Young House Love

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Vintage Gold Chairs In The Kitchen

Maybe we should change the name of our site to WCL (Wire Chair Love), because guess who found four awesome vintage wire chairs for the kitchen for $15 a pop? This girl (*points to self with thumbs, notices there’s peanut butter on one thumb, and licks it off while beaming at pretty new chairs*)

Gold AFTER Full Table Vertical

Allow me to paint you a picture of chair-finding glory. We’re walking into our favorite local thrift store (Love of Jesus on Midlothian for any thrift-lovin’ locals). We pop in there a few times a month just to see what’s up, and 9 times out of 10 we leave empty handed, so it’s not like we’re always finding amazing things, but on this occasion we saw these guys from across the room. Angels sang. Little hearts floated around them. And I broke into a run to claim them before anyone else could snatch them up right in front of me as I cried “nooooooo, stoooop, waiiiiiitttt, whyyyy??” in slow motion.

Gold 1 In Thrift Store

Admittedly, the limp plastic-wrapped covers weren’t doing them any favors, but we knew that with pretty seat cushions like these, those nice clean lines would be an awesome complement to our chunky wooden table.

Gold 2 In Thrift Store DETAIL

We’ve been aiming for a nice mix of rustic/modern when it comes to our eating area, but of course the old white chairs (from my NYC days 8+ years ago) were a little too small and spindly with our big chunky table. But we were happy to use them as placeholders until we found something taller and a bit more weighty.

Stain After Main2

The funny thing is that I’ve admired this photo of Jenifer Altman’s dining room, which has nearly identical chairs, just in a silver finish. I wish I could add the picture right here, but we don’t have her permission to post it on our site, so just click this link to see it. So nice, right? I love those spotted cushions too! Anyway, so now the old white chairs are chilling in the office. Since they’re versatile and good to have on hand for parties/extra dinner guests, I’m sure we’ll find some permanent spot for them someday.

We can’t believe the new chairs were $15 each, marked down from $25… which actually means they sat there a while and got overlooked (the thrift store lowers prices every week or two if folks don’t grab something). So how funny is it that I ran towards them fearing that someone would snake them out right from under my nose when they had been sitting there for a week or two with no takers and even had time to be marked down? And thanks to their low thrift store price, I won’t feel too bad getting some nice-ish (and super durable and food-friendly) fabric for the cushions I want to make.

Gold 3 Price Tag

But how did we get four big wire chairs home with only one small Altima on hand? Geometry, my friends. Somehow we got all four of them in the car with three of us in there too (one chair was in the trunk, two could be nested in the front passenger seat, and one was in the back to the right of Clara’s carseat while I sat back there to her left).

Once home, we dragged them all into the kitchen to see how they looked. It was LOVE, folks. We’re so glad they’re higher (it felt like the table needed something with some added height) and they tie in nicely with the rope chandelier thanks to their vertical lines (which play off the horizontal ones in the light kinda nicely, don’t you think?).

Gold AFTER Other Side

When it comes to their gold paint-job, we’re not sure if they’ll stay that way (if so, they at least need some touching up) – but a few other choices we’ve debated are something deep to tie into the stained lower cabinets (oil-rubbed bronze? charcoal? dark chocolate?) or something crisp (like white or even a soft mint color).

Gold AFTER Scratched Finish DETAIL1

We’ve decided just to live with them until we’re 100% sure that we want to change them (and 100% sure about what color we’d prefer). Should be fun to see where we end up. Any color suggestions?

And as for the cushion thing, I’d love to eventually make leather or vinyl cushions for them like Dana’s, but until then we’ve had luck with a folded faux sheepskin on each one. I know that sounds crazy (hello food trap?!) but since they’re awesomely machine washable and so easily removed (they’re just folded and tossed onto each chair) I’ve had luck just shaking out any Clara-crumbs (and vacuuming the floor where they land with the hand-vac) without even having to wash them yet. I wouldn’t use them for the long haul, but for now they work better than I thought.

