The New York Times
Shopping Guide Outdoor Furniture
May 5, 2016

Soraya Osorio

Ave Chaise design by Soraya Osorio – Todd Merrill

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Shopping Guide Outdoor Furniture

By The New York Times | May 4, 2016

The interior designer Samuel Amoia lives in Manhattan, but these days his thoughts often stray to the beach. That’s because one of his largest projects is Itz’ana, a resort and residential development in Belize opening later this year.

The design is a mix of Spanish and British colonial styles and “a beach vibe” that celebrates indoor-outdoor living, said Mr. Amoia, 33, who worked for the hotelier André Balazs and the designer Stephen Sills before founding his own company in 2012. “Every room has an outdoor chaise, sofa and dining table.”
But when it comes to relaxing outside, he added, it’s the chaise longue that matters most.

Mr. Amoia isn’t doing much relaxing himself these days. In addition to his work in Belize, he just introduced a collection of furniture at DeLorenzo Gallery in New York, and will receive a Rising Talent award atMaison&Objet Americas, the design fair running from May 10 to 13 in Miami Beach. But for those who do have time to relax, Mr. Amoia offered a few tips on choosing an outdoor chaise longue.

• Think about how you’ll use your outdoor space. If it will be both a social gathering space and a place for sunbathing, you need a chaise that offers an upright sitting position and can also function as a bench when flat.

• Do you plan to move the chaise around? If so, weight is a consideration — and wheels are desirable.

• How much maintenance are you willing to do? Some chaise longues need more cleaning and upkeep than others, and some also require covers when not in use.

The Curveball

Ave Chaise | from $18,000 at Todd Merrill; (212) 673-0531 or : toddmerrillstudio.com

“This is not something you’d lie in to relax for a long time,” Mr. Amoia said, but as a sculptural element, it would add excitement to a backyard. “It would be great in a garden.” Designed by Soraya Osorio, it is suitable for outdoor use in aluminum or with a powder-coated finish.

Todd Merrill Studio
80 Lafayette Street
New York NY 10013
Phone: 212 673 0531
Website: www.ToddMerrillStudio.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Instagram: @ToddMerrillStudio
Todd Merrill Summer Studio
11 South Main Street
Southampton, NY 11968
Phone: 631 259 3601