This GLAC collection is a rattan and nylon line to be used indoor or outdoor. It will bring a special feeling to any ice cream parlor, bar, cafe or restaurant. Rattan has proven over the years to be a very decorative and comfortable material to use. It can adapt to different climates and is resistant to water and sun. It is almost maintenance free. All chairs and armchairs are stackable.French bistro chairs (47 total) Contact for pricing and availabilityIt’s almost impossible to think of café society in Paris without picturing a classic French bistro chair—not surprising, considering the chairs have been ubiquitous on the sidewalks of Paris since cafés flourished in the 19th century. Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Simone de Beauvoir are among those who spent hours eating, drinking, and conversing while seated on bistro chairs. Recently these chic and sturdy seats have turned up in stylish homes, adding the perfect bit of French flair both indoors and out.
Famously light and therefore a cinch to move, bistro chairs are an ideal choice for a busy eat-in kitchen; they essentially enable you to create your own personal kitchen café. Here, design genius Markham Roberts used them as a casual counterpoint to a more formal tufted bench. Counter-stool versions of the bistro chair have also been spotted in countless designer kitchens.French bistro chairs add a touch of romance We chatted with Joan Stonich of TK Collections about the origins of the chair Photograph by Tara Van Der LindenWhether bistro chairs make you dream of Paris cafes or you just like their bright colors, these woven seats add a cheerful touch to both indoor and outdoor spaces. To learn more about their origins, we talked with Joan Stonich of TK Collections, a to-the-trade showroom in the New York Design Center that has been importing custom cafe chairs directly from the French countryside for decades. Although the chairs were first produced in the late 19th century, they didn’t become popular until the 1920s—when Paris cafes attracted writers and artists like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Sartre, and Picasso.
Today, authentic French versions are made of bent rattan and Rilsan, a bioplastic derived from castor beans, best known for their oil. Rilsan, which was developed during World War II, is so strong it was used to create nets that captured submarines. Rilsan makes bistro chairs lightweight, colorfast, and durable, says Stonich. If you wanted to damage it, you could take an ax to it. But with regular use, nothing will happen to it.” Restaurants often use the same chairs for decades, she notes. The original-style chairs are handmade by artisans living north of Paris, who have passed down the skills for generations. This article originally appeared in our Spring 2016 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.Working in kitchens from Italy to Japan to stateside, Jody Williams opened Buvette (which she dubs a “gastrothèque”) in 2011 on a tree-lined block in New York’s West Village. Since then critics, neighbors, and fellow chefs have been hailing it as one of their faves.
With decor as authentic and delicious as the coq au vin, we asked how it all came together so that we could take home a little Buvette charm for ourselves. How did you approach the look of Buvette? “All the things that come into the restaurant besides food and wine but are artful are a pleasure for a chef. I come across things for the restaurant that are off the beaten path… Hand-lettered signs, weathered dog-eared wood: That’s inspiring to me.” What’s the number-one priority when decorating a restaurant? “The most important ingredient is allowing that human touch to be there. It cannot be perfect. It’s the idea of wabi-sabi.” This is a very old building. Did you ever consider newer construction? “There is a patina here that I couldn’t make or build. Then we layered things out of my own house or things I love. I couldn’t afford new hotel silver, so I hit the flea markets and found pieces.” Would you describe Buvette as a classic French bistro?
“It’s a French name, a French menu, and a French wine list, but everything else is all-American. Everything here is effortless. What advice would you give to someone who wants to emulate that look? “I follow what I love, what I enjoy. If there is one piece you want on your table, it doesn’t need to make sense. You’ll be gratified just seeing it.” How important was decor when you started to design the space? “I see everything in my mind, from the front door to the back door. I see how it’s used. I really try to make every corner here, wherever you turn your head, attractive, functional, and interesting.” Buvette feels as warm as being in someone’s kitchen. Was that by design or just a happy accident? “I like the ingredients to be exposed. Oranges in bowls and eggs in wire baskets tell you we’re open in the morning. It’s beautiful… a subtle nod to the food.” Finish the sentence: You can never have too many… “You can never have too many baskets, trays, plates, and pans.
Oh, and aprons and wooden benches.“ What’s your go-to accessory?Most people do shelving to display. But I love the haphazardness of hanging items from hooks.” Any personal mementos around the restaurant? “I have my grandmother’s plates and her piggy bank. And I love presidential pieces. My younger sister, Fern, was born on Lincoln’s birthday. Everything here has a story.” Okay, last question: What is a “gastrothèque”? “It’s about the pleasure of food and drink. And that’s what we do. The community here is very important that comes with that.”The original French Bistro Chair. Hand made in France by Drucker - Distributed in New York City by Walterspin 5heart 1 The original French Bistro chairs, handmade in France by Maison GATTI since 1920. Gatti’s use of high quality materials and impeccable design standards keep them the most popular chairs for the sidewalk cafés and finer restaurants of Paris and around the world.