If I was stuck on a deserted island and could only have one piece of furniture I’d pick a... chaise lounge of course! This ingenious piece of furniture can work inside or out, can be a seat, lounger or bed with an unlimited number of styles, materials and accessories.  This lounge’s rich history dates back originally to Egyptian times and many ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman works of art depict gods or royalty enjoying a Chaise lounge. It’s a common image to see Cleopatra relaxing on a chaise lounge while servants do her bidding. The modern chaise lounge is credited to the French, who named it the Chaise Longue, which translates to ‘long-chair’.  The French word ‘longue’ was commonly, but incorrectly referred to in English as ‘lounge’ and the name has stuck.  What was once reserved for gods and royalty is now available to mere mortals.  I’ve picked a few modern, high-end chaise lounge to show-off and if you can afford them they will make you feel like a modern emperor or empress relaxing pool-side in their palace.

Choe, by MYYOUR

 What makes this simple design stand-out from similar chaise lounge is the vibrant mono-block colors.  The wide range of shades can come in glossy, embossed or imitation-leather versions, so you are sure to find one to match or contrast your setting.  I definitely see this chaise lounge being popular with luxury boutique hotels and beach clubs across the Mediterranean.  This chair looks slick inside or out, but it is water-proof and UV resistant making it very low maintenance.

Leaf, by Dedon

 This stylish, organic lounger uses a natural shape to provide the ultimate in a relaxation.  The leaf comes in two sizes, several natural shades, with a matching leaf side-table and a comfy, breathable cotton pad to cover it as well.  Dedon was just given the award for “Outstanding Design” by the British Interior Design Association.

Zofa, by Dedon

 Another superb lounger by Dedon, the Zofa goes for a minimalist design and does it perfectly.  The timeless style of this model is matched by the quality of its craftsmanship and materials.  Utilizing high-end fibers, this lounger can take up to a week to complete and is made completely by hand, making it unique to itself as well.

Fatback, by Nendo

 While the Nendo brand is known for its unusual furniture designs, the Fatback caught my eye with its Asian-inspired design, taking influence from the Thai triangle pillow. It is created from woven resin and comes with a matching seat and footrest. The ‘fatback’ part of the lounger is actually hollow and is used to store the mattress and pillows when not in use.  

Check out the posts below for more modern funiture:

Luxury beds take the spa into your bedroom [via posterous]

How to look like you known how to decorate a room [via diyalogue]

The Edge that Modern Italian Furniture gives any Room [via blog.com]

 does your living room need a modern touch [via ezine]

 Michael Jackson’s custom furniture sold at auction [via publr]