The Dining Room Chair Guide
When a good friend asked for some dining room chair suggestions, it seemed like a simple task. But it’s weirdly difficult to find ones that are both comfortable and aesthetically appealing. So we asked a few of our favorite interior designers for the ones they think look good. And because many of these (don’t we all want a set of original Jean Prouvé Standard Chairs?) require a second mortgage, we dug around for some great affordable options, too.
afroditi krassa
She’s the designer behind some of London’s biggest transformations in the hospitality arena, from favorite chains like Café Rouge and Itsu, to the ever-booming, ever-expanding Dishoom.
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Thonet Era Chair DWR, $113.40“It’s a classic, with a small footprint, and it’s very lightweight. With hard wearing qualities, this chair is perfect for high traffic hospitality environments. You can find it at Café Rouge & Dishoom.”
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Hans Wegner PP 501 The Chair
by PP Mobler TwentyTwentyOne, £4,758“Nothing can beat this timeless chair: It will never go out of fashion. With generous seat dimensions, the chair is elegant and sensual, thanks to the sculpted wooden arms and great proportions. I used it at Oriel and The Perfectionists’ Café.” - Shop now
Lunar Dining Chair
by StellarworksDiscover&Deliver, Price Upon Request“The upholstery makes this a very comfortable dining chair. Plus, its understated and classic language create a very elegant piece. We’ve used this in certain Hilton hotels.” - Shop now
De La Espada Atlantico 033 Tone Chair Zinc Details, $695“Simply beautiful, the “crafted quality” makes this chair a timeless, Asian-inspired piece. You’ll see it at Itsu.”
Kelly Wearstler
Kelly Wearstler’s instantly recognizable glam interiors—The Viceroy hotels, The Tides, Bergdorf Goodman—are responsible for an entire aesthetic. She has her own collection of home goods and accessories: It’s not all that surprising that one of her designs, the Elliott Chair, is on several designers’ lists.
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Kelly Wearstler
Studio Dining Chair Kelly Wearstler, $2,500“My Studio Dining Chair has such a sexy, glamorous aura. Its curved, burnished bronze frame creates a distinctive, elegant form. I have it upholstered in a soft, luxurious cowhide in one of the conference rooms at my studio.”“I have always been drawn to metal and this chair is unique because of its curved shape: It really softens the look. The chair is incredibly elegant but with a perfect amount of edge.” - Shop now
Kelly Wearstler Elliott Chair Kelly Wearstler, $3,600“The Elliott Chair is a signature piece and perennial bestseller from my studio collection that is named for one of my boys. I love the juxtaposition between its classic form and modern proportions.”“The beauty of this glamorous vintage-inspired piece lies in its sculptural design. The bold lines in antiqued brass mixed with the textured reptile leather really create a one-of-a kind piece.”
jessica marx
One of LA’s most in-demand designers, Jessica just won the AIA award for Bo Nuage, though you might recognize her sleek style from Wexler’s Deli at Grand Central Market.
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J. Marx Atelier
Frame Dining Chair J. Marx Atelier, Price Upon Request“The clean, angular lines and open back really keep this piece light, while the rose gold frame makes a bold statement.” - Shop now
Jonathan Adler Maxime Dining Chair Jonathan Adler, $1,400“I’ve been a long time fan of this particular dining chair. It’s slightly curvy and feminine, and the brass legs with the arrowhead tips are such a lovely detail.”
Ryan Korban
He’s remarkably young and yet he’s already got Alexander Wang and Balenciaga’s dreamy, marble-clad showrooms in his portfolio, not to mention the homes of many of New York City’s well-dressed downtowners. His interiors have a distincty masculine edge.
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Lira Chair Room & Board, $499“I am drawn to the architectural feel of this chair. The clean lines of the metal mixed with the upholstery makes a great juxtaposition of modern and comfortable. It comes in an array of finishes and fabrics, but always looks clean and contemporary.”
