Some friends of ours have a lovely house in Oakland, complete with craftsman details and an actual backyard. No one put the hard sell on us to move back to the Bay Area better than their house. (We're sticking with NYC, for now).
They also have a great eye for pretty things, and they're slowly making their home match their sense of style. Mostly, that's a mid-century vibe, but California style - not at all sterile feeling, and with lots of texture. As they turn their attention to their dining room, we started talking about dining chairs to go more with the feeling they're going for in the rest of the house, and to replace the Ikea stand-ins they've had for a while. I said I'd send some thoughts their way - and here they are!
Sleek Silhouettes in Warm Woods
Warm Wood Dining Chairs with Sleek Silhouettes
I absolutely love all of these chairs. I chose them all for their mid-century vibes - clean lines, mid-toned wood, even the rattan on the bottom chair - and think any one would make a fantastic addition to an updated dining room.
1. This chair, the Palmer Rope Stacking Dining Armchair, is actually from Pottery Barn's outdoor collection. It sure is pretty enough to bring inside, isn't it? I love the edginess of the woven seat and back, and they actually look pretty comfy. At $449 each, they are not what I'd call cheap. (Though, as of this moment, they're on sale for $354 each, if you're interested). But they are, for sure, classic. And, since armed chairs around the whole table might feel bulky, why not use them as head and foot chairs, and use the Jansen chair as your main chair?
2. The Jansen chair, from Room and Board, will not, sadly, save you any coin. The chairs are $399 each - plus $99 for that sleek cushion. If you're looking for several chairs (as you well might be), that could eat up a chunk of your budget pretty quickly. But oh, look how pretty they are. So sleek. So calm, really - there's no unnecessary fuss with these chairs. And again, classic. The nice thing about going toward mid-century modern is that you know it's got staying power. True, it's having a moment right now, but it's here to stay for the long haul. So you can invest, is what I'm saying. But do you have to? Maybe not.
3. These Zebra series Hagen Hardwood chairs are a steal for $90 each (Overstock sells them in sets of 2 for $180). Seriously, those chairs look just as sleek as the others here, for 3 to 4 times less. And I dig the rich color - which might also hide dirt and such pretty well. Plus, you can elevate the whole look by pairing these as your main chairs with the Upton chair as your end chairs, and you've got a pretty lovely dining room.
4. That's the Upton Dining Chair from West Elm, and it's my favorite. I am in love. I wouldn't have expected to be -- who thought the woven back would be so appealing? But it really speaks to me. Sort of a late 60s, early 70s nod, and I love it. The carved seat and legs are unique, and the padded seat looks comfy. The whole mixed-material vibe is casual in a way that's perfect for a California craftsman. For the win, I'd say. At $299 each (but less if you buy more than one), they're not a total steal - but if you're offsetting the cost with the bargain Hagan chairs it could work out pretty well.
But what of other options?
Super Modern to the Rescue
5. This Pony Peacock Chair from CB2 might normally be a bit too cold for my taste, but that color is SICK, and plays really well with the rich blues they have in the adjoining living room. Plus, with a warm wood (but clean-lined) dining table, I think the coolness of these chairs would create a nice balance. And, at $129 apiece, they're a pretty good deal.
6. Once again, Overstock provides some really great budget options. These Eames-inspired Lucas White Wood Grain Accent Chairs are mid-century embodied, and I love the white-plus-wood combo. I even like the complicated chair leg situation. Plus they’re dirt cheap - 2 for $160. (And, Overstock offers free shipping, and you can get coupons pretty much every single day for 10% off. So they're a deal, is what I'm saying).
7. Also white, but with a different vibe is the Bellini Chair from Room and Board. You can find similar silhouettes from a number of different outlets, and they have appeal because they're simple, easy to keep clean, and can update pretty much any dining table you've got. Okay, not any dining table. But they are versatile. These run $175 each.
8. Well, these Forza Brown Fabric Mid-Century Modern Arm Chairs are a pretty literal interpretation of the mid-century look - and wouldn't they be great paired with the Lucas white chairs? Oh, I love it. These are perfect end-of-table chairs, but they're not too fussy, or too formal, or any of that. They're from Overstock, and come in sets of two for $270.
So there are 8 chair options, with mix-and-match possibilities, for a modern-esque craftsman dining room. What say you? Any standouts? Thanks as always for reading, and have a great weekend.