Help me find dining chairs for complicated space!

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

We just ordered a Restoration Hardware Drifted Oak Parsons Table in Brown Oak Finish. We were looking at getting a table custom made, but then these were on sale for a much lower price to get almost the same look as what we were going to have built, so we couldn't pass it up.

The dilemma: Now we need to pick dining chairs!

The table is a tad more rustic than what we'd initially planned on. It's stained, but the surface is unfinished and the wood is not totally smooth, it has a slightly rough texture. The rest of our kitchen is modern-transitional and pretty neutral, leaning more toward modern as it evolves, with warm grey tones and white as the dominant colors right now.

We like the idea of the contrasting warmth and rustic-ness this table brings to the room, but we feel like the chairs need to be more modern. However, we really don't want metal. It's too cold, both literally and in terms of the look and feel - the dining area connects our living and kitchen and the living area is very warm and inviting, definitely less modern than kitchen due to permanent elements of the house we have to work around (fireplace, crown molding).

So this table and chairs are sort of a "bridge" between the two spaces, which makes this feel complicated. Our instinct is to keep this really clean and simple.

We found the Hanna Chair by Osidea and thought it might be a good option to "modern it up" yet still keep the warmth of wood. Looks like it has a little bit of a texture to the surface of the plywood. We've talked about white, red or black and aren't sure which will look best. The kitchen cabinets are white so maybe it helps connect with that. Opinions?

A second more affordable option would be CB2 Slide Chair in aqua. I love the color, but the look of the chair is not as seamless and clean as the Hanna so dh voted against it.

Are there any other similar chairs we should consider? Or does anyone have totally new ideas? Probably the price of the Hanna chair is around the max we could spend per chair.

Another thought we had was to put a bench on one side and two chairs on the other. Any suggestions for benches that would look good with this table?

Or what about chairs that are transparent? I don't love the idea of plastic or mesh chairs though. Maybe I could be convinced. :)

Featured Answer

Mark

12 years ago

I really love these chairs paired with your table. I know your not fussy on molded plastic, but these are fab. http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Wood-Leg-White-Accent-Chairs-Set-of-2/4429638/product.html

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Comments (63)

cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Yeah, definitely worried about the comfort thing with some of the modern styles.

I think the ones that are more upright will be better than the molded scoop styles, right? That was part of the reason we gravitated toward the Hanna, too.

The Wegner Wishbone is nice. Will add it to the list of possibilities.

The RH chairs are all just so traditional and heavy looking. Except they do have a modern chair that matches the table, called the Magnus (adding pic below), but I thought it was too matchy-matchy. :)

Didn't see anything at Pier 1 that is our style.

I like the clear idea, but are those going to be comfortable? Might prefer something simpler than the ghost chair, more like the ones attached below.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Oops, attaching didn't work. Trying again.
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cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
This is really so helpful and I'd love more ideas. Maybe I should upload pic of the space. Hang on!
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
So here you can see how the dining space connects the living and kitchen. The light table that is there right now is IKEA and has bad water damage from kids spilling stuff on it - the laminate is peeling up (we considered it temporary anyway).

The new table is exact same size.

Focus on the kitchen island and ignore the rest of the kitchen - those cabinets and countertops are about to be replaced to match - and that awful backsplash will go away (no more orange and beige!)

Not sure about backsplash yet.

Kitchen wall color will go neutral gray so the bright wall art pops more.

Eventually the tile will go, too, and we will replace all flooring in entire house with a light or medium hardwood (so the dark hardwood in LR will go away soon too). But we can't do this all at once.

Sorry the lighting is terrible - it's really cloudy today. Usually we are flooded w/natural sunlight.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Also here's a better pic showing both angles of the island and future cabinet style.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
More angles if helpful and can see other barstool
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Also, if anyone has comments about table size, let me know. It is not too late to change to the next size down, which is 9" shorter at smallest length (with two extensions).

We have big meals with guests often enough that we want to go as long as we can with the table, but not get ridiculous about it.

There is plenty of pass-through space with this table size b/c of the angled kitchen wall.

We sometimes turn it sideways and also that's what we do when it's time to extend. This table goes to 102" and it barely stays inside the tile, which was great for Thanksgiving group of 11 people.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Someone mentioned West Elm - and we like a lot of the styles, but they tend to be annoyingly limited in the # of colors available in each style. Most that we like are chocolate brown and since that is our table color we wanted something contrasting.

The Cortlandt Chair (below) might be perfect if it came in white or a color.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
The upholstered leather thing is not working for us. Feels too heavy and masculine and would overwhelm the small-ish dining area. We feel the chairs should be relatively slim and light in appearance.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Here it is with table turned the other direction and also stuck back in the chairs we currently use. I hate them. The woman who sold us the house left them behind. They are too thick and dark and traditional.