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Andromeda Chair J. Robert Scott, Price Upon Request“I love these lacquered parchment chairs. They have such a great 1920’s Jean Michel Frank feel to them.”
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Ralph Lauren Safari Woven Leather Chair Ralph Lauren, $5,005“These modern chic chairs feel both masculine and feminine at the same time.”
Windsor Smith
Windsor is GP’s main interior design go-to: Elegant yet practical, her subtly luxurious interiors leave plenty of room for the chaos of family life, and she always comes up with creative and unexpected solutions that never go light on comfort.
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Gustavian Armchair Antiquaire Online, Price Upon Request“I have had a mad, long crush on Directoire and/or Gustavian chairs because they bring a patina or provenance to a more contemporary table. I am a big fan of the juxtaposition!”
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Paloma Wing Chair Century Furniture, Price Upon Request“I love this modernized version of a wingback.”
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Elegant ChairWindsor Smith Home Collection, $1,700“I love an arm on a dining chair, it invites you to push back a little and linger. I designed this lovely blue velvet chair with this in mind.”
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Arne Jacobsen Mayer Sofa by &tradition A+R Store, starts at $6,885“We use our dining rooms differently now so I like them to look more like libraries or hangout rooms. With this in mind, I tend to mismatch chairs, and even on occasion opt for a bench on one side. Lovers and kids alike mad dash for this one every time!”
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Jacques Adnet Leather Armchair 1st Dibs, Price Upon Request“If your dining room is lofty, rustic, or even modern you can’t go wrong with a set of leather Adnet chairs, but be prepared to spend a pretty penny. I would place them around an old wood farm table for an even more eclectic touch.”
Rodman Primack
With an interior design practice of his own, and an encyclopedic knowledge of important furniture and objects, it makes a lot of sense that Rodman Primack is Executive Director of Design Miami.
“My favorite dining chairs are somewhat similar in proportion because I neither like the look of most high backed chairs nor find them comfortable. I always gravitate towards a lower, more casual chair. All of these chairs are vintage as I like things that have developed a patina, but you can find some beautiful reissues from companies like Vitra. My personal choice rather than a reissue would be to choose something really new both as a design and its production.”
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Gio Ponti SuperLeggera 1st Dibs,
$33,084 for a Set of 14“This is an iconic design. Not only is it beautiful, but it is lightweight yet sturdy and looks great in any setting.” - Shop now
Hans Wegner The Chair 1st Dibs, Price Upon Request“Designed in 1950, this iconic chair has many variations (including leather or rushed seats) and I believe has been produced ever since its design. It is extremely comfortable and one of Wegner’s masterpieces.”
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George Nakashima Grass Seated Chairs 1st Dibs, Price Upon Request“This was also designed in the early 1950’s, by the treasured Japanese American designer and craftsman, George Nakashima. I have always loved the incredible sculptural shape of this chair, which is both rustic and sophisticated. with its grass seat and elegant sculptural lines, it’s like a bird landing on a wire.”
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Jean Prouvé Standard Chair 1st Dibs, Price Upon Request“This is one of the most perfect chairs ever made, originally designed for French schools in the early 1930’s, and revised by Prouvé later. It has beautiful proportions and is comfortable through long meetings as well as dinners.”
emily summers
We discovered Emily Summers during our time in Dallas and fell for her luxurious-meets-classic aesthetic.Photo: Laura Wilson
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Klismos Chair Saridis of Athens, Price Upon Request“My favorite classical interpretation of a Greek Klismos chair.”
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Holly Hunt Shadow Dining Chair Holly Hunt, Price Upon Request“The elegant metal structure and leather seat are a nice balance for a wood table surface.”
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Warren McArthur Club Chairs 1st Dibs, $9,000 for Two“Warren McArthur first designed lightweight tubular aluminum chairs for the airline industry in the 1930’s. These are vintage from the Chrysler board room—there are pullout ashtrays in the arm rests.”
