Dining chairs - advice needed
Susanna Kalitowski
5 years ago
My husband I are struggling to find the right dining chairs to go around an antique, rectangular dark oak farmhouse-style dining table.
We’re looking for chairs with an armrest that are comfortable AND durable, as we have a 4 & 7 year old. We’re a bit wary of veneered chairs as they can chip/scratch/stain easily.
Over the table we have a black Vertigo pendant (see picture below). Nearby are some large sliding doors with a narrow black grey frame. Our house is Edwardian, with very high ceilings. The floors are medium oak herringbone parquet.
Our preference is the CH88 chair (pictured), but it is very expensive and we are worried it could be easily damaged by our kids. We don’t want to have to worry about our chairs!
So now we’ve narrowed it down to two very different options: the Belleville armchair by Vitra (pictured) OR the J42 armchair in oiled oak (pictured).
I’d really appreciate thoughts/advice on whether black or partly black chairs would be preferable (to coordinate with the pendant and doors), and/or how medium oak chairs would look with a dark oak table, against a medium oak floor.
Any other chair suggestions would also be welcome. We’re not keen on anything with a solid back (eg Eames side chair), as we want a degree of transparency to echo the pendant.
TIA! :-)
We’re looking for chairs with an armrest that are comfortable AND durable, as we have a 4 & 7 year old. We’re a bit wary of veneered chairs as they can chip/scratch/stain easily.
Over the table we have a black Vertigo pendant (see picture below). Nearby are some large sliding doors with a narrow black grey frame. Our house is Edwardian, with very high ceilings. The floors are medium oak herringbone parquet.
Our preference is the CH88 chair (pictured), but it is very expensive and we are worried it could be easily damaged by our kids. We don’t want to have to worry about our chairs!
So now we’ve narrowed it down to two very different options: the Belleville armchair by Vitra (pictured) OR the J42 armchair in oiled oak (pictured).
I’d really appreciate thoughts/advice on whether black or partly black chairs would be preferable (to coordinate with the pendant and doors), and/or how medium oak chairs would look with a dark oak table, against a medium oak floor.
Any other chair suggestions would also be welcome. We’re not keen on anything with a solid back (eg Eames side chair), as we want a degree of transparency to echo the pendant.
TIA! :-)
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (21)
Alessandra
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Need advice on how to make a dining/home office combo work!
Comments (2)Spray frost or use decorative cling film on the glass in the china cabinet so you can't see in it and use it to organize all the stuff. Pull the table away from the wall and use an upholstered bench in the nook to seat a 5th person at the table for dining. Use the opposite end of the table for your computer space so you can scoot all 4 chairs under it and out of the way. Replace the short curtains with fabric or fiber roman shades. Lower your picture collage so the center of it is 60" above the floor....See Moredining chair advice
Comments (9)Great room - you might like to upholster your chairs in our upholstery fabric. We have many shades of grey plus some contrasting fabrics. You might like our Slade Stripe in Pebble Grey, Rock Grey or Dew. Alternatively you could contrast your greys with our smart Windmill Wood in Inky Sky on white. www.zoeglencross.com...See MoreSmall sitting-dining room & odd furniture. Advice needed.
Comments (18)With the front of the flat assigned to bedroom and study space it's the three rooms at the back where you could make the most change to enhance the living space. You only ever asked about furniture placement in the lounge but given that you've bought the flat are you open to making some bigger changes to maximise the space? For example, is the wall between the smallest bedroom and the lounge supporting?I'm assuming that's your study but if your partner is at home and working at the front of the house, knocking these two rooms together would give you a much more versatile space with an office area for you, with doors open onto the garden on a nice day. (Replacing with a stud wall if moving on is not a major job). Another idea might be to keep that wall up and see if the kitchen could be opened up to make an open plan kitchen/living/ dining space. The dining table could then be located near to the kitchen area. With either of these options you are losing one of those four doors which are making furniture placement awkward. Another idea (I'm full of them!!) Do you need the storage cupboard in this room? This could be blocked up so access is obtained via the largest bedroom to make a bigger wardrobe/cupboard space in there. If you'e got enough wardrobe space in there that could also be an office area with double doors to be closed off out of sight when not in use. Doing this (and moving the radiator, perhaps for a streamlined vertical one elsewhere in the room) would give you more opportunities for furniture placement. Please feel to tell me none off these are possible or appealing. I watch with interest when someone asks for an opinion on a cushion only to be given advice for the room that will see them spending £5,000!! (I do it myself to avoid getting off the couch and do something with my own house!! Plus, I'm great at spending other people's money) Best of luck and keep the photos coming as you make changes because you have grest potential with this flat and there is some fab advice on here ....See MoreNeed advice with my dining room colors
Comments (5)Okay. So this furniture is all going in your dining room? Or is it open plan: living area and dining area in one space? I have to say that the dining table and chairs are a very different style from the TV cabinet and the other cabinets. I can't really see them working well together with your dining table and chairs. What will be on the floor in the dining room?...See MoreSusanna Kalitowski
5 years agoThanks both!
Here are some photos of the table (though not in the room it will be in - that’s still being constructed!):
Susanna Kalitowski
5 years ago
E D
5 years agoE D
5 years agoAt least I now have some sense of dimension after googling your pendant.
It's a great lamp!Susanna Kalitowski
5 years agoAlessandra
5 years agoRight, so... not sure of the style you want to achieve but scouted on Houzz and online and found a few things which I think might work. I particularly like the Wishbone option in the third photo and Cult furniture has a replica for a bit more than £100.
Susanna Kalitowski thanked Alessandraminnie101
5 years agoI'm a bit biased as you've picked one of my favourite pendants and I also love the belleville chair! As you're mixing it with a vintage table I might look at mixing the fabrics and colours of the chairs. They do some blue greys which could work with maybe cognac leather and the darker oak?
Susanna Kalitowski thanked minnie101Alessandra
5 years agoNot sure on how comfortable the third chair is (From Habitat) but would tie in with the light pendant nicely?
Susanna Kalitowski thanked AlessandraSusanna Kalitowski
5 years ago
PROCatherine Muir Interior Design LTD
5 years agoSusanna Kalitowski thanked Catherine Muir Interior Design LTDSusanna Kalitowski
5 years agoSusanna Kalitowski
5 years agominnie101
5 years agoI'm not sure this is terribly helpful as I can't photoshop! I also forgot the arms on 3 :) However whereas I prefer the dark oak with the table I think the light oak works better with the colours. The plastic chair can be used outdoors which I'd forgotten so should be extremely durable
- PRO
Catherine Muir Interior Design LTD
5 years ago Susanna Kalitowski
5 years agoSusanna Kalitowski
5 years ago
Bathroom + Kitchen Eleven