Tag Archives: saarinen table

The Eero Saarinen pedestal table may be the purest form of perfection in furniture. It’s sleek, simple, and absolutely chic. Seemingly so easy to replicate, yet only an original, preferably in white with a white marble top, will do. (Though I’d take a rosewood one too. OK, I’d probably take any if offered.)

According to Design Within Reach, in a 1956 Time magazine cover story, Eero Saarinen said he was designing a collection to “clear up the slum of legs in the U.S. home.” Later that year, he introduced his Pedestal Table and Tulip™ Chair Collection, which is manufactured by Knoll. Talk about accomplishing your goal.

It sells for $2,747, so my dining room won’t be getting one any time soon. I do, however, already own a pedestal dining table, and it’s quite nice. I’d even say my cherry Charles Shackleton pedestal table is a well-made beauty; it’s just not as sleek or as modern as I’d like. What’s a girl (on a budget) to do?

I am thinking of swapping out the somewhat rustic, handmade Charles Shackleton Cottage Side Chairs for a more contemporary look, perhaps in green. The boys’ Stokke Tripp Trapp chairs look cute around the table, I think. So maybe a few curvy grown up chairs, like the West Elm Scoop Back Chair in wheatgrass (just $79!) can join them. I flirted with the idea of the Jonathan Adler Chippendale Chair in Juicy Green ($550). Ever mindful of costs (hee hee) I started browsing ebay for similar ones I could have refinished. But my husband informed me, via a post on this blog, that he detests the style. What’s a girl (with a husband) to do?

Answer: Whatever she wants! Just kidding. Or not. Stay tuned . . . And, if you have any ideas for chairs that would work with my table, let me know!

West Elm Scoop Back | Jonathan Adler Chippendale

Meanwhile, here is a sampling of Saarinen dining schemes to get me in the mix and match mood. Notice its versatility – the look is amazing no matter what style chair it’s paired with.

Saarinen photos: unidentified source; House Beautiful; Jonathan Adler; Skona Hem; Sara Bengur from the Kip’s Bay Showhouse 2008; Antik & Loppis; Domino; Domino; Living Etc.; Domino; unidentified source; Daniel M. Pafford; Domino; unidentified source; Eric Roth Photography; unidentified source; unidentified source.

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