I cannot tell the color of your rug. Here is a mock up of the aubergine chair color.

I like the Pier 1 chairs, and I think it would be a nice change for your dining room. I think the fabric would add some softness and lightness to all the dark wood pieces.

Beautiful window!

I do like the chairs, but I also agree, what you have now is timeless. Those new chairs are a trend. What I dont care for is the fabric you have on your chairs right now. What about changing that out to something more elegant.

BTW LOVE your window!

I think the open back chairs you currently have add to the airy feeling of your room and feature the window nicely, the solid upholstered chair back has a lot of visual weight and especially with light fabric will draw the eye right to it- I think you should keep looking

Thanks aktillery, the rug is indeed aubergine.

I like the idea of mixing in the aubergine chairs. It is unexpected and elegant. If you don't want to keep your current ones because of condition, I would look for ones similar to what you have (open) and then just the 2 aubergine. Your room is gorgeous!

If the chairs are inexpensive, I wouldn't mind the aubergine, but if they're expensive, then I would need something more neutral and long lasting. My problem with the chairs on line is, I can't sit in them. Even the slightly different styles among all the Pier 1 chairs sat differently and the one I was looking at was the only one DH and I found comfortable. I'd hate to order custom on line and be unhappy with the result.

I think aubergine is timeless and I was just telling my 5 y.o that purple really is a neutral (haha) but I would be concerned about the wood matching. I agree completely with needing to try out a chair first, too.

I see what many of you are suggesting about the lightness of the open back chairs. I'm thinking maybe I should get 4 upholstered and 4 wood chairs...the 2 upholstered can be head and foot of the table and 2 can flank the hutch. But the old chairs really don't go with the new table at all....the new table has turned pedestals whereas the legs on the chairs are very blocky and straight.

If you need here are some online world market coupons.

http://m.retailmenot.com/view/worldmarket.com

I like how the shape of some of the round back chairs hug your back when you sit in them, but I think the style would be all wrong for the room.

The new picks are nice but I'm having a hard time matching them to you and your nice well made decor and style. Have you looked at high-end used?

I have gone to some fancy consignment shops but haven't found anything yet. I've looked on line at many mnfctrs and have been watching craigs list on occasion, but it's really hard to find something I like.

Can I get into this one? I think so...hadn't planned on leather seats, but I can do leather...only thing is, they aren't cherry so the wood won't be the right color.

The fabric color is too light for your room, imo. Otherwise I like the chair, although i would not expect it to last very long. Have you checked Carrington Court?

Just saw your last post....leather is perfect for your setting and those chairs are very handsome. I like them better.

Thanks, kswl. Joanie already mentioned carrington court...only thing is, as with these wood and leather chairs, I'm reluctant to buy anything I haven't sat in...my delicate tush is very fussy! I've called several dealers in my area and none of them have that chair on the floor, and all of them say they are custom order and not returnable. Thank you very much.

I really like these new chairs; they fit the tone and color of your dining room much better. How do you feel about mixing woods? I have mixed maple and pine in our MBR and dining room - the furniture style is uniformly simple, almost Shaker - and it looks fine to me. I think that if the pieces are in the same design "zone" they can work. How will they be in terms of size?

Sorry, submitted the above without seeing your comment about not being able to sit in them. Custom designed and not returnable and can't be tried out is rather risky.

Too bad you can sit your tush in those. In that case, I'd keep looking. You have a lovely room, full of rich tones of dark wood. I just can't envision white Parson's chairs in that setting.

After doing the mock ups and reading what others have said.... I really do love your chairs and would take them in a heartbeat! If anything do what you need to liven up the chairs you have and add two captains chairs. Your room is simply stunning and it needs something that says the same thing. Let me know if you do not keep your chairs... although, I am sure I am too far from you to afford to buy them!

Trust me, aktillery, the old chairs are not that nice...

If that is a plum or deep purple rug, I think the aubergine would pop while the tan is too much well, tan, in the rich looking room with all the beautiful dark wood.

Yum! Those chairs are delicious!

What about these chairs? I haven't seen them in person, so they may be awful, but just by looks...

Given others' comments, I mentioned to DH about getting the old ones reupholstered, and just adding 2 new upholstered chairs to the ends. He, of course, liked it as it means less $$$.

I like those. I think you are not just looking for different chairs, but a different look. These would give you that.

How about you making a coverslip for the existing end chairs? I know you are talented in the sewing department. Who knows, once you have a templet you might want to do them all and end up with a very custom magazine worthy room. Plus, you seem to already know a lot about fabrics.

Thanks, ellendi, I think you're right...I'm kind of tired of the old chairs....

jterri, yes I could do that, but I still need two more chairs. The old table was smaller so we only had 6 total, but this table really needs 8.

