Chair & Table Design

Garden Table and Bench from Zanotta – elegant steel frame

The Garden Table and Bench from Zanotta is a perfect modern addition for your chic backyard area. Whether for dining or just a seating area, the steel frame is a sturdy but elegant decor item to your deck or garden. The table and benches are painted white or graphite for contemporary and modern looks. The table comes with an 8-mm thick laminate top, so you don’t have to worry about putting an ugly “outdoor” tablecloth out, just simply wipe off the table at the end of a meal. Upholstered seat cushions with removable fabric covers are available for the benches. A little splash of color on the benches will draw your eyes around the table, while not taking away from the clean, crisp lines of the table and benches themselves. The Garden Table and Bench are available online from Zanotta.

It is more than obvious when a design has enthusiasm and passion as the main ingredients. Sure there are some great furniture designs that are quite simple and that in its self is what makes them appealing, but even the modern minimalist can appreciate old world tradition. Sam Maloof, one of Americas’ premier contemporary furniture craftsmen is with out a doubt passionate about his wood working and very humble despite his numerous awards and notoriety. His works are meticulously made by hand and can be found at the Smithsonian and the White House. Sam says “There’s a lot of work being done today that doesn’t have any soul in it. The technique may be the utmost perfection, yet it is lifeless. It doesn’t have a soul. I hope my furniture has a soul to it”. Although his work has a sculptural quality he does not see himself as an artist, simply a woodworker. His rocking chair shown here will cost you about $18,000, get in line there is a long waiting list.

The greenest dining room chairs are the ones that use reclaimed or recycled materials, organic fibers and sustainable manufacturing practices. If you don’t already have green dining chairs, this guide will help you find some. If your old dining room chairs are barely hanging in there, and you don’t want Uncle Tony to come crashing down when he sits down for dinner the next time he visits, you need to find some sturdy and sustainable dining room chairs that will not only stand the test of time, but look good doing it.
In this Green Buying Guide, we will give you the low down on some of the most eco-friendly dining chairs out there. From FSC-certified wood to organic cotton to recycled materials, these green dining chairs chairs feature the best elements from some of our favorite sustainable designers. And, they are sure to please your hungry guests as much as your cooking (OK, for some of you, more than your cooking). Whether your style is elegant and formal or sleek and modern, hopefully you’ll find a green dining room chair here to suit your taste.

Stackable, Eco-friendly Dining Room Chair by Ross Lovegrove

• What: Orbit Chair by Ross Lovegrove
• Why: Made from super resource-efficient bent plywood and certified by GREENGUARD, which means less nasty chemicals that can volatilize to create poor indoor air quality.
• Nice touch: Stackable up to 6 high.

More on this Green Stackable Dining Chair:

Dining Room Armchair Made from Recycled Seatbelts

• What:Arbor Armchair by J. Persing
• Why: Webbing made out of durable post-industrial seatbelts, “Eco-Benefit Ply-bending techniques” saves 8 to 10 times as much wood as solid lumber.
• Nice touch: Customizable wood and webbing colors.

More on Recycled Seatbelt Chair:

• What: Cain Chair by STAACH
• Why: Sustainable wood from New York and Pennsylvania, non-toxic glues and low-VOC lacquers.
• Nice touch: Can be upholstered to fit in with any dining room design scheme.

Reclaimed Railroad Tie Dining Room Chair

• What: Railroad Tie Dining Chairs by VivaTerra
• Why: Awesome hardwood without the guilty conscience. Made from 100% reclaimed teak, pine and ironwood railroad ties.
• Nice touch: Weathered wood shows this seat has a history.

Sustainable Teak Wood Dining Room Chair