Must Have Dining Chairs – Designer and Budget

Beautiful Dining Chairs

When it comes to dining furniture its no longer a case of buying a set with matching dining chairs; you can mix and match which leave the doors wide open to pick the right style for you. All the same, a few of each or all different, the choice is yours! Once you’ve gotten over that hurdle, you’ve then got to pick the right style… Check out this beautiful selection of iconic dining chairs. They clearly couldn’t pick one!

It doesn’t have to all be vintage either. The set above, as designer chair, are easily over £100 each. However there are reproductions and also high street alternatives that look fab, but won’t break the bank. Companies like Ikea (below) have spotted a gap in the market (in general!) for designer looking, but not designer priced product. And the Scandinavian style is always a winner!

So let’s look at what’s available from the designer authentic to replicas and look-a-likes.

Dining Chair Buying Guide

Eames Dining Chair

The Eames Chair has become one of the most reproduced chairs in the world! There is more than one type of course, but this is the one that everyone thinks of. They come in a range of lovely colours and although they started with wooden dowel legs, the reproductions now come with a range of legs types too. There is a also a tub chair version which looks fab at the ends of a table.

Where to buy

Original
Heals, Conran Shop, John Lewis

Reproduction and Look-a-likes
Wayfair from £72 Shop Now
Cult Furniture from £59 Shop Now
Super Studio from £29.90 Shop Now
Dwell from £59 Shop Now

Similar on the high street 
Made.com from £99 Shop Now
Habitat from £130 Shop Now

High Street Options

Wishbone Chair

The Wishbone chair is named after the shape of the backrest. The Wishbone dining chair was the outcome of the first collaboration between Wegner and maker Carl Hansen. They vary in style in terms of wood type and colour as well as the seat which is sometimes cord weave but also sometimes solid.

Where to buy

Original
Nest, Conran Shop, Palmono for vintage.

Reproduction and Look-a-likes
Onske from £174 Shop Now
Cult Furniture from £139 Shop Now
Super Studio £100 (31st Jan 2018) Shop Now

Similar on the high street 
La Redoute from £200 a pair Shop Now
Habitat from £288 for a pair Shop Now

High Street Options

Kartell Masters Chair

The Masters Chair is a beautiful and elegant piece. Philippe Starck’s ‘masters’ chair for Kartell draws its form by layering the shapes of classic chairs by three design masters; Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames and Arne Jacobsen. They come in lots of colours including metallics. A beautiful dining chair.

Where to buy

Original
Heals, Conran Shop, Palmono for vintage.
Graham and Green Shop Now
John Lewis from £135 Shop Now
Love the Design – metallics from £357 Shop Now

Reproduction and Look-a-likes
Amazon £60 Shop Now
Ebay from £49.99 Shop Now
Super Studio £41 (31st Jan 2018) Shop Now

High Street Options

Cherner Chair

Norman Cherner was a great all-round designer. He was an architect, furniture designer and artist. He spend a year designing for Plycraft but  his famous design was never used. After he left, he discovered that his design was being sold by Plycraft under another name. He sued them and eventually the design became known as the Cherner Chair. The chair is beautifully simple and really elegant. We love it.

Where to buy

Original
Nest, Conran Shop, various online vintage retailers.
Innes from £824 for armchair Shop Now
Conran – from £710 Shop Now

Reproduction and Look-a-likes
Made.com from 149 a pair Shop Now
La Redoute from £96 a pair Shop Now
Cult Furniture £79 Shop Now
Private Floor £134 Shop Now

High Street Options

Bertoia Chair

Harry Bertoia’s name is synonymous with his line of wire chairs made for Knoll in the 1950s. They have a flowing shape and simple legs. Often needed a cushion for complete comfort! But we love the look of them…

Where to buy

Original
Heals, Conran Shop, various online vintage retailers.

Reproduction and Look-a-likes
Graham & Green from £199 Shop Now
Made.com Shop Now
Super Studio £66 Shop Now
Private Floor £99 Shop Now
eBay from £55 Shop Now

High Street Options

Gubi Beetle Chair

The Beetle Dining Chair is the creation of young design duo, Enrico Fratesi and Stine Gam, and is inspired by the shape, shell and structure of the eponymous insect.

Where to buy

Original
Heals, Conran Shop.
Conran from £858 Shop Now

Reproduction and Look-a-likes
Made.com £179 a pair Shop Now
Utility £431 Shop Now
Maison du Monde (similar ish) £95 Shop Now

High Street Options

Looking for more inspiration, check out our Pinterest board on Dining Chairs on the link below.