The unpretentious Windsor chair is a design staple here in the Northeast — in modern and traditional homes alike. We recently got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Warren Chair Works showroom and shop where Windsor chairs have been built from sustainable wood right here in Rhode Island for over twenty-five years. The shop manufactures classic Windsor chairs in much the same way that the original was built in the 1700s — without using any nails or screws — and also features a contemporary collection (shown above) designed by owner Robert Barrow using the same 200-year-old techniques...

We loved seeing how the chairs are constructed by hand and especially how gorgeous they are even in their raw and unfinished state. It definitely inspired us look into the Boston-area woodworking classes that some of you suggested yesterday.

Warren Chair Works Windsor chairs are available through dealers all over the Northeast including quite a few in Boston. You can see more of their collection on their website and contact them if you’d like your own shop tour.

(Images: Sarah Rainwater)