Happy Friday, all! Now that the Super Secret Design Project is almost done, I’m turning my attention back to our dining room. The cabinet I ordered is on its way and should be here this weekend, so now it’s time to think about the chairs. The Friday Five today focuses on dining room chair choices.
I don’t know why choosing dining room chairs is so difficult. I guess it’s because I want something that’s a bit unique. I don’t want formal dining chairs, but rather something with character and a more industrial, rustic look. So, here’s what I’ve come up with:
1. The Current Chairs
Right now, we have two metal chairs and four upholstered chairs. The upholstered chairs are these:
I bought these chairs from Pier 1 about 13 or 14 years ago. They used to be brown paisley print. I re-covered them – see THIS POST for how I reupholstered them – and now they’re gray with faux nailhead trim.
I like them as gray chairs and the gray upholstery (from JoAnn) has held up well, but the nailhead trim isn’t as sturdy as I’d hoped (it isn’t real nailhead trim; it’s more like a garland that you nail into place at even intervals). The chairs are still in good shape, but they’re a bit formal for the look I’m going for. That said, it’s free to keep them as our chair choice.
I love the metal chairs, which are Tolix or Tolix-style chairs:
I bought them at a furnishings consignment store several years ago. So choice #2 could be:
2. More Tolix
We could just get more chairs that match the Tolix ones. For example, these Tolix Chairs
I love these, but – realistically – would someone want to sit in them for a long holiday dinner? I’m not so sure. So, that leads to #3…
3. Schoolhouse Rockin’ Chairs
I found these “Scholar” chairs at Crate and Barrel and I have to admit, I love them:
A wooden seat means it’s more comfortable than the metal chairs, but it has metal legs, which coordinates with the metal chairs we already have. Plus, I have a thing for old school things (lockers, maps, globes, etc.), so these chairs that look like old school chairs make my heart go pitter patter. And at $99.95, they certainly are reasonable.
4. French Country Charm
Choice #4 is a bit more formal and more French country than industrial:
Source: Overstock.com
I really like these; I love the distressed wood and the metal accents (the rivets). But I wonder how comfortable those seats are.
5. A Little More Modern Seat
Last, but not least, I found these guys:
Source: World Market
I found two chairs like these at Marshalls, too, but they were too short for our dining room table and I ended up using them in the Super Secret Design Project instead:
But I really like them and wonder if they’re all that same height. They are actually really comfortable and they come in several colors.
So, there are the Friday Five: dining room chair choices. Which would you choose? Share your opinion in the comments! Have a great weekend!!
A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.
I love the modern – it’s more my style – but I actually like the gray reupholstered chairs – with a modern on both ends…. The topic might be not so comfy — something upholstered softens any hard edges in the room… My only thing that feels off are the two dressers/ bureaus relatively next to each other … Feels heavy
Hi Mary – The big buffet is going bye-bye; a friend is buying it. The chest by the chimney is staying and I’m getting a new cabinet that is going to go on the other side of the room to balance it out. I like the idea of softening the room with the upholstery. Thanks!
Hey Karen,
I vote for the Modern seats. I like the mix of metal and wood on the legs and the seats look comfortable yet easy to clean.
I always covet those upholstered chairs when I look through the Pier One catalog – I’m glad to know they hold up over time.
May I ask where you found the quatrefoil rug under your table?
Thanks! The rug is from Mohawk Flooring. I got the rug directly from Mohawk (see this post: https://www.dogsdonteatpizza.com/not-jute-rug-type/) but you can buy the rug at Walmart: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mohawk-Home-Hampton-Woven-Area-Rug/31175377. Oh, and yes, the Pier 1 chairs have held up great! Thank you!
I was first drawn to the French Country Charm, but the Schoolhouse Rockin’ Chairs have won out! I kept going back and forth between the pictures of the chairs and the dining room picture, trying to visualize each chair at the table! I like the wood and the school look to go along with your globes, maps, and lockers. I think those chairs will look great at your table. Speaking of school….Being a teacher, I zoomed in on the white board, the white board cleaner, eraser, and welcome back message in the picture of the chairs at the Secret Design project location : ) Hmmmmm. Enjoy your weekend! Karen
P.S. To Mary D. Karen is planning on changing out the bureau that does not have the globes on it, from the dining room.
Karen – you are a super sleuth! 😉 Thanks for your input on the chairs. I’m leaning toward the schoolhouse rock ones, too! Thank you!