Hello everyone! My name is Becky and I'm a contributor at Houzz, a home design site focused on helping design professionals and homeowners manage the remodeling and decorating process. Thanks so much to Melissa for having me!
One of my favorite European imports are bistro chairs, and of course the bistro/cafe culture that comes with them. You can bring that feeling of relaxing with a chocolate croissant in Paris or a cappuccino in an Italian hill town home by adding these stylish chairs to your decor. From Thonet's bentwood chairs to Xavier Pauchard's industrial Marias A chairs, there's a cafe chair for everyone. To give them a fresh look, choose colorful chairs or paint them yourself. Here's a look at three styles of bistro chairs in three very different dining rooms.
The original iconic bentwood chair was designed by Michael Thonet way back in 1859. Many imitations have followed, and their popularity has never waned. In fact, by 1930, the Thonet company had sold fifty million of them, which is great news for us, as it makes it easy to find vintage versions on the market. This set takes on a sunny new life in bright yellow, adding a punch of color to this
eclectic dining room.
This style of classic French folding bistro chairs date back to the 1880s. Their convenient portability is a big part of their appeal – you can fold them up and tote them out to the patio or garden whenever you need an extra outdoor seat. They also are very easy to store, though I can't imagine not wanting to show them off at all times. Painted in a peeling soft mint, they add to the charm of this Shabby Chic
dining room.
Finally, the youngest bistro chair I'll show you is the Marais A chair. It was designed by French metalworker Xavier Pauchard back in 1934 and is available in an array of bright colors today. I can heartily endorse them as these are the chairs I have in my own dining room and I love them.
All of the
chairs I've shown you look great in a set, but they also mix and match incredibly well in just about any group of chairs and in a wide variety of room styles. Consider bringing some European bistro flavor to your home!
Find more dining room inspiration from Alabama interior designers and more design professionals at Houzz.
