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First of all, I can’t thank you enough for your kind words this morning regarding yesterday’s disaster. Mitch and I are feeling much more positive today, and we’ve started to formulate a plan so that we never have to deal with something like that again. We appreciated your messages more than you know, and it’s extremely helpful to hear that some of you have been through similar situations and have successfully remedied them. Homeownership is a journey, right?!
To get my mind off the carpeting and master bathroom, let’s talk about the dining room today. Because everything is dandy up there, completely dry, and just waiting to be furnished and decorated! :)
Like I mentioned a couple of days ago, Mitch and I built a farmhouse table over Labor Day weekend. (So excited!) While the table is set to arrive in Chicago sometime in October, I really want to get a head start on picking out chairs for it. It’s hard to find preppy furniture that doesn’t break the bank, after all.
At first, I desperately wanted white Chippendale chairs for the table, like this. Turns out they’re ridiculously expensive, though (often in the $600 to $1,000 range!), and the husband wasn’t exactly down.
“What?” was his response. “Why would you want those? Really? Those are pretty? Ummmm… You know I’m going to accidentally break them almost immediately.”
Flashback to the Trampoline Scandal of 2009, when Mitch jumped through my most-loved childhood toy, haha.
So, yeah. I’m still holding out for Chippendale chairs down the road, but for now, we decided that one of ’em–for the office–is probably a better idea. ;) And I actually scored the above one for $220 during Ballard Designs’ Labor Day Sale! (A nice office chair was Mitch’s Christmas present to me last year. Only took me a solid eight months to pick one out!) It’s supposed to arrive tomorrow, and I can’t wait to show you guys.
But back to the chairs for the farmhouse table. My thoughts are that whatever we pick needs to be sturdy and not white, as I don’t want to relive our way-too-fresh disaster with our white carpeting. Which leads me to navy.
Obviously.
Above and below are some of my inspiration pins!
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Part of me desperately wants six chairs in a navy-and-white floral, damask or paisley pattern, but I’m nervous it might look too busy. Right now, I’m thinking I should go with four velvet chairs (so fun and different!), and two patterned chairs at the ends of the table. But I’m still not 100-percent on that idea.
After much, much searching for these products, I found the Audrey Dining Chair and the Carmilla Dining Chair at the new Pier 1 Imports that just opened up in Lincoln Park. I’d always thought that Pier 1 carried contemporary, modern and worldly inspired furniture and decor, but I can’t believe how much traditional and coastal-style merchandise they now have in stock. And it’s affordable. There are seriously about two hundred products I’m interested in!
The details: The velvet chair is hand-upholstered, features hand-tufting and cabriole legs, and is only $229. (And Pier 1 frequently has sales!) The damask one is only $179, and it’s hand-crafted as well. It features thick, comfortable padding, and curved birch legs.
The best part is that Mitch loves both of them. He thinks they’re super comfy and well-made, and that they aren’t “too much” for the room. I adore both of them, too. I mean, the tufting on the back of the Audrey Dining Chair? The damask print on the Carmilla?! Dying. ;)
So, we need your help. What do you think?! All damask chairs, all navy velvet chairs, or a combination of the two?!
A huge thank you goes out to Michelle (@California_House) for all the advice and design help! You’re the best, girl!
If you like the pattern better I say go for it with all six chairs, it’ll make a statement.
Kristina does the Internets
Thank you so much for your input, Kristina!! :)
I love the idea of mixing between the two, it would definitely give the area more dimension! I’m a huge fan of putting the patterned chairs at the ends, too!
xx, Mikkaela
The Southwestern Prepster
Thank you, Mikkaela! I am so bad at mixing different looks together… but I really feel like this example works. Plus, we have Pinterest photos to back it up, right?! :)
CB2 has some cute ones that I think you’ll like.
Thanks, Beck! ;)
I like the idea of getting four solid chairs and two printed ones for the end of the table. :) It’s going to look gorgeous!
xoxo
Jessie
YAY. Well, if that’s what Jessie Holmes Springer thinks, I think we should go for it. :)
(Seriously, though. I need you to come to Chicago and decorate my place, hehe. I envy your design abilities and style sense like whoa!)
