Optimal versatility, with straightforward style and cushioned comfort. An assortment of fabric options suits any setting.

• Durable hardwood/wood construction.

• Solid birch wood legs, stained to complement fabric.

• Assembly required.

• Spot clean.

• Imported.

• Select items are online/catalog only.

DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS + ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

Side Chair: 17.5″w x 21″d x 33.5″h; 18.5″h seat.

Armchair: 23″w x 22″d x 33.5″h; 18.5″h seat.

Preview Colors: Click swatch to preview color.

Streamlined design meets contemporary proportions in our versatile, expandable dining table.

• Solid hardwood/wood construction.

• Seats 6; when extended, seats 8.

• Expands on a smooth gliding system.

• 72″w x 38″d x 30″h; extends to 96″w.

• Assembly required.

• Spot clean.

• Imported.

CARE

Spot clean with a damp cloth. Hardware may loosen over time. Periodically check that all connections are tight.

Sometimes, a single long table really is the best option for a particular room. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with matching chairs.

“In one dining room we did,” says New York-based interior designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz . “the owner had a very long dining table. Having 14 chairs around it made the room too busy with legs. Our solution was to select four high back chairs that divide the table in two sections, and then to design a banquette that was repeated four times. The host and hostess sit in the middle chairs, so that they have access to all guests.”

If you’d like to re-create this look on a modest budget, you needn’t have benches and chairs custom made. Many furniture stores sell settees that could work quite nicely at a table; just make sure you select pieces that coordinate well with the upholstered chairs so the arrangement looks thought-out, not thrown-together.

If you have a screened-in porch or sunroom, consider using it for casual dining. To make this windowed room meal-ready, designer April Sheldon placed antique Chinese scholar benches on either side of a table made from an ironwood platform from India. The backless benches are surprisingly comfortable, she says — and they are easier to get in and out of than benches with high backs. And because there is no upholstery, spills are never a concern.

You could create a similar feeling in an indoor dining room, too, says Sheldon; just make sure the furniture is not only beautiful, but comfortable, as well. “People really like to linger at the table,” she says. “It’s all about feeling good, relaxing and enjoying good food.”

Close your eyes and picture a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving: Grandpa carving the turkey at one end of the long wooden table, Grandma at the other end, seated on one of 10 matching chairs. For a long time, that set-up was synonymous with “dining room.” But the American family has changed since Rockwell last put down his paintbrush — and American dining rooms are changing, too. “People are entertaining in a much more informal and creative way today,” says San Francisco-based designer April Sheldon. “They’re mixing different patterns in their dishes and putting branches and shells on their dining tables. The traditional mahogany table just isn’t working with that lifestyle.”

So, what is working in today’s dining rooms? Mixable, matchable furniture in unusual materials and unexpected finishes, making a style statement by breaking all the rules.

Like many busy people today, designer Raji Radhakrishnan and her family usually eat dinner in the kitchen. “I almost never use my dining room for sit-down meals,” says Radhakrishnan, owner of Raji RM Design  in Brambleton, Virginia. “We’re much more likely to use our dining room for high tea or cocktail parties, so I have set the space up for that. The table is fairly small, and has a sofa behind it, with two antique Bergeres with caned seats facing it. There are some small end tables and I bring in other small tables when I want to.”

While wooden tables are still the most readily available, tables in more unusual materials are increasingly popular — and can really set the tone for a dramatic dining space. For this dining room in Woodstock, New York, designer April Sheldon  set a round Calacatta Oro marble tabletop on a base of bleached, rift-cut white oak. The table is surrounded by clear, modern chairs by Philippe Starck — for a look that’s fresh and sexy.

“The key to this kind of look,” says Sheldon, “is to start with a great table and then find the chairs that play off the material or attitude of the table.” And once you’ve spent the time to select a table in an unusual material, be sure to show it off: “There are so many beautiful place mats available today,” Sheldon says. “And you can also place the dishes right down on the table. There’s no reason to cover a beautiful table with a tablecloth.”

