Steve Chase lived in and worked out of Palm Springs, California, but he created luxury spaces and furniture for projects that took shape all over the world. A consummate art collector and brilliant interior designer, Chase was involved in every aspect of the rooms he designed and attracted many high-profile clients, including Gerald and Betty Ford, Farrah Fawcett and Gene Hackman.
Chase was born in New Hampshire and attended the Rhode Island School of Design as well as the ArtCenter in Los Angeles. After completing his studies, he joined Arthur Elrod and Associates — a celebrated Palm Springs-based firm that created colorful interiors and furniture for a range of Hollywood stars and more during the height of the mid-century modern era. Chase worked with Elrod for more than a decade before establishing his own business in 1980.
Chase designed his furniture to meet the sensibilities and personalities of his clients, and his work ranged from the traditional to the tastefully unconventional. While he created sculptural brass side tables that boast striking brutalist forms, there were also understated chrome-framed coffee tables with fossil shell tops. For his seating, Chase’s palette ranged from bright pastels to modest earth tones, and his vintage sofas are known for their signature tufted-channel backrests and seats. The plush cushioning was most prevalent in his Monterey seating collection of chairs, sectionals and sofas manufactured by the firm Martin Brattrud Inc., which produced most of Chase's designs during the 1970s and '80s.
Chase supported a number of charitable organizations and strongly advocated for the Desert AIDS Project (DAP), a volunteer-led initiative to combat the HIV epidemic in Coachella Valley. He lent his design talents to improve their office space, and used his influence with celebrities to enlist their help on the project. Chase also joined the Contemporary Art Council Acquisitions Committee at the Palm Springs Art Museum and eventually bequeathed more than 130 works to the institution when he passed away in 1994.
In 1996, the DAP created the annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards to honor him. Today he is remembered for his humanitarian giving as often he is for his furniture designs and lively interiors.
On 1stDibs, explore an array of vintage Steve Chase chairs, tables and lighting.
Sculptural Faux Stone and Lacquer Cabinet by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful sculptural 1980s faux green slate and silver lacquer cabinet by Steve Chase. The cabinet has four doors, the two centre ones open up to expose a drawer on the top and a a...
Lacquer
Wall-Mounted Cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare and unusual wall-mounted cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell in walnut. Drawers on one side with piano hinge bi-fold doors on the other side, with adjustable shelves inside. Great...
$6,901 / item
H 45.28 in W 60.24 in D 20.08 in
Basalto cabinet, in green ash wood by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
By Mauro Accardi & Silvia Buccheri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
A journey through the ancient history of earth, to search the origin of earth’s surface creation. Most of the oceanic crust is made up of an incredibly resistant volcanic rock: basalt. This rock is generated by the rapid cooling of the lava flows, basalt is often visible in its columnar conformation, examples are visible all over the world, spectacular formations with an artificial appearance. Basalto is a collection of containers inspired by the sculptural ability of nature itself, it consists of two monolithic cabinets...
Brass
$7,059 / item
H 45.28 in W 60.24 in D 20.08 in
Basalto cabinet, in pink lacquered wood by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
By Mauro Accardi & Silvia Buccheri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
A journey through the ancient history of earth, to search the origin of earth’s surface creation. Most of the oceanic crust is made up of an incredibly resistant volcanic rock: basalt. This rock is generated by the rapid cooling of the lava flows, basalt is often visible in its columnar conformation, examples are visible all over the world, spectacular formations with an artificial appearance. Basalto is a collection of containers inspired by the sculptural ability of nature itself, it consists of two monolithic cabinets...
Brass
$23,288 / item
H 32 in W 72 in D 20 in
Connect Credenza Cabinet or Sideboard Customizable in Steel and Aged Brass
By Henry Norris, New Format Studio
Located in Vancouver, BC
The Connect Credenza is designed to express the processes by which the piece is created, with visible construction and fastening details that are inte...
Brass, Steel
$30,363
H 76.78 in W 43.31 in D 21.66 in
Mid-Century Modern Style Saqris Cabinet, Black and Brass, Handmade by Greenapple
By Greenapple, Rute Martins
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mid-Century Modern Saqris Cabinet, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Saqris cabinet draws inspiration from the cultural heritage of Portug...
Onyx, Quartz, Travertine, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
$74,900Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 72 in D 21.5 in
Paul Evans Sculptural Art Metal Cabinet Model 'PE-40A', Signed & Dated 1974
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exceptional and monumental cabinet, model PE-40A, designed by American sculptor and furniture master Paul Evans for Directional, signed and dated 1974. This important example repr...
Slate, Steel
$8,904 / item
H 49.61 in W 63 in D 18.12 in
Milione Cabinet, in Canaletto Walnut and Brass, by DebonaDemeo for Medulum
By Debonademeo
Located in Meolo, Venezia
The famous travel tales by Marco Polo, entitled Il Milione, relate the story of Venice encountering the Orient, whose cultural influences found their highest expression in architectu...