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Siren Dining Side Chair Holly Hunt, Price Upon Request“The graceful curve makes this Holly Hunt dining chair.”
Miles Redd
He wrote the Big Book of Chic, which pretty much sums it up when it comes to his work, lauded and loved by so many.Photo: Cameron Krone
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Bunny Williams Jack Chair Taigan, $1,950“The first one in my batch is a classic—people often want a comfortable dining chair, which usually means upholstery on the seat and back. I think this has a lovely shape and the button details on the back lend it that Bunny Mellon chic.”
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Louis XV Todd Alexander Romano, Price Upon Request“This chair is classic Louie XV, and I love it because of its curvaceous shape. It can add nice contrast to a rectangular table, and an upholstered back and seat are always pleasers.”
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Chinoiserie Armchair Liz O’Brien Editions, Price Upon Request“I love a carved back at a dining table, and a touch of chinois always adds an air of fantasy: The Pagoda chair by Liz O’Brien has that 1930’s meets English Country House vibe.”
Pamela Shamshiri
As a founding partner at Commune, known for some pretty huge commercial projects like the Ace in Downtown LA, and the Heath Ceramics stores, Pamela Shamshiri brings craft, and a sense of history, to all the interiors she touches.Photo: Francois Halard
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Ladder Chair BDDW, Price Upon Request“BDDW is crafting the finest furniture in America today. I love the Shaker-like simplicity of these chairs, the drama of their high backs, and how surprisingly comfortable they are.”
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Gio Ponti Superleggera Chair Context Gallery, Price Upon Request“Gio Ponti’s elegant take on the Chiavari chair is light enough to lift with one finger and strong enough to take a fall from a four story building—this, Ponti tested himself! I love the clean, minimalist lines and contrast of materials.”
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Arne Jacobsen Grand Prix Chair 1st Dibs, $3,786“The great Danish architect Arne Jacobsen won the Grand Prize at Milan in 1957 with these chairs. I love their beautiful sculptural quality and especially love the vintage versions in leather and teak.”
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Mogens Koch Folding Chair Rud Rasmussen, Price Upon Request“Mogens Koch’s 1930’s take on the director’s chair is the ultimate in portability. The chair folds up so easily and can be ordered with a beautiful stand for storage. Fantastic for a garden party, they also lend a casual, airy vibe to a dining or breakfast room. Rud Rasmussen offers them in the most gorgeous leathers.”
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Borge Mogensen Model 3237 Leather Chairs Bonluxat, Price Upon Request“Borge Mogensen had such success with his Spanish Chair that he adapted the design into this dining chair version. The white oak and stitched leather construction and brass belt buckle detailing lend them a timeless and rugged sensibility.”
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Conservatory Dining Chair Soane, Price Upon Request“Soane is a wonderful furniture maker based in the UK. I love how they incorporate a traditional material like rush into the design of this very relaxed chair.”
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Eero Saarinen Tulip Armless Chair Knoll, $1,396“Eero Saarinen’s Tulip Chair is a pop design icon, but perhaps more importantly, sitting in one is just plain fun. I put a set of them in my brother’s kitchen and his kids (and mine) get dizzy spinning around in them. I like them best in black.”
Goop’s Picks
Beverly Side ChairHD Buttercup, $1675Subtly exotic, these manage to be glamorous and simple at once.
Eames Side ChairDWR, $339A sturdy, wonderfully designed classic that wears really well—plus, you can just wipe it clean (pretty essential if you have kids).
Eames® Upholstered Molded Plywood Dining ChairDWR, $1,578 – $2,127Simple and understated, these looks just right around a casual breakfast table.
Tolix Marais a ChairDWR, $275The perfect bistro chair, that works as well indoors as out.
Swedish Demi-Lune ChairRestoration Hardware, $249Such a pretty solution that looks perfectly antique.
Vintage French Nailhead ChairRestoration Hardware, $199The comfort of a high, upholstered back but done in a way that doesn’t feel overly fancy or formal.