Classic Pieces: The French Bistro Chair
A European Cafe Chair Finds a Home in Our Kitchens and Dining Rooms
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Add Parisian charm to your kitchen via classic French bistro chairs and the counter stools they have inspired. Their bentwood frames add a natural material, while their woven backs and seats add texture and color. This chair can fit right into vintage modern, traditional, Mediterranean, Provencial or even contemporary rooms.
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While their forms and lines have changed over time, woven seats and backs remain the essential elements of these chairs.
by TK Collections
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Over the years, the material of the woven parts has ranged from reeds from the Nile to plastic. Rattan and rilsan, which comes from a castor oil plant, are the most common materials used today.
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| I snapped these cheerful red and white chairs from my room above them at the Casablanca Inn in St. Augustine, Florida. Atop a brick patio, sidled up to a marble topped table and adjacent to windowboxes full of geraniums, the chairs are at their most charming. |
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| The chairs at Casablanca caught my attention before they started to spread to so many beautiful designed spaces. It made me wonder where designers first saw these chairs and decided to bring them into their clients' homes. |
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| While we associate these chairs with enjoying a chocolate croissant and a cafe au lait in St. Germaine, their roots go back to Egypt. Grasses and reeds from the marshes of the Nile were the original material used in the weaving, and explorers brought the style to the rest of Europe during the reign of the Roman Empire. |
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by Amoroso Design
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| Furniture companies have taken the bistro chair to new heights, creating a counter stool version. Now you can add cafe style to your kitchen islands and breakfast bars. |
| A row of armless counter stools are a perfect fit at this kitchen island. Along with the double-light shaded pendant light fixture and the curved vent hood, they give this kitchen French country character. |
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Bar stool heights are also available. The weaving detail continues down the arms on this version.
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The long legs and woven seat backs add scads of character to this crisp white kitchen. Also, the accent color in the weave picks up on the gray backsplash tiles.
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| The diamond weave on the stools in this kitchen plays off the diamond pattern of the backsplash. |
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by Tervola Designs
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| Of course, the chair does not need to be relegated to the kitchen only. It adds a tropical look to this dressing area in a master bathroom.
TK Collections shares a video of how the chairs are made on their site. It's rather fascinating to watch the whole process, especially the weaving. |
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Here the bistro chair has merged with another to become a loveseat. Interior Designer Rebekah Zaveloff recommends using this as a banquette in a kitchen, which is a wonderful idea.
More cafe and bistro chairs:
Timeless Design: Thonet's Bistro Chair
Modern Icons: the Marais A Chair
Bistro-Inspired Products
More cafe and bistro chairs:
Timeless Design: Thonet's Bistro Chair
Modern Icons: the Marais A Chair
Bistro-Inspired Products
Comments
Honey & Fitz I have a post in the works about this exact topic! Love some of these images you've shared.
23 months ago · Like
Sarah Miller I am trying to find these chairs/stools for my kitchen. Can you recommend a site for "non-trade" shoppers?
4 months ago · Like
e1241b I am interested in a 'non-trade' option as well. The only ones I have found were at Pottery Barn, and they arent' the same quality. any ideas?
3 months ago · Like
Becky Harris e- I have noticed them on sites like Joss and Main and One Kings Lane sometimes - also, I've seen some very nice looking ones at frenchbistrofurniture.com online, but I've never seen them in person.
3 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 5, 2011.
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