Fatboy Introduces Color Changing Chairs, A Lamp & Hot Water Bottle Pillow

Fatboy, whose products I have not been a huge fan of in the past ( see... "Fatboy. Great Furniture Or This Decade's Bean Bag Chairs?") have added some interesting designs to their products making them more appealing to me - and probably you.

Fatboy, if you don't already know, is the Dutch company that designs and sells colored and Marimekko covered bean bag items for adults, children and pets as well as hammocks and ottomans (or poufs as they've come to be called) that work indoors and out. They also sell bags.



At the 2009 Maison et Objet show they introduced some new items to their collection; the Djeksuns, the Edison Grand Lamp and the Desswerrum, a pillow that functions as a hot water bottle.

Djeksuns:
The new Fatboy Djeksun is made with an exclusive and stylish fabric that has the cool effect of changing color when your own bodyweight stretches the surface of the fabric.

Available in three styles, the bean bag chairs are hilariously named after members of the Jackson Family- a nod to their own 'color-changing' skin.

The LaToya:

The Janet:

The Michael:


Not yet available in their online store, they plan to start selling them in November. However, they are already available for purchase here.


Also a new addition to their line is Edison The Grand, a giant lamp:



With its oversized body this lamp displays a robust elegance even when unlit and it doesn't require a table to stand on to do so. This lamp stands perfectly by and the no nonsense finishing and aesthetics makes this object suitable for both indoors and outdoors.

And coming in 2010, the Desswerrum, a refillable hot water bottle/pillow to keep you cozy:


Shop Fatboy products here.

Now, here's my idea of a truly luxurious "bean bag" chair:

Check out the natural cowskin cowch here.

Fatboy. Great Furniture Or This Decade's Bean Bag Chairs?

If you're not familiar with Fatboy, you either never shop for modern furniture, have never read an online design blog or you live under a rock.

Fatboy, which has a fabulous name and a logo eerily similar to Levis (the vertical red tag sewn onto the item) began with one item, appropriately named The Fatboy. Not unlike a bean bag chair from days gone past, this was a rectangular blob of sorts, foam filled and came in fun bright colors.

Okay, I got that. Great for kids' rooms, basements, the occasional "fun' office work environment for places like ad agencies and design firms that fancy themselves "hip". I even thought it was great fun that Marimekko got on board with their fabrics.

But somehow, it's blown up into a big ol' trend. They now make everything from Fatboy Junior to ottomans, pet beds, and have just introduced a rocking chair and a hammock.



Now people seem to be jumping on this foam-filled bandwagon like I can't believe. Am I missing something? Aren't these just large, fairly ugly, cheap-looking products? Or are they icons of design?




I do love both the pet beds for cats and dogs because they make wonderful sense. Comfortable, spongy and washable. But their products for humans are costly. These aren't sold for 45$ each like the old bean bag chairs of lore, but instead are hundreds of dollars.

Are they worth it? I can't help but feel like they'll appear in hundreds of homes and offices this year only to be seen left in back alleys near trash cans and crack houses five years from now, just like those bean bag chairs with little white styrofoam balls spilling out from the seams.

Call me a snob, but their newest items, the rocker and hammock just look ugly to me.

Will I be purchasing a fatboy? Fat chance. But what about you? What do you think?