This armchair by Leolux LX brings a smile to the room

With a list of celebrated clients reading like a veritable who’s who of the international furniture industry, designer Martin Ballendat’s illustrious 40-year career has brought him over 150 design awards. Even with countless memorable accomplishments stuffed into his little black sketchbook, however, his LXR18 chair for Dutch brand Leolux LX, is something a little bit different. A chair of two halves, LXR18 makes a feature of customisable piping that segregates the seat and back sections, and gives the chair its identifiable ‘smile’.

Along with so many of Ballendat’s recent works, the LXR18 chair came to life in the designer’s studio, overlooking Austria’s Attersee lake. ‘There I am alone and can design, sketch and think in peace.’ muses Ballendat, of his artistic sanctuary. ‘LXR18 is an armchair for relaxing and lounging. Perfect for a resting area in an office or public space’, describes the designer, ‘But in my opinion, it also fits perfectly in the consumer’s living room at home.’

‘Above all, I was looking for a shape that could be easily integrated into interior spaces. This armchair doesn’t need a wall to lean against. The round shape works best in open spaces. Especially in large, modern rooms with open architecture. That’s why I gave it a timeless shape, a kind of modern, compact club chair.’ he explains.

With more contract design briefs asking for ‘homes away from home’, Leolux LX’s smiling LXR18 chair – with its optional and functional oak writing tablet and compact, lightweight form – is designed for contract sitting with living spaces in mind, creating comfort-first settings for office, hospitality and public environments.

The made-to-order chair can be upholstered in any fabric or leather, but here is prominently covered by Leolux LX in the fabric Passion by Gabriel.

© Architonic