Now that the weather has (mostly) warmed up, I’m eager to get to work outside. I’m still looking for a matching set of dining chairs for the backyard. I would love to own any of these, but buying eight of them would be pretty pricey:
- 1. Marais A Chair, $250
- 2. Metropolitan Chair, $139
- 3. Marais A56 Armchair, $275
Here’s what we’ll likely end up with:
- 4. Blankö Chair, $19.99
- 5. Urban Chair, $39.99
I haven’t sat in the Blankö chair (my IKEA doesn’t have it yet), but Brandon and I both like the simple lines of it. I’ve considered the Urban chair before, but I always think it looks a little funny in person. Maybe out of the store and in the context of my garden it would look more stylish? They look sharp in this photo that ran in Blueprint:
Which chair would you choose?
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I think I’d go with the Blankö chair. The other one does look good in the magazine, but it still looks very kiddish to me for some reason.
I bought 4 white Blanko chairs a few weeks ago and really like them. They are pretty small, but look nice indoors as well as outdoors. And they are not wobbly or cheap looking.
I guess I should be grateful my IKEA had them in stock. They were near the checkout line, not in the normal chair section.
I’ve always thought metal chairs outside would be so uncomfortable, especially in the hot sun. I have a mixture of pink, red and white Snille ikea chairs in my backyard and they’ve treated me well for two summers.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59864147
What is the weather like in your area? Chicago weather likes to go to extremes and I’d worry about the plastic cracking or fading.
And I’d love to see a picture of the chairs in your yard!
I own 6 of the Urban chair and we use them both inside and out. We’ve had them for 2 years with 3 kids using them heavily every day and I would completely recommend them to any family.
Although, if you buy the white ones, consider sealing them with something as soon as you get them. I didn’t, and I have never been able to get them as clean as they were new.
If you really want the metal look, you might want to check restaurant discount supply stores to see if they stock outdoor seating. Something like this… http://www.centralrestaurant.com/Outdoor-Metal-Arm-Chair-Aluminum-c125p12334.html?from=Search&utm_source=google&utm_medium=datafeed&utm_content=407-004&utm_campaign=Furniture&cid=wscsgo
Love your style. Can’t wait to see your yard! =D
#2! It had your name written all over it!
The Urban chairs look like they’ll be a lot more comfortable.
I wonder if you could spray paint one of the plastic chairs metallic. Over at the blog Good bones great pieces, they just did that to some lamps and it looked fantastic.
love those aluminum chairs, but i agree, much too pricey.
I’d be worried about sitting on the metal chairs during the summer. Things have a tendency to get very hot here in the sun. We’re looking into rattan chairs with cushions – but it’s a more rustic look.
Have you seen these?
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/woven-cafe-chair/?pkey=cchair-cushions-outdoor
They’re really cute!
I love #2!
I love the Blanko!
With the dough you save going with the Blanko, you can get cushions. I think metal is a good choice for the harsh Chicago winters, but either would look great. Tolix is on sale at Pottery Barn. Maybe you could ask for one or 2 for Mothers Day and build your set over time… http://bit.ly/beFSFb
they have the same chairs from the Sundance Catalog and their home stuff is 20% off in store right now. i wish i could pick up a set of them!
http://www.sundancecatalog.com/PRODUCT/For+the+Home/Dining/Seating/41061.html
I have 4 of the Urban chairs in green around my patio table and I love love love them! In fact I love them so much that I’m considering bringing them inside for my dining room.
The #1 chairs are really uncomfortable; the back bar hits you at a weird spot. I know because I sat on them every year at the DWR sale but never purchased them because…uncomfortable.
I got some of the Blankö chairs in blue and I love them. They are actually super comfy. I probably couldn’t sit in them all day but through a meal or for a party they totally work. The backs are the right height and don’t stick out funny or hurt my back. They also clean really well and stack nicely!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/idomusic2/4463518060/
I like the Urban chair personally. At first I wasn’t sure either, but once I saw that it came in another color besides white, and how cute it looks in that article, it is my choice. As a matter of fact, if I can talk to the husband into it I will be buying a few this summer!
I have also seen similar metal chairs at Overstock for a much more reasonable price, and they get great reviews.
Example: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Sal-Aluminum-Stacking-Chairs-Set-of-6/4423902/product.html
Urban!!
Thanks for posting this! We have had the same issue and for the past two summers have been eating outside sitting on our chaise lounges! Now I may have to make the dreaded trip to Ikea to pick up some of those Blanko chairs!
Also,(thanks, Holly) the restaurant supply furniture is a great idea!
I have two of the urban chairs (in light aqua) and I have used them inside and outside for about four years. I take them inside in the winter and they stack so they are easy to store. They are really comfortable and sturdy and you could easily make or buy cushions to further enhance their comfortableness! the Blanko chair looks like it might not last, but I would have to see it in person…
The Blanko is really cute and the price is nice. I wish I knew which was more comfortable though, I’d likely base my decision on that since they are both nice looking.
I say go with Urban.
I would definitely choose the Blanko. I’ve sat in chairs similar to the Urban and they are incredibly uncomfortable–no lumbar support whatsoever!
