This is why we can't have nice things

Normally, I'm all about throwing things together willy-nilly when it comes to decorating my house. You kind of have to be when you're pretty much just buying secondhand and things are catch as catch can. I mean, if I buy it I like it, so new-to-me finds will get in where they fit in, right?

And I'm not into that whole super-perfect pristine look anyway. So no problems here--you'd think.

Except when you do get that perfect, pristine piece. Yes, yes, I'm so sorry to drag us back into the kitchen.

Now that I have my dream kitchen table, the one I would choose over an engagement ring if given the choice (hey, it's basically a big, round rock), I am having the worst time handling it. No chairs I've found seem to fit: they're too design-y and take away from the table or they're too plain and the table only brings that out, or chairs with arms look far to gangly, except I like chairs with arms, etc. etc.

I don't think I'm cut out for nice stuff, people. It's especially frustrating that I can't get it right when there are posts dedicated to the damn table's versatility.

This one, from the wonderful A Mad Tea Party with Alis even includes super-handy diagrams of high and low chair options:


Clearly, I need to get it together. So far, the one chair I've definitively wanted was this: And I'm bummed because a restaurant near my house has a bunch of these that came with the building when they bought it and they won't sell me two.

Which is well within their rights. As is it within mine to scowl in the restaurant's general direction every time I pass by.

But that doesn't make me want them any less. Quite the contrary--I'm getting even more fixated on them, which goes against the grain of my thrifting easy-come, easy-go ways.

Maybe it's time to take a little retreat with the sitter's bible

And kick back with an all-star team of fantastic, mismatched chairs You know, really get my head on straight.

It's that or the table goes.


Just kidding (mostly).