Mixing dining table and chair styles

6 years ago

I am buying a new table and chairs and am a bit stuck. It is for my kitchen diner, so not very formal and our only dining area. I quite like the look of the Ikea industriell table, probably in pine rather than light grey as our kitchen cupboards are light grey and I think it will be too much. The table is quite plain and rustic looking online but I am yet to see it in person. One side of the table has a built in bench made from the same style of cupboards with long cushions on top and along the back. The colour of the cushions will probably be a dark blue. The two styles of chair I like are eames dsw and tulip style chairs. I know that I want them white, but can’t tell how they will look with that sort of table. I also think that four tulip chairs in quite a small space might be too much. The fourth chair will not usually be kept at the head of the table, but will be nearby in a built in desk type area and only join the table when we have a lot of guests. It will still be seen near to the other chairs.

Do you think the chairs and table could work together? Would I be better to buy four chairs the same or one different? Or a different table?

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/tables/dining-tables/industriell-table-pine-art-80394526/

Featured Answer

Julie Norris

6 years ago

I recently kept my old oak table, and bought new chairs from Dwell, in different colours even.

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Comments (30)

PRO
Rebecca Fullerton Interiors Ltd
6 years ago
Hi Sparkybloom,

Without images of your kitchen space you intend to place your dining set; the look that you are trying to go for feels like a Scandinavian style. Is the built in bench an existing piece in your kitchen and if so, is this also light grey (same as your kitchen cupboards)? Again without an image of this it is hard to say how this will look.

But I think your vision is great a spot on with the other pieces! My first suggestion would be to visit your nearest Ikea store first before making this purchase due to your concerns over how plain and rustic the table looks online. You want to make sure that this is the right purchase for you and your home. In regards to the chairs, my advice would be to go for a set of 4 white chairs in either the Tulip or Eames style (unless you feel confident enough to mix these two styles). Habitat do some great tulip style chairs in white and various other colours; and if you are unsure about the dark blue cushion on the bench then a dark green or teal colour could work well in this space.

Let us know how you get on ! If would like more design help then please do drop me an email and I would be happy to help ! info@rebeccafullertoninteriors.com

See below images of examples of Scandinavian style dining sets.
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Rebecca Fullerton Interiors Ltd
6 years ago
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That's really beautiful...the table legs are a statement themselves. You could really add a lot of colour with your chairs or keep it pretty neutral. I am picturing 2 chairs on the ends of the table with arms and 4 chairs on either side of the table without arms. Here are a few examples...do you have a favourite colour or print or texture? Or you could keep the colour simple like the all white or even black chair below but add a cool design feature (the back of the chair) and then just style with a rectangular tray or 3 different sized vases. It's going to be beautiful! Good luck, Carrie
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PRO
Rebecca Fullerton Interiors Ltd
6 years ago
Here is the link to the tulip chairs by Habitat https://www.habitat.co.uk/jerry-white-dining-chair-120856
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minnie101
6 years ago
I like the style of the table but if I'm honest not the visible screws. Personally I'd look around, even try eBay etc for a vintage one with a bit of character. I would consider the dsw with arms for the study area, it should be more comfortable for working and will work as a head of table chair
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for all of the suggestions! The kitchen isn't exactly scandi in style, it's more classic with modern touches. It has light grey shaker style cupboards with Carrara quartz tops and white walls. Raw brass Handles and Ivory zellige tiles to be put in behind the hob. The flooring is oak parquet LVT. I'll see if I can post some photos later but it isn't fully finished yet.

The built in bench already exists and is made from the kitchen cupboards. I have yet to finish it off with a cushion. The kitchen is narrow and the table directly sits after the peninsula, so the chairs will all be quite close together in a small space.

I hadn't even considered the visible screws, but I'm not sure how visible that will be with the narrow width of my kitchen. A vintage table is really what I want but I've been struggling to find anything the right size and price. We've been using our old tiny table in the space while I'm looking but it's getting a bit awkward with the kids so I was hoping this would work and require no waiting time! It was either a vintage table or an elegant looking new one, but they are very expensive for what often turns out to be a veneer finish. I'm not sure about the pine against the flooring an cupboards either.
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
Oh and the built in desk area isn't really a desk, it will look that way but houses a digital piano so won't be used in the same way. I have been using a stool until now and been comfortable. Just need to think about the height.
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
Julie, yours looks lovely. I don't have that kind of open space so need to think about how cluttered it will look.
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
Excuse the mess, the toddler isn't happy to let me tidy and take photos :)

first photo just to show the style of cupboards bit backsplash hasn't been fitted yet. The desk area is where the highchair is standing, also not finished. The new table will be the same length as that bench, which also needs finishing off.
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E D
6 years ago
I agree with Rebecca, make sure you see Ikea's table in the flesh. I have found some of their furniture looks fine in photos but doesn't have the quality you'd expect.

And agree with Minnie's suggestion to have a look on eBay (unless you really prefer new) and see what's available at a similar (or indeed lower) price range. It may take longer to find exactly what you need, but for say £200 you can certainly find something of high quality.
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PRO
Rebecca Fullerton Interiors Ltd
6 years ago
This option may work well for you - this is dining table is by Wayfair in Oak White (so not as strong in colour as Pine) but will compliment the colour of your parquet floor and the fixtures such as your existing bench. It also extends out which would be useful for additional room. You would of course need to check and make sure you are happy with the dimensions of the table first to ensure it will fit the length of the bench.

The white (whether you decide to go with Oak or Eames) dining chairs will work really well with this table too ! You mentioned you have children so may not be an option for you but you could break up the dining area with a low maintenance neutral coloured rug if you were still unsure about how the pine would look against the floor.

