The Lille sofa, model 4600 was designed in 1946 by Danish architect Finn Juhl.

The hand sewn Lille sofa, a 1946 design by Danish architect Finn Juhl,  was designed during Juhl’s Picasso period, though he was equally as inspired by Henry Moore and Hans Arp. Such was the designer’s mindset in 1946, when the average home in the US cost $5,600 and the average wage was $2,500 per year.

Juhl, no doubt, envisioned the Lille sofa as a signature piece. Keeping that in mind, I took to the interwebs again to discover what else was happening in interiors across the United States and abroad to accent it during that time, and to find some perspective on what was being talked about, pondered, laughed about and debated in living rooms the world over.

Here’s what I found.

On the Coffee Table

A lacquered 1940′s Paul Frankl cocktail table, available through Downtown.

Making newspaper headlines in 1946, the Central Intelligence Agency is set up under the Truman Administration. The war is over, though a new threat is on the horizon, what Winston Churchill calls the “Iron Curtain” during his famous speech in Fulton, Missouri.

Also on the front page, a two-day prison riot in Alcatraz leaves five dead.

On the Telephone

Made by Sweden’s Ericsson, features a rugged rotary dial and heavy Bakelite handle.

Millions of joyous phone calls go out this year with, what else? Baby news. Truman officially declares an end to hostilities with Germany during a December 31^st address, marking the next wave in American society. An estimated 78.3 million Americans are born during the Baby Boom, which kicks off in 1946.

On the Radio

Boob tube? In 1946, most Americans were still getting their news and entertainment from the radio.

RCA begins production of the first television set manufactured after the war. About 10,000 units are sold by the end of the year at an atmospheric price of $352.

The radio remains very much in vogue, where news of the first transcontinental round-trip flight can be heard. Also on the airwaves, a young Jackie Robinson debuts as 2^nd baseman for the Montreal Royals and the University of Tennessee refuses to play Duquesne U, because a black player might take to the court.

Lounging About

Designers Charles and Ray Eames established their legendary relationship with Herman Miller this year with the Eames Walnut Plywood Lounge Chair.

How scandalous! During the Paris runway shows, a daring two-piece bathing suit is debuted. They call it the bikini, named after Bikini Atoll, an island in the South Pacific where the new atomic bomb is being tested.

A new group called Weight Watchers also forms this year. Coincidence? Yeah, right.

Writing Home

Paul Laszlo student’s desk in bleached mahogany.

In the architect’s homeland, The Dutch Society for Sexual Reform (NVSH) is formed, stepping out way ahead of its time by promoting the sexual emancipation of both men and women, straight and gay alike. In Kielce, Poland, a mob of local townsfolk and politicians initiate a mass murder on Jews, shocking the international community. As a result, many of the remaining Jewish-Polish Holocaust survivors flee the country.

Such was the year in vintage, 1946. The world has changed a lot since then – our freedoms, the family structure, definitions of modesty – but certain design treasures remain forever stylish, and illuminating.

1940′s Vintage Beehive Spun Aluminum Tripod Floor Lamps.

Images: Bo Bedre; Downtown; Retro Housewife; galessa’s plastics; Best of Design; Design for Men

If you can score an ergonomic Herman Miller computer chair (above) for a reasonable price at Costco, there’s no excuse to be torturing your body at home or at work.

A good chair is not hard to find. And it no longer costs an arm and a leg. A bad one promotes bad posture and pain, and could be your downfall when trying to be productive. Think about how much those aches and pains block the creative pathways of the old noggin!

Sitting too forward in your seat is the number one way to injure your back and neck, since you aren’t getting the support you need. These days, good task chairs are widely available, including the classic Herman line which began selling two designs directly to shoppers last fall through 400 Costco Wholesale Corp. warehouses and the  company’s website, Costco.com.

The Equa office chairs, first introduced 24 years ago by the Grand Rapids, Mi. company, are sold in fabric or leather, and sized for medium or large occupants. They are  available in basic black from $320 for fabric to $660 for a large leather chair with polished aluminum base.

A smaller scale but fully recyclable Caper Multipurpose chair comes in three colors and sells at the store for $293. It lists for $600 and currently sells at Herman Miller retailer Sit4less.com  for $579 delivered.

Although in-store options are likely to be limited to one variation, shoppers who want a broader choice of colors in the Caper or larger size of Equa could order those from Costco’s Web site.

The good news is these chairs are not only ergonomic but also made using renewable energy in a LEED-certified factory. They also contain 21% recycled content – including 15% post-consumer waste, and all components are 100% recyclable.

Here are some other good options to keep you sitting upright so that your brilliance can flow:

The Humanscale Freedom Chair from Simply Egonomic

The fabric is green in more ways than one. It’s also eco-friendly. The Freedom chair is designed with a minimum number of manually-adjusted controls. Once the chair is fitted, no further adjustment is required. The idea is that movement, which is essential for a healthy body, shouldn’t be constricted by locking mechanisms and manual controls. It has won all kinds of awards in Canada for its ergonomic features and runs about $800.

The Heavy Duty Chair from Ergonomic Home

Much cheaper at around $387 (less $80 for the armless) this chair is big on comfort and sustainability: materials include 93% reclaimed steel, 90% recycled plastic/nylon and glues are a new HVOC-free, water-based glue developed by 3M. The Eco-system/performance upholstery is 100% recycled.

All Bodybilt High Back Chair from Ergogenesis

A contoured neckroll adds head and neck support to this handsome, comfy chair with good upper and lower back support. It also offers a 10-Point Posture Control adjustment to target stressful aches and pains which the maker argues is so often escalated by inferior chairs. The model promotes proper posture with the weight distribution on the surface once you make contact.