We toured an Orleans home a few months back that had beautiful fabric dining chairs from Basset. Not sure how pricey they are but they will be on my wish list for our new house!

Roselvr, do you think they would work with my application? If so, do you know the name of the set.

Well, this is a bit radical next to Chippendale, but I love os de mouton chairs. Could you get some of those? Alternatively, the Henredon website will let you search dining room chairs. They usually have things I like. If you go to their website, skip the Intro., go to categories, then go to dining room to save some time--unless you want to spend some time with other eye candy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Henredon

KD, that was actually what I was wondering about. A friend has them with her farm table which were bought at a high-end decorator/furniture store about 20 years ago. They look good but her LR/DR furniture has a mix of European looks, from English country to French country and somehow or other the decorator has figured out the right mix and there is an oriental lacquered chest in the foyer. It all works together, someway, somehow. The difference in her China and mine is that she has no doors on hers and just wondering if I took the doors off mine if it would have a more French country look even if I have to paint it or refinish it. I just really hate to part with it but DR chairs are not as difficult to part with as a China, buffet and nice table.

Patricia
I think parsons chairs may fit the bill..I happen to really love this look around a table..take a peek
Ree

Here is a link that might be useful: Parson Chairs

Hard to say without seeing, but obviously the finish on table and cabinet isn't wonderful as you'd not consider painting? That would be #1..getting a lovely finish, whether via paint or a refinish. You have so many choices! Antique them in a light color with a French garden feel, a dark color for drama or warmth. Whatever you do with finish, place upholstered chairs at ends. If you've good resources, I like to shop the thrift stores, finding great chairs for next to nothing and re-upholstering in the perfect fabric. Can justify spending $$$ for the fabric, too! Of course, the seats must be built up a bit for proper table height. Keep the Windsor chairs, place custom linen slips over the backs. The back can have lovely needlework initial or gorgeous print. Not sure this works on Windsors, though. Have also seen slipcoverd cushions with formal, pleated short skirts. I really should take the time to learn posting pics. As for china cab., how about keeping doors and lining back with beautiful fabric...very Frenchy:>) See about lighting the inside. Well, that's it from my perspective...my not anywhere near what you have pictured!

Patricia,
I mix everything with reckless abandon, so I may not be the best person to ask. I inherited some furniture from relatives with different tastes and I use it all. In fact, when I see consistent style I get bored--some sort of furniture ADD, I think. You mentioned already having a French coffee table, no? Maybe that would be enough to integrate the styles. Alternatively (or additionally), you could coordinate upholstery fabrics across styles. I dislike the idea of discarding furniture, so I try to find ways to use it all. If you have a place to add something quintessentially French, that could be all you need, a trumeau (I'm lusting for one that I absolutely cannot afford) or an antique jardinier or something.

Here is a link that might be useful: Inessa Stewart

If this is fairly expensive furniture, please do not paint it!

Can you post a photo? Have you moved into the new home yet? You might want to wait until you're moved so you can get a feel for how it looks actually in the room.

I'm a visual person, so need a picture of the set to see what kind of chair would be best...

Ree, I am thinking that might be my safest bet, Parson's chairs as they do cross the style barrier.

KD, I am sort of like you --- I like mixing styles as long as they "play" well together and I will not get rid of the table and storage pieces because my kids who can afford good furniture, tell me they cannot get the quality I have with double the price, that it just does not exist anymore. I think my table and chairs are Penn Colony or something like that, about the same as Ethan Allen used to be, or maybe a cut above.

Carol, I don't do a very good job of photography because I have very little vision when I try hard to focus. I have MS and as a result, I cannot squint or work really hard at seeing things. I have no optic nerve on the right and very little on the left. It's just one of those things that plagues people with MS and fortunately, I am now walking and do have enough vision so that if I change my font on the computer, I can see to read and write, but cannot read a phone book even with glasses.

Leahcate, the finish on my table is still very, very good. No problems with that at all.

I am trying to remember but think I paid about $5000 for this furniture in the early 1970s and about $4000 for the cherry. That was a pocketful of cash back then, not much now by today's standards but I will not be able to replace the quality with anything near that now.

The finish it what would be called "coffee bean" today, or ebonized. It is not black but a dark, probably what the French would call dark pine.

Similar but not color and mine is more formal in finish and has a darker finish.

{{!gwi}}

Picture this wider, with glass muntined-doors on either side, and finish a little shinier.

Ok, this is almost identical to my table.

{{!gwi}}

I wrote up a message, then got a server error. Hope this won't be a duplicate.

How about painted Provence arm chairs at each end? Then, use either armless matching chairs on the sides or Provencal benches?

BTW, I LOVE your table and cabinet, please don't paint those! :-) We have a French trestle table made from 100 year old oak. We're using Mitchell Gold upholstered parsons because that's what my DH had. I'd love to use these chairs with my table!
Cameron

Here is a link that might be useful: Provence chair

Patricia, your table is a beauty.

It appears to have a substantial amount of heft to it, and I would take caution to find chairs that compliment that, and not look wimpy.

Maybe something like this, with fabric on the backside, yet balanced with the weight of the framing wood. You could dress these down with a casual fabric choice.

{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}

Patricia
GORGEOUS table.. holy! I love the chairs tryin2grow posted.. that fabric is perfect! Did you get a chance to check the link I sent? If you click on dining room chairs there is more selection, different styles.. let me know!
Ree

Reeree, those are the chairs that were used... It was this one at Bassett

Trying2grow, love the fabric on the chairs you posted.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bassett dining chairs

All such great suggestions and tryin2grow, I absolutely adore that one you posted even down to the gorgeous upholstery which would look absolutely right in my beige/brown/gold home. That is a beauty. There are so many good choices here, and I thank you each for your help.

Now, I just have to get shopping.