Florence Knoll 1954
Stylish, well-proportioned and comfortable, the Florence Knoll Model 31 Lounge Chair typifies Florence Knoll’s architectural eye for design.
A Florence Knoll design
Seventy years since its debut, the Florence Knoll Model 31 speaks effortlessly in a contemporary voice. With its tubular steel bases and thoughtfully scaled cushions, this pedigreed piece has a light visual footprint. It offers a supportive sit with a casual posture, making it a versatile option for the modern home or office.
Scale and proportion
Model 31 exemplifies the kind of approachable seating option that can be scaled up or down as an organization’s needs evolve. Lightweight, strong, and stylish, it can be used to convey a sense of welcome in any context, from office and hospitality settings to the home.
An ideal canvas
Model 31 lends itself easily to different types of upholstery thanks to the rectilinear shape and streamlined construction of its cushions. The ideal opportunity to specify custom textiles, choose from colorful weaves to durable leather and vinyl, all with the high-quality craftsmanship, timeless aesthetics, and historical significance for which Knoll is known.
With her architect’s eye and keen sense of proportion, Florence Knoll knew that furniture could make daily life a well-designed pleasure. She humbly referred to her contributions to the Knoll furniture catalog as its “meat and potatoes,” but she applied smart style to ergonomic principles so deftly that many decades since its inception, her Model 31 and Model 33 speak in a contemporary voice.
Florence Knoll’s experience leading the Knoll Planning Unit led to a holistic understanding of interiors and special attention to scale and proportion in her furniture designs. She understood the importance of comfort and pursued it with the same exacting perfectionism that gave all her designs their trademark precision and style.
The Florence Knoll Model 31 and Model 33 were reissued in late 2023, nearly seventy years since their original debut.
Trained as an architect, Florence Knoll introduced modern notions of efficiency, space planning, and comprehensive design to the interiors she created. She had a holistic understanding of how everything within a space affects the human experience and paid special attention to scale and proportion in her furniture designs. In 1941 she met Hans Knoll and the pair—armed with Florence’s design skills and Hans’ salesmanship—grew a budding company into an international arbiter of design.
For a complete list of applicable upholsteries, please visit the Surface Finish Library.
19492 | Skyline Lounge 120 with Screens
19340 | Knoll Showroom, Design Days 2025
19256 | MillerKnoll San Francisco Showroom with Florence Knoll Model 31 and 33 and Florence Knoll Coffee Tables
19127 | Knoll NYC Showroom with Florence Knoll Model 31 Chairs, Saarinen Lounge Height Table, and Tulip Stools
19108 | Knoll NYC Showroom with Florence Knoll Model 31 Chair and Saarinen Side Table
19107 | Knoll NYC Showroom with Florence Knoll Model 31 Chair and Saarinen Side Table
19106 | Knoll NYC Showroom with Florence Knoll Model 31 Chair and Saarinen Side Table
19097 | MillerKnoll Toronto Showroom with Florence Knoll Model 31 Chair and Saarinen Lounge Height Table
18538 | Florence Knoll Model 31
18537 | Florence Knoll Model 31
18535 | Florence Knoll Model 31
18522 | Florence Knoll Models 31 and 33 with Florence Knoll Coffee Tables
18521 | Florence Knoll Models 31 and 33 with Florence Knoll Coffee Tables
18520 | Florence Knoll Models 31 and 33 with Florence Knoll Coffee Tables
18518 | Florence Knoll Models 31 and 33 with Florence Knoll Coffee Tables
18436 | Saarinen Lounge Height Table with Florence Knoll Model 31 Chairs
18427 | Florence Knoll Models 31 and 33 with Florence Knoll Coffee Table