Chairs are an underrated design workhorse. Not only do they provide seating, but when chosen with care, they can also help set the stylistic tone of a room. For Louisiana-based designer Lance Thomas of Thomas Guy Interiors, chairs are integral to every project. For a recent passion project that involved overhauling a historic Southern estate and transforming it into a B&B known as the Della Belle Bed and Breakfast, however, chairs played an especially important role. “They’re conversation starters,” says Lance, who approached filling every guest room with a chair similar to how a director might approach casting roles for a major motion picture. Here, learn more about the “wild series of exchanges” that led to the Della Belle’s creation, plus get Lance’s best takeaway tips for choosing the perfect chairs!
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The Property
Built by one of Lake Charles’ earliest founders, the mossy-draped oak estate is as picturesque as it is historic. Dubbed the most “iconic home in Lake Charles,” the 14,000-square foot period property was, as Lance says, “riddled with aristocratic mystique and pirate folklore. It was the cover of the phone book for as long as phone books were around.”
The property was in danger of being torn down for development until Lance’s husband’s family purchased the estate for the sole reason of protecting a historic landmark. However, the family didn’t need such a large estate—complete with two carriage houses, a caretaker’s cottage, and a boathouse to boot! Rather than assume it as a family home, Thomas Guy Interiors took on the task of transforming the property into a B&B.
Remarkably-preserved throughout the years, the untouched property was a treasure chest of one-of-a-kind design elements. It was packed with antiqued trims, double staircases, original Murano chandeliers, and even an antique pharmacy purchased from France and incorporated into the home as a bar!
A Layered Approach to Choosing Chairs
With five guest rooms and a myriad of other public rooms to furnish, the Della Belle required no shortage of chairs. Lance’s chair-choosing philosophy? Source multiple chairs, all unique and chic enough to be considered true design gems. By superimposing heirloom pieces on top of one-of-a-kind antiques and custom fittings, Lance takes an intentional and layered approach to integrating seating into an interior.
Initially, Lance recommends starting off with some custom-designed pieces—piece that you know will stand the test of time. Lane dubs these “future antiques.” These pieces are the most utilitarian in a room, incorporated for primary usage. Next, Lane turns to what he calls “character chairs.” While hunting for antique, vintage, and heirloom fittings, Lance looks for secondhand chairs that have good bones, but maybe need a good buffing and reupholstery. All in all, character chairs give a space a time-honored look. Finally, Lance looks for one or two chairs to add “bite.””Think of these chairs as ones that you may need to defend your decision to place in the space,” he explains. “These are the conversation starters.”
3 Takeaway Chair-Choosing Tips
In creating Della Belle’s interiors, Lance expertly paired fittings that are similar, but different enough to provoke design intrigue. Below, we delve into how exactly Lance utilized chairs to create compelling designs.
1. Consider a Pattern
Smaller in scale than a sofa, chairs present a relatively low-risk opportunity to gamble with daring patterns. When outfitted in pattern, chairs can add a subtle, yet impactful pop to a room. Consider reading chairs outfitted in classic pattern with a heavy repeat, such a houndstooth. Or, opt for a stately Queen Anne chair decked out in a loud, floral motif. No matter the silhouette, don’t shy away from some fun, says Lance. Playful patterns can add a “wink and smile” to a space, he explains. For the chairs above, Lance opted for contemporary pieces with a pattern that is “scaled so that it doesn’t repeat on the furniture.” Sitting confidently on the top of a formal Aubusson rug, the chairs create design intrigue.
2. Create Tension
Great interiors incorporate dichotomy. Whether it be integrating traditional and modern pieces or feminine and masculine pieces, dichotomy imbues energy into a room. Thanks to their size, chairs are perfect opportunity to add that all-powerful contradiction to a space—without overwhelming it. Upon realizing one of the guest rooms was skewing more masculine than the others, Lance knew he wanted to create a bit of tension with the seating. His solution? A curvy, vaguely Klismos-style chair decked out in a Dorothy Draper-esque black and white cabana stripe. Above, he added similar tension to a femme-leaning siting room with two stately wingbacks upholstered in dark blue leather.
Take-Home Tip: Welcome design conflict into your own space and pair peacock wicker chairs with fully upholstered club chairs. Interested in taking on the challenge of juxtaposing form? Pair a stately, leather reading chair with a delightfully feminine Queen Anne chair. On a budget? Match a coveted, Mid-Century Modern seating with a Danish Modern recliner on sale.
3. Seize the Moment
As respectable as carefully considered purchases are, when you find that one-of-a-kind chair at a warehouse sale, antique fair, or thrift store, “don’t pass up the chance to own it,” says Lance. “It’s sort of like fostering a cat until it finds a forever home,” he explains. “But in this case, the cat is a piece of furniture.” For instance, Lance owned the black-and-white striped dolphin chair above for years before he realized that it was the perfect addition to one of the guest bedroom suites at Della Belle. If you find yourself head over heels for a chair, don’t be afraid to purchase on a whim, Lance encourages. Given their transportive nature, chairs can be totted around for years with relatively little inconvenience. And when the perfect spot finally does arrive? Well, let’s just say you’ll be sitting pretty!
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All images: Design by Thomas Guy Interiors / Photos by Jen Burner
