apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Well, I'm not one of the clever people. In fact, I'd suggest a pretty conventional option -- a black Arne Jacobsen-inspired piece like this one:

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product.do?method=get&id=068222&coll=377418&cat=51

I like the contrast of black lacquer chairs and your brown wood table. Black isn't going to bring color, but it's a nice accent that will complement your table and floor. Plus, I like the clean lines of this chair.

i think whatever you go with, it should be a painted wood or colored plastic, not a wood finish.

my first idea was any of a number of thonet restaurant style side chairs. though that's probably because i am in love with them. they'd be nice if you're going for more of a timeless or classic look.

if you want to play up the modernity of the table or if your aesthetic is very pop or MCM, one of the many molded plastic or fiberglass chairs out there would be fab. just about anything karim rashid, the eames molded fiberglass, the many choices on display at DWR, etc.

great table, by the way. i love the fact that it's teak with very clean lines, but doesn't scream Trendy Mid-Century, Hello! very beautiful and versatile -- this is a table you could keep for 50 years and it would work with every trend.

I think black plywood eames chairs would look great.

I'd go with these receycled leather chairs from CB2 in the red/orange or camel color:

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=115&f=2997&viewall=1

They're very comfortable btw. I was in the Chicago store this summer and almost bought them. I got the CB2 window seat chairs instead, which are also very comfy. http://www.russianriverchalet.com/2006/09/the_furniture_i.html

Argh ... now I feel dumb. I have the eiffel rocker in my living room and the side chairs in my adjacent dining room ... ;-)

For the record, my guests always say it's a nice pull-in or continuation of a theme or something, and never say it's "too much of a good thing"

Hi K,
I think any of the options you chose would work, but might pick something non-wooden as Aaron suggests for a little contrast. If you're thinking plastic, the Karim Rashid Oh chair by Umbra comes in many colors and is quite comfortable. It would be a different look from the Eames rocker in your adjoining room. www.shopfosters.com has them for $55 a piece and in seven color options. The Oh chair is also stackable and has a nice curvy shape to add even further contrast to the nice straight lines of your B&L table.

I'm not sure I agree with the suggestion of the Oh chair ... it's way cute, but maybe a little too cheap and plasticy for her sleek table.

Although if you do want 'em, they're cheaper at the Container Store.

Maybe something very simple, like this?

http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Fabien_Baron_Extra_Chair_Wood.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Jasper_Morrison_Ply_Chair.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Emeco_Icon_Chair.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Gio_Ponti_Livia_Chair.html

Or something like this:

http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Marc_Newson_TV_Chair.html
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Ross_Lovegrove_Supernatural_Chair.html

go with the eames eifel base shell side and armchairs. the base detail compliments the trusses pictured on the table.

Jaya, your chalet dining room is lovely. I especially like the bar table.

I have the exact dilemma! I have an almost identical table in teak as the picture above. Right now I have a set of white ladder-back chairs paired with it. The white looks great with the warm wood, but I have been thinking about upgrading to a set of white Eames shell chairs as well.

The only problem I've noticed with that idea is that the shell chairs seem a bit low for my table. I have one shell chair at the end of the table right now, but when sitting in the chair while eating the seat doesn't feel high enough to me. It's on an H base, so I don't know if the Eiffel bases are taller...

John, that's a great point about the trusses ;-)

"it's way cute, but maybe a little too cheap and plasticy for her sleek table."

I could say the same exact thing about the plastic Eames chairs.

Interesting choices above but being sort of a purist I would search craigslist for weeks and months and then get chairs that looked like they were from the same period and the same wood, etc.

I did that in fact with the reverse--I had the chairs and searched for the table. Ended up with two tables (both very inexpensive and one went in the kitchen so it was OK) and one buffet. They all match. But you have to be kind of a craigslist fanatic to go for that option. Still, if you are danishophile then this will be a pleasurable activity.

Becca, you just literally made me laugh out loud. Sadly, I doubt you were joking.

ridge, I wasn't joking. I also wasn't trying to be snarky though and I realize in rereading my comment that it came out that way and for that I apologize.
Personally, I like the appearance of the Eames side chair. It has very nice lines. But objectively, it's still a mass-produced plastic chair. That is what I was trying to say with my comment: that somebody could make the exact same comment you made about a $200 Eames plastic chair that they could make about a $50 Rashid plastic chair or a $30 non-branded plastic chair from Target.
Friends of mine who aren't very knowledgeable about different designers have commented on the cheap appearance of the Eames side chairs while out shopping with me. I like hearing the opinions of people I respect who aren't so design-obsessed. It helps me remove my "Eames goggles" (which I'm guilty of wearing) for a minute and see individual objects as they are in the here and now - stripped momentarily of their history and their fame.

I am wondering what you ended up doing with your teak table? I have a similar table and haven't been able to settle on chairs. My table is a Danish teak that my in-laws got when they were married in 1960. The original chairs are long gone....
I tried white eames eiffel but something feels wrong.

Thanks.