Gold AFTER Chair Alone

As for the comfort factor, I’m not one of those looks-before-function ladies who would compromise on that when it comes to our eat-in kitchen. We spend TONS of time at this table, especially since we don’t have a peninsula with stools or anything, so virtually all of our eating is done in these chairs. Thankfully with our makeshift cushions on the bottom, they’ve been nice and comfy for the last week or so that we’ve test driven them.

Gold Clara Far1

They’re sort of reclined by nature so you don’t tend to lean back in them very much, but if you do it’s not uncomfortable – it’s sort of like leaning back in any spindle backed dining chair (like this) or a wooden rocking chair (like this). And if you add a pensive face, a la Clara, you’ll look like you’re thinking about something really deep. Like the meaning of life. Or how much you love marshmallows.

Gold Clara Close

So that’s the new kitchen view. Which beats the heck outta this one from about a month into living here.

Kitchen Before

Is anyone else trolling thrift stores for anything in particular? What are you searching for (or finding) lately?

Comments

  4. Chris says

    What a great find. I love the way the currently look gold, but I think that mint could be a fun pop in the kitchen. That’s such a great feeling finding little gems at thrift shops. Everything old is new again isn’t it? I think thrift finds add charm to spaces. You guys are so great at making beautiful homes!

    Reply

  6. Lauren (in PA) says

    I love the profile of the chairs, and even the gold tone, and I’m not a gold tone person!

    If you paint them…please no white!

    You do so much with white, and I do love that, but you are sooo good with colors, I’d love to see something different!

    Plus I think a color, maybe something rich and/or more natural toned, rather than cool, would work great with that to-die-for table.

    I’m always thrifting too…and like you it’s the smaller percentage that I find something, but the search is most of the fun!

    One time I was in Goodwill and was on the phone with my mom saying I needed a new pair of penny loafers (I’m penny loafer obsessed), and did she want to take a trip to the Bass outlet soon, and no sooner were the words out of my mouth then there before me in their good as new glory were a paire of Bass penny loafers in my size. $6.99. Woot!

    Reply

  7. Emily says

    My parents totally had those chairs in the 80’s, haha…they were brown though. I remember my mom painting them, but I can’t remember if she painted them brown, or if she painted them after said brown??
    I was just little??
    Either way, they rocked our tiny town house kitchen in some shade of brown for a period of time during my childhood and they were SUPER comfy!
    Can’t wait to see what you do with them!!
    Emily

    Reply

  8. Michele says

    GAH!!!!! ABSOLUTELY LUUUUUUUUUUUURVE the gold chairs! The lines are great with the chunky table. I think the texture difference and mix of style is delicious. Also… totally DIGGING the shaggy seat cushions! Where did you find those bad boys at? They make me want to roll around on them frankly, LOL! Great job all around!

    Reply

  10. Shelley says

    Please don’t change the color! :) they look so amazing in gold. These might be my favorite purchase of yours yet! So jealous! ;) nice find!

    Reply

  11. Jes says

    That’s such funny timing, I just found a set of bamboo Chippendale Hollywood Regency chairs this weekend. They weren’t $15 each, but considering that they’re Craig’s List unicorns, I’m happy I paid less than $80 a chair.

    I know what you mean about the height too. I think it puts the table at the right scale. Great find!

    Reply

  12. Wendi says

    I think the chairs would look fantastic with the “dipped” look, maybe a charcoal gray on bottom and a soft mint on the top 1/4 of the chairs? I saw it on a hgtv.com post about redoing flea market finds and have been in love with the look ever since.

    Reply

    • Amy K says

      That is an awesome suggestion Wendi! Neutral with a pop of colour. Incorporating coral either on the chairs themselves; the cushions; or with other accent pieces would add contrast. Much like the teal/yellow at the last house in the kitchen. Fun!

