Photo courtesy of Mike Rataczak
The Tastemaker: With clients nationwide, Minneapolis-based designer Mike Rataczak is resolute in his belief that clients should meet themselves when they enter their home—that spaces should reflect the best of their inhabitants. He favors mixing natural materials and contemporary design with older pieces, and he loves the interplay of old and new when curated together.
The Object: Designed in 1957 (and still in production!) by Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha for São Paulo’s Paulistano Athletic Club, the Paulistano Armchair is modern, elegant, and functional all at once. Despite its spare look, the Paulistano Armchair—with a frame made from a continuous, 17-foot piece of solid steel wrapped in a full leather hide—is remarkably comfortable, adding a timeless verve to any room.
In His Words: “The Paulistano Armchair, like its frame, is very flexible and works within so many different architectural spaces,” Rataczak says. “I’ve seen it used in 19th- and 21st-century rooms, and it always looks right. I also love the use of rich leather that gains patina over time—it’s a beautiful and classic balance with the simplicity of the chair’s steel frame. The Paulistano is living proof of the relevance of classic midcentury design—and it’s also just a terrific and groovy chair.”
