apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have Thonet cane bentwood chairs around mine.

Does anyone know how to get a replacement marble top?

I don't think this is a good match.
Got a Tulip Table (white) and Panton Chairs around, looks great ! But with the marble top is not as easy...

I have the same idea, but haven't pulled the trigger. My number one choice is the Wegner elbow chair. Others that I like are the Cherner side chair, any of the Thonet side chairs, and even just a black laquered bent wood cafe chair (I've seen this in Domino, I think).
Another look that I think would be nice is a padded wire chair or a fiberglass chair -- totally different direction but nice, too.

I love this table. A cafe I go to in Philly has tables like this paired with orange acrylic chairs. The link doesn't have the same chair, but the orange swatch is very, very similar.
http://www.danetti.com/products.php?product=lanza%20chair

I want Eames Eiffel chairs from Herman Miller around mine, but until I get the money it's Ikea. I can't wait to change them.

This is my table:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allabouteve/2074310785/in/set-72157600297829837/

This is the look I want:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swade/1822368022/

But I can't decide on colour...

Please be aware that marble is hard to care for. I have a black marble table that shows water marks, etc. This table has a nice finish and I assume was sealed, but there are marks and rings all over it. I am not sure white marble is very practical, although beautiful.

hey..that's my flickr link with the dwr showroom in it.

i agree, i want eames shell chairs in white with eiffel bases. however, the new chairs that herman miller is coming out with are pretty bad (i think). i'm searching for some nice old white fiberglass shells... if i can't find those (and i should) then the modernica reproductions are certainly nicer than the flimsy stuff herman miller is putting out now.

Saarinen Executive Armchairs w/ metal base

http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=11419&Prfrm=1%3Futm_source=yahoo-ssp&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=paid-inclus

(I think they're probably less expensive directly from Knoll - particularly during early May when they have their annual 30 percent off sale)

Method makes a marble cleaner.

I think teak warms up the marble, certainly. I've been in the market for one of these (or a reasonable facsimile) for years, and wood usually comes to mind first...or a colored thonet chair. red or yellow. Good luck!

Love love love those chairs you're thinking abut. I say go for it.

The Saarinen table goes really well with the typical tulip chairs. But I have mine with Eames side eiffel based chairs.

see it here:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1055/566404664_801f970610.jpg?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1075/566778411_0b1369403c.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/590946086_2007e9032a.jpg

Since the table is such a simple design, I wouldn't try to over kill it with the chairs. We had chrome bertoias for a while but later changed to the eames and we are happy now. True, eames are now made in plastic instead of fiberglass but are more durable to day to day ordeals. Make sure you get the coated marble top as it's bullet proof. If you get the uncoated one, prepare yourself for scratches and stains/rings.
I wanted to order a marble top (I had the laminated top) from knoll and the price was $4500 a year ago. Found a vintage marble top locally in miami for $700 in perfect condition since the owner upgraded to granite.
I will stick with the regular white base for arabescato or carrara marble, black base for granite and silver for grey marble/granite or rosewood top.
I hope this helps!

regards,

joel pirela
www.blueantstudio.com

Go for the chairs you are currently looking at. They are a knock out, and indeed, they do warm up the marble.

also:
They are not as ubiquitous as some of the other choices.

Prices are still reasonable.

.. and wood is not so chilly on the tush in winter time (yes, I own some Eames shells, not a winterfriendly/ bum loving thing)

I think you are on to a great combination ! Cheers.

I have the opposite situation - vintage tulip chairs and a borrowed table. We're in the process of making a walnut table to contrast the white chairs. I think the wood pairing w/the Saarinen - in either combination is a great way to go. Stick w/the Olsen chairs. They are lovely and somewhat unexpected.

can I ask a silly question? Does anyone have trouble with this style table tipping over when someone leans on the edge. I'm considering it for my kitchen nook, but we're also considering children and don't want to introduce a hazzard.

I was checking out a great post yesterday at "A Mad tea party with Alis:
http://a-mad-tea-party-with-alis.blogspot.com/2008/01/story-of-saarinen-table-and-other.html
She has great photos with all kinds of chairs.

Think Subtle design.

Most of these chair suggestions are too much design or Statement, for this Simple and Beautiful table.

Carrie too: I wouldn't worry about it, the base is heavy.

wow loridilo! that was a great link! really loved it -- thank you for posting it.

as for the chairs, I think the table is so gorgeous and goes so well with so many different ones, why not do what they did in the image that went along with the docksta question, that is, use mismatched chairs with the organizing principle of being all in white? I must admit, I am partial to the Czech chair, which isn't too common yet, and it is an opportunity to get a lovely variety of chairs.

