When you want to fit a number of folks around a table, having an attractive, sturdy side chair with a small footprint is a must. Good for dining tables as well as around the house, there are many, many options, so I've compiled a list of those that I think are unique, more attractive or just plain smart. This one up top (The J77 on the right) is in my house as is the J104 chair on the left. Both are part of part of Hay's 2011 relaunch of the Danish furniture classics originally made for FDB, the Danish Consumers’ Co-operative Society. "FDB’s furniture production started in the 1940s and their main idea was functionalist and democratic design for the people." Both are made of beech, come in four colors and ship from Finland in a heartbeat. (Image credit: Crate & Barrel) Cole Side Chair - $99.95 A fresh new version of the classic Thonet design (see below), the Cole has less bent wood and more straight lines. Solid beechwood and only in black. Vienna Side Chair - $109
From Crate & Barrel and made in the original Thonet factories in Eastern Europe, the Vienna hews to one of the classic shapes and adds a seat cushion or a little more comfort. Solid beechwood, lacquer finish (grey, white and black) and engineered wood seat. Era Side Chair - $239 The Era from DWR, also hails from the Czech Republic and sports another great Thonet design. Also made of beechwood but with a waterbased stain and varnish, the wood and construction must be of higher quality to warrant the 2.5x price. (Image credit: Blu Dot) Real Good Chair - $149 From Blu Dot, the Real Good chair is not only small in scale it also packs flat and is super light. If you like modern and minimal this is a very good solution. "Powder-coated steel ships flat and folds along laser-cut lines to create a dynamic and comfortable chair. As skinny as a supermodel yet far more sturdy. Available in aqua, ivory and white with gray legs or four glossy tone-on tone colors: black, green, humble red or navy."
Salt Chair - $109 From DWR and inspired by classic Shaker Designs, the Salt combines a simple shape and a simple price in FOUR colors. Yes, they also have red. Solid European beech wood; Reidar Chair by Ola Wihlborg - $49 I love this design from IKEA which is made entirely out of aluminum so that it can be used inside or outside. The seat is perforated for good drainage and good looks. It comes in three colors: yellow, black and white. Idolf Chair by Ola Wihlborg - $59 A Thonet inspired side chair, also by Ola Wihlborg and IKEA, this super affordable one packs flat for self assembly and is made out of beechwood and beech veneer with a clear acrylic lacquer. (Image credit: Hive Modern) Prouve Standard Chair - $995 This is the licensed original made in Germany by Vitra, and it's a beauty. One day, I'd like to have a few of these around my table. Designed by Jean Prouvé in 1930, the chair now comes in many color combinations and is made of lacquered tubular and sheet steel.
Seat and back in natural or dark oak. (Image credit: Industry West) Standard Chair - From $99 NOT a licensed original and made at a much lower quality level, this version of the Standard Chair is extremely affordable and comes in many color combinations. This is a good gateway drug on your way up to the real thing one day.... The Lucy Chair - $450 Small batch made by Bend in Los Angeles, I include this to show a completely different and fresh direction. Made of Hot-dip galvanized iron to prevent rust, with a powder coated finish, it comes in over eight colorways. Kyoto Chair - $150 This commercial quality chair from DWR (1999) is super slim and durable. Made of natural or coffee-stained beechwood, it is NOT light in form, but that's a good thing for those who want something with a little more weight. Emeco Navy Side Chair - $510 Famous since 1944 and in continuous production, the Navy Side Chair is super slim and light and made almost entirely out of one piece of hollow aluminum.
It will last for life and is even guaranteed for that long. The shiny version is an eye catcher and will run you over 2x. Yes, there are knockoffs. Eames Molded Plastic Dowel Leg Side Chair - $356.15 One of the original Eames designs that has been reissued in recent years, the dowel leg design is a lovely economical shape that has more warmth and softness than the metal base versions. This one, made of molded plastic, is more affordable than the fiberglass version, but the colors are more limited. Sign In to Favorite Item Sign In to Favorite ItemAbout a Chair is a chair collection by Hay with a striking simplicity in its design. For the designer Hee Welling, they represent a new level in the combination of form, function, comfort, detail and aesthetics. The chairs are deliberately kept plain and simple and can easily be combined with other furniture. They also integrate perfectly into different environments and architectural styles, which is why the chairs were predestined for both private and commercial use.
According to the vision of the designer Hee Welling, the About a Chair-chairs should be as suited for the home as they would be for a restaurant, a cafeteria, an office or a conference room. In this context, the simplicity of it guarantees the multi-function design and their ability to be combined. The About a Chair AAC 22 consists of armrests and a wooden frame. The upholstered seat is made from thoroughly dyed polypropylene, the frame out of beech wood with soaped oak or stained ash veneer. A seat cushion is optionally available. About a Chair by Hay is also combinable with other seats and frames. For instance, the AAC 20 is available with a swivel aluminium base and the AAC 23 with upholstery. The seats and bases of the AAC series make up numerous combinations that will never seem unintentional or random. We will gladly advise you on your individual combination. Also in our blog:Hay Highlights from Milano Design Week 2016Blog portrait: Nicest things - the beautiful things of lifeAbout A Chair - chairs changing roles [Guest commentary]Read how customers have rated this product.