That might be a slight exaggeration, Gentle Readers, but not by much.
My family has been begging me to include this stool in a blog post ever since we went to Parking Pizza in Barcelona. Behold!
That’s right! You put your jacket and bag IN the stool! And then you sit on it!
I know: they’re a little beaten up. It’s the perfect look for this restaurant, but possibly not the right look for your house unless you live in a loft in Soho. (Does anyone live in a loft in Soho anymore?)
BUT they’re ingenious, and really, really comfortable..
Number 2 is the Texas Chair by KFF. Full disclosure: I own these. But who better, then, to sing their praises?
As you can discover through a blog post from 2008 (!!!), John and I bought 2 of the black armchairs when we were just starting out. We used them as living room chairs, knowing that someday, SOMEDAY, when we had a house with a normal dining table, we’d fill out the set. So that’s what we did.
When *I* bought these chairs, I got them from DWR, and they were called the Antica chair. (Holy cow: I like them so much I wrote about them twice in 2008!) They discontinued them, and how I bemoaned their demise!
BUT WAIT! The amazing Heather at M2L came to the rescue! She informed me that these chairs were alive and well and available through her store! What luck! Since then, I’ve ordered the KFF chairs (through Heather ;) ) for clients in black, a beautiful cognac color, white, and green. They are SUPER comfy, and their sleek style updates traditional dining tables beautifully.
Third, we have the classic Eames Side Chair. Same thing: they look perfect in midcentury and contemporary contexts, but they also can calm a fussy space.
They come in amazing colors, many of which are made from recycled plastic, and they have several base/leg styles.
AND, again, they’re extremely comfortable. (It should go without saying that dining chairs must be comfortable, and yet, you’d be shocked how many UNcomfy chairs there are out there.)
We’re about to use the Eames Side Chairs in this gorgeous Evergreen color in a kitchen, with a Saarinen Tulip Table as below. Iconic all around.
Finally, here’s a chair that I can’t in good conscience put on this list JUST YET, because I haven’t used it in a project. Not for lack of trying, mind you ;) However, I have high hopes for this chair and really want you to know about it.
It’s the Keira Chair from Century Furniture, and I absolutely LOVE it. It comes in as many wood finishes as you can think of, and as many leather and fabric upholsteries as exist on the face of the earth. (I’m feeling very global today!)
And get this: you can even get it with an upholstered back!
Not that the chair needs the upholstery for comfort; it’s very comfortable with the wooden back. But still: it’s an option.
There you go, Gentle Readers: a starting point if you have unstylish or uncomfortable dining chairs. Believe me, your tuchus (and guests) deserves the very best.
Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC. Wondering how to style your bookcase? Wonder no more! Here are my tips on NBC4.