Industrial Chairs

Well, things are still lookin’ pretty crazy around these parts- but that’s okay. Crazy = Progress when it comes to home improvement, right?

A few folks asked about the metal dining chairs that showed up in the bottom corner of one of the kitchen photos I posted the other day…

They’re called Marais A side chairs, and I got them from Industry West. I saw them pop up in the rotating ad network in our sidebar a few months ago…

…so I snapped up four of the gunmetal-colored ones while they were on sale that week.

They’re actually more comfortable than our old wood chairs (I guess because of all the curves and their beyond super smooth finish), they’re stackable and sturdy, and I really dig the “edge” they add to the room.

I’d love to show you how they look around our table, but there’s just one problem with that. Our table is currently smothered, chunked, scattered, and covered in everything that used to be in the kitchen.

But crazy equals progress, right?

PS- Our chairs are reproductions of the classic Tolix chair. Originally found in bistros throughout France, nowadays, Tolix chairs tend to run between $200-$300 a piece. I can vouch for the Industry West chairs we bought- but here are some more “under $200″ alternatives I found while rootin’ around online…

Here are the links to each of them: Home Decorator’s Collection- Garden Side Chair, Overstock.com- Tabouret Chairs, World Market- Jackson Metal Tub Chair, Crate & Barrel- Lyle Side Chair, Industry West- Metal Bistro Chair.

And here’s some more metal chair inspiration. (Just ’cause I love ‘em so much!)

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55 Responses to Industrial Chairs

1. Misty says:

   Nov 9, 2011 at 11:14 pm

   Hey…They look great! I’ve been eying these up for months. Can’t seem to decide on a color. Did you get the gun metal ones? Can’t wait to see the kitchen once the floor is done

   

   Reply
2. Kristine says:

   Nov 9, 2011 at 11:15 pm

   Are you kidding me? I just posted about my new chairs (which I got last week) this morning. They are the same as yours!
   Check them out here in my dining room http://thepaintedhive.blogspot.com/2011/11/tolix-chairs-for-dining-room.html

   

   Reply
3. Meredith says:

   Nov 9, 2011 at 11:42 pm

   Layla and Kevin, are they comfy? That is key…I have been spying these for a while…

   

   Reply
   • Layla says:

     Nov 9, 2011 at 11:48 pm

     Yep! Believe or not, they really are!

     

     Reply
4. Crystal Sargent says:

   Nov 9, 2011 at 11:43 pm

   My hell, I guess you DO love them…can I please get a side of picture number 3, um yes, hello, that kitchen is wonderful and tres magnific!!!

   

   Reply
5. Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode says:

   Nov 10, 2011 at 1:42 am

   Ooooooh I love those chairs! I’ve never thought too much about that style until you showed them used in all sorts of different decor and now it gets me thinking…..hmmmmm.

   

   Reply
6. kelly in georgia says:

   Nov 10, 2011 at 4:26 am

   I’ve been looking at those for my son’s apt., but haven’t seemed to convince him of their beauty. Love ‘em! When you unbury your table, I know we are going to love seeing them in your dining room.
   And I could just move in that photo #3 above…gorgeouness to the max on that ceiling!!!

   

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7. Jessica @ Nucheys MOmmy says:

   Nov 10, 2011 at 6:13 am

   Love the inspiration pics! Never really looked much at these as they never looked very comfy….but I see from your comment above they are You watch, now I’ll see them everywhere!!!

   

   Reply
8. Sabrina says:

   Nov 10, 2011 at 6:40 am

   I never thought metal could even look so comfy, but these pictures do metal justice!

   

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9. Polly says:

   Nov 10, 2011 at 6:44 am

   i am in industrial chair love right now!

   

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10. Fairfield House says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 6:45 am

    Layla,
    I like the industrial edge but have always wondered if they are cold, not in appearance but to the touch, especially in the winter months.
    It will certainly solve the possible problem of your kitten using the previous sea-grass type chairs as a scratching post — been there, done that. >: O Crazy = Progress is my new mantra!
    Your Friend,
    Deborah

    

    Reply
    • Layla says:

      Nov 10, 2011 at 6:59 am

      So far, so good, Deborah. Kev and I like to keep our house pretty toasty though- so that might have something to do with it!
      You could always use a cushion on them though.

