apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

in my opinion, i think there's nothing wrong with changing the leg style - it actually creates more interest to your room! however, i would try to get drastically different shapes, so it's not ALMOST matching. you know what i mean? like a stout wood block leg or something.
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=378468&cat=91552822

I think it also depends on the placement of your sofa. Are you floating it in the room, or up against a wall? If all four legs are easily visible, then you may want to keep the legs on your armchairs thin, and light. But, I don't think it's a problem to have a mix of steel and wood legs. Less matchy matchy is always better I think. If you have the gray version of that sofa, perhaps a bright red or orange armchair, with dark wood accents would be a nice combo. good luck.

For the most part, I prefer consistency among chair legs with regard to material (e.g., wood or steel) and color (e.g., dark wood or light wood).

That said, I think it's appropriate to deviate from the above when the accent chair in question is a statement in and of itself. For example, an eames lcw (all wood) looks great paired with a nelson daybed (steel hairpin legs). And in my opinion, an eames leather and lounge chair (metal star base) would look great paired with a simple-lined sofa with wood block legs. I would just keep the deviation to a minimum.

In Amy's case, it appears she's looking for a chair with similar lines as her sofa. In that case, I would go with metal legs.

speaking as a person with different furniture legs, YES, i think you can mix. my sofa has similar legs to your chair and my lounge chair has chrome legs. they are not right next to each other, but in the same room.

i think it helped to incorporate other accessories that compliment both styles in the room. i have a metal base coffee table to compliment the chair and other chrome accents (lamps) in the room. we also have a wood side table to coordinate with the sofa. hope this helps!

I think that the leg styles should be similar. The examples above exhibit two differing styles and materials making them seem unmatched overall.

There is so much emphasis on details when looking at 2 individual peices together. Unless the room you are putting the furniture in is going to be completely stark, I would say that the furniture legs don't need to match at all, so long as the other design elements in the room tie in together. The key things to consider when putting together your room, is you have now chosen a "metal" theme (steel) and wood theme (black wood.) If I were designing this room, I would build upon these things.

I think that material the legs are made of can change but it you want harmony you want to get legs that are the same style and have similar lines. Of course you could also go for something different and to contrast in which case get a chair that is dramatically different in style and design from the sofa.

I agree with hoboken_melanie. I think the style of the sofa and the chair are very similar. Maybe you are attracted to that shape. So, stop at the sofa (you've got your fix in) and look for a chair that will compliment the sofa, not match it. The mix of legs doesn't bother me. It's an easy fix once the pieces are in your home, if you decide at a later date that you just don't like the mix.

thanks all! this has all been great -- since sending the original Q, I've actually started to think I need a different, less-boxy chair shape. I love the Quinn from Room & Board...
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=91672185&cat=91552822

...but I am going to wait and see what else I can find around town

Also my TV console is dark wood, with steel legs, so I do think I'll have something to tie it all together.

Thanks again all!

Just checked back in on your thread to see what you decided. I like the Quinn you've selected! Nice choice!