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Mad About . . . . Staying in

image via Pinterest

Now that the global economy means that we can’t afford to go out for dinner as much, the humble supper party has made a serious return. After all there’s nothing like sitting round a table with a group of like-minded friends bemoaning the state of the world, the education system and the size of one’s interest-only mortgage over a bowl of pasta and a bottle of plonk.

image from Pinterest

So in the spirit of saving restaurant bills, we take a look at dining chairs that will make you feel like staying in and saving money. After all, it was only last year that one survey found buyers would rather have a dining room than a conservatory.

Be warned though – chairs can be earbleedingly expensive and most of us want at least six. This is perhaps where the idea of not having to have a matching set any more can come in handy. That way you can buy one old wooden one from the junk shop and paint it, add it to another one from your Granny’s house and then mix and match the rest. Just make sure there is a common theme – shades of grey or primary colours or similar materials and you’ll be fine. The other way is to buy two armchairs for the ends of the table and a set of four that do match.

LA MARIE BY KARTELL

www.findthatchair.com

£604 for four

the same chair in different colours for a modern look

 

MR SMITH STUDIO: BASIL FOR CALLIGARIS

www.macandmacinteriors.co.uk

£137

choose from either wooden or metal legs

KARTELL MASTERS CHAIR BY PHILIPPE STARCK

www.heals.co.uk

 £136

other colours include mustard, sage, orange and grey

 

DIABOLO DINING CHAIR 

www.gomodern.co.uk

£190

look closely and you will see the front is a different colour from the back

 

SIMPLE INDUSTRIAL METAL CHAIR

www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

£120

PROVENCE DISTRESSED WOODEN CHAIR

www.westegg.co.uk

£40 (yes that’s right!)

buy four of these and spend more on the two chairs for the end of the table

 

FOLDING VINTAGE METAL CHAIR

www.atelier-home.co.uk

£49.95

perfect for extra guests

 

 

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.