Here is the link to the table: https://www.wayfair.co.uk/furniture/pdp/fjorde-co-hurley-dining-table-ghen6298.html?piid=16157837
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PRO
Rebecca Fullerton Interiors Ltd
6 years ago
My only other additional point is do search for your vintage looking table if that is what you are after! As per some of the other suggestions above - you may have to shop around for it but you may find that perfect piece.
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E D
6 years ago
sparklybloom, is your bench 200 cm? Does it have to be that length?
Jade Byng thanked E D
kikiamack
6 years ago
I would think about getting a table with either Xlegs or pedestal legs. It’s a real pain (for adults) trying to get onto fixed bench seating when there are legs on the corners, unless you want to keep pulling the table out and pushing it back in again.
Jade Byng thanked kikiamack
Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, the built in bench is set at 200cm. I would like a vintage table because the room is all a bit sleek and new looking and I think something older would improve the look. I don’t know whether I really have the time to search for it so hoped that the Ikea table might work instead with it being wooden and rustic looking. It has lacquer on it so would probably also look quite shiny and new. Rebecca, that table does look nice. I could go for a 180cm table. Just not sure about the width being 90cm. As narrow as possible is better so that it doesn’t stick out into the walkway too much.
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
I will bear that in mind, kikiamack. The children have already informed me they will be using the bench, which I am glad about :)
PRO
Rebecca Fullerton Interiors Ltd
6 years ago
There are a lot of great options for you out there for dining tables with the length you are after whether they are extending or fixed. I am finding that most (that I have seen) start with a minimum width of 90 cm. I myself own an oak extending dining table purchased from Oak Furniture Land which has a width of 80 cm. so they are out there !

If this is a forever piece of furniture and you have a set vision in mind it may be worth considering getting a bespoke piece made up for you. Even if you just got some quotes; it will give you food for thought. That way you know for certain you are getting the dining table you have always wanted.
Jade Byng thanked Rebecca Fullerton Interiors Ltd
Juliet Docherty
6 years ago
You could buy a lovely old pine table and paint the base a colour to complement your gorgeous kitchen (such as Farrow and Ball London Clay) and have a new top put on. This could be a piece of marble or a piece of walnut breakfast bar from Worktop Express.
Jade Byng thanked Juliet Docherty
Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
We are now thinking of this table, which can be made to our preferred measurements https://heylinteriors.co.uk/product/dining-table-pin-base/

do you think this would work with the chairs I mentioned earlier?
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E D
6 years ago
I like that table and it's convenient it can be made in different sizes.

It is rather industrial in style. Quite 'on trend', but is that what you want?
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E D
6 years ago
Perhaps someone here can photoshop the chairs of your preference with the table? :)
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minnie101
6 years ago
The kitchen looks lovely. I like the table and it works well with the lights and I'd put the eames chairs with it or a mix of chairs (an old church chair is good for keeping kids colouring in stuff in but not sure of their age! ) What wood were you looking at?

However having said that, your table is butt against the bar and the legs on this table are wider than the top so if you went for this one I think you'd need to go for a short table.

As kikiamack said pedestal tables are good although hard to find a rectangular one (!) or as colourhappy said an old farmhouse one would work. Would an extending table also be an option? How many do you need to seat on a regular basis? Are the lights centred over the bench?
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
I wouldn't say I usually love industrial style but I do like that table. I think the slim legs are attractive. I will email about how far out the legs come. We were looking at the 183 option rather than 200. The built in bench is made of kitchen top boxes specifically for child storage :) I'm not sure which colour I would go for, I'm finding it difficult to work out how it will look with the floor without a physical sample to try.
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
Ok, I have another table option! I decided that you were right and perhaps I don’t want an industrial style table after all. Seen this one for sale. What do you think? I love the look of the top in particular but don’t know whether it would look too chunky or too traditional. And how to put chairs with it?
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
I prefer the shape of this one, as it looks less chunky, but not so keen on how rustic or worn the top looks. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stunning-Antique-French-Original-Painted-Farmhouse-Kitchen-Dining-Table/232810270608?hash=item363492cf90:g:2dAAAOSwC2JavAGf

I feel that I would want to sand down the top, but the wood will never look as attractive as the top one because it is pine (?). Also not keen on the paint on the base but assume it could be dangerous to mess with due to its age. Any thoughts?
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E D
6 years ago
I really like the chunky table! It looks sturdy and strong. And handsome.

The second one, you say you prefer the shape of, doesn't have a great surface nor the quality of the first one, I feel.

Are you not sure of what style chairs to go for? Or where to put them? Not sure what you mean by "how to put the chairs with it".
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, I don’t know whether this would work with the chairs I mentioned at the start or whether I need to look for something else if I do go for this table. The quality of the first table does look good, doesn’t it? I’m just not that keen on chunky furniture. But I do like the shape of the legs. Wondering whether I can counteract the chunkiness of the table with lighter looking chairs or if it would look unbalanced. The chairs I said I liked at the start were the dsw and tulip style chairs. I can’t imagine a tulip chair working with that table.
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
The other thing worth mentioning is that the blue cushion I talked about on the built in bench is supposed to be done in channel tufted fabric across the back, like this

i cant tell whether any of the table, chairs or upholstery will look ok or awful. I can see that they are all different styles and can’t picture things very well in my mind.
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Jade Byng
Original Author
6 years ago
Perhaps I should go for a more modern table if that is my intention with the bench. I feel like there could be too much going on in the room.
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kikiamack
6 years ago
What about this one from Heals? It’s a bit more expensive but is in the sale.
https://www.heals.com/pinner-rectangular-dining-table.html
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Mixing dining table and chair styles

Julie Norris

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