The art of starting over in a different country. Ahhhh (…a pleasant sigh, or a silent scream? YOU decide.) I’ve been living in London now for about six months, and I’m finally feeling quite settled into my new flat and the overall vibe of the city. To say I’ve found unexpected inspiration during my short time here would be an understatement. The history, gravitas, and culture of London is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. From vintage tiling in tube stations to the innumerable historical buildings I’ve walked through, it’s safe to say I’ve found my muse in the UK. After taking it all in, I’m feeling ready to start pulling some of that inspiration into my rental flat.
While I brought most of my furniture and belongings with me from the US to the UK, I decided not to bring any of my dining room furniture. I had a good sense of the floorplan and style of my new flat before I moved, and I knew that my existing dining room furniture wasn’t really going to fit—neither stylistically or functionally.
The new dining space is decidedly more modern than I’m used to. It’s connected directly to the kitchen, which is composed of cabinetry faced with glossy, off-white lacquer, which seems to be a recurring feature in newly built or renovated European kitchens (in my limited experience, anyway). As such, I’ve needed to pivot a bit from the American colonial design sensibilities I’d developed over the last few years in Virginia. The space also boasts beautiful high ceilings with traditional (and THICC) crown molding, a large window, and the cutest little radiator. This little space is a pretty telling snapshot of the entire flat: an interesting study of the relationship between modern and traditional.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I’ve been focusing so much on the dining space in my new flat. I last left you with a DIY-heavy dining room makeover in my Virginia home, which I promptly packed up and moved into storage before getting on a flight across the Atlantic. Sadly, I missed out on using that space to its full potential. So, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about how to make the best use of the dining area in the new spot.
First offfffff, the table. Look at this table. The table of my dreams.
After much deliberation, I settled on an Eames-inspired, marble-topped dining table for this space. For years, I had a cheap CB2 version of this type of table (I don’t recommend it… it did not fare well over the years), and I yearned for the day I’d be able to splurge on a higher-quality model. Today is the day, fine folks. Well…the day was like a month ago. When I bought it.
I love how the brightness of the marble top complements the medium value of the kitchen countertops, but also looks different enough to feel like an intentional pairing. Also, the iconic, lacquered texture and movement of the table base vibes with the kitchen cabinetry in a very cohesive way. With the table procured, I’ve naturally pivoted to picking out some dining chairs. BUT I CANNOT MAKE UP MY MIND. I’ve assembled a few options here and I’m hoping you can help me decide! Let’s dive right in…
OPTION 1: TRADITIONAL AND INSPIRED
I’ve been eyeing these Cesca-style chairs for a while, which feel both stylistically fitting and historically relevant to my new European environment. The original Cesca chair was designed by Marcel Breuer in the early 1900s, and I admire how it—and other pieces he designed—inspired an entire wave of modern and functional furniture that we still regard pretty highly today. The softness of the woven cane seat and back seems like a nice complement to not only the hardness of the marble table but also the dark wood furniture I have throughout the rest of my flat. Also, the chrome structure of the chair speaks to the chrome hardware used throughout the rest of the rental, which either feels very cohesive…or too on the nose. I can’t quite decide!
While I’ve found plenty of authentic vintage Cesca chairs online, I’d more likely buy a new reproduction instead. Mostly due to cost limits, but also because I’m not sure vintage caning would hold up very well to a lot of use.
OPTION 2: HANDSOMELY VINTAGE
Now, aesthetically, this chair just feels like me. It embodies everything I like: Classic lines. A tailored form. Collected by nature.
Built in the 1950s, these dining chairs boast a dramatic, metal red frame and a striking black seat and the back is made of Bakelite (a material I’m learning about as I type this). There are a couple of reasons I’m drawn to this chair. The dark seat would make for a nice contrast against the lighter elements in the kitchen and dining spaces: the floors, dining table, cabinets, and walls. I’m also really drawn to the interesting color of the metal frame. I’ve been thinking it would be really cool to incorporate a burgundy or oxblood tone into this space, and this could be the place to do it. However, there are potential cons with this option as well…the biggest one being a question of comfort. Might its age and material make for numb butts during long dinners? Moreover, would the metal legs scratch the floors in my rental into oblivion?
OPTION 3: BLUESY WILDCARD
So, I’m having quite a “blue period” at the moment. I’ve been drawn recently to adorn the new flat blue accents—like the huge IKEA area rug I purchased for my living room—and blue dining chairs could be a sensible way to introduce the color into the kitchen/dining room. These chairs in particular are decidedly more modern than my other two options, but I think I would grow to appreciate the touch of femininity they would bring to my otherwise masculine design choices in this flat. Also, if you know me…you know I LOVE a brassy moment, and these chairs would introduce a sleek, warm metal that would contrast nicely against the chrome accents seen elsewhere throughout the rental. However, are they tooooo different from many typical tastes? Would I regret it?!?
HONORABLE MENTION
To accommodate some extra seating, I’ve been eying these foldable chairs from Zara Home. They’d definitely go with the Cessca chairs, but I’m not so sure they’d fit as nicely with the other two options I’ve laid out.
I’ll never forget the positive and affirming reactions I received from Emily and her team when I told them about my upcoming move to London, and I feel grateful that I can continue to share my journey here on the blog! Design is universal, after all, and I feel lucky to be able to share my tiny slice of perspective with all of you.
What do you think of these options? Do you have any different ideas you think would suit the space or compliment the table any better than what I’ve picked? Sound off in the comments below and let me know.
*Photos by Malcolm Simmons
THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE.
