Buying Parsons Chairs - What You Need to Know

Home
>
Interior Design & Decorating
>
Buying Parsons Chairs - What You Need to Know

Buying Parsons Chairs - What You Need to Know

Parsons chairs are commonly seen in homes around the dining room, adding a simplistic type of elegance. The great thing about using parsons chairs is that their design blends in with just about any home décor. This piece of furniture is considered "transitional" since the elements of its design covers a number or periods to include Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Mission.

Although you will find parsons chairs on the market today made from many different materials, the construction method and design remains much the same ? honest and simple while offering charm and sophistication. The other fascinating aspect of parsons chairs is that because it has transitioned down through the years, you will find different elements that capture each period. For example, some parsons chairs have the richness of the Mission period, incorporating an emphasis of line in the design. Then, for the Art Nouveau period, the parsons chairs have more fluidity, a scroll back and a unique quality.

With the Art Deco parsons chairs, these tend to be more ornate and detailed. The materials used are colorful, bold, and often exotic. In fact, some of the more expensive Art Deco parsons chairs will be made from leopard skin and black ebony wood. Keep in mind that while there is a full array of Art Deco chairs, when shopping around for a "true" parsons chair, it will generally include just one small element of the Art Deco period.

As you shop around for parsons chairs, you will be focusing your attention on three elements ? the back, legs, and arms. With this type of chair, the back is designed in a number of styles, which includes straight, scrolled, or camel backed. Typically, the straight back falls more in the Arts and Crafts period while the scrolled and camel back go with the Art Nouveau period. For the legs of the parsons chair, these too are seen in a number of designs. As an example, it is common to see the legs turned, tapered, fluted, upholstered, Chippendale, and cabriole. Most of the styles lean toward the Art Nouveau period with the exception of the fluted and Chippendale, falling within the Arts and Crafts.

Finally, the arms on the parsons chair are also unique. Now, keep in mind that there are some of these chairs that have no arms but most do. For those with arms, they would be scrolled, upholstered, or simply plain with exposed wood. Again, most arms come from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods except the armless chair that goes along with Arts and Crafts.

The thing about the parsons chair is that the design is so varied while still being labeled the same type of chair. For this reason, the parsons chair fits so nicely with any décor. If you love the Mediterranean or French look, the turned or scrolled legs, straight back, and exposed arms works great. If you prefer a more contemporary look, you could have a parsons chair upholstered in leather with fluted legs and no arms. However, if country is your preferred look, then the camel back is perfect. Because of the diversity of the parsons chair, people around the country have incorporated them into their dining room design.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.GourmetDecorStore.com. Her sites offer product and information about parsons chairs and other furniture and decor for your home or garden.

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Obama OKs modest tax changes after seeking ideas (AP)

AP - Pushed by fellow Democrats, President-elect Barack Obama agreed to modest changes in his proposed tax cuts on Friday after inviting lawmakers to "just show me" ideas for fixing an economy shedding jobs at an alarming rate. Democratic congressional officials said that Obama aides came under pressure in closed-door talks to jettison or significantly alter a proposed tax credit for creating jobs.

Ill. House impeaches governor, who vows to fight (AP)

AP - Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached Friday by Illinois lawmakers furious that he turned state government into a "freak show," setting the stage for an unprecedented trial in the state Senate that could get him thrown out of office.

Israel and Hamas ignore UN call for cease-fire (AP)

AP - Israeli jets and ground troops hammered at Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip and Islamic militants fired barrages of rockets at southern Israeli cities Friday, ignoring a U.N. resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire after two weeks of combat.

5 people shot after Chicago high school ball game (AP)

AP - At least five people were shot Friday as spectators left a crowded basketball game at a high school on the city's South Side, scattering panicked students.

Citigroup director Robert Rubin resigns as adviser (AP)

AP - Citigroup board member Robert Rubin, who has drawn heavy criticism for his role at the embattled bank, has resigned as a senior adviser.

