The leather chairs work wonderfully w/ your kitchen & that table. It's the metal chairs that seem like the odd guys out. Hope that I'm not offending!

Agree, the metal chairs are too distinctive to work with the other chairs. The key to mixing styles is to have some relationship between the two. The leathers are much too different also.

I'm guessing you are changing the fabric to white? I can understand what the other posters are saying, but still I think it could work. You can definitely *make* it work for a great price ;)

I often find my style changing/evolving...and that means that I am not going to stop moving forward just because I still have already owned objects that are not ready to hit the curbside pick up yet.

Mahlgold, my first thought was no because they have absolutely nothing in common. Even if you reupholstered the metal chairs in the same white fabric I don't think it would work. But if that's your goal...for them not to compliment in any way...then that would be achieved. I think the brown version of the end chair would work because the dark colour would tie into the base of your table.

I actually LOVE the look of mixed chairs. Especially when you put big chairs on the ends. Recently, they are calling it the "Mad Hatter" look--no doubt after the newly released Alice movie. I think it adds an eclectic look that takes away from the "too-matchy-matchy" visual. While, not your exact look, it shows how mixing it up can be quite striking. You have a more sleek, modern look so there are some elements of this might resonate with you. I do like the white leather chairs, but have to concur with the above that I am not quite sure that the metal ones are good matches.
{{gwi:1585293}}From Misc photos

I too think that the metal chairs stand out in the kitchen -- the white arm chairs do go well with the rest.

I agree about the demise of matchy look -- in fact I'm one who is too much of a mix'n'match kind of person. However, metal chairs + white leather is a bit adventurous even for my taste.

Just my 2c.

firsthouse - of course you knew I would love that DR pic!

I might just move forward with the 2 leather chairs(seller asking $250, I'm hoping for $200...retail is $600) and figure it out as I go. I did have a feeling they wouldn't work with the current chairs, which is why I posted the question. No offense taken from anyone. Constructive criticism is why we're all here!

If I did want to use the white chairs on the ends, any recos on what would work with them as side chairs? I'd prefer not to buy the ones that exactly match.

Thanks again.

Remodelista always has good picks, IMO. Or maybe something like a Felix chair from Crate and Barrel? Something that echoes your barstools? I can't remember exactly what those were, like the Phoenix chair/stool from CB2, maybe.

Here is a link that might be useful: some ideas

I don't know if the two chairs go together, but I love the metal chairs and wouldn't get rid of them. The pictures may be deceiving, but the white chair looks like it sits so far back.

Laurie

i don't think they'd work either. i like your thinking, trying to mix the metal chairs with more simplistic forms but in terms of weight the upholstered pieces are just too heavy. i think you DO need some weightier chairs there, but i'd also prefer to see taller chairs flanking the ends to serve as an anchor ...of course i have no suggestions for an alternative!

isn't this fun? ;-)

I love the curves on your metal chairs. They add softness and swoop. I think the white leather chairs are a bit too boxy and small-statured to go with them.

I think you need chairs with similar feminine curls ;-) but more mass, closer to the chairs in the photo firsthouse posted than the ones you found.

This is probably a long shot but I think you should look for chairs in a gray or gray-green, similar in color to one of your cabinets and the metal chairs (cover the seat in the same color). The monochromatic scheme would let the chair shapes be the stars. Or look for dark brown chairs similar to table base and range wall cabs. Now that I think about it, I think the white leather is also a miss for me. A darker color might give them the heft I feel the white is missing.

I know I already posted and i don't have much new to say but I really want to reiterate that I don't think it will be dining room suicide for you to have the two different styles.

To me it sounds like you need two more chairs, found a great deal on Craigslist and therefore want to go for it. If it truly is a great deal, then what is the harm with playing around with it?

The chairs you are thinking of getting could always be used elsewhere in your house if it turns out to be a disaster. Which I don't think will be the case.

I think you should keep the metal chairs and find a better chair for the ends of the tables. Those leather chairs won't be much of a bargain if you have to buy 4 more other chairs because the metal ones don't match! I agree with Lisa A about getting something taller with some curvature and maybe in a color to better match your kitchen.

I would try it out. I think it could look quite cool.

If you don't like the look once they're both in there together, you could always slipcover the metal chairs in white till you find something that you like better...

Here is a link that might be useful: like this -- comes in many colors

If you want to go white, here's a couple of reasonable chairs. I think if you go with the new chairs you should replace the other chairs. Since when I use my table I like to spend time there, I would definitely go with a comfortable, padded back. Nothing clears everyone from the table faster than uncomfortable chairs.

Here is a link that might be useful: white chairs

Thanks for all the comments. I was supposed to go this afternoon to take a look and possibly purchase, but for now I'm holding off. If they were located somewhat closer, I'd probably be more inclined to give it a shot. But being that they're not in a convenient location and I have to schlep DH with me(don't like doing craigslist transactions solo)it gives me time to reconsider. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. I've "lost" other things on craigslist and something else always seems to pop up.

BTW...pantry cabs are a light grey, table base is black iron and kitchen cabs are black. I had been leaning towards white to try and lighten things up and pull in the white from the marble counter on the island. There's a brown brick fireplace wall behind the table.

I just don't love the metal chairs in that kitchen. As a stand alone object I think they are ok, but I think they are out of sync with the room as a whole.

Those chairs are vaguely Memphis inspired, vaguely post-Modernist, and they remind me of the movies Beetle Juice, and Ruthless People. And the horizontal bar between the loops is kind of like a towel rack, sorry :) They are whimsical, and in the right place, sure, but that isnt a whimsical room.

The thing I liked about the mixed BW dining room is the Benches. I could see Two of your chairs, used as the end chairs with wooden benches that looked like your island maybe. The chairs on the ends should be the "character" pieces IMO and almost any chair you try to put with those is going to invert that, unless they are really out there.

palimpsest...you must be tired of me asking questions about this darn table and chairs! LOL!! I do agree about the chairs on the end being the WOW piece. I'd love to use benches, I just don't know how that would be for everyday dining. It always looks great in pictures though!

I just want to clarify that my post was in response to the question about different side chairs, not "host" chairs. I like the white ones for the ends. (Sorry, just reading through the thread and noticed that.)

What happened to the chairs in the fireplace pic? They also have the scrolled top-and the color might even go with the metal chairs.

I still have the chairs in the fireplace pic. They are currently being used in another room, because I really don't like them for this space. What about 4 of these? I'd probably have a better chance of finding something different for the ends that would work.