Our new Manhattan loft is really coming together –construction is complete (including some finish work that seemed to drag on forever), and all of the furniture that we’d bought or reupholstered in in place. We love it.
Except the dining room.
Individually, I like all of the furnishings. The sideboard is a handsome vintage Gio Ponti piece that we’ve had for years and plan to keep forever. The table is a recent purchase –a vintage 50s T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings find that’s well proportioned to the space and, importantly, adjustable so small parties don’t have to huddle around one end. I like its dramatic sabre shaped legs and the way the top is beveled beneath its edges so it feels thin and light. The 70s Italian chandelier is also new to us, and I like the way it walks a happy line between glamor and glitz.
Which brings us to the chairs. They’re classic Saarinen armchairs that we’ve used in two previous homes, and they’ve served us well. The design is one of my all-time favorites, but, sadly, I don’t think it’s working here. They’re quite wide, so eight chairs are a tight squeeze around the table, even when fully extended. In addition (and, I think, more importantly) something about the proportions of the sideboard and the chandelier make the chairs feel short. The legs too are a little off: the unpolished metal tubing is neither refined enough to hold its own with the other finishes nor rustic enough to provide an interesting contrast. Finally, the gray wool upholstery is a bit of a downer here, although, of course, that would be relatively easy to change.
Unfortunately, I think we need to find a good new home for these chairs and move on. I’ve done a fair amount of shopping, but we’re having trouble making a decision. As always, your advice is most welcome.
But first, there’s something I’d like to eliminate: the chairs that were originally sold with the Robsjohn Gibbings table. To me, there’s something fussy and mannered about the S-curve in the back that detracts from the more elegant table. They’re not the chairs for us.
So on to the current contenders. All are (probably) available and more or less within our budget. And I’ll show them to you with neutral upholstery so we don’t get distracted with fabric (which, of course, will be our next issue).
1. Another vintage Robsjohn Gibbings chair, with a cleaner back.
2. The classic armless Saarinen dining chair.
A tried and true option –we have these in our Southampton home and love them. They’re narrower than the armchair, and available with wooden legs.
3. A bold but graceful chair designed by one of the Great Danes, Finn Juhl.
4. A light, tailored 70s design by Milo Baughman.
Of course, with this chair, finding the right fabric would be very important.
5. A Mies van der Rohe classic.
The chrome could work well with the chandelier, but I worry about comfort during long dinner parties. (This set is from Roberta Flack’s home, but we shouldn’t let that cloud our judgment.)
6. A sleek but sturdy mid-century Gio Ponti leather and walnut chair. (The side chairs are armless.)
A solid choice that would work well with the sideboard.
So what do you think? This is a big commitment, and a big investment for us, so I’d love to hear your thoughts.
