I have upholstered host chairs with wood arms and a camel back combined with scalloped ladder back side chairs with upholstered seats. These are Ethan Allen, but they do not have them pictured anymore on the site. Sorry... no pictures as my dining room is torn up. LOVE the combo, tho, and get many complements.

I think the key is to have the chairs have similar lines. My host and side chairs have the same basic shape.

Thanks creekylis. Did you buy both chairs from the same line? Or did you buy them from different styles and matched them yourself?

I think I want it to looked more "pieced together over time" than a set but Im concerned it will look too messy.

Anyone else with this combo?

I cannot post my pictures at present (as all our furniture is in storage), but we have three different chairs (all armchairs with the same Louis XVI body) in our dining room:

We have two of these, flanking either side of our mizuya (which we use as a buffet). That wall (the entire wall) will be mirrored, so I like the idea of the clear chairs against the mirrored wall.
{{!gwi}}

Four of these, upholstered in a toile on the front of the back and the seat and a plaid on the back of the back.

We have two of these, one at each head of the table. They are in a raw iron finish (not white like in this photo) and upholstered exactly the same as the above wood chairs. I love them!!! These chairs make me so happy -- my only regret is that I'd had them made earlier ....

I think it works -- the chairs are clearly different but since they're the same style and the two styles which are upholstered are done so using the same fabrics in the same locations I think they "make sense."

After wee ones' bath and bed time I'll dig around to see if maybe I do have some photos of our chairs ....

I'm not sure if this is quite what you are looking for, but I have upholstered chairs at the ends of my dining room table and wooden chairs at the sides. The wooden chairs have upholstered seats, though. Here is a picture (I'm hoping to paint the room soon).

Your side chairs do not need to match your end chairs. It sounds like your damask arm chairs are pretty formal -- what is your table like? I personally think the side chairs should match the period/style of the table -- the end chairs can be different. If the end chairs are matching your table now, and you want it to look as though the set has evolved over time, the side chairs can be the same style with no upholstery or coordinating upholstery. The same wood tone with different style chairs can work, as long as they work with the table. (Like straight leg parsons chairs on the sides). You can even consider painted chairs with/without matching or coordinating upholstery. I've also seen the same style chairs painted different colors and it looks fun and fresh. It definitely brings down the formality a bit, however. In my opinion, something has to anchor the table, either the end chairs or the side chairs. After that, if you like the combination -- it works! I would be careful about mixing different colored stained wood pieces, though. That's my opinion, but then I need a lot of help too!

Im not sure what Im doing with my table. I have a beautiful antique that was left in the house that I may use. Its not ideal in terms of size and shape so I should probably get a different table but its hard to get rid of an antique that was given to me.

The woods would all be dark. They may not be the exact same shade but close enough to work well together.

I guess Im looking for inspiration on what works with the upholestered chairs. I wouldn't want all of them to be upholstered b/c thats just too much fabric for me. Am I crazy to piece a dining room together this way? Should I just get a set?

rmkitchen - love the mix. And I love ghost chairs too. (they don't really work in my house though)

To answer your question... my chairs were all from the same line. The wood finish and leg style are the same and the shape of the backs are similar.

I have leather/rattan head chairs and side chairs with upholstered seats. Not the greatest picture. Hopefully you can see them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dining Room

rmkitchen: I would love to see a pic of what you describe, because it sounds so different. Ghost chairs? Don't keep us in suspense.

If you don't want a matching set -no you are not wrong. Your way is a little more difficult, but will be very interesting when you've made your choices, and you will have achieved that look of evolving over time.
I have a antique, very dark, very distressed tavern table from Maryland. At the time, I felt that I needed "tavern-like" chairs for the sides. We bought Amish made chairs, they shipped them unfinished and my husband and I managed to get the stain match really close (I only wish I had the nerve to distress the chairs some, but couldn't bring myself to do it; however, that happens over time in a more natural manner any how). Today, I think I could have gone with any number of options; especially since we're in a high desert area of the country now; and I do think geographic location and life style dictate a great deal in our decisions. I have also been contemplating two more chairs to sit at the ends. I'm sure they will be upholstered; I don't think they will have arms, and they will be very different from the other 6 tavern style chairs. The wood will probably be as close as I can get to the existing chairs and table, however.
If you don't think you will be hanging on to the table as a dining room piece (yes/no?) I think your task is much more complicated. I think we need to see pictures of these green tufted chairs and the table too. We could maybe narrow down your options some.

