apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Wow. That table is beautiful. But I'm stuck for chairs, too. I guess my first thought would be leather ones, but only because they tend to go with nearly everything, and should clean up well, be comfortable, stable, and also not too damaging to the forehead of a small child, who will inevitably spend half his/her time trying to climb onto them (and fall a lot trying). Something like one of these?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/fur/747789909.html (the table is hideous, but the chairs are neutral)

Good luck - I wish I had more thoughts for you!

Maybe something crisp, black, airy, and wire-y?

I thought I'd attached more links than that:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Leather-Dining-Chairs-Set-of-2/1175912/product.html

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Dark-Brown-Cosmopolitan-Dining-Chair-Set-of-Two/2502545/product.html?

(there are several other nice ones on overstock, too, if you check the right sidebar)

Something like this (if you can find it for cheaper) would be nice:
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p4622/index.cfm?pkey=csalfurdin

How about the Panton chairs by Verner Panton (From Vitra), not slim line but easy to clean and they would look so good with the antique table. Here's a great example of a similar combo.

http://inhabitshop.com/extra_images/panton_middle7.jpg

If you think white is too miami vice how about black or some trendy color like mustard yellow (if they make them in that color)?

http://stores.ebay.com/Classic-Antique-English-Furniture_Chairs-Sofa-Chaise-Lounge_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQfsubZ14209297QQftidZ2QQtZkm

clean lines, even though on an antique page.....saw at least 3 sets of 4, less than $100 per chair. re-upholster the seats with a modern fabric http://jansdotter.com/shop/categ.php?category=17
(look on design sponge for inspiration), and make 2 "slipcovers" for the chair that the toddler uses (with the same fabric).......slip it off to wash, and remove when you want the room to look pulled together. you could mix 2 sets of 4, or one set of 4 and 2 more locally.

i had a large antique table like that in my old apartment and i paired it with wicker armchairs that were stained a dark color. i still miss that dining room!

This might not be your taste, but I would place something very contemporary but simple, to create contrasts that would enhance the table. something like Rietveld's Zig Zag chair, or similar
http://www.eurstyle.com/item.php?item_id=67

or if your interior is resolutely traditionnal, maybe late Art Deco chairs from the 40's or even 50's.

http://www.treadwaygallery.com/ONLINECATALOGS/December2005/catalog/images/large/0839.jpg

I really like your chairs! And as a devoted DIY-er, I offer this:

I'll be MUCH cheaper to reglue the chairs and reinforce them with L-brackets (hardware store).

Paint 'em, and reupholster with white naugehyde (sp?) or something similar. Your kid's not going to be messy forever.

http://www.curbly.com/celee/posts/495-Reupholstering-Dining-Chairs-Part-1-of-2

I just found these on the Target site – I'm totally getting them for my new dining room table. I think they'd work really nicely with yours too. Plus you can always return them to the Target store if you find they're not super-comfy. They're on sale right now with free shipping so should fit right into your price range.

http://www.target.com/Z-Flex-Chrome-Chairs-Natural-Set/dp/B000B6SJFQ/sr=1-1/qid=1215812483/ref=sr_1_1/601-9018565-8766527?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Anatural%20chair%20flex&page=1

I think that table is fantastic!

There are several options: If you like the softness of a padded seat, I do like darcidoodle's idea or using naugahyde to reupholster and still be able to wipe clean. A really modern contrast would be something like a Bertoia side chair, which I have recently seen on Craigslist (in need of a paint job) for around $150 a chair, and you might get luckier than that even. Another choice is the Kyoto chair from DWR:
http://www.dwr.com/product/categories/seating/dining chairs/kyoto-chair.do

It's a little over $100, but they have sales periodically and I scored four for my own dining room for about $85 each a few years back. They're pretty durable, the only problem I've had is some scratching on the seat when I use it as a step ladder while wearing heels (duh.). I think Ikea has a design similar to these, that's cheaper, and comes in red, if you want to get a little dramatic.

Good luck! It's a great table, which is the harder part, I think!!

I sort of love the chairs that are there - only they need some reupolstering. Would you consider red plastic molded chairs like what Ikea could offer for around $100 each? Red could look less 'miami vice' than white I suppose
p

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20115038

These Ikea chairs are great. Clean, modern & really comfortable actually!

my sister in law paired white arne jacobsen ant chairs with her 200 yr old heirloom dining table, and they look great together.

you can find them on ebay and craigslist with some frequency....or buy any of the easily available knockoffs -
pottery barn's is the morrow, west elm's the scoop, and room and board's the jake.

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

they are all under $100, available in wood tones and great colors, and are child proof, stackable, sculptural, playful, and modern.

per another at post:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/fur/750736588.html

i bet they'd sell the chairs separately.

I have the same dining table/chair predicament and Healthyhome's info above was super helpful.

Any opinions on which chair ranks the best in quality between the West Elm Scoop, the PB Morrow and the R&B Jake?

britta:

haven't sat in the west elm version but the other two are both solid. i've got a bias toward room and board, (i think their furniture is generally pretty well made), but it's not anything consumer tested.

good luck.

Thank you so much to everyone for all of your suggestions - they have been SO helpful! We are definitely going to try out a few of these ideas and see what we think, and I'll be sure to report back on what we end up choosing.