Or what about Ballard Designs? Are their chairs okay quality?

Daisy, I'm also looking for some chairs and will stop in at our local RH early this coming week. I am like Goldilocks when it comes to chairs, so if I like them they will be very comfortable!!!

Do you have a party rental place nearby? See if they rent chair covers. Then rent a couple and "test drive" having covered chairs. Sometimes if you rent on Friday afternoon and return on Monday, it is only a one day rental.

Chispa, I would really appreciate a real life review - especially from someone with a distinguishing bottom :-)

I've also read great things about the Lee Industries ones and love the look and fabric choices, but I could only afford to get 2 chairs a year at their prices (probably worth it, but if you don't have the cash...)

bbstx that is the sort of practical advice I love. I will phone around.

Have you looked at the similar chairs at Pottery Barn? The Napa chair, I think. I have them (two) for desk chairs and they are very comfortable. I don't have the floor length slipcover, though.

Just remove the worn fabric. RH is now pushing a deconstructed look.

Daisy, I made it over to RH this afternoon. The sales lady that helped me was also very nice and helpful, which isn't always the case at RH stores. I tested out the Hudson Parsons Slipcovered chair and the Slope Arm Slipcovered Dining chair. The long cover/skirt was not an issue at all on either chair. The hudson can be upholstered or slipcovered and has a regular chair leg under skirt. The Slope Arm only comes slipcovered and has casters on the legs and a side panel under the skirt. They both had a nice deep seat and slight angle to the back, so very comfortable. The Slope Arm was just a smidge more comfy for my taste.

I didn't try to look at the guts of the chairs, so quality wise I would say they are average. The sales lady also mentioned you can get the chairs in their "sunbrella" fabrics for more durability. The regular slipcover fabrics need to be professionally cleaned.

Any questions? :-)

Thanks so much, chispa! Just like having a personal shopper.

I'm just torn between spending $$ on another relatively cheap chair and risking having to buy again in 5 years like we have to this time or spending $$$$$ (we don't have) for something that will last. I'm actually thinking seriously about what I said above in jest about buying 2 expensive chairs a year instead of 6 cheaper ones now.

Oceangirl, I"m a total rustic look girl, but the RH deconstructed is too much even for me. Also, the chairs we have now are wicker and all the wicker has broken off, so they are already pretty deconstructed ;-) Not pleasant for guests.

The other RH problem is that without one here I worry about if they come damaged and the hassle of returning (I haven't read great things about customer service).

Do you think you'll get the RH ones?

lishanna thanks for the Ballards link. I'm looking at those too. Funny you say they are tall. The reviews for the parson's chair complain t that they are too short.

Daisy, I'm not sure what I'm going to get. I'm waiting on pricing from my designer on some chairs I tested at the local to-the-trade design center. Back after a dinner break and got the pricing from designer ... $2500 per chair. There are some things I will pay for, but not for chairs I will be using in the kitchen! I could buy the RH chairs and get a second slipcover made in the fabric I want and still be way ahead. Obviously my designer doesn't make much of an effort to be thrifty with my money!

Too funny, chispa. Reminds me of the designer that quoted me $900 for 2 custom made throw pillows. I don't know how she looked me in the eye for that one.

I'm going to go in and see what the Lee Industries go for - from what I've read online about $5-600. I could get 2 now and order 4 cheap slipcovers for the old chairs (just to keep the broken wicker from poking peoples' bottoms) and then order more as we can afford.

just to keep the broken wicker from poking peoples' bottoms

Make sure your husband gets a chair that pokes his bottom and he might be more motivated to find a way to buy all the chairs at once. :-)

I think a combo of chairs around the table would look nice as you transition. Or even as the deliberate final result.

I'd suggest that you ask if the Lee chair is a standard item in their line and isn't likely to be discontinued before you can get them all purchased, if having all the same chairs is important.

Thanks for the laugh hhireno - really needed this morning. And I will make sure to ask about the possiblity of discont. chairs and fabric too.

I had 2 Parsons chairs in the eating area, not slipcovered, but the upholstery goes to the ground. Black with a white stripe near the bottom. Two shedding Aussies. Not a good combination. Removed.

Seriously, I found the upholstery collected a lot of tumbling hair, even with a rug under the table. I'm not one for a lot of upkeep with furniture, which is why I have a lot of leather, but I just got tired of vacuuming those chairs. Maybe if you can launder them frequently, you wouldn't have a problem. Or, maybe your house just has less dust and dirt tracked in than mine.

I probably wouldn't buy the chairs a couple at a time over a few years. I would be afraid of different dye lots, manufacturer discontinuation, sun fading, etc.

Dee

I have two Hudson arm chairs in my dining room and love them. I have noticed a few times that I can't tuck my feet/legs under the chair but it doesn't really bother me. They are firm but comfortable and not rock hard like some of the cheaper ones I tried.

I wanted to buy the upholstered Hudson and then slipcover it later when the fabric wore out but RH said the slipcovers don't fit the upholstered chairs only the slipcovered chairs (they look the same to me).

To save money, I bought just the two arm chairs for the heads of the table and then bought their rattan chairs for the sides.

I tried the Pottery Barn ones but didn't find them as comfortable. Ikea also has inexpensive ones for around $79.

I've purchased several big pieces of furniture from RH over the past year and have not had a problem with their customer service. I have even had to return a few things and they were great.
RH often has 20% off sales so I'd wait for that.

Good luck!