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I have always thought it was peculiar and rather silly to have different chairs at the heads of the table. That said, I certainly would not be offended by it--i can't imagine any one being so; so if it works for you, by all means buy them.

I LOVE captain's chairs. It's usually just my partner and I dining together most days, and we have a big huge wingback chair apiece pulled up to the dining table. It's great for comfort and hanging around the table even when the meal is done.

When more people come to dinner, we just unstack chairs from the corners and shove in as many people as we can.

For everyday, go for comfort, for parties, think high density.

I have a small round table (an oak claw-foot that extends when needed) that usually only seats my husband and I. For just us, I use informal straight back chairs, but when we have company...with the added length to the table I move in two "head" chairs at the ends. I really like the formal look, especially for special events (holiday dinners), and when not in use these chairs get moved to other areas for seating.

I really like head chairs, I have just one though (slowling collecting vintage 'set') but the table I have right now doesn't allow the chairs' arms to slide underneath. I think if you're careful with the fit then chairs with arms are quite nice.

My family has a huge dining room table (it can seat 10 people) and each end has an armchair. But my family always clusters around one end for meals/board games/hanging out. My dachshund loves to climb into the armchair and sit behind my back when I'm sitting there. My little sister and I used to scramble to get the big armchair - except at mealtimes - because it was an unspoken rule that the armchair was my father's chair then. I personally love dramatic end chairs and think that they have a lot of character at a table. Hopefully I'll have a table big enough one day to have them.

I second jendavid99's comment. I have a big old harvest table that I love. But... it doesn't have leaves so it's inflexible - it's always big. One of my six chairs has arms, and they don't fit under the table, so the footprint with chairs is even bigger...

Try this idea --> don't have any matching chairs.

If you've inheirted a table you like, then start looking, shopping, craigslisting for 'your look'. Then pull it altogether with paint and/or fabric. You won't have to buy an exact number of chairs at one time (as in, "I like these 2 chairs, but I really to buy 4."). Buy comfortable chairs to coordinate with your vision, your design, your room, and your table; not matchy-matchy.

It works in tea rooms, why not your fabulous dining room?

I love the having different chairs at the end. When you have more than four of the same chair, it's starts to look too formal for me.

We have two armchairs along with the others for our dining table, and they do take up more space. However, I use them in the living room as extra seating, and in that context people like having arms on the chairs. So it depends on your situation which would be better for you.

I inherited an antique dining table too (ca.1880)---sans chairs. I bought a 6-chair set, and two of them were "head" chairs. I would have preferred to buy all unmatched chairs, as suggested above by MaeEast, but I needed chairs asap. The nice thing about unmatched chairs is that if you find a single chair somewhere that you fall in love with---there's no problem about adding it to the mix.

I've noticed that aboard the ships I've sailed on and many high-end restaurants I've dined in that all chairs at a table will have upholstered armchairs, and it makes sitting at a long dinner a much more comfortable and luxurious experience...

...so when I helped a close friend choose furnishings for his new post-marriage apartment, for his dining area we chose armchairs to go all the way around his table - and no side-chairs.

Do what you like, for Pete's sake ; )

We have one head chair at our kitchen table, and it came with the set (I'm pretty sure). It's an unspoken rule as well that it's my mother's chair. My brother has tried exactly twice to take the seat, and though bigger than her, was lifted out of the chair by his ear....

:P Use what you like. I do like the idea of non matching chairs too.

I have it in reverse. I have four Starck Lord Yo's for guests in the middle and 2 Dr. No's at each end of the table. It's different but I love it.

My parents have a shaker table with 8 chairs. Two of them are 'captains chairs' and they don't look very formal at all. I think the table would look great, and even more informal with different colored Eames shell chairs around it.

I agree with the consensus that each person should do what makes him/her happy. I do not have "head" chairs nor do I want any - it isn't my thing and it doesn't reflect my personal values or interests. I think they are a good idea if you have a regular diner who has special needs and who can use the extra support of arms in order to sit upright at the table for longer periods of time.

what KWorld says -- I have a couple of chairs with arms for family members who regularly come over and need the arms to readjust while they sit or to get up.

I was wondering if anyone would be 'offended' by the head chairs. I bought a table and 6 chairs-1 head chair-at an estate sale when I was out of college and thought the 1 chair was odd-why not 2? Years later and I finally have space to use all the chairs, my family of 4 usually sits on the sides. When company comes, I prefer them to take the ends and my mother-in-law (and my husband, when she's here) always acts a bit uncomfortable about it. I think it's a bit ridiculous and ancient history-ish, and I'm glad to see others aren't hung up either.

That being said-I've add a small wingback to one end and love reading the paper there. So maybe I should claim it as lady-of-the-house, after all.

People who are offended by someone elses furniture choices have psychological issues.

I like the semi formal look of head chairs and would probably have some if my table and dining room were bigger. (As it is I can barely fit in the four Parsons chairs I have.) But the more important thing is for everybody to be comfortable. That's why I hate benches at dining tables. (If you have benches because you like the look, I think you should be obliged to sit on them for any meals you host leaving the probably more comfortable seating to your guests.) (Unless you hate your guests.)

susan - do you!

I love head chairs but I have them all all over instead of the ends, I guess having the arm room is appealing to me, It's a great look.