game time

I am thrilled to announce our first major home purchase! Say hello to our new dining chairs...

We are newlyweds and still in our 20's (well, at least for another year) so fully upholstered "grown up" chairs just weren't in the budget. My husband and I have defined our style as transitional so our plan is to pair these contemporary pieces with a more traditional table. We want a home that looks put together but isn't too stylistically matchy-matchy.

I've done a lot of research on metal cafe chairs. The best deals out there are through wholesale restaurant distributors, but you will still pay an average of $100 per chair + shipping and must be a registered business to place an order. Target has a great pair for just $199, however they are a bit smaller, made of hollow aluminum (typical for this style) and require some assembly. The chairs we ended up purchasing were featured on Gilt.com and instead of aluminum are made of stainless steel which gives them a little more high-end look. They were roughly $50 more per chair but gilt was offering free shipping, so naturally I snatched 6 up immediately. Those countdown cart clocks really put the pressure on!

My best advice when it comes to making any purchase for your home is do your research and know your brands. Put together a wish list or inspiration board and then be patient. Shop the online sales and discount websites. As long as you can differentiate between the "value" and the "junk" there are great deals to be had. Then, don't be afraid to invest in pieces that you really love. Since you've saved in other areas you won't break your budget and, in my opinion, your home should be a place you are proud of. As one of my favorite designers Nate Berkus more eloquently put it,

"Your home should rise up and greet you."