You know those material swatch books at fabric stores where every color fan out in perfect rainbow order? Designer Fatih Demirci apparently looked at one and thought, “What if that was a chair?” The result is the Kartela Chair, a concept design that turns the humble material sample into something you’d actually want to sit on.
Let’s be real. Most furniture design either plays it safe with neutrals or goes so wild that you’d only see it in a modern art museum. The Kartela Chair manages to walk this delightful line between practical and playful. Looking at it feels like stumbling upon a design secret, where function meets whimsy in the most unexpected way.
Designer: Fatih Demirci
The concept is brilliantly simple yet visually striking. The chair features layers upon layers of cushioned upholstery stacked together, creating this incredible rainbow effect along the edges. Each layer represents a different color or texture, much like flipping through pages in a designer’s sample book. It’s the kind of thing that makes you do a double take. From one angle, you see a sophisticated seating piece with a clean, minimalist frame. From another, you catch those vibrant cascading layers that give it personality and depth.
What really gets me about this design is how it celebrates the materials themselves. Usually, upholstery is hidden away, tucked and stapled underneath where no one sees the construction. Demirci flips that script entirely. Here, the layers become the main event. Every fold, every color transition, every texture is on full display. It’s like the chair is saying, “Hey, look how I’m made, and isn’t it beautiful?”
The Kartela Chair comes in different colorways, which honestly makes it even more fun. There’s a lime green version that practically vibrates with energy, perfect for someone who wants their furniture to make a statement. Then there are softer pastel combinations in lilacs, blues, and creams that feel more serene but still maintain that playful edge. And for those leaning toward earthy vibes, there are warm tones in mustards, tans, and terracottas that bring all that visual interest without overwhelming a space.
The frame itself keeps things grounded. Slim metal legs in either white or black powder coat give the chair an airy, almost floating quality. It’s a smart move. With all that cushioned drama happening above, a heavy base would make the whole thing feel clunky. Instead, the minimal structure lets those colorful layers take center stage while still providing solid support.
From a practical standpoint, this concept is interesting because it challenges how we think about customization. Imagine being able to choose your layer combinations like picking nail polish colors. Want more blues? Go for it. Prefer a monochromatic fade? That works too. The design naturally lends itself to personalization in a way that most furniture doesn’t.
There’s also something nostalgic about the aesthetic. Those tufted buttons on the seat and back cushions give off vintage vibes, like something your cool aunt might have had in her 70s living room, but updated for today. It’s retro without being costume-y, which is a hard balance to strike.
Of course, this is still a concept design, which means we’re looking at rendered images rather than something you can order online tomorrow. But that’s part of what makes furniture concepts so exciting. They push boundaries and make us reconsider what’s possible. Even if the Kartela Chair never makes it to mass production, it’s already done its job by sparking conversation and inspiring other designers to think outside the traditional furniture box. Whether this chair ever graces showroom floors or remains a digital darling, Fatih Demirci has created something that makes people smile. And in the end, isn’t that what good design should do?
The post This Chair Looks Like a Material Swatch Book first appeared on Yanko Design.