Do you have or are you marrying into a big family?  Do you have lots of friends? Do you like to entertain? If you are wondering where you are going to fit everyone when it’s your turn in the holiday rotation or the next pot luck get-together then look no further than stackable and folding chairs.  Forget mom’s old card table chairs she got from the Spiegel catalog…today there are so many stylish and affordable alternatives.  Buy as many as you can afford and add to the stack until you have as many as you’ll ever possibly need.  Instead of hiding them in the attic, consider stacking them in a corner, lining them in soldier-like formation along a wall or hanging them on pegs Shaker style – they’ll work as functional art to be pulled into service the next time the party’s at your place. – JM

Here are some of my favorite picks:

Raul Barbieri designed the retro Olivia Chair to be durable and comfortable…not to mention chic!  It comes in so many fab colors so you can stick with your basic black, punch it up with one of the brights, or choose a mix for a sense of fun.  $204 each.

Favola has a trademark keyhole opening – love that! –  and is formed of laminated beech and chrome steel.  $149 each.

The Victoria Ghost Chair, designed by iconic Philippe Stark in 2005, is elegant, modern and can be used both indoors and out.  It can be stacked up to seven chairs high.  Because of their transparency, they don’t take up too much visual space and they work in either modern or traditional settings.  $330 each.

If that’s a bit steep for your budget, here’s another acrylic choice in the Reena folding chair. $150 for two.

The bamboo folding chair from Ballard Designs can seat a crowd in style.  $99 for a set of two.

The St. Germain folding chair was inspired by an original found in a Paris shop – tres jolie!  $129 each.

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Jodi Murphy
Jodi Murphy is a contributing writer for Gentry Magazine and Gentry Design writing the At Home Column, Kitchen and Bath Department and feature Interior Design stories.  She has contributed to California Home and Design, San Francisco Design Center’s 3D, and Ranch & Coast magazines. She has developed campaigns and marketing programs for clients in a variety of industries including interior design, fitness and high-tech.  Her latest ad(venture) is Nesting Newbies, a McIntosh & Murphy ReelCre8tive Production.  This is a first in a series of new products in partnership with Lea McIntosh.