Someone else will have to weigh in on the fabric, but I just love your rug!

I love the rug as well! The striped fabric with the rug...not so much. I usually like stripe with pattern. What's wrong with the fabric that's already on there?

Working with a designer - she wants to brighten things up. I think the current fabric is OK - not great. I'm thinking the stripe will be too busy for me.

Here is another pic with all chairs:

I also kinda like the existing fabric. So, where did you get your rug?

The rug is made by Surya (Jeweltone).

I think your chairs go great with the rug as is. How about getting a table runner in a shade of the blue/grey color in the rug?

The current pattern on the chairs is very similar to the rug. Just because the current chair fabric and rug share similar moments of color, pattern, and movement doesn't mean it's not busy. There is visual busyness now, it's just repetitive shapes and colors and it all blends together. It's a pedestrian pairing. (to be brutaly honest)

The stripes will define the chairs from the rug and each will look better because of it - it's a bolder, more interesting pairing.

I like the stripe and I don't think it will be any busier than the current fabric.

"Pedestrian paring" - ouch :-D. I was thinking more of a solid fabric with texture - like a flax/linen. I just cannot visualize the stripe.

Almost didn't type that but dollars to doughnuts that's what the designer is thinking and she sees stripes as the antidote.

I would pick the blue color from the rug, cannot visualize the stripes with the rug. Or, pick a wide stripe with terracotta and pale blue, a much less busy look that will not compete with the carpeting and hopefully not be pedestrian. I would make the stripes go the long way, not across.

Why does it have to be used horizontally? I think it would be fine vertically.

Oh, dear - I'm getting a stomach ache :-0

I love the red leather seats with the hammered nails...Love the rug too.

Don't like the striped fabric, it looks like outdoor cushion fabric to me.

I would like a subtle solid fabric, like the dark tan in your rug. The red chairs seats

and rug are the stars of the room.

Love the stripes!

I very much like the chairs the way they are. I do not like the striped fabric for those chairs in that room - it sounds like change for the sake of change.

I so agree with Lori. The current fabric on the chair is way too similar to the rug. I also agree that the stripe will definitely enhance the rug and actually show it off a little better. Not only is it going to enhance the rug and actually make it the star instead of "oh isn't that nice the chairs and rug match", but it is also going to bring the floor and the table into the vignette of your dining room.

Can you bring home a sample of the fabric?The only colour I'm a little unsure of is the burnt orange.

I never understand the hesitancy of mixing patterns especially the using of stripes.

I think stripes are great to define the chairs but is there a way to do it without using awning or outdoor patio type fabric?

I never met a plaid or buffalo check I didn't like so stripes feel tame to me. #perspective

A solid fabric with some interesting texture to it could work, arguably better than the current fabric choice. Solid + interesting texture usually translates to expensive for me but YMMV.

I like the suggested stripe fabric, also its texture to go with the rug. Get that photoshopped, you might like it. The current fabric looks dreary next to the vibrant rug colors.

Well it's not my house but I like this cut velvety stripe. I don't think it necessary to include ALL the colors in the carpet in the upholstery fabric.

This is enlarged dots are small.

Although I can't get the velvet dots to their real scale I'm digging them. I'm liking the texture a lot. Don't know if it would mesh with your home as I have only seen the dining room.

Here is a very crude Photoshop

And some alternatives

Small repeat chevron and lattice

Frazier plaid and a tweed

More vertical stripes

I like Cawaps muted tweed above.

Cawaps - thank you so much! The current fabric on the chairs wasn't intended to go with the rug - I purchased them at a consignment shop and they just happened to sort of go with the rug but pretty blah.

The new fabric isn't an outdoor type it is hand-loomed and has a nice textured weave to it.

Got a sample - I'll try for better pics tomorrow:

II got a sample but not good light now - I'll have to try again tomorrow but here it is:

I'm not sure why the fabric brings awnings or outdoor furniture to mind. To me, it is more like a sarape or Chimayo weaving. We live in the Southwest - maybe that is the reason.

I really like the stripes.. but it's a distinct personality and style that really works for me but it has to work for YOU.

