Do I need to replace these DR chairs?

3 years ago

Hi-

I'm trying to stick to a budget and make my DR less formal since our family of 5 (2 adults, 3 teens) uses it every day for meals. I love my table and am having it refinished to a warm brown (its too orange.) The chairs are hand me downs but super comfortable and, knowing the person who gave them to me, are probably high end and well made but they don't match my decor. Its mostly the style that I don't like so I don't think recovering and refinishing will help but maybe it would. Comfort is important since we use this room very frequently.

I am replacing the traditional crystal chandelier with something more updated (see pic) and replacing the table below the stained glass windows with a sideboard (TBD)

We will paint the black built-in white.

I realize the rug sets a very formal tone but it must stay. I don't really want to replace the window treatments now but probably will down the road.

Please offer suggestions for the chairs especially but anything else you recommend, I welcome advice! My style is pretty transitional, house built in 1928 so modern just doesn't look right to me but neither do these Victorian looking chairs..

Thanks!

Featured Answer

jjam

3 years ago

I love your rug and what I can see of your table. I also like your chairs but feel like they are best suited to a formal dining room, and yours looks like it's headed in another direction. But comfortable chairs are hard to find, and if you are on a budget, my first thought would be to paint them black or another rich color that is in your rug. I'd also re-cover the seats using a fabric with some richness and texture. Also, keep an eye on CL for chairs...lots of people are ditching their oak windsor style chairs from the 80s and I could see something like that working for you if they were painted or stained to match the table. Good luck!

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Comments (10)

Jilly
3 years ago
Beautiful room!

What is your chair budget, how many do you need, and would you prefer wood, leather, or upholstered?
chestnut3
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks Jinx! I'm waiting for the table refinish estimate but probaly under $1000. I've mostly been looking on Wayfair, Home Decorators at HD etc. I need 6 chairs and I'd like 2 to be arm chairs. I know, small budget, that's why I was thinking recover but I don't think changing the fabric will make me like the chairs. I just hate to replace them with something cheap but that's all I can swing at this point. I like upholstered or wood but I think upholstered would be most comfortable.
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Jilly
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I think good ’ole Parsons chairs (with legs showing, not skirted) would fit the bill well here. They’re comfortable, can be inexpensive, have lots of fabric choices, and are a style that can fit just about any decor. I like them mixed with different armchairs for a unique look.

Overstock has some great deals: https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Dining-Chairs/Parson-Chairs,/chair-type,/2022/subcat.html

If you’re wanting to go more modern, mid-century style chairs might work, too. I have a rustic Amish pine table with heavy wooden chairs. I replaced four of the side chairs with modern chairs and love them. I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they are, and I like how they look mixed with my table and end chairs. I also like how lightweight they are. I got them from Overstock, similar to these:

A few examples of modern with antiques/traditional … not suggesting these ultra--modern chairs, just showing the look:

ETA: Ashley Furniture is having a good sale on chairs:

https://www.ashleyfurniture.com/c/furniture/kitchen-and-dining-room/chairs/
chestnut3 thanked Jilly
chestnut3
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you Jinx and Jjam. Using both of your suggestions, would it look odd to have a modern Windsor chair for the side chairs and 2 upholstered Parsons or other upholstered chairs (maybe with arms?) at the head of the table?

I like these for the sides, could the upholstered chairs be ivory? The rug has a lot going on.
Jilly
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I think it would work fine. You can anything with Windsor chairs.

These are all on Wayfair …
Olychick
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I would never trade out comfortable, quality chairs for something from a place like Wayfair that I hadn't sat in, if there was any way to make the current chairs work. I would paint them and put a fun fabric on the seats. You don't have much to lose:
chestnut3 thanked Olychick
chestnut3
Original Author
3 years ago
These chairs are actually pretty cute! Maybe I could attempt it and like you said, Oly, I don’t have much to lose. Thanks!
Jinx- thanks for your suggestions. I like the first one, it looks comfy.
HU-187528210
3 years ago
What about adding a slip cover to the current chairs?
(Photos below)
And then two new head chairs.

—-

I like the black built in as is. I wouldn’t paint it.
chestnut3 thanked HU-187528210
HU-187528210
3 years ago
Oops forgot the pics
chestnut3 thanked HU-187528210