5 Unique Seating Options for Your Kitchen or Dining Room
Your dining area is where you eat dinner and spend time with family and friends. It can be for a quick meal or a relaxing evening. Think outside the box and transform it into a reflection of your style with these unique seating options.
Solid Wood Dining Bench
The addition of a bench at the dining table creates flexibility that chairs will not allow. A 60" bench will seat 3 people, especially if there are small children at the table. By contrast, three chairs will take at least 72 inches of space, making it hard to fit around small tables.
At Dutch Craft Furniture in Berlin, Ohio, our dining furniture is made to order by local Amish craftsmen. Most dining tables feature a matching style bench. Start by choosing the size and style of your table.
Our local area is rich in hardwood forests. Choose from a variety of hardwood types, options include Red or White Oak, Maple, Hickory, Walnut, Elm and Cherry. Some styles are even available in reclaimed wood. We do not work with soft wood options like pine wood or exotic wood species that must be imported.
Many variables come into play when selecting your wood type. Our knowledgeable sales team will help you weigh the pros and cons of all the wood types based on your personal preference. The team has years of experience in various aspects of woodworking and Amish furniture manufacturing. This helps us offer suggestions as you create the dining room you envision.
Then select the stain or paint color for your dining set. We do not recommend painting the seat of the chairs or benches. Painted seats will show light scratches in the finish and knicks in the wood over time. We recommend painting the base of the bench and matching the seat to the stained tabletop instead.
Mix and match all dining chairs and solid wood benches for the most flexibility. Browse our extensive gallery online to find the perfect bench. We then build the entire set from scratch specifically for your dining room.
Allow an average of 8-10 weeks for Amish crafters to build the custom furniture. This is not including time for delivery, which varies depending on your location.
Extendable Benches
Another great seating option is an extendable bench. These benches extend with leaves, just like the table. No need for folding chairs or storing extra bulky wooden dining chairs.
You can choose from several styles of extending benches to match any dining table. Seats of extending benches will have the same wood and color as your tabletop. This includes any distressing that adds character to the wood. The base of the bench will match your table base and chair frames, creating a cohesive dining set.
Standard sizes for extendable benches are 3',4', and 5'. Add one, two or three leaves to the bench when extending your table. All three sizes will double in length when fully extended.
Extendable benches are a popular choice for small eat in kitchens. Most older couples only need two chairs for daily use but need the ability to add more when family visits for dinner.
The most effective table size for small kitchens is a 36x48 rectangle. This easily seats 4 people, either using chairs or benches. A popular combination is using three small wood dining chairs and one extending bench. A 3' bench can neatly fit underneath a 36x48 table, which is perfect when the table is usually pushed up against the wall.
The 36x48 table size includes two self-storing leaves, which extend the table to a 36x72 rectangle. This will seat 6-8 people when hosting your loved ones. The 3' bench extended to its full length will exactly fit the 72" table.
The extendable wood dining bench features a small wooden crate to store the leaves. Keep them close at hand by storing in the pantry or inside your kitchen cabinets.
Another common combination is to select the small table with 4 chairs for a standard dining set. The matching extendable bench is perfect for entryways or at the foot of the bed. Move it to the kitchen only when extending your table.
Upholstered Dining Chairs
Express your style and add comfort with upholstered dining chairs. Local Amish woodworkers also offer fully upholstered dining chairs with the same quality standards as our solid wood chairs. The upholstered chairs feature a solid Maple wood frame and high-density foam underneath the fabric.
Choose durable, easy to clean fabrics for dining chairs that will be in high traffic areas. Polyester is family friendly, and users can spot clean it if needed. Opting for faux leather or genuine top grain hides makes cleanup even easier.
Our upholstered dining chairs will have the legs made in your choice of wood and color. Match your table or other existing furniture.
Many people add upholstered chairs at the ends of the table, adding texture and style with fabric. This lightens up a dining space, especially if the table has a prominent wood grain, like Oak wood. This is also helpful if the wood furniture has a dark stain color.
Barrel Dining Chairs
Another unique seating option is chairs made from repurposed whiskey barrels. Talented craftsmen carefully deconstruct the white oak barrels, cutting them into the shape of a chair frame. The chair frames will then be finished to protect the wood using a catalyzed conversion varnish. Finally, the chairs are upholstered in your choice of fabric or leather.
In addition to standard dining height, you can also select barrel bar chairs. These chairs are a perfect complement to a whiskey barrel bar table. The barrel bar chairs are made by crafting individual barrel staves into a sturdy chair frame.
Our local artisans then add a swivel base and upholstered seats. These rustic style bar chairs also add character and functionality around your kitchen island.
Counter Height Seating
A standard dining table is 30" high. Dining chairs and benches have 18" seat heights. All tables can also be ordered as a counter height table, which is 36" high.
You can build every dining chair option as a bar chair to fit around pub tables. Bar chairs have a 24" seat height. They are available stationary or with a swivel base, making it easy to get in and out of the chair. In addition to bar chairs, all benches are available for counter height seating.
Now that you have some ideas on how to add the perfect seating options to your dining room, contact us at Dutch Craft Furniture. Our team is happy to assist in figuring out the size and style that will best fit your space.
We even have some style options in stock that are ready to ship. While we do not offer free shipping, our delivery teams will bring all furniture into your home. This also includes fully assembling any furniture requiring setup.
Whether you opt for upholstered chairs or a solid wood dining bench, we can help. Upon request, we are happy to create a 3D photo rendering to display your finished dining area.
This eliminates the stress of ordering custom Amish furniture. See for yourself if the style and functionality match your vison. You can double check measurements for walkways and high traffic zones like around the kitchen island. Start creating a dining room today that you will love for years to come!