The end chairs that Ive ordered are these (the first one with the darker stained legs)

I don't have a great photo of the table but you can sort of see it here. The left side of this room will be the dining room.

Im thinking maybe a fairly simple chair (but with the little bit of detail in the legs) might work but Im not sure.
http://www.potterybarn.com/pbimgs/rk/images/products/200806/0028/img26l.jpg
This is harder than I thought it would be.

Any suggestions?

Did you look at the Dining Room thread in our Gallery? There are tons of pretty pictures in there.

mrslimestone -- your chairs are gorgeous! Yummy.

Before I pasted your PB chair link I thought to myself: "her other chairs should be wood -- minimum of upholstery." I like the idea of those PB chairs but think they're a bit too heavy in line for your upholstered chairs and equally beautiful table.

My 3.5 year-old is nagging me at this v. moment to talk about "humongous" things with him, so I'll have to search more later, but I'd really like to see a more refined wood chair with your beautiful upholstered chairs and table. At the least, something with a similarly thin leg. Hmm.

valinsv -- thank you so much for your encouragement! Hopefully by April our remodel will be done and the furniture moved back in and I can share pictures then. Hopefully -- fingers crossed but breath not being held ....

Thanks rmkitchen. Thats sort of what Im struggling with. Should I get a chair with a little bit of visual "weight" to work with the ornate table and patterned chairs? Or should I go with something really simple so as to not make it look too busy?

This is my first house with a proper dining table so I want to get it "right".

Any help appreciated.

wow-- your home is absolutely gorgeous! the architectural details are stunning!

ok, table; i find the table so heavy and specific that i think it works floating on its own in your room and i would not use bare wood chairs around it unless you can find legs that follow the same lines as the table legs (though not as ornate). i just think that with upholstered pieces around it, it will pop and be the fantastic antique it is. if you try to match it or confuse the lines with other wood, it will compete with the table and also the many architectural details of the room (like the floor!).

it's JMHO, but i would let that room speak for itself and keep everything else elegant and simple. i love the color of the upholstery you picked for the end chairs-- maybe pick up that blue or a sandy taupe or off white for a tufted or parsons or even lucite chairs (simple lines but all with slight curve somewhere). the antique white for upholstery would really set that table off the best, however, most people wouldn't find that very practical! maybe if you do parson's chairs with slipcovers?

are you planning on painting the walls? i really love the color they are right now-- so if that was your color choice, please share! what are the accent colors for this room?

right now, with the kitchen so detailed (architecturally) but clean lined and warmly styled, i can see that look continued in the dr. it seems very sophisticated but also warm and inviting.

color ideas if you haven't picked yet: (assuming sophisticated concept)sandy taupes, the blue you have, very light violet/purple for pop, silver with an anchor of black or charcoal somewhere. see elle decor last month's cover- Monique Lhuillier's house-- those colors.

i had a dining room in those colors once and i really loved it. it was so elegant, esp at night with the chandelier brining out the shimmery silvers against the taupes.

sorry, i got carried away-- the room is soo pretty...:-) and the style is my all-time fav. I hope to live with those kind of architectural details some day! so inspiring.

Another room to drool over. Wow!

The chairs should be simple and less ornate. I like the idea of them all being upholstered with the end chairs being different in upholstery then the middle chairs. I would like to see similar chairs in a solid textured fabric (silk like but washable)for the middle chairs. I really like decopas's ideas.

How about something like this and have the seat cushion in either the same fabric or a solid cream or blue that is like the other blue in the fabric on the end chairs.

BTW your kitchen and dining area are stunning and I LOVE your table and chairs you have selected so far!

Here is a link that might be useful: Ethan Allen Chair

Well, I have done only a minimum of searching and haven't yet found a chair I think would complement the beautiful chairs and table you already have.