Brass
$12,850 / set
H 21 in W 32 in D 15 in
Wall Mounted Cabinets by Finn Juhl for Baker, Walnut and Birch, Great Condition
By Baker Furniture Company, Finn Juhl
Located in Kansas City, MO
Set of six wall mount cabinets / wall unit designed by Finn Juhl and manufactured by Baker, 1950s. The entire set is in very good condition, Beautiful grain pattern in the walnut doo...
Birch, Walnut
Walnut and Ebony Rare Sculptural Dutch Art Deco Sideboard
Located in Antwerp, BE
Sideboard; Credenza; Amsterdamse School; Dutch Design; Art Deco; Walnut; Ebony; Walnut and Ebony Rare Sculptural Dutch Art Deco Sideboard ...
Ebony, Walnut
$6,539 / item
H 34.45 in W 98.43 in D 15.75 in
Diago cabinet, in oak wood and brass, by DebonaDemeo for Medulum
By Debonademeo
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Diago’s design finds his inspiration from the industrial archeology of the late nineteenth century transforming his features into a vaguely eclectic stylistic code. The diagonal rhythm of the reticular structures used by Gustave Eiffel...
Brass
Oak and Leather Inverness Media Cabinet by Lawson-Fenning
By Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The inverness media cabinet features two drawers with solid carved handles, adjustable shelves, grommet holes and a sliding leather door with a solid brass handle. Available in Ameri...
Brass
$4,297Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.12 in W 55.12 in D 19.69 in
Pierre Cardin Black Lacquer and Teak Drawer Cabinet, Postmodern Credenza, 1970's
By Pierre Cardin
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pierre Cardin; French Design; Black lacquer; Teak drawer; Cabinet; Credenza; Pierre Cardin sideboard in black lacquered wood and teak. This item is provided with two doors on each...
Teak, Lacquer
Pair of Lacquered and Bronze Nightstands by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A spectacular pair of 1990s off white lacquered oak and bronze hardware nightstands by Steve Chase. The nightstands are well constructed of out of oakwood that’s custom lacquered off...
Bronze
Oak and Rosewood Credeza by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A spectacular custom made credenza design in the 1980’s by Steve Chase for a project in Mission Hill Country Club. The credenza is constructed of oak and rosewood veneer with polish ...
Chrome
Sold
H 106 in W 31 in D 45 in
Custom Large Chrome Cabinet by Steve Chase and Philip Socola, circa 1980
By Steve Chase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Invest in a piece of design history with this monumental chrome cabinet designed and commissioned by Steve Chase and built by Philip Socola, a cutting edge custom cabinets and furnit...
Chrome
Sold
H 89.5 in W 66 in D 18.5 in
Custom Large Room Divider by Steve Chase from Chase Designed Home, circa 1980
By Steve Chase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Invest in a piece of design history with this grandly scaled room divider by Steve Chase. Recently procured from an extraordinary coastal clifftop home in Laguna Beach which was custom designed in its entirety by prolific Southern California based designer Steve Chase. Work on the house began in the early 1980s and was expanded and completed by the end of that decade. Chase performed as the interior designer as well as being involved in the construction phase from start to finish. Every piece of furniture, built-in cabinetry, millwork, hearth, and shelving was custom-made to fit precisely to the home, featuring a generous amount of Lucite, which Chase was well-known for incorporating in his work, including an impressive three- inch thick solid Lucite banister running up a curved stairwell. The owners developed a close friendship with Chase and they traveled together on numerous occasion. This custom room partition...
Chrome
Vintage Lacquered Dresser by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing polished lacquered dresser designed by Steve Chase. Features six pull-out drawers and brass details throughout the piece.
Brass
Lattice Front Armoire by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Lattice front armoire by Steve Chase. The armoire was custom designed for an Indian Wells estate completely designed by Mr. Chase. The lattice front pa...
Mirror, Wood
Pair of Tall Grass Cloth Étagerès by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful pair of tall ètagerès designed by Steve Chase. The tall grass cloth covered ètagerès have an airy open feel each having three stationary glass shelves. One ètagerè has t...
Glass, Grasscloth
Pair of End Cabinets of Wood, with Travertine Tops, by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Impressive pair of end cabinets by Steve Chase. The cabinets have a single large drawer with an open area underneath. They have been finished in...
Travertine
Large Custom Cabinet by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Large custom display cabinet by Designer Steve Chase. The cabinet has a soft grey / green lacquered finish which has a mirrored back interior with adjustable 1/ 2" glass shelves and...
Glass, Mirror
Grass Cloth Cabinet by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Vertical custom cabinet by interior designer by Steve Chase. This elegant cabinet has been wrapped in grass cloth and has an open back. Three shelves have glass inserts illuminated ...
Wood