      

      Reply
11. Flower Patch Farmgirl says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 7:02 am

    I have always had a crush on those chairs. Swoony!! I like the painted ones in the inspiration pics you showed, too. You’re good to us, El.

    

    Reply
12. Ter'e Crow Lindsay says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 7:13 am

    Layla:
    You always make such a believer out of me. At first, I looked at the chairs and said (to myself) “no, those are not for me, for sure”. Then you really did your homework and I saw what they looked like, in diff colors. Wowee……YES YES YES!!!!!! They are simply gorgeous. Girl, you and Kev always “bring it”. I love how you have that ability to make me see both sides and then fall in love with the “other side”.
    Thanks, once again! This old girl IS learning new tricks!

    

    Reply
13. Ashley Hill says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 7:13 am

    I’m so glad you did this post! We’ve been deciding on barstools for our newly redone kitchen, and I’ve been leaning toward a metal stool. I think it keeps the rest of the room from being tooooooo traditional. My husband wasn’t so sure, but now I can show him this post.

    

    Reply
14. Diane says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 7:45 am

    I love those bright yellow chairs that are in the photo with the letters on the wall. They look like so much fun.

    

    Reply
15. Kari @ The Sunset Lane says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 7:59 am

    Oh my! I lust, no love, no LURVE these chairs! They are the cat’s meow and when I grow up and have a real bank account with grown up money, I shall make some mine! They are superb! Can’t wait to see your kitchen floor all done. So excited!

    Kari @ The Sunset Lane

    

    Reply
16. Ilke says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 9:00 am

    I have been eyeing them at the World MArket for a while and this month we have 25% off coupon on furniture. We are trying to decide if we should sink the money or not. Cause it adds up when you need 6-8 of them but they look very cute.

    

    Reply
17. Heidi says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 9:47 am

    I bought 6 of them in white a couple of months ago (also from industry) and love, seriously LOVE them. we debated between the finish you picked and white–so I definitely approve

    

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18. Deana says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 9:57 am

    I bought the same chairs about a month ago from industry west. I got the guitar and absolutely love them.

    

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19. Deana says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 9:58 am

    I meant gunmetal

    

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20. Angeline says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 10:20 am

    Layla,
    Love the chairs and your post on where to find them…which made me wonder if you have good sources/ideas for inexpensive kitchen counter tops?
    I want butcher block counters for my kitchen, however IKEA is far away and I can’t seem to find a similar product in Home Depot or Menard’s (a local home imp store). I’d like to customize and install the counters myself to fit – or rather – employ my handy hubby!)…What can you recommend for inexpensive DIY kitchen counters?
    Thank you so much!

    

    Reply
21. Kathy says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 10:39 am

    Love those metal chairs. I saw the ones at World Market in person and had to be dragged away, drooling. I love the chippy, turquoise in the example pics you included!

    

    Reply
22. wendy says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 10:42 am

    Oh….ahhhh….would love me some metal chairs.
    I have been dreaming about these babies for years. I love how you can even bring them out to the patio in the summer. Congrats Layla on an awesome purchase:)

    

    Reply
23. LindaM says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 10:58 am

    Wow – I’m not really a fan of the industrial look, but damm – I’m loving them painted YELLOW. And I am also not usually a yellow person. Great deal from Overstock, too. Chairs are the one thing I don’t need right now, but what a great look!!!

    

    Reply
24. Sarah @ Redhead in Ruffled Flats says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 11:57 am

    You know, I never thought I liked these chairs, but after looking through these photos, a lot of them have made it onto my pin boards and have suffered through my drooling sessions when I find rooms I really like. Maybe I like them more than I think . . .

    

    Reply
25. sarah b says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    do you have source links for the inspiration photos at the end of your post? i love them all and would love to know more about them!

    

    Reply
26. Mindi says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Love the chairs and did you notice the back of one of the ‘example’ pics you showed us on a red chair it actually says ‘Progress’. Haha, I thought that was a good sign for your ‘progressing’ kitchen!

