DIY Design & Decorating host Nancy Golden gives tips for successfully mixing different furniture styles. A traditional Duncan Phyfe table blends nicely with a pair of contemporary upholstered Parsons chairs (figure A). The legs of the Parsons chairs are hidden by simple skirts, giving full attention to the ornately carved legs of the mahogany table. A camelback silhouette and an edging of upholstery tacks give the chairs a more traditional feel, in keeping with the style of the table. This pairing of different chair styles -- a heavy wooden Chippendale chair and a fully upholstered Queen Anne -- is successful because the Chippendale is heavy enough to balance the weight and bulk of the upholstered Queen Anne (figure B). With ball-and-claw feet, carved arms with elbow cups and a heavy carved back, the Chippendale chair is an easy match for the Queen Anne. The wood of the Chippendale doesn't match the cabriole leg of the Queen Anne, making this pairing appear to be part of a collection of pieces, gathered over a period of time. The similar silhouettes of a contemporary sofa and a traditional table make them a great pair (figure C). The heavy roll of the sofa's arm matches the curve of the metal cabriole leg of the table. The tabletop's straight lines reflect the line of the back of the sofa. A glass tabletop adds a contemporary feel to the table and nicely balances the weight of the sofa.
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