Yes Sunfeather I think you are right, those of us not living in the south west probably do not completely understand. It's just that (for me) the rug is so beautiful with all those glorious colors and it confuses me to see all those same shades going up the chairs. To me its like owning a stunning original oil painting by a master artist and then painting the frame in the same colors in a stripe.

I might be agreeing with you Terrilynn. I can't quite settle with it. Just doesn't feel right. But, I think something other than what is on the chairs now would be an improvement.

I don't see much in the options that I don't like. I think there are any number of good possibilities, and it all depends on the overall vibe you're seeking. My eyes keep going back to the tweed in cawaps' 4th mockup. I think a textured tweed would bring a bit of a stately feel to your gorgeous room that would beautifully complement the southwest style. Of course, I love the natural rusticity of southwest mixed with old English pieces, so perhaps that's why the tweed is so appealing to my eye.

Yes, I agree with you IdaClaire.

Cawaps - what might that tweed be?

I love the striped fabric and would absolutely use it and run it horizontally but only on the front of the backs - on the back of the backs I'd use a solid that's in both the rug and the stripe, probably the mossy green.

This is a closeup of the tweed. I'm not sure I got the scale right in my mock-up.

West Austin London Red Tweed Upholstery Fabric

Thank you! I like this.

That is really nice Cawaps!

Ok, I think the stripe is too big of a stripe, Each stripe is too big and creates a pattern that is the same size pattern as the rug. (Does that make sense? a tighter or narrower stripe would be better) The patterns wind up fighting with one another and vying for attention. The colours are good but the size of pattern is not.

The size of pattern that cawaps posted is much better.

To me, it is more like a sarape or Chimayo weaving.

Yep. The rug, the stripes, the Travertine floor all very cohesive and homey. The stripes would have to run vertically to work for me. BTW, this was my go-to stuff for cleaning Travertine when we lived in El Paso and I had miles and miles of Travertine tile. MB1 Floor Cleaner.

I can HEAR what the experts are claiming, but the stripe is just a more casual look to my eye. It doesn't meld with the flavor of the rug and the table. The more vibrant colors I can get behind, the new pattern not so much.

I love the pics of the fabric drapes over the chair, it is the right size of stripe. Nothing in your home is "formal" it is a southwest look, the stripe enhances the southwest formal dining room, in a southwest sort of way. I think it is correct if one expects an northeastern type of formal dining room it will never work, but this house is not that style.

The new fabric makes it "sophisticated casual". I say "go for it".

I'm sorry, but the strong colors of the stripe fight with the rug. I think the eye will keep going back and forth between the two. So far I haven't liked any of the fabrics shown; none seems like just the right solution. I would keep looking.

Call me crazy but I suddenly had a vision of an ice blue background with stylized cream flowers for the chairs. The flowers would be fairly large, with vining stems running between them. This pictures shows the opposite, cream background and blue flowers, that also would work.

<div><a href='[https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-remodel-southwestern-dining-room-phoenix-phvw-vp~3846944[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-remodel-southwestern-dining-room-phoenix-phvw-vp~3846944)' target='_blank'><img src='https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/de813a23018a6b69_8-9605/southwestern-dining-room.jpg' alt='' border=0 width='500' height='324' nopin='nopin' ondragstart='return false;' onselectstart='return false;' oncontextmenu='return false;'/></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style="text-decoration:none;color:#444;" href="https://www.houzz.com/user/mtsolem"; target="_blank">Photo by Marianne Solem</a> - <a style="text-decoration:none;color:#444;" href="[https://www.houzz.com/photos/dining-room-ideas-phbr0-bp~t_722";[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/dining-room-ideas-phbr0-bp~t_722-room-ideas-phbr0-bp~t_722); target="_blank">Search dining room design ideas</a></small></div>

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My post disappeared!

I - loving red and leather dining chairs - would love to see the backs and fronts done in a leather and nailhead trim that matches the seats.

I love your dining room; whatever you decide will be perfect!

I think I'm going to just table the chairs project for a while :-).

I love the striped fabric your decorator chose and think it looks wonderful in your room. In my opinion that combination adds a lot of flair to your room. Like cmarlin says, sophisticated casual. I would use that combination in a race horse minute; it is a beautiful combination.

Great - consider all the fabrics and suggestions for a while, do what you love. There is no one perfect answer.