One thing I'm really tired of is the spindle back chairs in the breakfast nook. These were dining chairs from the old house. I used to dust them with my (not yet then MIL) when I was a little girl and I hated having to take the time to dust each spindle and in between them. I swore I would never buy dining chairs that required that much work. So here I am, over 50 years later, and I'm still dusting the *#@%@*# things!

I love the look of a different upholstered chair on the end if you can find the right ones. Are the chairs you have leaning on an oriental design? Think of the fun you could have if you found something very cool in a solid upholstery for the ends and then did a partial slipcover in a pattern for the rest. Below is for inspiration and not chair style.

I was going to suggest playing around with slipcovering. That way you can change out the look more often, like floral, then plain, etc. Or new chairs. Just depends on how you want to play with it.

I appreciate the suggestions.

While the slipcover look can look great in the right setting, I'm going for a formal look in this formal room. I don't think slipcovers will fill the bill.

As far as upholstered chairs, they have to be small enough to move easily. Being of smaller stature, I'm especially sensitive to chairs that aren't easily scootched in once I sit in them. It's one of the main reasons why our kitchen island is at counter height. I've sat at too many bars where, once I move the chair out to sit in it, I'm unable to move it back in and I'm stuck.

Slipcovered can look very formal depending on how they are done. However, maybe not the partial slip style? I guess my personal dislike came into play with that suggestion. It drives me mad to be in a long full slip covered dining chair if I'm stuck not being able to move my feet under a chair while sitting. The ones that have generous slide pleats are okay but the others are to me uncomfortable. Saying that though...I think a partial slip cover in a formal dining room could be pulled off. Although these are not partial slips I don't think it would take away from the formality if they were.

I love thee last chairs you posted Annie! They would be perfect!

The last one I posted is cheap enough I could buy 8...esp if I wait for a sale.

Those last chairs are nice! But, are you talking all the chairs like that (don't think you are) or just the end chairs? Since they are not really statement chairs if they were used just on the ends wouldn't the top of the chair style clash? EDITED: I see we were posting at the same time so you answered my question.

I am still deciding on some wall decor from this company but I did see some beautiful dining chairs for your room.

http://www.accentsofsalado.com/RusticFurnitureTraditionalSpanishDiningChairs.html

Get the last chairs you posted, they are PERFECT

Where are the last chairs you posted from? I am also looking for dining chairs and these look nice!

They're inexpensive...I haven't looked at them yet in RL...

RoseAbbey, I'm afraid those are way too spanish for my house.

CC, traditional with a twist of Oriental. I have 2 of the vintage arm style in my bedroom that I found at the Rose Bowl flea market years ago, cheap. Just thinking outside-the-box. Maybe just the arm chairs? I clearly understand your wanting something new, but please don't cave in by doing something too trendy. I've always loved your traditional style. It's hard to beat classy!

I think I found these on the Ballard site, but they have them on etsy and ebay also.

Did you look through all of them, the first ones are too spanish yes I agree but there is a few that are not spanish at all. Sort of what you were looking at Pier One but with leather seating and fabric backs.

Yes I scanned them...for the price, I'm better off buying local where I can try them out.

The search continues...I finally got a chance to see the chairs above in RL, and they were not comfortable...they were sturdy, but the seat was too high and the upholstery was not well cushioned. Also the fabric had a greenish tinge which wouldn't work for me and there were no choices on fabric so it's a no go.

I'm glad you got a chance to try them out!

I hear you on being of smaller stature. Me, too. We are all on the small side in my family so this is a big deal to me as well. I am thankful for it, though-- our dr is small and there are 7 of us. To solve this, I got a pedestal table with chairs small enough that I can fit in 3 on each side, and my chair comes out only at dinner time. If we were big people, I don't know what I'd do! I guess we'd have to eat in different rooms!

I am very familiar with the chairs RoseAbbey posted from Accents of Salado. NOt only are they much better quality than the other stores you are considering they mostly much more comfortable. Especially if you only purchase two for the end chairs sometimes it's worth it to spend a few extra dollars. good luck, i'm sure whatever you choose will look great.

Annie, Stenella has some really lovely dining chairs. Many are full sets but there are quite a few doubles. The prices for the quality, IMO, are excellent compared to new & trendy. I was trying to copy and paste a link from my Mac Air but I'll be darned if this magic mouse will let me.

ETA: I know you want to try in person. They are in PA which would make a nice long weekend get away for you and DH.

http://www.stenellainteriors.com/featured/products.php?productid=1389

I goggled it. I think these chairs are very nice. There was no price listed on these but you can enquire.

ETA: I think these chairs are lovely but I know you want an upholstered back.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25122A-Pair-KARGES-Georgian-Ball-Claw-Foot-Dining-Room-Arm-Chairs-/351575525318?hash=item51db88c7c6

Thanks Holly-Kay...Stenella looks like a great place to visit...and not too far from the Reading outlets!