I like the pattern!!! Damask is one of my favorites! Trendy yet timeless.
Thanks, Carly! Me too! :)
I love the idea of mixing the two! It will help your eye flow around the table :)
YAY! Okay. This is what I’m thinking now. :)
I just went into Pier 1 this week for the first time in about 10 years, and was so pleased to see how much they had changed! I would go with the patterned ones or a mix
I am completely amazed as well! There’s so much for everyone — and I see so much preppy stuff! Have you seen the blue & white vases and dishes? I may have just purchased a BUNCH, haha. So much more reasonable than other stores!
Can’t wait to see what you decide to do! It is going to look amazing!
-Meg
http://www.smalltownsisters.blogspot.com
Thank you, Meg! You’re always the sweetest!
Kelly, love that you’re now adding home decor posts to your blog! We just bought a 2 floor condo in Washington, DC this spring and have been decorating it over the last few months. Our styles actually seem to be quite similar!
I’ve been trying to do kind of a rustic chic/preppy look and we actually paired four Pier 1 Carmilla dining chairs with our wood dining able, and they look fantastic. It was our first time having a real dining table, and I really wanted to get some beautiful chairs. The blue color is so rich, and they add such a classic but pretty look to the room. I was worried about them being too busy, as well, but they really are a standout piece and I think they really bring the room together… we have an open concept dining/living room so it was important to me that the chairs weren’t too bold. We added some solid blue accents in other parts of the room to blend it all together. I love the idea you also have of incorporating the solid blue chairs as well, just to mix it up, but I wouldn’t worry about it being too much if you love the pattern of the Pier 1 chairs. The price was great (I got mine on sale for $150 a few months ago… so if you wait, they may have another sale!) and I think they’re my favorite new thing that we’ve bought. Good luck!! :)
Jessica,
Thank you! :) I love that our styles are similar — and I’d love to hear what you’ve been picking out! Isn’t it such the process? I was deeply disappointed in the very beginning that everything didn’t come together immediately, but now I’m finding GREAT pleasure in taking my time and actually falling in love with pieces before I buy them. :)
And YES! Me too. I think I’m rustic/preppy. I love natural jute rugs, rope and natural-looking farmhouse tables, but I also love deep blues, stripes, bamboo/rattan and gold accents. (Typical. All over the place.)
And YAY! Can’t believe you went with the Carmilla chairs, too! Yes–totally understand what you’re saying. We have an open-concept floor plan, too… so this is great to hear.
Thank you for the vote of confidence! :)
I think that the Audrey Dining Chair is a little preppier/more traditional look than the Carmila Dining Chair (simply because the Carmilla is has the part that goes out at the top just enough to have a more modern look to it)–but both are great chairs. I’m deciding through a bunch of kitchen chairs right now myself and I keep going back and looking at World Market–might be worth looking at their stuff too!
I like the idea of incorporating traditional with VERY slightly modern pieces, so maybe this is a good thing?! :) I want timeless decor that won’t go out of style, but also a reflection of my generation. I AODRE my grandmother’s taste, for example (Girlfriend has the most exquisitely decorated home), but I want mine to be a bit more me. :)
Thank you so much for your input!!
You are the best! I love getting to help!
I am so torn! I think they are both good options and can’t even help you pick because I am changing my mind between the two every 30 seconds.
Can I be totally honest – I have that damask pattern chair (for 3 years) as my vanity chair and it not comfortable – it poke me if I lean into it with my knee, it isn’t high quality by any means and for the price I would recommend looking into some other sources. I love Pier1 – I have a lot of things in my house but every chair I have bought from them (our kitchen bar chairs to the vanity chair – the one above) I have regretted and can’t wait to replace them. They just wear out quickly and for the price I would recommend spending a few more $ and getting something on major sale at a furniture store. Just my experience and trying to save you $$ since you aren’t wanting “temporary apartment furniture” Stick to Pier 1 for decorations like pillow but furniture isn’t really very good quality. Furniture stores always have major sales – find something you love and then just wait for the right sale.
I vote mixing 4 with 2. If too busy the chairs with your décor items will be lost.