(Side note: I am an Interior Designer, so have sat in many a chair!)
i have had my eye on the urban chair forever! and i also bookmarked that spread in blueprint… love the color! i want a modern backyard, so i am thinking the white urban chair, with a wood table (like in the mag) and then have colorful accessories and flowers/plants!
I wouldn’t go with any of the metal chairs you posted (1-3) for two reasons: they’ll be too hot to sit on if they’re in the sun, and they are just WAY too expensive. Personally, I’d skip the Blanco chair for the same reason, though with a seat cover they’d probably be fine. I think I’d go with the Urban chair from IKEA. Though it doesn’t look like a super-substantial chair, I think it’d serve it’s purpose for outdoor meals and would look SO cute if you spray painted them a fun color (unless they come in more colors in the store than they do online).
Can’t wait to see what you choose!
Excellent points.
oh i love, love, love numbers one through three! with a colorful pillow, they would be great. these would also be cool for indoor chairs. love!
I have another solution to the outdoor chair dilemna! I sell patterns to cover your old resin chairs in 2 styles. If you can sew, it’s an inexpensive way to really dress up cheap chairs. They’re not hard to make and I provide an illustrated guide for those that need it!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43966944
The Blankö chair is $19?????????????? I love it!!! seriously, it is my favorite and would totally look divine in your backyard!!! i am thinking about working on my outdoors too… gotta start working on building a budget though ;)
I paired the orange Urban chairs with my stainless steel table years ago. I love them. They are remarkably comfortable. They also stack very nicely. I can’t speak to their durability outside though.
i love the metropolitan chairs.
Nicole,
I have a wholesale source for the # 1. Chair e-mail me if you want more info.
I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.
I would LOVE the wholesale info for chair #1!!!!!
We have 6 of the urban chairs for use on our porch and backyard eating. We went with the white color and love them. They are used almost year round, we live in Florida, and we haven’t had a problem yet.
my local yogurt place has the urban chairs and i love them!
I also considered the Blanko chairs but thought they were tiny. I’m petite but any average size adult looks like they are sitting on child-size chairs.
I like the Urban much more than the Blanko. Much sturdier and able to withstand the elements. It’s what my IKEA uses in the food court area, so you know it stands up to a lot!
HTH!
Dianne
I have these, purchased years ago from Overstock.com
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Preston-Indoor-Outdoor-Chairs-Set-of-4/4423896/product.html?rcmndsrc=6
They’ve survived Michigan rain/snow and still look great. When I bought them, they were sold in sets of 2 and came in quite a few fun colors.
We bought the urban chairs in orange when the cleared them out at our Ikea, and for as unattractive as we felt they were to look at, they are really comfortable. They are super easy to clean and stack-able we are very happy with them.
i have the urban chairs and they are indestructible.
I’d go with either the Blankö Chair or the Urban Chair. They’re both cute, and if they get damaged by the weather, you can breathe easy because they were so inexpensive! :)
I’d go with the 2nd!xo
I’m thinking nothing metal. It would burn any exposed skin. Nothing like burnt thighs.
Also, kind of along the same lines, thinking about sitting on a slotted seat in shorts/skirt/sundress…lines, pinching, etc.
I’d go for the Urban in non-white, because white is just too hard to keep clean outside.
The Urban is one of the most comfortable chairs out there, it also has a chair paid you can add to it.
To make your final decision you’ll have to sit in them both and think about what you would last the longest in, sipping wine on the patio…. :)
The urban used to come in a great green and pale blue, they probably have some other colours now, maybe even pink!
I wish they had pink! ;) They only come in white and pale blue now.
Here in Austin, a lot of outdoor cafes have #1 chairs and I always salivate over them. I wonder if I can catch one of these restaurants going out of business or redecorating and buy the chairs from them? How would I find out? Any ideas, anyone?
I’d go for the Urban Chair. It comes in cute colors and might survive being outside better.
I have 4 IKEA Urban chairs that we use inside. No, they aren’t the most stylish but they are great for cleaning up after my boys eat on them! They look much better paired with our traditional style black dining table. Mix-and-match is good. I have no complaints about them: sturdy, affordable, practical, wipeable and modern!
I’ve always loved the Marais chair. But because of it’s price, it disqualifies itself.
Now, when I first saw the BLANKÖ online (and then saw the price!), I said, “That’s it, I’m finally getting a set of chairs for the deck!” Unfortunately, when I got to IKEA and sat in it, I was underwhelmed. It is scaled rather small (like a lot of IKEA chairs are). The seat is particularly short. It would be okay for me (5’4″), but I’m sure my husband (6’1″) would find it less than ideal. That said, the URBAN is now back to the top of my list (although I’m upset that the orange seems to no longer be available).
I checked the dimensions and yes, the Blankö seems tiny. And I wish the orange Urban was still available too.
The Urban Chair is interesting, but in practice I think it would end up framing unflattering anatomical regions. It reminds me of the cafeteria chairs in high school, when extreme low rise jeans were an unfortunate trend.
i just saw this while browsing craigslist, and thought of you:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/fuo/1677299290.html
Yay!