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1929spanishgw

Decorating Time! French Art Deco - Chinoiserie Dining Room Chairs

4 years ago

Enough about all the things we can't do right now, I'm ready to talk about decorating.


We took a little weekend getaway in Palm Spring two weeks ago we found this fabulous Henredon Barbara Barry dining room table at an estate sale store. It matches a dining room I absolutely love and solidified our move towards a 1930's-40's French Art Deco/Chinoserie direction in the living room. Now I need your help sourcing chairs.


I have this inspiration, but DH is unsure about Klismos chairs, so we're thinking more like curved back and upholstered.


Ispiration room:




Our the living room + two dogs & a couch cover - the dining room is behind french doors ajoining this room:



And here's our new dining room table + old chairs & extra mirrors. Oh, and we still need structural work done in this room:



Okay - so now to the chairs. We need 6-8 chairs. Here are some I like and I'd love your opinions, additional ideas and sourcing. We don't see a ton of our style here in So Cal. Our budget depends on the level of despiration + how much we like the chairs. The $49k chairs I liked included eight, but were out of scope.


1. We love these and there are eight of them. They are in NY, so we can't see them in person. Seller sent a bunch of additional photos. 1930's French. Got a decent price, but they really need to be redone. I don't know how much that would cost or where to get that work done in So Cal and it could put them out of budget.



2. I like these with a different seat. I'm guessing c. 1980's and am a little dubious about the Widdicomb reference, but still like them and the price is good. DH does not like them. I introduce them to him as a new idea about once a week.


3. I absolutely love everything about these, but there are only four. 1930's French. Last night after a gin & tonic, I emailed the seller asking if they had more.



So what else is out there? I actually had a dream list night that was just scrolling chairs on a screen. I probably need therapy.

Comments (56)

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Here’s another vote for the Widdicombs. They’re perfect. :)

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Jilly
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Another vote for the Widdicomb chairs. I even like the faded fabric. Your new table is lovely.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Allison0704
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Widdicomb! Don’t care for the last ones (4 chairs) but that’s just me

    1929Spanish-GW thanked nutsaboutplants
  • 4 years ago

    I'm not keen on either the first or last but I do like the Widdicomb chairs. I like to mix it up a little - I have 6 matching chairs for my dining room table plus 2 modified wing chairs that I place at the head. So if you can only get 4 in the set you can always opt for a different pair for the ends.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked maire_cate
  • 4 years ago

    You can try photoshopping (OK I admit I still use MS Paint) the Widdicomb chair upholstery and THEN present as new to DH. That's gotta be what's turning him off.


    It's not cheating. Some people just can't picture things in their head with different upholstery.


    Too bad none of them are chairs you can do an unskilled DIY reupholstery on. Reupholstery prices are scary because there's no assurance you'll get a good upholsterer.


    (Although...ago there was this place off the Orange Circle that redid the top on my Mercury...if I still lived there I'd give them a shot...)

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Fori
  • 4 years ago

    Thanks Fiori DH is an art director. Its a blessing and a curse.


    The Widdicomb chairs are out. DH hates them. They are in Etsy and Chairish. I’ll post a link if someone wants them.


    We looked locally today. Nothing evem close. Everything here is big and bloated for tract mcmansions. We’ll keep looking.


    I might post separately for suggestions.

  • 4 years ago

    I like #1 with the Barbara Barry table. They just have that "look" for me. Here is a "chinoiserie" option on Craigslist in SoCal. Not recommending these, but just putting them out there to expand your options.


    https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/fuo/d/irvine-henredon-scene-iii-lacquer-and/7371029360.html


    1929Spanish-GW thanked ljwrar
  • 4 years ago

    nice work, ljwrar! so pretty and reasonable

    1929Spanish-GW thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 4 years ago

    I like no. 1, and liveryour inspiration for side chairs — I also ove the current upholstery — and great dining table find. Look for some fantastic host chairs in a coordinating fabric. i just ordered aome host chaira and will look a bit and follow up if i find something.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked mojomom
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Waving at you from the land of Widdicomb. Used to live just up the street . . . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widdicomb_Furniture_Company


    I like the first upholstered set. They do look comfy. There is so much great Chinoiserie art, I'd go with neutral chairs, then the look stays flexible . . .

    1929Spanish-GW thanked l pinkmountain
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Okay, so cross your fingers we might have a winner. I get Klismos amd DH gets a padded back and a chance to try before we buy. Fabric and finish TBD.

    I’ll get over the heart attack I’ll have over price. Really, the last time I bought dining room chairs was 1994, so I’m sure I’ll get my money’s worth!





  • 4 years ago

    Sounds like a good compromise. I love the looks of the Widdicomb chairs, but they don't look very comfortable to me. Hope it works out for you.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked lizbeth-gardener
  • 4 years ago

    Perfect!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Zalco/bring back Sophie!
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Following up.... we spent three days looking at new and used chairs - both in person and online. The Ethan Allen ones turned out to be too wide for the table.

    During our many stops, we found a refinisher who gave us a general quote we could live with and decided on the green chairs (at a solid discount). They are the look, quanitiy and size we need. They'll take a while to get here, then we'll assess the condition to determine how soon we'll need to have them redone. Then I get to shop for fabric!

    Be back with an update in an unspecified amount of shipping time!



    Here they are photoshopped into our doning room


  • 4 years ago

    cant wait to see what you do!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 4 years ago

    Thanks. They are from your neck of the woods.


    https://www.maisongerard.com/

  • 4 years ago

    Those chairs appear to be in very good condition. Are they new? Do you not like the color? The jade color looks very "Asian" to me. I am a huge fan of the color green though . . . other than kelly green and olive green.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked l pinkmountain
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Thanks Pink. We like the color too. They are 1930’s French. I think they are all original. The close-up photos they sent showed where they are a little rough. We’ll asses when they arrive.

    adding that green has always been one of my two favorite colors, pink being the other!

