Design School: How to Choose the Perfect Dining Chair (Or Not)

We featured Vanessa Starck and Misha Olynyk’s Mount Pleasant home years ago in Western Living Condo, but the main design lesson here still feel fresh. Namely: Don’t let a little challenge like “making a decision” get you down. 

The inability of Olynyk and Starck to agree on one style was a design dilemma that turned out to be a blessing. Instead of compromising on a singular model, they just pulled all their favourites around the table. €œEvery chair has a story, and the combination is never set in stone,€ said Olynyk in our 2017 profile of the home.

A vintage pink number sits happily next to a Folke Palssn J77 and an Eames Dax upholstered seat. For commitment-phobe design lovers, the mix-and-match method offers the promise of endless possibilities.

READ MORE: Why We Love This Grey-On-Grey Bedroom

Another design headache that turned out to be a blessing? The bulkhead over the dining area was a struggle to contend with €” but when the couple leaned into the problem and reframed it as a feature, something magical happened. A coat of deep navy pain on the back wall and along the ceiling transformed the area from €œcramped€ to €œcozy.€ Now, it might just be their favourite spot in the apartment.

A dark Ikea Persisk area rug further helps define the space against the stark white flooring. Here, a custom-built pine table is now a glowing, golden beacon, welcoming guests to pull up a chair and stay a while.

READ MORE: A 600-Square-Foot Condo Designed for Entertaining