HI! Can you tell me your thoughts with 2 settees? We bought a 5 foot by 10 foot dark mahogany table and I want to do this and keep getting shot down. How did you decide the size for the settees? »
Annie Oxler How high should the backs be? Also, what do you think about mixing it up with 2 benches and settees on the end? Or, what about 2 benches on one side, then chairs on the other?
Letitia Holloway Too many variables to answer these questions without seing your house. But yes, you can do many combinations with that size table. Two benches on on side and armless chairs on the other would work well also with two arm-chairs on the ends.
If you do the settees on one side and benches (I personally don't like benches for dining) or chairs on the other, I would put the setees on the wall side if one side is open to another room and make sure they are around 6" taller than the table minimum. the end chairs should be the tallest in my opinion.
Play with scale. This vast dining room might have swallowed a normal-size table and chairs, so the designer used a large table, two pairs of loveseats and a pair of large wingback chairs to fill the space properly. The result is an unexpected, eye-catching success.