stasha relocated to Seattle after completing her studies in communications at Eastern Washington University. Over the past seven years, she has held various communication roles at Amazon, specializing in crisis communication and brand reputation. In June of 2023, Stasha joined Paxson Fay as a Communications Specialist, providing her with the opportunity to blend her communications expertise with her passion for design. Stasha focuses on PR efforts for a variety of clients at Paxson Fay.
zoe mcphail
communications coordinator
zoe@paxsonfay.com
From San Francisco, California, Zoe moved to Seattle, Washington to pursue her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington. She graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science. Shortly after graduation from UW, Zoe hopped across the pond to pursue her Master of Science in Urban Economics and Real Estate Finance at the London School of Economics. Focusing on Sustainable Development, she found herself drawn to adaptive reuse and preservation projects in the world of architecture and design. Building on prior marketing and social media experience, Zoe returned to the PNW in July of 2023 to work on social media strategy and content creation for clients at Paxson Fay.
martina povolo
communications assistant
martina@paxsonfay.com
Martina joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern when she was a senior at the University of Washington. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications, Martina is now continuing with the team as a Communications Assistant. During her time at UW, Martina worked as the Special Sections Editor at the university’s newspapers where she won multiple awards for her front page spreads. Looking to blend her minors in real estate and environmental science with her focus in communications, Martina is passionate and excited to join the Paxson Fay team.
We are looking for a star communications specialist to join our team, leading creative brands in their communications efforts across platforms. Click here to read more.
what we do
We are a communications firm founded in our passion for good design. Our unique approach to marketing and public relations in the architecture and design community has elevated our clients work to the next level. We’re backed by a talented community of creatives. From copywriters to social media experts, we provide a complete package of customized services. We strive to create a personal experience with each client, integrating teams and tackling your biggest marketing and public relations challenges from a high level. Then we help execute those plans ensuring lots of reporting along the way, with lots of coffee breaks in between because we’re from Seattle and that’s what we do.
marketing
marketing strategy
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e-mail blasts
public relations
media strategy
content production
media communications and outreach
awards: strategy, content development and submissions
social
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targeted campaigns
results + reporting
advertising
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budget strategy + negotiation
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Here is a little taste of who we love to work with and what we love to do.