  16. Raesha de Ruiter Zylker says

    Love of Jesus on Midlothian is the BEST NAME I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!! Holy crap. I think I’m going to make that my new catch phrase. I.E….”Have you seen [insert movie name]”….”Love of Jesus on Midlothian, you bet I have!!” or “For the Love of Jesus on Midlothian would you please clean up this mess”.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Just read your comment out loud to John and we’re both cracking up. We say the store name so much that it doesn’t even register, but the “on Midlothian” is pretty funny tacked on at the end there.

      xo
      s

    • Mia says

      I just now got to these comments. “For the Love of Jesus on Midlothian,” is just too funny. It’s stuck in my head now, like some country song!

  17. Jenny says

    Great chairs, they look awesome there! I love the gold at/above the tabletop level, but not at floor level. It could just be a flooring problem, but I’d consider two tones — keeping the tops gold and spraying the base something darker, maybe something that will tie into darker tones like the lower cabinets. Cushion colors could go so many ways, but I’d definitely check out some oilcloth/PUL options.

    Reply

  18. Danielle says

    I also have some rockin’ vintage chairs at my kitchen table, and the metal is a light bronze color–I think touching up the existing gold or spray painting a light bronze would look amazeballs!

    Reply

  19. Helene says

    I vote oil rubbed bronze. Would look great with those rich dark lowers, and it would contrast nicely with the chunky table. I just love a good thrift store buy!

    Reply

  20. mary | millay vintage says

    Oh my goodness, I am so so green with envy on this find, awesome job guys!! Totally makes me think of Emily Henderson too :) Another team gold-er over here, love how everything is coming together so organically! xoxo

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Mary! I thought about her too when we got them home! It wasn’t until I saw them in front of the white slatted wood wainscoting that I thought “Emily!”

      xo
      s

  21. Kimie says

    Hello! Just wanted to stop by and share some blog lovin. As always you guys get me looking around my house thinking what I need to do… that needs to be updated, or that’s ugly, why do I have that there, when is my house gonna be nice? haha ;)

    Actually, I like the chairs with your little breakfast table. If it were me, I’d probably walk right by them at the store, but paired with your table, plastic cushions removed… it looks great!

    Reply

  24. lizaanne says

    LOVE LOVE LOVE the gold!! I think with the matte finish it lends a little subtle sparkle and texture to the room against the other natural finishes like the light fixture and table.

    Fantastic find!!!

    I did the same thing when I found our dining room table — I ran from the car like 100 people were going to all jump on it at the same time!!! LOL

    http://forums.younghouselove.com/discussion/1102/i-found-my-kitchen-table-on-the-curb-free-is-goooood#latest

    How fun!!!

    Reply

  26. [email protected] says

    I think Clara needs about 15 more sheepskins on her chair, so much more comfy than a booster seat! As for color, I think they need to stay metallic, what about deepening the gold to more of an old brass color (says the person with a houseful of antique brass)????

    Reply

  27. Lauren says

    Those are so totally awesome. I vote for a color in the metal family, I’m digging the gold, or even silver. While ORB is always up there, I love the lightness and delicateness of their shape as well as how they tie in with wood chandelier, and I’m wondering if ORB would make them to bold. I say save the boldness for the cushions! Also, if you went with darker floors then they would blend in more (in ORB), but lighter floors may call for them to be darker :). But if you did get craaaaaaazy, what about red :), then they would be like BOW!

    Reply

  28. Lori Reed says

    here is an idea for your chairs…..a little time consuming but WAY cool. I did this to a long cord on a hanging light and it nearly became my life’s work but it looks fabulous! I went to the dollar store and got some balls of burlap-ish colored and textured twine…then I wrapped and I wrapped and I wrapped…but my cord has been transformed into decor!! It would look amazing on those chairs with your wonderful light above the table. Mind you it WOULD take time but would be simple…for my cord I put some slithery glue every few inches so the cord is snugly on there and will NEVER unwind…it’s a long winter…you can do it!!