    

    Reply
27. Ruth H. says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    Oh, you have got me thinking! My seasonal affliction of dining room envy officially began on Nov. 1st, just as it does every year. We have a crowd for Thanksgiving, but we currently only have THREE chairs sturdy enough to hold the weight of an adult. New dining chairs have become a need, not a want. I’ve been hesitant to get new ones, though, because I didn’t want cheap, flimsy wood chairs anymore–with three kids and lots of young visitors, they have to be sturdy. And I wanted something that would stack, so I could easily store and extra 4-6 somewhere when we’re not hosting a large gathering. And I wanted something that would look good with whatever the table is that replaces our current one–kind of a neutral design. Sturdy? Stackable? Neutral? I think you gave me the answer!

    

    Reply
28. hello haha narf says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    oh the things i learn about over here!
    wonderful, just wonderful. thanks!

    

    Reply
29. Nuit says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    these chairs are a dream!

    

    Reply
30. Carolyn says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    Layla, thanks for the awesome post…I was one of those who inquired about your chairs,but impatient me, I didn’t wait for this post, and went ahead and ordered the &99 Home Decorator Garden Side Chair. I am disappointed with the quality, the paint finish, and that fact that they are not stackable (although I thought they were).
    I wanted everyone to know this, before they spent four hundred bucks. Hubby didn’t want to go to the trouble of sending them back,so we are keeping them for outdoor chairs, paired with a home made farm table.I guess it is worth paying more for some things, to get better quality…

    

    Reply
31. GIO says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 5:42 pm

    LAYLA, I’LL TELL YOU A CRAZY STORY ABOUT THOSE WONDERFUL CHAIRS OF YOURS IN THE LATE/EARLY 90′S I SAW THEM IN THE BOYD BEAR CATALOG (YES, THE BEAR CATALOG), IT’S WHEN THEY BRANCHED OUT TO RUGS, ACCESSORIES ETC. WELL, I WENT GAGA (DON’T MEAN LADY) OVER THEM & ORDERED 6, WELL, THEY WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE, SOLD OUT IMMEDIATELY. THE ONLY THING I COULD FIGURE WAS THAT THE DESIGNERS JUMPED ON THE METAL CHAIR BANDWAGON & SCOOPED THEM UP, SO ALAS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE A PENCHANT FOR CHAIRS, NONE LIKE THESE HAVE EVER CROSSED MY PATH AGAIN, BUT I SURE DO HAVE ALOT OF CHAIRS, NEVERTHELESS

    

    Reply
32. Diana says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 5:55 pm

    I loved all of the inspiration pics! You have a wonderufl blog…

    May I ask you a blog question? I started my blog about 2 months ago and I knew of Adsense, but no other good affiliate ad programs. Can you please tell me who you use? Thanks so much!
    
    Blessings,
    Diana @ AnyoneCanDecorate.blogspot

    

    Reply
33. Rebecca says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    These chairs were on my wishlist for furnishing our beach cottage last November, but sadly they just didn’t fit into the budget…maybe someday

    

    Reply
34. Nicole @ PostGrad says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    Gah I can’t believe I never even considered metal chairs for my dining set!! This post is perfect. I’m about to building a dining table out of butcher block and black pipes. I wasn’t sure what chairs would look best with it until I saw this – yay! Thanks!

    

    Reply
35. Jann Olson says:

    Nov 10, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    Hi, Wow, I love, love them painted red and turquoise with a bit of metal showing through. Just darn cute any way you look at them. Thanks for all your research!

    

    Reply
36. The Art of Michelle says:

    Nov 11, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Know where I can find any metal bar stools that look like that? I’m in love with the look!

    

    Reply
    • Layla says:

      Nov 11, 2011 at 10:14 am

      I think some of the stores I linked to sell metal stools too!

      

      Reply
37. Sherry Ann says:

    Nov 11, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    Love these chairs. They look great !Thanks for sharing the link!

    

    Reply
38. Ivy says:

    Nov 11, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    I need to find some of these in a counter height bar stool (24 inch) Any ideas??

    

    Reply
39. Melanie says:

    Nov 11, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    Lol…scattered, smothered, covered…thats just how I order my hashbrowns at waffle house! =)too funny!

    

    Reply
40. jillian says:

    Nov 11, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    Layla,
    These are great chairs! They look great, they feel great and they clean up great. The gunmetal finish really is beautiful! I ordered six of these back in March (when they were still located in Beufort, SC) and Justin worked out reduced shipping and was just great to work with. He also told me that they were working on a copper finish – similar to the ones carried by Anthropologie and Sundance. I would love to get one of those!