I love the chairs you have picked, but for some reason, I do not love them with the table; cannot explain why.

However, these are some chairs along the same lines that I think for some indefinable reason would marry better:

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=68890

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=109487

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=193366

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=199585

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=196414

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=100850

I love your sense of adventure, and would love to see what you finally decide...

I have the white/marble Saarinen table with 5 white Panton chairs around ot. Talk about a biased opinion, but I think they go so well.

i think those chairs would look amazing with a nice danish table, but not so much with the saarinen table. they are two great pieces, but ones that i think detract from the others beauty.

perhaps a arne jacobsen series 7 chair in white?

eightdouble made a great suggestion, jacobsen series 7.

It would be an Aesthetic Crime to surround a Saarinen table with Nasty Plastic Panton chairs.

Wow, thank you all for your wonderful comments! First, my sincerest apologies for being completely absent from the comment thread my question sparked - I just got back from vacation and am just now getting caught up on the blogosphere.

eightdouble/phauxtoe - I agree, the series 7 chair is quite nice, and would be a great match.

nov9 - i love the elbow chair. I had seen it recently in a store and didn't know the name of it. But it's even more gorgeous in person. And so very comfortable.

monika - I completely understand your feelings. I love the table, and I love the chairs, but I'm not sure about the combination.

others - The eames chairs and tulip chairs are fabulous companions, and look wonderful. And thank you so much for your suggestions. I think I have a slight aversion to them because I like to think that I'm fabulously hip and adventuresome and am breaking some kind of mold (I know it's not true. But don't shatter my illusions...)

Before this was posted, I had a brief conversation with Grace over at Design Sponge, and she suggested the Bertoia chairs. I think they're beautiful, but I also hear they're incredibly uncomfortable.

A coworker and I have also discussed going with something springier/cheerier. I love the Maui chair by Kartell (it's a dream to sit in), and would consider this as well.

In summary - you are all wonderful and have wonderful ideas. I am still indecisive but have a lot more/better ideas running through my brain. I will certainly update you when the decision is made and the table has found its mate.

I love this combination! Just bought the white tulip table for our very small so-called breakfast nook and am trying to figure out what chairs to get. I definitely want the wood chair/white table combo. I think it looks original and not too matchy-matchy mid-century modern overkill.
But where can I find these chairs??? I take it they are vintage one-of-a-kind??

Any suggestions on where can I get Thonet bentwood chairs?

I definitely like the mix and match look. I have a similar white table from CB2, and the chairs I use are these old skandinavian teak chairs (hand-me-downs) that have that same danish modern look. The round edges on the chairs gives it a warmer and more comfortable look, along with the contrasting dark wood against the white.

I went on this website and was totally obsessed witht eh table for weeks!!

http://a-mad-tea-party-with-alis.blogspot.com/2008/01/story-of-saarinen-table-and-other.html

I finally got my butt over to DWR today but when i saw it, it looked a bit short.

most of my tables in the house are at least 30 inches height.

Do anybody have problems with it being too short? or am i being too fussy...

Anyone have an idea of how to solve the opposite problem. I have tulip chairs and don't want to pair with a tulip table. Too matchy, matchy.

Sorry to join the party so late, but I just got my Saarinen table (the 74" Oval with white marble), and I paired it with Supernatural chairs which were featured on this site a while back (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/seating-dining-sidechairs/the-supernatural-chair-midnight-design-porn-007552).

I got the orange and green with perforations for another purpose and bought other chairs for the table, but when I got it, the Supernaturals worked better, so I just got more of those.

There is a nice contrast between the playful informality of the chairs and the more elegant table with may not work for some (like the guy who didn't like pairing it with Pantons above) but I love it.

If I decide to go more formal (and spend more money) in the future, the Cherner with arms looks fabulous with it in that picture from the Tea Party site. I also like the clear ghost chair with colorful cushions.

Just cant go wrong with this table.

As for Miamilori's dilemma, this is tougher. I love the tulip chairs, but can't imagine pairing them with a table that won't feel not as well paired as the tulip table.

But, since the Tulip's distinguishing feature is unobtrusive legs, I would look for that feature in a table. One that might seem too similar to the Tulip is the Aarnio Parabel Table:

http://www.retromodern.com/item_detail.asp?5140

If you want more contrast, I like the Prouve tables (the EM or the Gueridon).