Sorry I may have gotten carried away with the photos now.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
What about West Elm Splat? I'm not totally sold on red, though. Wish they had white.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Another idea, but this only is available in black. Don't think we want black.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
These are in the same vein as the Wegner Wishbone I guess. So, yeah, we are liking that direction.
printesa
12 years ago
I like the Wishbone. It's one of my favorite chairs. I think it would look good with the table and the space in general. It's not too modern or too rustic; it's similar to you kitchen and living area. The chair comes in different colors and combinations.
While I like the red chair you posted above, I'm not sure how well it will go since you seem to have mostly green in the adjacent room.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Maybe this IKEA chair is a cheap way of getting a similar look and then it doesn't matter if kids beat it up, but hate the exposed screws.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Or I guess we could paint it a color?
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Printesa, the wall color in LR is silver sage so it's kind of a chameleon color and actually at one point we had lots of red accents instead of the turquoise thing going on. So we could go in that direction. But I also worry about red chairs in the long term. Seems like white would be more versatile if we keep the chairs a long time.

Going to check out what colors the Wishbone comes in. What color would you pick to go with the new RH dark table?
PRO
Design Warehouse
12 years ago
I like those chairs above! If you're looking for teak chairs, here is a good resource:

http://teakwarehouse.com/shop-outdoor-furniture/chairs/teak-chairs/

and if you're looking for chairs other than just teak, check out:

http://teakwarehouse.com/shop-outdoor-furniture/chairs/

they sell chairs for up to 70% off retail prices!
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Hold up: The Wishbone is really wide at 21" and that will compromise our ability to crowd guests around the table, which we do often.

That's why we got the screw barstools that go up and down so they can go from counter to table as needed.

Imagine the scene: everyone, adults and kids, collects around the table and pulls up a hodgepodge of other seats - those barstools, the two storage ottomans from my craft table, the ubiquitous IKEA BEKVAM stool - and it seems like the edges the Wishbone chairs would just be crashing into each other.

This is how it goes. :)
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Uh, nice ad bomb. I'm not looking for teak chairs, but I've actually been to that website before to look at tables. :)
PRO
Design Warehouse
12 years ago
oh, sorry! I like the transparent look. I'll agree with the ghost chair:
PRO
Design Warehouse
12 years ago
or this chair
katrinkam
12 years ago
All lovely ideas. My suggestion is to use the approach I did. I purchased 6 Crate and Barrel Captiva Java armless chairs to use in front of my lake side windows/doors with custom table. I have even pulled them outside to patio for additonal seating as they are indoor/outdoor. They are holding up very well 1 yr in and was a great purchase.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
At C&B I like this in white or mint, but dh does not agree :)
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Do clear chairs scratch easily? Do they get cloudy or change color over time? Does the plastic crack? I am really concerned about the durability.
Mark
12 years ago
These are quite nice. http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Classical-Bradford-X-Back-Antiqued-White-Side-Chairs-Set-of-2/6182768/product.html?cid=213889&kid=130499585361138&track=pspla&adtype=pla&kw={keyword}
PRO
Design Warehouse
12 years ago
if you get a clear chair, make sure its made out of Polycarbonate resin and that is has UV inhibitors. This will ensure it doesn't get damaged by the sun. This material doesn't get cloudy or change over time.
PRO
Cure Design Group
12 years ago
We agree with keeping the chairs low profile. love the molded white plastic chair from above, I actually thought the same thing about the black between the wood legs at first, but I have the chair with arms in my living room and don't even notice it! Here is another option...I like either one, would you want upholstery?
PRO
Cure Design Group
12 years ago
I saw a suggestion above for the ghost chair, and I LOVE IT, I have two in my office, but just a note about the clear acrylic chairs, most of them have a 200lb weight limit, so for men, might not be ideal...
printesa
12 years ago
I like the chairs posted by Mark. Maybe you could use the light version. They seem to be similar to the chairs you currently have?
I would stay away from leather chairs if you want to get something affordable. Affordable leather chairs tend to break in a few years. Mine did after 5 years of so so use. I am currently waiting for new chairs, this time more sturdy.
Btw, do you have a budget for the chairs?
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Probably the price of the Hanna chair in the OP $250/chair would be the max unless we were just absolutely in love with something. Less than that would be ideal.

Not a fan of the X back like we have or I would just paint these. :)

What about all different mismatched chairs painted white? Would that work in our space with this table? Or would it be too busy?
printesa
12 years ago
Try Blu Dot. They have some nice chairs like the Chip Dining Chair and the Knicker. They come in different colors as well.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Really liking the Knicker - not sure whether to go white or chalk if we did that one.

Also what about this option below?

We would upholster with our own fabric instead of the black.

Only thing is it just comes in the dark finish for the legs and back, so it would be close to the color of the new table rather than contrasting - is that okay?

I know there aren't really "rules" to follow, but still would love someone with design expertise to tell me if we are going the wrong direction.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Still going. DH prefers the straight lines on these. Though I like the all-upholsetered Knicker, worried about how that will hold up with the kids, so thinking upholstered seat is better b/c can change it.