Hand crafted from solid acacia wood with a beautiful warm, ruddy sheen the Kubus Dining Collection features fly through jointing and cracked beam legs producing a striking dining experience. The Kubus Storage Collection comprises delightful statement pieces with subtle Asian influence and styling. This collection offers practical modern day storage solutions. As with all hand crafted, solid timber furniture, sizes can vary slightly, and some movement should be allowed for; this should not be seen as a fault.

This style of the dining room feels more luxury!

Wood dining table that looks fantastic in dining room. You picture a dining table fashioned from gleaming wood with sturdy legs and an expansive surface and fold out leaves if necessary to add more guests to your setting. You envision a large hutch against the wall, filled with your best china, crystal, silver and linens to set exactly the right mood for your meal. Your dining chairs are both comfortable and solid, giving your guests the ability to relax a little longer in their seats as you talk the night away over dessert.Cool and unique perfectly describes the hand crafted Bowery X-leg dining table. Bold Indonesian oak construction base and smooth, expansive table-top offer seating for six with chairs, more with benches. Perfect for a dining room with limited space. Features rich dark wood frame with thick sturdy legs – the Bowery is always stable, never wobbly. Available in wenge wood finish. Indonesian oak construction.

The large Hudson square table provides a perfect blend of modern style and simple living. The Hudson features thick table top, with routed edge and matching thick legs in a wenge finish. Table measures an impressive 59 in. L x 59 in. W x 30 in. H, comfortably seating eight people – a perfect table for an intimate dinner party. Handcrafted, solid Malaysian oak construction. Simple assembly. Imported.

ac and i have been searching for dining room chairs for a while now so i thought i’d compile a slideshow of some of my favorites. there are over 25 chairs to check out, ranging from affordable to splurge-worthy. some of my favorites fall right in the middle so i hope there will be something for everyone. so, if you’re looking for some dining chair fun click here for the full roundup (or just click “read more” below). enjoy!

[image above: This summer’s hottest color brings new life to the dining room. These bold yellow steel Marais AC Chairs from Design Within Reach have rubber feet to protect floors. Also available in an equally bold vermillion at officehomefurnitures.com.

If you’re yearning for something a bit romantic, try these hand-carved white chairs from Brocade Home. The soft iris silk upholstery adds just enough detail without distracting from rest of the table. each at officehomefurnitures.com.

A selection of colorful dining chairs from Anthropologie: Notions Dining Chairs (far left and third from left) upholstered in Josef Frank fabrics, Neptune Chair , second from left, Emile Chair far right,

The Holz Chair takes its inspiration from Thonet but puts a modern spin on the look with red, coffee and oyster colored  at officehomefurnitures.com.

A selection of our favorites (clockwise from the top left): black and white Charme Chairs, Czech Side Chair, WUD chair, William & Mary chair, Organic Chair, Spring Chair, and the Oliver Chair by Gus at officehomefurnitures.com.

Jurgen Bey’s ‘St. Petersberg’ chairs for Droog definitely aren’t for the faint of heart. Their bold colors and patterns come with an equally bold price  that reflects the designer’s dedication to his one-of-a-kind pieces. Bey covers existing chairs with a polyester cover and creates pattern on the new surface using foam and additional glass-reinforced polyester. Available at officehomefurnitures.com.

Crate and Barrel’s Calypso Arm Chair combines elegant woven rattan with stained ebony legs for a dramatic effect. Available in natural or black rattan for at officehomefurnitures.com.

Ikea’s dining chairs often get a bad rap, but we love these Hallsta and Ikea PS Ellan chairs. The Ellan has a gentle rocking base that allows for laid-back dining, while the Hallsta’s rattan back brings an earthy look to the room. Available at Ikea for Hallsta and Ellan. Check local stores for availability.

These simple modern dining chairs from Blu Dot have a lightly padded felt slipcover for extra comfort. Hence the name, ‘Cozy Cozy’. Available at officehomefurnitures.com

West Elm’s ‘Overlapping Squares’ chairs are both affordable and stylish. Available in chocolate or white (with optional seat cushions), these all-purpose chairs can serve multiple purposes as dining, side or occasional chairs. Available at officehomefurnitures.com

I love the rich, tufted upholstery of these Horchow dining chairs. Available for  at officehomefurnitures.com