    I am really looking forward to seeing how you will finish off the room when your floors are done.

    Love your style and your fun blog!
    Jillian

    

    Reply
41. Sandra says:

    Nov 11, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    These chairs are really nice – I’ve never seen them before.

    I’d hesitate to add them to my home, however, for fear they would not fit. I’m the kind of person who would see the chairs somewhere and think, “Oh, those are cool – but they wouldn’t look right in our house.”

    And then I looked at all the photos you added to this post, and I wonder – how do people know their spaces will be so amazing by adding such a ‘small’ think like chairs??? Amazing and so inspirational!

    I have so much to learn….arg….

    

    Reply
42. shelley Kurgan says:

    Nov 12, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    what is the difference between gun metal and galvanized colors?

    

    Reply
43. Shelly says:

    Nov 14, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    Layla! It’s Shelly from Good To Be Crazy. Girl, I just love your blog. I love your passion for what you do — and I love that you encourage people to decorate (SO BEAUTIFULLY!) in a way that doesn’t break the bank. LOVE the chairs!

    

    Reply
44. cherylK says:

    Nov 15, 2011 at 9:56 am

    These photos are soooo inspiring! Love the chairs and love all the photos. My favorite is the last, though, with that gorgeous chandelier…what a brilliant pairing with those industrial chairs.

    

    Reply
45. Lindsay H says:

    Nov 16, 2011 at 11:26 am

    Thank you for sharing this link! I have been trying to find the right counter stool for months and there are several on this website that I know my hubby and I will agree upon!

    

    Reply
46. Gabrielle says:

    Nov 23, 2011 at 11:49 pm

    I love my Jackson Tub chairs from World Market, they were on sale at the end of the summer for 99 bucks so I’m sure they’ll go on sale again. they are super comfortable….I keep mine outside nestled up to my farmhouse table. I love all the colors they come in.

    

    Reply
47. Stacey says:

    Nov 29, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    Thank you sooooo much for posting this when you did! We had been living with ancient Ikea chairs and table when I found a 7′ hand made table (top made of 19th century reclaimed pine floors from a church in a nearby county.) I was searching for chairs but not finding anything I liked. Then along came your post I really liked the Crate and Barrel ones. Went to see and try them out in person (comfy!) and read the reviews online. Then made the plunge at 11:15 p.m. on the LAST day of their dining chair sale and snatched up eight. They just came in today and are so cool!!!
    (Our table is too tall but have been waiting until we found the right chairs to cut it down.) Now looking for a couple of storage pieces for room. (Once again, we have Ikea…) But I am so excited about the chairs! Thanks, thanks, thanks again for the post!

    

    Reply
48. Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife says:

    Dec 7, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    Thanks for directing me to this post…love the collection of Tolix-style chairs that you have on the bottom. One more question…did you get gunmetal or vintage gunmetal? = )

    

    Reply
49. Heather says:

    Dec 21, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    Hi Layla!! LOVE these chairs!!! If I could ask, did you get them on sale for $99 each? It’s showing they’re “on sale,” but at $125 each. How did you get the $99 deal?? I want 4 of them and $400 sounds better than $500!! : )

    

    Reply
50. Cyndee says:

    Mar 12, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    Hi Layla, I am in the process of purchasing some mix of industrial chairs and wood dining room furniture. I love the industry west gun metal chairs. Do you know if there is a coupon code for those chairs, or do they just occassionally go on sale? Also, do you know of any great websites for inexpensive dining benches that would match that look? Thanks for your inspirations.
    Cyndee

    

    Reply
    • Angie says:

      Nov 15, 2012 at 10:22 am

      Hi! I love the chairs but can’t decide between galvanized or gunmetal. Which do you think would match stainless steel appliances and brushed nickel light fixtures? Thanks so much! Angie

      

      Reply
51. Jill says:

    Mar 6, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I know this is an old post, however I am having some coloring issues as well in trying to order these chairs. I spoke with Industry West’s customer service, and they informed me the gunmetal has changed over the years. In the Side Chair it has changed to almost a smokey, bronze color. In the larger AC Chair the gunmetal has remained a nice warm silvery color. I adore the warm silver color, but need the Side Chair size and am worried that ordering galvanized will be too cold looking in my warm toned house. I appreciate any thoughts you may have on this! Thank you!

    

    Reply