  • 4 years ago

    They look so nice with your table! yay!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Kitch4me
  • 4 years ago

    I love them, very Deco lines.

    I love that green too, almond green. I too am a big pink and green fan, always have been ( well, except when I was in grade school and some man asked me my favorite color and then interrupted me to say of course it would be pink, since I was a girl. Ixnay on the pink from that point on until my teen years.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Zalco/bring back Sophie!
  • 4 years ago

    I love those chairs. Maybe any wear in the upholstery will be minor and they’ll just have a well-loved appearance…

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Sueb20
  • 4 years ago

    I love those, so excited for you!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Jilly
  • 4 years ago

    Quite a few years ago now, at my last house, I was pondering a "Japanese" look for my guest bedroom, to show off some of my art that I inherited from my Mom who got it in Japan when she taught over there. I found a web site that had a whole bunch of color combos that were Japanese. You could probably find the same for Chinese, although China is such a huge country I'll bet color schemes differ by region just as they do here in the US.


    I ended up going with a blue/grey because it toned down some hideous wainscoting that I had that I really couldn't remove without it being more of a major undertaking that I was willing to do. But I sure went through a lot of green paint chips. Sadly, my husband does not like green so I'm not able much to devote myself to my green decorating whims, except outside, where I have LOTS of green to play with. Our guest bedroom retains some of the pink and green colors from my last house. Back then I had two guest bedrooms. Now we only have one because the other extra bedroom is devoted to my office. Have not decorated in there yet . . .


    I plan for my dining room to have a makeover soon, which would create a more Asian feel in there. I'm hoping to add wood floors and fake grasscloth wallpaper. Already have much of my Japanese watercolors in there. I will be watching your progress with enthusiasm!!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked l pinkmountain
  • 4 years ago

    I love the chairs and hope you don't need to do anything, but place around your table. They look comfortable, too- my must have for a chair!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked lizbeth-gardener
  • 4 years ago

    Totally, OT, but this photo of Drottningholm Slott in Sweden came across my IG and I could not help but think of you since you love pink and green too. Bonus points for the Chinese theme, I think ;-)





    1929Spanish-GW thanked Zalco/bring back Sophie!
  • 4 years ago

    Not finished yet, but here are a few shots of our chairs. we’re thrilled with the result. I ❤️ furniture!





  • 4 years ago

    Nice choice!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Fun2BHere
  • 4 years ago

    I love it!!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 4 years ago

    That’s a handsome table and the chairs are PERFECT! Great job all around!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked User
  • 4 years ago

    Love your new chairs!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked bbstx
  • 4 years ago

    Very nice!


    1929Spanish-GW thanked Kitch4me
  • 4 years ago

    Gorgeous! Looks like a match made in heaven. What is your feeling about the condition of the upholstery? Can you live with them, as they are?

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Olychick
  • 4 years ago

    They are true 1930’s chairs with tied spring seats. pretty sure they are covered in mohair. If it were entirely up to me, I’d touch up the wood and keep them as is. Since its not up to me, i’ll stall my fabric location efforts. heeheehee

  • 4 years ago

    Looking great!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Arapaho-Rd
  • 4 years ago

    I really like your chair choice. Love the color!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked czarinalex
  • 4 years ago

    Wow, perfect!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked Jilly
  • 4 years ago

    Those are fantastic! Looks like they were made for the space. Nice work!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked amykath
  • 4 years ago

    So good!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked rubyclaire
  • 4 years ago

    Perfect-I love them!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked texanjana
  • 4 years ago

    I too love the color! Can't tell up close about condition, and colors look different IRL I know that, but if they were still comfortable and functional, I'd call it a lovely "patina" instead of wear, and keep it going as long as possible . . .

    1929Spanish-GW thanked l pinkmountain
  • 4 years ago

    Thanks Pink. There is a nap to the fabric and our house is a little dark, which affets the color represented in the photos. They are a saturated sage/olive.

    The condition of the wood is a little worse than the upholstery and some chairs have obviously been used more, as evidenced by the padding around the springs. Overall the fabric is in pretty good condition, just a couple indents on the backs of a couple chairs from shipping that I might try and steam out.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    It’s all so Perfect! I really like your house and would like you to show us some of the other interesting finds I see a bit of.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked just_terrilynn
  • 4 years ago

    Thanks Terri. We’re waiting for one more piece we purchased, then I’m heading to friends in early Nov. to pick up a couple more. I’m also debating the light fixture. The current one was $50 on CL. So once I get all that done, I’ll do a ”big reveal”.

    Hint, one thing that’s coming is a c.1970 zebra for the library that might offend. My perspective is that we should respect what’s already sacrificed. And this one has been rolled up and wasting away in a warehouse for two years.

  • 4 years ago

    This is going to be great and worth the wait !

    1929Spanish-GW thanked just_terrilynn
  • 4 years ago

    I love the chairs!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked roarah
  • 4 years ago

    Love the chairs! The color is great.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked OutsidePlaying
  • 4 years ago

    Gorgeous! I can see Hercule Poirot dining there!

    1929Spanish-GW thanked teeda
  • 4 years ago

    Love the chairs! And they are perfect with your table.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked lizbeth-gardener
  • 4 years ago

    Beautiful chairs. The table and chairs are perfect for the house.

    1929Spanish-GW thanked jill302
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