But I have been thinking about why I felt you should either go with an all-wood chair or something remarkably similar to your head chairs: the table is stunning; the chairs and their fabric are stunning; your floors are stunning (and I could go on and on about the room). I fear that anything which visually competes with any of those elements will only distract and end up being too fussy, too much.

I'm not a big Parsons chair fan myself -- maybe it's because every time I see one (in real life) they look tired .... (don't tell my mother because her dining room is Victim #1!) But I really don't like the idea of them in your room because I think, if it's an upholstered chair sans skirt, it would be too out-of-place in your room. If it has a skirt (upholstered or slipcovered), then it would prevent the eye from seeing much of the beautiful table's base.

That's definitely one of the reasons I love the chairs you've already selected -- their delicate legs are airy and allow you to see the floor and table's base. (they also form a beautiful whole with the chairs themselves!)

I'm going to keep thinking about it .... You really do have such lovely taste.

Well, I immediately felt inspired!

I don't know how you feel about W-S Home, but if you look at their dining room chair page there might be a few which are okay. ???

Like this one:
{{!gwi}}
Now it is probably too similar in line to your head chairs, but it's a tad less "there" and if done in the same fabric maybe could work? I'm on the fence, need to think if it's too similar ....

Then there's this one:
{{!gwi}}
Which is wrong as it's slipcovered and its legs could be a bit thinner, but I really like its simplicity and slightly upturned back. If it were upholstered it could work. ???

i agree about the parsons chairs-- even though i suggested them! i've never liked them too much, but i also couldn't find what i was picturing. these that were just posted are nice....the trick is going to be something simple with a curve in it and great fabric. silk, linen, etc. the thing i liked about the parsons chairs was that they were clean lined and comfy in a similar way as the ones you picked out, but allowed the ones you picked out to shine. now if you could find a chair like the one above but (not the first one) tufted in a taupe silk or off white, that could work.

can't wait to see what you do!

okay, doing some searching cuz this one is driving me mad but i really should be working on my guest room- have visitors coming in a week!

here's a parson that shares some of the lines of the table and it could really work:

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?navCount=53&productId=prod1427003

a silk covered chair

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?navCount=53&productId=prod1427003

Here is a link that might be useful: parsons chair that has nail heads and great lines

oops- one more, this one echoes the shape of the chair you picked already and the color even works. it also has nailheads.

Here is a link that might be useful: maartinique chairs

martinique chairs again

(and now that i look at the parsons chair i posted, the legs may be too much, but i do like the simplicity and color of the upper part of it)

now seriously, i am done! :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: martinique chairs

I haven't looked at all the linked sites, but how about something like I have:

Mine are very simple, but I think something similar would look nice, using a wood that matches either your other chairs or the table, and with cream-colored fabric.

Mrs.Limestone,

Oh my, I have no advice, but what a beautiful space!! The door, the woodwork, the mirror, the floors, drooooooool.

Is this new or refurbished?? What area are you in?? Just gorgeous and so so very classy. Are you in an urban area? I mean you don't have to say the city if you don't want to but it is so different from anything around my area(south)

Smiles:)

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!! I think you've all made it easier for me to go with a more streamlined chair. Seeing your comments makes it a lot more clear why something simple works better despite the table being ornate.

I feel pretty strongly that I shouldn't get more upholstered chairs. It feels like too many things going on. Plus from a practical standpoint, I don't think I want the added stress of worrying about dinner guests messing up the upholstery. (Part of the reason I went with the damask pattern is that I felt it hide small stains better). But as has been suggested, I think maybe the wooden chairs need some kind of cushion in a creamy fabric to tie in with the fabric and color schemes.

So thanks so much.

To answer the questions above: The room is already painted. The wall is woodland snow and the trim is bone white (both Ben Moore paints). I wanted to keep the paint scheme very calm (read: boring!) because so many other elements were going on.

This is a old house that Ive spent the last 14 months gut renovating. I live in Brooklyn. If your curious about the renovation, I have a blog. (www.brooklynlimestone.blogspot.com) I haven't made much of a dent with the decorating yet but I'd love to hear any suggestions. Its pretty daunting but Im happy to nearly over with the construction part.