Pastor in gay scandal: I'm back from 'wilderness' (AP)

AP - Speaking out two years after being embroiled in a gay sex scandal, former evangelical pastor Ted Haggard said Friday his sexual identity is complex and can't be put into "stereotypical boxes," but that his relationship with his wife is stronger than ever.

Texas death row inmate pulls out eye, eats it (AP)

AP - A Texas death row inmate with a history of mental problems pulled out his only good eye and told authorities he ate it. Andre Thomas, 25, was arrested for the fatal stabbings of his estranged wife, their young son and her 13-month-old daughter in March 2004. Their hearts also had been ripped out. He was convicted and condemned for the infant's death.

Rare 'dinky' bird migrates to US for first time (AP)

AP - Birders with binoculars and cameras are flocking to a remote state park in search of a small yellow-chested bird that apparently crossed the U.S. border for the first time from its high-mountain habitat to the south.

Patrick Swayze checks into hospital with pneumonia (AP)

AP - Patrick Swayze has checked himself into the hospital for observation after contracting pneumonia, A&E President Abbe Raven announced Friday at a meeting of the Television Critics Association. Swayze was scheduled to appear to discuss his upcoming drama "The Beast."

Stimulant exemptions in baseball on the rise (AP)

AP - Baseball authorized nearly 8 percent of its players to use drugs for ADHD last season, which allowed them to take otherwise banned stimulants. A total of 106 exemptions for banned drugs were given to major leaguers claiming attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from the end of the 2007 season until the end of the 2008 season, according to a report released Friday by the sport's independent drug-testing administrator.

Citi, Morgan Stanley in brokerage talks; Rubin quits (Reuters)

Reuters - Citigroup Inc is in advanced talks to sell its Smith Barney brokerage unit to Morgan Stanley, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday, in a move that would further dismantle the financial supermarket that has been bailed out by the U.S. government.

Illinois House votes to impeach Gov. Blagojevich (Reuters)

Reuters - The Illinois House of Representatives impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday for abuse of power, including a charge that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

Israel, Hamas press on with Gaza war (Reuters)

Reuters - Israel pressed on with a punishing Gaza offensive and Hamas sent more rocket salvoes into southern Israeli towns in a two-week-old war that continued to defy international efforts to stop it.

Obama team, Rep. Frank eye bailout fund overhaul (Reuters)

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama and a key Democratic lawmaker revealed plans on Friday to overhaul the government's $700 billion financial rescue fund as a way to aid struggling homeowners and speed the flow of credit.

Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter (Reuters)

Reuters - Minnesota health officials issued a product alert for peanut butter on Friday after finding a jar that was contaminated with a strain of salmonella linked to an outbreak across the United States.

Jobless rate at 16-year high as payrolls plunge (Reuters)

Reuters - The unemployment rate surged to the highest in nearly 16 years last month as a deepening year-long recession forced companies to axe more than half a million jobs, government data showed on Friday.

Supreme court to decide voting rights law challenge (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Friday it would consider a challenge to a central provision of the 44-year-old voting rights law aimed at preventing states and local governments from making it harder for minorities to vote.

Bank industry slams lawmaker-Citi mortgage deal (Reuters)

Reuters - A top bank industry group said on Friday that it opposes an agreement between Citigroup Inc and Democratic senators that would rewrite U.S. bankruptcy law to help troubled mortgage borrowers avoid foreclosure, saying it could make home loans more expensive.

Gaza conflict set to enter third week as ceasefire appeal ignored (AFP)

AFP - Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip was set to enter its third week on Saturday, with both sides brushing off a UN appeal to halt devastating attacks that have claimed over 800 lives.

Somali pirates say they have released Saudi supertanker (AFP)

AFP - Somali pirates said Friday they had freed a Saudi-owned supertanker, whose capture nearly two months ago caused panic in international shipping and spurred the world into tougher anti-piracy action.

Buying Parsons Chairs - What You Need to Know

Interior Design & Decorating Interior Design & Decorating