Hunting For The Perfect Dining Chairs (Do I Already Have Them?)
I need two dining chairs for my little table, and I have no idea what it is that I want. I search on Craigslist every day, but so far, nothing has really caught my eye.
However, I may already have two chairs that will work, so tell me what you think.
These chairs are the last remaining remnants of furniture left from my apartment in Turkey.
When I moved back to the States, I had most of this furniture shipped back here because it was actually cheaper than starting over and buying all new furniture. Over the years, I’ve sold a piece here and there, and now all I have left are two dining chairs.
So I pushed them up to the table to see if there’s any way I could make them work. Right now, they look like this, which is obviously all wrong.
But I got to thinking…what if I tweak them a bit? I could paint the wood to coordinate with the wood on the banquette, and then do a little upholstery work to make the chairs coordinate with the upholstery on the banquette upholstered back (and the banquette seat cushion, still to come).
I didn’t have the attention span to do a mock up of the wood painted the right color, but that will at least give you an idea of what the upholstery might look like.
So what do you think? Will they work? Honestly, I’m still feeling a bit conflicted. I’m just not sure that I had wanted something so matchy-matchy. This is one of those things that I’m afraid I may talk myself into because it’s convenient (and cheap!), do all of the work, and then end up a bit disappointed. But then again, I may love it!
Edit: Several people have suggested using the valance fabric somewhere on the chair, so I did another mock up to see what that might look like. I like it! And I ESPECIALLY like that these chairs don’t look so matchy-matchy.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
If you were disappointed later…you could always replace the chairs at that time…
I love the chairs, I think they are beautiful and I think they would work wonderfully in that spot. I'm not a big fan of using the white to upholster them like the banquette – I like the idea of using the same fabric that you used on the valance on them better. Or even a solid color from the fabric – like a bright green.
They might not look as matchy-matchy if you didn't pad the backs of the chairs and just let the painted wood show. Maybe you could paint them a bright yellow with the white padding? NO? OK, maybe the turquoise from the cabinets or green from the valance. Or white wood with a turquoise pad?..Oh, I'm a lot of help! But I do like the chairs painted with the seats padded. You know what they say about a bird in hand. 🙂
I think that these chairs would look really great with a little tweaking! I do think, right now, that they blend in with the table and floor a little too much. I would paint them white and then upholster them in the valence fabric (i like the mock-up of that). Just something that stands out a little more.
Love the new mock up with the green and the valance fabric! 🙂
The valance fabric on them would look awesome!
Ditto on the valance with the wood trim showing!!!
I think they will look fabulous with the valance material on the seats…leave the backs as are, don't paint the chairs. Who knows, you may find something you like better later and at that point, you can switch them out.
Like the white backs with the valance fabric seats, but either way I just think it is amazing that you got them to match and that you weighed out if it was cheaper to bring them or re-buy! Great post, all of it very cool!
I love the second mock up of the chairs!! I think they would look fabulous that way – and I don't think it is too matchy-matchy –
So there you have it – my two cents!
I think you're almost there, but I'm not fond of the lime green on the chair backs. I think you should go back to the white for the backs, and leave the seats in the valance fabric. I, too, live in fear of matchy-matchy, but "relating things" or "drawing elements together" is a whole different deal, doncha think? Matchy-matchy = boring, "sparks of recognition" = very cool.
My 2 cents — which isn't really worth THAT much, truth to tell.
Jayni
Thanks so much for your feedback, everyone! I think I have everything solidified in my head now. I did YET ANOTHER mock up of the entire FINISHED area, and I absolutely love it!!! I can't wait to get it finished so that I can share it with y'all.
I am going to do the paisley fabric on the seats, the apple green on the backs, and I'm keeping the wood brown, rather than painting. The apple green ties in nicely with the valance (there's actually more apple green in that fabric than turquoise), and also with my chandelier (that I hope to get finished soon), and also a handpainted floor cloth that I'm going to be adding to the space.
Wow! Tons to do still, but y'all really helped me pull this area together. THANK YOU!!