My husband and I received a beautiful antique wood dining room table as a gift and while we love it we have no idea how to pick out chairs for it. We've tried to find chairs on numerous occasions without success so we're hoping the AT community can help. Ideally we'd like something that's stackable since we don't have a lot of room. Best, Jam
Additional photos below the jump for reference...





This is a very traditional table...
Since you state that you simply must have stackable chairs, you're restricting your choices to items that are either very modern or very "office" - and my guess is that the reason you're having difficulty with choosing chairs is that you're not finding the mix of modern and traditional pleasing.
I believe that if you simply skipped the idea of stacking chairs, you'd have a much easier time making a choice that's pleasing to you.
view bepsf's profile
Back in the 50s, nice wooden folding chairs for bridge tables were manufactured. I've found a couple of sets of these at yard sales and used them as spares in small spaces. If you took them to a good refinisher/upholsterer, you could make them look wonderful with this table, which is older than the chairs, but would work, I think.
Their shortcoming is that they are not the most comfortable chairs. I think you're going to find that chairs of the right vintage to go with this table are not likely to be stackable.
One possible solution is to get a pair of nice chairs that go well with the table for daily use and foldable chairs you can store until guests arrive. There are chairs currently being manufactured that fold up.
Good luck! A friend is going to give me a similar table. I'm looking forward to restoring its finish. I'll be using it as a desk.
view rapunzel's profile
How about two comfortable chairs of the same period, with four folding chairs in the closet, like Rapunzel suggested? Also, I find that wicker chairs are very practical in small places - they are comfortable, come in many styles, can be used for dining and moved easily to a lounging area or outside.
view bromelia's profile
stools just makes sure they are 18 inches high.
view ojanet's profile
I like the idea of 2 bigger/nicer chairs and then some extra folding chairs. They make much nicer styles nowadays. I've seen wooden ones at Costco and BB&B
view minnesara's profile
stackable chairs for a formal antique table such as this one could be a difficult match up. These chair are fairly sleek:
http://www.ergobacksolutions.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=709&idcategory=0
view eek's profile
I agree that the issue is more that we need two chairs that we can use all the time and then chairs that can be stored away until we have company. We're currently using our two office chairs from upstairs which has made the table into more of a workspace. So any ideas on nice chairs (ignoring the stackable requirement) would be great.
view meelahj's profile
What about some upholstered chairs? If you only buy two, maybe you could splurge a little. Ikea has a few, but you could look anywhere really...CB2, Target...
I'm sure you can find stackable chairs at IKEA, like the NORDMYRA and GILBERT chairs.
view Where You Hang Your Hat's profile
Home Decorators has some more traditional, wooden folding chairs:
http://www.homedecorators.com/Furniture/Kitchen_&_Dining_Room/Folding_Chairs/
view catlike's profile
If that were my table, I'd choose a pair of these upholstered dining chairs in the Danish Linen:
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/comShop/customProdAction.do%3Faction%3DinitCustom?ruleID=2357&itemID=1880&path=1%2C2%2C1443%2C1475%2C1683&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=1880
Then I'd choose a pair of these Winslow Folding Chairs - in Fruitwood or Black - which happen to be on Sale:
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/Furniture/Chairs/Folding-Chairs/Winslow-Folding-Chair/p/9322?path=1%2C2%2C1443%2C1475%2C1686&iProductID=9322
view bepsf's profile
what about tolix chairs? you can get them in any color under the sun, they are stackable, and while i have mine paired with a MCM table, i think they also have a sort of old fashioned look to them.
view CaliinFrance's profile
with only a little more clutter on the table, nobody will even be able to see it so you can use anything you want without worrying about whether it clashes! LOL, sorry, couldn't resist
these are a tad expensive but might mix well with the table;
http://www.dwr.com/product/furniture/dining/chairs/juliana-armchair.do?sortby=ourPicks
view sousa609's profile
thanks for these suggestions...
sousa609 - seriously its getting out of hand as its become a place to work (notice the stack of books for my dissertation and my laptop), a place to eat, and a place to hold things that have yet to be framed (NYT papers from the day after the election and inauguration)...if we had chairs we could move our desk chairs back upstairs and work at our desks which would be ideal and decrease at least some of the clutter...
view meelahj's profile
What about Ghost chairs? Shares the simple but slightly curvy shape of the table legs, and the visual lightness would help balance the heavy table. Maybe a pair of Louis Ghost for your daily use and a pair of Victoria Ghost for when guests come.
*ducks*
view Cheryl's profile
The Ghost chairs sractch as soon as you look at them. They're cute, but impractical for daily use. I think the stackable idea isn't helping. Why not find two chairs you really like--don't have to match--look on Craigslist--and then add others as you need/find them.
view Palmetto's profile
Which is why there's Novus Acrylic Polish :)
view Cheryl's profile
I would recommend the Marias chairs from DWR. I have these, and I absolutely love them. They complement wood nicely, and because they are a classic shape, they blend well with more traditional furnishings. They can also be used outdoors ... oh how I love thee marias chairs ...
As a bonus, they are stackable up to 10 high!
http://www.dwr.com/category/outdoor/marais-collection.do
view julieleanne's profile