Furniture 101: Dining Room and Kitchen Chair Styles

Whether your taste runs antique, modern or anywhere in between, there are basic styles and designs that stand the test of time.  It's always helpful to know the name of a design, whether it is an original or a reproduction.

Here is a little Visual 101 Tutorial and Round-Up:

{via Chicago Appraiser's Association}

and don't forget about nice legs:

{Via Chicago Appraiser's Asssoc.

Current Reproductions:

Crate and Barrel "Bentwood Chair"

Bow Windsor Back

Pottery Barn "Wynn Ladderback Chair" 

Pottery Barn "Cortona Chair" is a "Fiddle Back"

Wisteria "Louis XVI Dining Chair"

Wisteria "Cane Back Dining Chair"

Pottery Barn "Queen Anne Chair"

and a few modern additions that are staples:

Parson's Chair
 (named after Parson's School of Design in NYC,
not Parson as in a Preacher of a church, btw)

Skirted Parsons

Tolix Chair

Eames Chair

I have such a love for well crafted chairs...and they all seem to have their own personality, that I love to mix and match! Guess that's a multiple personality thing? I think that even traditional dining rooms and kitchens can benefit from breaking up sets of chairs...making your space more approachable. What do you think?

Opposites Attract

Unified by light and dark

All Queen Anne Fiddle Back, different finishes

Different Styles unified by same paint and upholstery

Casual Elegance

Unified by French Inspiration

I could go on...

hope this gives  you something to think about when you're narrowing down your style.

XXXOOO.