    Reply

  30. eileen says

    I love your site. I love your chairs. But please, please stop saying ‘a pop.’ It happened twice in this post. I don’t know why it grates on me? Maybe it’s just me? How about, ‘$15 per?’ or, if you want to sound French, “$15 par?’

    Reply

  32. Criss says

    So I’ve been trained by decorating shows and blogs to think “dated” when I see gold/bright brass. Is it coming back in style? I don’t know if I could leave them gold.

    Reply

  33. Megan says

    I am on team GOLD!!! I think that it looks so awesome with your table. I used to be a gold HATER, but lately, I am so drawn to gold. I guess that is the awesome thing about spray paint – you can always change it!

    Reply

  34. amy says

    I think you should paint them a glossy navy! It would tie in with your color scheme, still be a fun pop of color, but not be overwhelming!

    Reply

  36. Sarah W says

    We just spent eight days in Sweden, and on our second-to-last day we came across a thrift store! I was so excited because I felt like we’d discovered the real heart of the people of Sweden–their used stuff. I couldn’t buy much for packing purposes but I got two little Christmas linens. One had creepy elves on it and some sort of poem about winter (in Swedish so I’m not sure) and the other had a motif of the four advent calendars which are very popular in Sweden. It was after Christmas so I only ended up spending about $3 for both of them!

    Reply

  37. lori says

    i thought mixing metals was all the rage right now? The idea of orb’ing everything i think is too safe. . i like the gold…or really is it more of an antique gold? ..and i like how the chairs stand out against the white and the wood tones in your room. I think it looks timeless.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Lori! Yes, I’d call them antique gold, since they’re not like shiny brass. I love mixed metals, just didn’t know if the chairs were too matchy/blendy to the light and table as they are right now – but I definitely think living with them a while might make things clearer for us. And it’s tons of fun to hear what you guys think! I wish I had embedded a poll…

      xo
      s

  40. Christina says

    What a terrific find! If only Charleston had awesome gems like these hiding in thrift stores. They’re gorgeous as is, so I’m for team gold!

    Reply

  41. SG says

    I was wondering – would you say staining the lower cabinets was as much or more or less work than painting them would have been? We have some cabinets that are in dire need of updating and I’m not sure which way to go, but am thinking I’d like a lower effort route if at all possible.

    Reply

  43. Wrenaria says

    What a fun find! Love bringing in some unique pieces like that. Also, the post about Jenifer Altman must be getting hit pretty hard, because it won’t load for me. Will take a look later, I guess.

    I’m curious to know what you intend to do with the empty wall space behind the table (shown in the middle pic in the post).

    Reply

  45. SusanDJ says

    I would not have thought those chair would go with that table, but they do — they totally do! I have lately become obsessed with warm, burnished gold tones, so I would just touch them up. Whatever you do, they’ll be awesome and right for you and your family. Good luck!

    Reply

  46. Betsy says

    I think the gold is perfect, and call me crazy, but i am a fan of the furry cusions. Maybe its the lighting, but the gold gets lost in the woodgrain, are you planning to do anything to the table?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We love the rustic blonde tones for now, but I’m sure the flooring and counter updates along with cushions and curtains and a possible chair paint job will alter lots of stuff around that area.

      xo
      s

  47. Amy says

    Put me on team gold as well. I think a refresh will look so nice. It really brings out the light fixture over the table too.
    I feel that even though ORB will match nicely with your hardware – it will end up being really dark in the dining area. You can always add some more color depth with textiles.

    Reply

  49. LAURA says

    ORB would tie things together nicely but I am kind of digging the gold! I love how you guys can spot something and see it’s potential! They look like they belong in your space!

    Reply

  50. Barbara says

    These chairs give a nice and unexpected twist to the overall look of the kitchen. You two have such a great eye for spotting potential. I think I’d be torn between the charm and quirkiness of the gold as it fits in with the kitchen and the excitement of changing them up! Well done on another great find!!

    Reply

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