Borrowed Beauties

A modern take on tradition, the Lyla side chair is reminiscent of a Windsor chair but with a twist. It’s made of cast aluminum with a semi polished finish. 25”W X 23.5”D X 41.25”H. $1,450. SIMPLY HOME, FALMOUTH, MAINE, (207) 781-5651, www.SIMPLYHOMEPAGE.COM

With their unique carving, each of this trio of eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century English hall chairs seems to have a personality all its own. LEFT TO RIGHT: 17.5”W X 35”H X 15”D, 18”W X 36”H X 12”D, AND 23”W X 34”H X 19”D. $1,100 EACH. ANTIQUES ON 5, BOSTON DESIGN CENTER, (617) 951-0008, www.ANTIQUESON5.COM

When not pulled up to the table, the Bryam Ringback bench, with its leather slip seat and nailhead trim, can live easily in the entry hall, the living room or the den. The bench is from the Martha Stewart Collection for Bernhardt. 50”W X 23”D X 38 7/8”H. $TK,00. RHODE ISLAND DESIGN CENTER, WEST WARWICK, R.I., (401) 826-5650, www.RIDESIGNCENTER.COM

The teak Tara chair is perfect for the guest who wants to feel like the king of the forest. Because the chairs are fashioned from reclaimed wood, each will be slightly different in size and shape. APPROXIMATELY 36”W X 27”D X 44”H. $850. THE ROBIN’S NEST, HINGHAM, MASS, (781) 740-4843, OR HUDSON, BOSTON, (617) 292-0900, AND WELLESLEY, MASS., (781) 239-0025, www.HUDSONBOSTON.COM

Rhode Island designer Boris Bally works with completely recycled materials to fashion his bold, graphic furniture. His small, square Transit Table is made from traffic signs and champagne corks and, at twenty inches tall, makes a perfect perch for a child. 17 7/8”W X 20”H. $850. THROUGH THE ARTIST AT <a href="www.BORISBALLY.COM" twww.BORISBALLY.COM arget="_blank"> OR FROM THE ABACUS GALLERIES, MAINE, (800) 206-2166, www.ABACUSGALLERY.COM

Well, actually that’s usually where you’d stash a folding chair, but the vivid embroidered and upholstered Terai Folding Chair is too good looking to hide. The chair is available in three fabrics including Floral Tapestry, shown here. 33"H, 18"W, 18"D. $198. ANTHROPOLOGIE, BOSTON, (800) 309-2500, www.ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM

Pat Stanton became so enamored with Suzanis, handmade cotton and silk textiles from central Asia, that she built her business around them, marrying the rich textiles to wood framed furniture. She uses a circa 1960s version of the fabric for her Tulip Chair. 25”W X 23”D X 35”H. $1,150. KARMA, NEWTON CENTRE, MASS., (617) 965-2822, www.COMETOKARMA.COM, OR HOMESTYLE, PROVIDENCE, R.I., (401) 277-1159, www.HOMESTYLE.COM, www.STANTISTANDESIGN.COM

Tony Duquette, the renowned artist and designer whose work from the 1930s until his death in 1999 continues to influence today’s designers, loved the versatility of his Macao Garden Seat. Reintroduced by Baker, it can be adapted easily from an occasional table to a seat whenever needed. 20”H X 19”W. $1,659. BAKER KNAPS AND TUBBS, BOSTON DESIGN CENTER, (617) 439-4876

As holiday dinner parties grow—your daughter brings home her college roommate, your sister and brother-in-law decide to make the trip East this year—so does the need for extra seating at the table. When you’ve used all the dining chairs, don’t hesitate to borrow seating from the other rooms of the house. As for seat heights, there’ll be some discrepancies, but with the mood festive, few will mind. (For those curmudgeonly types there’s always the telephone book, if you still keep one around, to give a boost.) And don’t worry that the chairs don’t match. Once you’re all gathered around the table no one will notice. In fact, you’ll probably want to give a little extra thanks that the gangs all there.