The Windsor is the quintessential wooden chair, a classic that since its first known appearance in the 18th century has been stained, painted, deconstructed, and reimagined in all sorts of ways. The British (and the American) Windsor is traditionally made from a triumvirate of maple, poplar, and oak with a curved back and seat; here are 10 new variations on the theme we're eying:
Above: The J111 Windsor Chair by Paul M. Volther for Danish design company Hay, is available in natural beech wood (shown) as well as black, white, gray, and red finishes; £372 at Folklore.
Above: The Coventry Chair by Chris Eckersley, manufactured by Sitting Firm Chairmakers in Coventry, features "an uncluttered contemporary aesthetic"; £510 from the New Craftsmen in the UK.
Above: The Spoke Dining Chair from West Elm sports an elongated back; $299.
Above: Christopher Howe takes the classic beechwood Windsor and gives it a high gloss finish in custom paint colors. His Painted Windsor Chairs are £225 each at Howe in London.
Above: The Riviera Tall Windsor Side Chair designed by Paola navone is $399 at Crate & Barrel.
Above: UK designer Matthew Hilton's 362 Hastoe Windsor Chair for de la Espada is $895 from YLiving.
Above: Serbian design company Antipod's custom Windsor Aluminum Chair presents the design in an unexpected lightweight metal; available through Antipod in Belgrade.
Above: A Remodelista favorite, Design Within Reach's Salt Chair is a modern take on the Shaker-style chair and a go-to for affordable seating. It's made in the Czech Republic of beech and beech plywood, and comes in red, black, gray, and white; $99 to $109 each. Serena & Lily offers the same model (they call it the Tucker Chair); available in seven colors; $168 from Serena & Lily.
Above: Designed for New York store Matter, Chris Specce's Windsor Chair pares the classic down to its basic elements. Available in six different colored stains or paint finishes, the chair is $625 at Matter.
Above: Designer Mark Daniel designed the Willa Side Chair for Crate & Barrel in a variety of colors, including Mint shown here; $149 each.
Above: Designed by Lina Nordqvist for Design House Stockholm, the Family Chairs are a 21st century take on the Swedish-style Windsor with a stick back. Each chair in the set of four has a different spindle design; a two-piece set is $420 from Fjørn Scandinavian.
Above: The J77 Dining Chair, designed by Folke Pålsson for Hay, is made from solid beech in a minimalist, newly proportioned package; $225 at the Finnish Design Shop.
Above: New to Ikea, the Trendig 2013 Chair in black (or red) is something of a cross between a Windsor and a wingback chair; $59 each.
Above: UK-based Italian designer Marino Gamper's Yellow Chair is a reclaimed Windsor updated with wood stains that have been applied and removed in different areas. The chair was designed as part of Gamper's Gesamtkunsthandwerk exhibition and is available through Everyday Needs in New Zealand.
Looking for another riff on a classic? See Five Prouvé-Inspired Swing Arm Lights. For more dining room seating, take a look at our 10 Easy Pieces on Red Dining Chairs.