Feel like we maybe are zeroing in!
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Update: Well, we have the table now. It's prettier than we even thought it would be!

But we haven't picked the chairs still and I'm so sick of looking at chairs I'm about to buy the cheap molded wood ones from target that are $30 each and call it a day!

Two conclusions we have finally come to:

The table is a little taller than our old one at 31" so we actually need chairs that are more like 32-34" or so in height, maybe even 35" but not much taller. This rules out some of the previous selections that are 31" or less.

Also now that the table is in here and we've tried different things next to it we have decided we want either white chairs or something that is dark wood but thin legs/back with an upholstered seat.

Although we also like the look of metal, we have visited some stores to sit in some and they are just not comfortable enough.
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Oh, the other challenge is that my dear spouse does not like as many things as I do! He likes straight, clean, simple.
User
12 years ago
I'm officially in love with chairs you posted four comments up. The post where you mention the Knickers. The one that is brown wood with the black seat that you said you might recover the seats with your own fabric. Maybe hubby will like those! :)
cprice88
Original Author
12 years ago
Yeah, I love those too, but he doesn't. :-/ Also I think the height is such that the top might hit the table right where the table top is, so they may not push in enough (since it's an open layout and table is in a pass through area this matters).
User
12 years ago
Aarrrggg! I won't be able to get those chairs out of my mind! But I understand about hubby's voice in decorating matters and the "fit" aspect. :D
printesa
12 years ago
I know what you mean by trying to please everyone:) I've been there, too. Now I am waiting for the chairs to come..a bit of problem like yours,,chairs might now go under the table enough, but I'll be fine with that:) Try etsy for some chairs. I was considering these ones, but they looked too delicate for the glass table we have http://tinyurl.com/n2s6nj7
or these ones from the same seller
https://www.etsy.com/listing/173246040/set-of-6-rosewood-dining-chairs-danish?ref=related-2
joannpb
11 years ago
Can we have an update? With picture? Please?
emrubinsky
11 years ago
OK, this is so funny; we just purchased this exact same table today to go in our new kitchen which is contemporary (bianco arrabascato countertops, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white beveled subway tile backsplash). What chairs did you go with ? Do any designers or users care to help us choose a more modern chair to help tie the two styles together?

We originally purchased these:

https://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2090029&categoryId=cat1661030

I think they are way too "froo froo" now, although I love that they came with a tie on cushion (we have small children and they were really comfortable).

Maybe these are the right chairs, and I just need some reassurance. Nothing has been delivered yet because we are in the process of remodeling, so I can't post any pictures.

Lastly, we were considering getting a bench (kids like sitting on it), any recommendations?

Thanks so much!!

Lost & Confused in TX :)
Rachel
11 years ago
Crate and barrel has a high backed modern leather dining chair that is surprisingly comfortable and very durable. I bough one in plum as a desk chair and I love it. The chair comes in many colors.
Rachel
11 years ago
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/folio-oyster-bonded-leather-dining-chair/s290590

Here is the chair.
msbharrison
10 years ago
I purchased this table last week and it's coming on Tuesday. I will be in the same boat looking for chairs. I plan on getting two comfy side chairs and 4 wooded chairs. We have a bench we can bring in when expanded that doesn't match but I don't mind that. I do like the leather option for when we have children and when we have nieces and nephews over. We have two shades of grey light on top and dark on bottom w a white chair rail so I can't go cream maybe sage? Or navy? Kitchen is a very light grey, living room is pale yellow and den will be a light sage/minty color. the dining room is in the center off all these rooms. Any help ideas or pics would be appreciated! Also would love to see final decisions for those w the same table!!
enigma002
10 years ago
Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead. Does anyone have real-time photos of the table? All I can find are catalog photos.
Elisa Lee
10 years ago
Yes I would love a photo too!
lukemoon
10 years ago
Does anyone have this table that can comment on the quality. It's such a great price sounds almost too good to be true.
cprice88
Original Author
10 years ago
Which table are you asking about - the Restoration Hardware Parsons Table?
cprice88
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
If that's what you meant, here are some photos, and we have found the quality to be good. They say it's pre-finished, but it does show "character" from spills, so I rub in an oil-wax blend on it every few months, which gives it a nice patina and disguises marks that might otherwise stand out. I like that it's a bit narrower than most other tables of this max extension length, so it's perfect in our small-ish dining space. We don't use the leaves often so they are now a slightly different color than the rest of the table, but that always happens with wood tables in my experience. My only complaints about the table are: the latches that hold the top shut are not tight enough, so there's a slight gap in the center (which probably only I notice) and I've thought about trying to adjust them or something; the wood is pretty rough so sometimes messes get a bit embedded and you have to rub really hard with a wet cloth. But overall quality for the price, it was a good buy. It wears very well and red wine spills won't stain it! :)