The Complete Guide to Modern Chairs by One Kings Lane

A little while back, I was asked by Chloe, from the amazing online shopping site One Kings Lane, if I would be willing to write a post about a statement chair in our home.  The purpose of the post was to help them celebrate the launch of their Complete Guide to Modern Chairs.

Though the chairs I've chosen to feature in this post aren't modern, I still said yes.  Reason being that when it came time for us to select chairs for the living room, we didn't realize how many options and styles there were and how little we knew about what it was that we wanted let alone how to choose the right one!   So to have a resource guide to refer to is so fantastic! I also personally love to read about the history of pieces, how they evolved, where they came from, etc.  So it's not only an informative read, but it's also so interesting!

The team at One Kings Lane has divided the guide into 9 sections, covering chairs from the Pre-Modern era to the modern chairs of the 21st Century.  You'll probably starts recognizing more of the chairs in section IV. The Chairs of the Bauhaus, on.

So, which chair did I choose?  Any guesses?

If you said our Restoration Hardware bergere chairs in the living room, then you're right!

Why did we pick them?  These chairs were high on our list from the beginning.  The black frame tied in with the black chandelier and mirror that are in the dining room, which is open to the living room.  The size was right and the frame was undeniably gorgeous.  We chose to go with a neutral linen finish 1- to save on cost (truth) and 2- because they are user friendly and tend to wear well.

We loved that they provided comfort to the person sitting on them and that they were also kid friendly (necessity in our house). Though they are light, they are easy to spot clean and the seats are slipcovers.  Because we chose to stick with a neutral fabric, they would go with any decor.  Since we move so often, this is super important.  We never know what our next home will look like or what rooms we will have.  So we need furniture that we can easily work with.

So back to the Complete Guide to Modern Chairs.  How would it have helped me if I was choosing a modern chair?

I would be able to read the guide and pinpoint what characteristics the chairs from each era had.  That would allow me to narrow down where and what to look for.

I would also have the designer's name or the name of the chair on hand.  This would simplify the search enormously!  Goodness, I had to find the name of some chairs that were on our list in such a round-a-bout way!  This guide has many of the names listed for you....bonus!

I honestly can't stress how important it is to have this information before you head out to buy your furniture.  It's really great to educate yourself on what's out there, to find out what it is that you are really wanting, needing and looking for.  This will enable you to make an informed decision when it comes time to purchase vs one based only on aethestics and price (which are obviously super important).

The guide is also fantastic as it will allow you to see just how many options are out there vs just going to a store and selecting something from their floor.  It really does pay off to take the time and research what it is you are looking to purchase, because chances are, there are way more options that you can even imagine.

You can find the guide here.  And while you're at it, there are some other really great guides which can be found here.

Cheers,