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Best Small-Scaled Modern Dining Chairs

4-10-best chairs1.jpgSmall dining room? You'll need some small and/or delicate-appearing chairs that don't overwhelm. Check out our favorites below the jump.

 
 

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seating - dining & sidechairs

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Comments (23)

You can never go wrong with them IKEA GILBERT chairs. No matter where I look, they become the standard in which I compare the kitchen chairs to.

posted by ekoshyun on April 10th 2008 at 7:39pm
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In our dining room we have 4 LumiSource Telescoping Chairs in clear Acrylic. You can even order them from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/LumiSource-Telescoping-Chair-Set-Clear/dp/B0001CKWZK

Because they are clear, they don't appear to have any sense of bulk. They are well made, and have held up like new for years.

Here they are in our dining room:
http://www.awardshow.name/temp/apartment/01_dining_room.jpg

posted by chris (nyc) on April 10th 2008 at 9:00pm
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Don't forget about Emeco's aluminium Navy chair, which is just the perfect dinning chair.

posted by raph on April 11th 2008 at 1:09am
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oooh I have fallen in lust with that Catifa 46.

posted by peekay on April 11th 2008 at 3:21am
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I second the Series 7 -- so elegant, yet compact. I'm surprised that the Saarinen tulip isn't on the list. I think the lack of legs would be really great for a cramped dining area. On that note, the Catifa 46, which I think is really gorgeous, seems to take up a lot of room, as its legs have quite a span.

posted by visualingual on April 11th 2008 at 4:18am
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Would the series 7 look good in a traditional dining room with a queen anne style dining table? I really like the idea of modern-ish chairs paired with our table, but my wife thinks that it will look terrible.

posted by Archie on April 11th 2008 at 4:22am
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Would the series 7 look good in a traditional dining room with a queen anne style dining table?

Ooh, I can actually the Series 7 looking great paired with a table with cabriolet legs. Try mocking up the combo you have in mind [digitally, or collaging photos together] and see what you and your wife think.

posted by visualingual on April 11th 2008 at 4:34am
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Archie, I have fantasized having a fantastic heavy antique dining table surrounded by either Series 7 or Ant chairs. So if you ever have me over to dinner, I'd be sure to compliment the pairing!

posted by Molly Margarita on April 11th 2008 at 4:49am
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Right now, I'm really partial to Room and Board's Boxy Chair in walnut:

www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=378061&cat=51

Great deal at $89 for real walnut veneer.

posted by AlmostAD on April 11th 2008 at 5:57am
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I am fond of the Kyoto chair from DWR, and it is actually, er, well, "within reach."

posted by rubyred on April 11th 2008 at 6:09am
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Chris G.--I've been looking at the lumiSource telescoping chairs for a month or so. I haven't seen them in person. Do they fold? I'm looking for something I can fold and store.

posted by lucitebox on April 11th 2008 at 7:18am
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Ha! I had both the Emeco and the Tulip on the list, along with others, but the list seemed way too long. Will add them back in.

posted by leslie on April 11th 2008 at 8:09am
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ChrisG, i went to the amazon link before i looked at the picture of your dining room and thought they were totally hideous but they really look great in your space.

posted by vertigo on April 11th 2008 at 9:25am
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ChrisG,

I agree with vertigo - they look like warehouse-store dreg on the Amazon site. In your photo they look incredible. How fantastic you found their true potential!

posted by AlmostAD on April 11th 2008 at 4:45pm
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I had not been back here since posting and did not realize I had generated conversation. I don't know if anyone will ever be back here to read my reply, but "thank you".

Yes, the photo on Amazon's site is terrible and does not do the chair justice. They are very solid, quite a bit heavier than they would appear, and yes, to answer lucitebox, they do fold.

Kind regards,
Chris

posted by chris (nyc) on April 28th 2008 at 10:27pm
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ChrisG, do you know of any place in New York where those chairs are available? They look amazing, but I'd like to test them out before I purchase.

posted by LDB on May 16th 2008 at 8:48am
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The Linus chairs from Ikea are wonderful for a small space, and quite comfortable.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70116945

posted by Piztachio on May 21st 2008 at 11:36am
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saarinen chairs are the absolute best!
i just picked up 4 and the table for 100 bucks!
thank you criagslist!

posted by mr.smilemore on May 28th 2008 at 1:14pm
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LDB,

At a most unlikely place... I bought two of mine at a lighting store on the Upper West Side called LightForms (the first two were bought out of town and shipped here).

http://lightformsinc.com

509 Amsterdam Avenue (btw 84th & 85th)
Phone: (212) 875-0407

Store Hours:
Monday - Friday 11:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 11:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday Noon - 5:00PM

cheers,

posted by chris (nyc) on May 31st 2008 at 10:32pm
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I personally think Hightower Group has a great selection:

http://www.hightoweraccess.com/pricelist/stackchairs.html

Definitely work checking out.

posted by Anne NYC on June 2nd 2008 at 5:12pm
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I always wanted an ear shaped chair so when people came round and asked 'where do i sit?' i could say 'sit ear'.....get it? Well, I thought it was funny :s

I don't like IKEA chairs, had some bad experiences with quality.

posted by Kitchen Designs on June 11th 2008 at 1:24am
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We use the Saarinen Tulip side chairs for our dining area, and I love how compact and comfortable they are. Not having the legs is also a great advantage. The Jacobsen Series 7 chairs are also great, and their stackability makes them great for both primary use and to have in reserve for extra seating (as we do).

posted by DarrenB on July 2nd 2008 at 12:34pm
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I'd say the Kartell La Marie chairs would be wonderful as small scale dining chairs. Although I currently have the Emeco 1006 Navy chairs, which are nice (but not gloriously invisible).

posted by medenver on September 7th 2008 at 6:17pm
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