The Windsor is the quintessential wooden chair, a classic that since its first known appearance in the 18th century has been stained, painted, deconstructed, and reimagined in all sorts of ways. The British (and the American) Windsor is traditionally made from a triumvirate of maple, poplar, and oak with a curved back and seat; here are 10 new variations on the theme we’re eyeing.
Above: Christopher Howe takes the classic beechwood Windsor and gives it a high gloss finish in custom paint colors. His Painted Windsor Chairs are available at Howe in London. Above: The Hay relaunch of Børge Mogensen’s J42 Chair in Oiled Oak is $372 at Finnish Design Shop. Above: A Remodelista favorite, Design Within Reach’s Salt Chair is a modern take on the Shaker-style chair and a go-to for affordable seating. It’s made in the Czech Republic of beech and beech plywood, and comes in gray (shown), red, black, and white; $150 each. Above: The Rainbow Side Chair from Sawkille is made in American Black Walnut or Hard Maple with the option for different treatments and finishes. Shown here in ebonized American Black Walnut; prices start at $2,200.
Above: UK designer Matthew Hilton’s 362 Hastoe Windsor Chair for De la Espada is $1,120 from YLiving. Above: Designed by Lina Nordqvist for Design House Stockholm, the Family Chairs are a 21st-century take on the Swedish-style Windsor with a stick back. Each chair in the set of four has a different spindle design. You can source three of the four designs; $581.80 for two at Danish Design Store. Above: Very Good & Proper’s Bird Chair is designed by Michael Marriot and available in red (shown), natural ash, and black. Contact Very Good & Proper for pricing and ordering information. Above: The J110 Windsor Chair by Paul M. Volther for Danish design company Hay, is available in natural beech wood (shown) as well as black, white, gray, and red finishes; $350 at A+R Store. Above: Similar to the Salt Chair from Design Within Reach above, the Serena & Lily Tucker Chair is available in four colors (shown in navy) for $198 each at Serena & Lily. Above: Designed for New York store Matter, Chris Specce’s Windsor Chair pares the classic down to its basic elements. Available in six different colored stains or paint finishes, the chair is $625 at Matter.
Above: UK-based Italian designer Martino Gamper’s Yellow Chair is a reclaimed Windsor updated with wood stains that have been applied and removed in different areas. The chair was designed as part of Gamper’s Gesamtkunsthandwerk exhibition; contact Martino Gamper for more information.
Above: The Crate & Barrel Marlow II Wood Dining Chair is available in Dove (shown), Black, and White for $329 at Crate & Barrel. Above: The Coventry Chair by Chris Eckersley, manufactured by Sitting Firm Chairmakers in Coventry, features “an uncluttered contemporary aesthetic”; £510 from Sitting Firm in the UK. Looking for another riff on a classic? See Five Prouvé-Inspired Swing Arm Lights. For more dining room seating, take a look at our 10 Easy Pieces post on Red Dining Chairs.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 19, 2014.
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