Ok, I know. Enough already with the dining chairs. But your comments and emails on this have been so helpful that I wanted to go just one more round on this before we make a final decision.
To refresh your memories, we settled on these chairs –classic Milo Baughman designs from the 1970s. Their scale, comfort and opportunity to introduce color and texture through upholstery were the deciding factors. And I managed to economically assemble a set of 10 on ebay and through a New York dealer –eight side chairs and two armchairs for the ends of the table. They’re at the upholsterer now awaiting fabric.
This has been dragging on (er, in process) for quite a while now, so I’ll refresh your memories about where we are.
For fabric, we started out with this selection.
And, for context, here’s a photo of the adjacent living area (viewed from the dining area).
And the dining area itself (with the old chairs).
My main take-aways from your thoughtful and candid comments are as follows:
1. The dining area is cold and uninteresting and needs warmth, color and pattern.
I agree completely. Chairs with upholstered seats and backs will introduce much-needed textiles, and we’re working on a bold, patterned custom rug.
2. The whole space runs the risk of being dull and safe (the term “Stepford gay” came up). Shake things up a little.
Agreed. A unique, bold rug will help a lot, I think, and introducing a new accent color in the dining area will also help enliven the space.
3. Ten chairs in one fabric is a lot, and the space is big enough to handle some variety: consider using more than one fabric.
Yup. I’d like to use one fabric for the side chairs and another for the ends.
4. Steer clear of the golds and oranges: the room needs contrast from the brick walls and the amber carpet in the living room.
Agreed, after some deliberation. I was originally leaning this way, but you’ve convinced me. The oranges could seem bland and predictable, and the room could use another shot of contrasting color.
Which brings us to the greens above. We considered blues, but I didn’t like the idea bookending blue dining chairs at the East end of the space with the blue mohair club chairs on the West side. We also considered the maroons and purples, but they seemed a little somber, particularly in evening light. Greens seem fresh, lively and inviting.
Thoughts?
Thanks for your help. I promise the next dining chair post will be of the finished product.
Here’s a fresh take on cooking, entertaining, decorating and other domestic arts and sciences from a real daddy living in New York and San Francisco. I’ve always had a strong domestic streak, but since my partner and I had our daughter Julia last year, I’ve learned to keep my projects simpler, faster and more fun. I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned, and I’d love to hear your ideas too.
An Homage to Hospital Jello: Minted Pomegranate Lime Jelly
Chicken Breasts with Mint, Capers and White Wine
Cow Hollow Cooler
Painting Stripes
Sunny Bedcover for Julia's Room
Turkish Coffee Chocolate Creams
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m thinking pick 5 greens and do two chairs in each green. Tonal variations.
I love the bottom left green tweed pattern. It’s an unsolid solid which may give the dining area some zing, especially if you add a rug as well.
I like the Knoll fabric in the top center, and the other Knoll fabric two down from that one that has a bit of texture.
I agree with Michael. I like the green tweed pattern. I also like the solid green directly to the right on the bottom row. Maybe using the solid green on the guest chairs and the tweed on the host(s) chairs or vice versa would work well? The chairs are really GREAT! I’m anxious to see it all pulled together with the rug!
I love the greens and the idea of using more than one fabric and texture. I can’t choose a specific fabric, but love the general idea and look forward to seeing the end result. The chairs themselves are amazing! PS: Agree with not using blues!
I like some of the brighter greens—but that probably doesn’t surprise you!
Perhaps you could superimpose the fabric onto the chairs in photoshop to see what they would look like?
I agree with George, I love the tweed for the host chairs and either of the green to the right (top and bottom) for the guests. I would stay away from the brighter green in the top left as I think it would be too matchy matchy with the green in the picture – or I may just be over analysing. You’ve done such an amazing job and I’ve defiantly been convinced to do some things differently in my upcoming renovations due your fabulous work.
Oooh, green is fresh! I like this idea. I am especially enamored of the greens on the left side of the photo. While I love the top one (lime! or at least on my monitor it is…) I think the bottom two would be best because of the added texture. Depending on how bold you want to go, choose one for the side chairs and one for the arm chairs. I think two fabrics is enough, more seems busy to me especially if you are getting a bold rug. Can’t wait to see how they turn out!
Hmmmm. For the end chairs, I vote bottom left. For the others, I vote for the fabric directly above it. BUT, I also think that the room would benefit greatly if not all of the middle chairs were the same color. I like the thought of pulling the end chair fabrics onto one or two of the middle ones as well. It would help break up the space and provide some variation. While I really do like the idea of the ends being one color and the middles being another, I feel like you might run the risk of it feeling too….static? Is that the word I’m looking for? I don’t know. Whatever you choose, I’m sure it will look great, as all of your decisions do!
Good luck, can’t wait to see the results.
i like all the left fabrics and the top and 3rd right. funny because i’m more muted and gray in my own home, but think this room needs saturated colors and textural variation.
this may be a case where you should get the rug first. i’m currently more drawn to the art above the ponti then the ponti itself. so go bold.
i rarely like dual textiles on the same chair but these might look good with a contrasting back panel.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what you choose, I like the brighter greens, and a variety in colour sounds good with so many chairs and in a big space.
I would suggest you google Romeo Sozzi… he used this amazing deep rose velvet that I’m obsessed with… stunning with dark wood. and I might paint that colour as well! Very bold and unexpected, but I think you could pull it off! :p
(look at both his Paris, and Milan apartments)
I am very late to this problem, but I just can’t pass up a good design question…!
I was solidly in the azure camp in the last go-round, and it still appeals to me even with all these other choices.
The issue for me isn’t colour per se, but rather, brightness. Most of the fabrics you have chosen are muted and dusty (well, except for the autumnal hues which just don’t work for me). Except for the bright spring green in the upper left corner, all the colours are subdued.
Here are some ideas I have for you –
I love Shima, especially the turquoise, but also the pinks and greens.
http://www.designersguild.com/fabric-and-wallpaper-showroom/all-collections/shima/shima/turquoise
Another option: using a different fabric for the outside planes of the chair than for the inside. Something plainer and more subdued on the inside, and wild on the outside.
For example, this on the outside:
http://www.designersguild.com/fabric-and-wallpaper-showroom/all-collections/moyka/mantua/turquoise/
Combined with the apple green or moss from your green selection (first and second from the left on the top row), or the chartreuse from the original selection.
Or perhaps the pink:
http://www.designersguild.com/fabric-and-wallpaper-showroom/all-collections/moyka/mantua/vermilion/
Combined with the blue purple wool on the inside (bottom middle fabric original selection).
I’m dying to know what you pick!