I was searching for a recliner that was a chair and 1/2. Found just a few very nice looking ones similar to club chairs, but much larger. Problem for DH was that when they were reclined, there was NO lower back support. Almost as if the "back dropped out" of them, if you know what I mean. He decided he wouldn't settle for anything but a La-z-boy (the back goes way down into the seat of the chair). We ended up with the model "Dalton". Definately not the prettiest thing, but better than the old fashioned recliners, I guess. It's LARGE. But I'm not sure if the back height is what your looking for. You can also do a search for a "big man's recliner". There are several on the market(the actual brand escapes me) and the height is definately what you're looking for. Again, we just didn't like the craftsmanship.

This is what my DH wanted (the big chair which reclines). I preferred an ottoman, however my chair needed to go with his chair. The back of mine reclines, but I don't use that feature often. You guessed it, both are LazBoy in merlot glove leather. Very comfy and these chairs have been in use for 5 years now.

Thanks for your response, superchick. I'll try doing a search for big man chairs. Who knew?

Wonbyherwits, Thanks for your response and photo. I think they look great together. I didn't know that they make back-reclining chairs.

I should have been clearer that we're looking for a chair and ottoman at this point. I have nothing against recliners, but we've found that the recliners that DH has test-driven are just too short, leaving his lower legs dangling. (They're also short in terms of how high the back is.)

We also realized that unless it's a special design, we would require too much clearance room behind it when the chair reclines. We're putting the chair in front of a french door and the last thing we'll need is having a chair recline through the door.

I have found some nice looking chairs at LaZ-Boy and Mitchell-Gold, but they didn't have matching ottomans. We had found one at a store ages ago. It was made by Bradington-Young, but I think the scale would throw off everything else planned for the room.

We have two Barcalounger recliners that have high backs and lower back support. They feel sturdy and still look new after a full year though we use them constantly. And we have four dogs that are always trying to sneak up there. So the leather is good.

There are many, many sizes, heights, widths, brands and configurations available in armchairs and recliners. Just go to some stores and try them out. It's a fairly individual decision.

Take a look at American Leather too. That's where I found a chair for DH. (Recliner....ugh!)

We have tried the stores and have even looked at all the American Leather chairs and recliners. I loved one but DH thought it wasn't comfy. (He wants to say "Ahhhh!"--his words; not mine.)

The AL Tucker model had a high enough back, and the home theater grouping is high enough too, but we would prefer a more traditional look, and only one (not three!)

Thanks for your help though.

I'm bumping this because I'm so tired of shopping . . .

Have you found anything yet......and have you looked at 'all' the stores, including the high-end stores?
Barcalounger makes several high backed chairs with ottomans. Another style chair that I find comfortable is the wingbacked chairs, but I usually find that most chairs with ottomans are not really made for 'relaxing' in since there's little back support once you place your legs on the ottoman.

Maybe dh should try just sitting in all the chairs until he finds one he likes, then have an ottoman made to match. Another option, if he intends to always have his legs supported, is a chaise lounge

Here is a link that might be useful: barcalounger

Thanks for bumping this up annz.

We have looked at two local high-end stores, one that had the American Leather (no luck there), and the other had the Bradington-Young. That chair plus ottoman was over $3000. I thought that was high but haven't found anything else as comfy--besided the more modern Swedish chair that DH tried out an fell in love with.

I didn't look at Henredon or Thomasville, or Masins yet. And I haven't checked out the showrooms at the design center.

Is BarcaLounger a brand? I like the looks of those chairs but the info says that there's nothing there over 38" high. DH is definitely going to have to test-drive these puppies.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Yes, it's a brand name. I have one that I found in a Relax-the-Back' store and love it!

Below is a site for their large scale chairs. I believe they're recliners but may be worth looking at.

Here is a link that might be useful: barcalounger

Well I dragged DH to Costco Home last night. I was returning some rugs and thought it would be a good place to try out some chairs. There was a BarcaLounger recliner that was comfortable but too short for DH. (Foot part hits him mid-calf.)

Interestingly there was a wingback chair by Harden that had some hope. DH thought it was comfortable but didn't want to be pressured. Costco had it in a subtle brown glen plaid with red accent--not the bigger plaid shown on the Harden site. In fabric is was $1500. In leather it was $2500, which seemed lower than what I had seen in the stores.

I looked at the Harden site and there were a few chairs that seemed to have the right dimensions so there may be some hope. I especially like this one:

http://www.harden.com/frames/details.aspx?f_type=category&id=11&style=9458000

(Sorry but how do you put the link right in the text?) Of course, neither chair has a matching ottoman but it's a start.

Here is a link that might be useful: Harden chair, #9447