Desk Chairs and the Gender Divide

Pretty vs. functional, can't we have both?! I have been itching for new desk chairs since we moved in almost a year and a half ago.  I mean it, literally itching.  The current ones absorb cat hair like it's their job.  Our Dyson is powerless against their hair-grabbing abilities.  They were a great deal when Hubby and I first moved in together (prior to kittens): 1/2 price at IKEA, for $15 a chair, we couldn't beat the price.  Now, the desk chairs are the first thing you see as you walk up the stairs & cheap IKEA 'good enough' chairs are no longer 'good enough' for me.

I've been telling Hubby this for a while, but I just haven't bit the bullet and bought anything.  A while back, I had shown him some un-upholstered chairs that I thought were cool, but he requested something comfy.  I can handle comfy- my mind went straight to upholstered 'dining' chairs or side chairs.  So, a few months ago, I saw these chairs on Joss and Main and thought they'd be absolutely perfect.

When I showed them to the Hubs, he suddenly proclaimed his desire for a swiveling task chair on casters.  I had to swallow my initial disgust, though... for some strange reason, he doesn't like it when I balk at his design ideas (no, I will NOT allow a bird bath in my yard).  Anywho, the office is carpeted, casters don't work well, but the bigger issue here is: task chairs are f'ugly!!!  Pardon my french.  I understand the functionality and ergonomics if you're going to be sitting in a chair 40+ hours a week, but task chairs still aren't pretty.  Not even close.  Ok, I'll admit there are some well-designed task chairs that I can appreciate, but generally the ones that don't make my retinas burn, make my wallet cry instead.  Prior to living with me, Hubby used a Jimmy Buffet-inspired directors chair as his desk chair, so I know his sensitive rear end doesn't require a scientifically engineered task chair.

Side chairs can be comfy and pretty.  Allow me to demonstrate.

In the end, I win... (Not that Hubby conceded, it was more like me trying to discuss the enthralling topic of desk chairs while he was trying to concentrate on Draw Something, and gave me the standard "Whatever you want, Babe, I trust you")

*Maniacal Laugh*  Now I just have to decide- do I stick with my initial gut and go with this one?  (which is back on sale again on Joss and Main)

or do I go a little more traditional and cushy with this one? (which is also on sale in the same place)