The Elmsworth, the Ashford and the Henley are all curved-back dining chairs on warm wooden legs. How they differ in shape, size, seat height and finishes, and which suits your table and your room.
By Furniture1002 min read
We now have three curved-back dining chairs on warm wooden legs: the Elmsworth, the Ashford and the Henley. All three are armless, all three have padded seats and all three are sold as a set of two. The differences are in the back, the size and the finishes, and they decide which one suits your table.
The Elmsworth has a curved wing back that wraps around the rear of the seat, with a softly dipped top edge. It is upholstered behind too, so it looks finished from every side.
The Ashford has a taller, gently curved back that flows down into softly shaped seat sides. It reads as one continuous shape, soft and enclosing.
The Henley has a pill-shaped padded back with a curved wooden rail behind it, so the timber frame shows. It is the most open of the three.
| Elmsworth | Ashford | Henley | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 47 cm | 48 cm | 56.5 cm |
| Depth | 51 cm | 53 cm | 52.5 cm |
| Height | 78 cm | 81 cm | 81 cm |
| Seat height | 47 cm | 50.5 cm | 49 cm |
The Elmsworth figures are approximate. It is the most compact chair here, and the lowest, which suits a smaller table or a room where you want the backs to stay low. The Ashford is almost as narrow but taller, and sits highest. The Henley is the broadest seat by some way.
The Elmsworth comes in two: a linen-look cream fabric and a softly mottled brown faux leather. The Ashford comes in three textured fabrics: cream-beige, olive green and grey. The Henley comes in seven: camel, beige, light grey, grey-green and blue in fabric, plus black or white faux leather.
If you want a warm brown leather look, that is the Elmsworth. If you want black or white faux leather, that is the Henley. If you want a coloured fabric, the Ashford and the Henley give you the most choice.
Choose the Elmsworth for the most compact chair, the dipped wing back and a brown faux leather. Choose the Ashford for a taller, enclosing back and the highest seat. Choose the Henley for the open back with its wooden rail, the widest seat and the most colours. All three look at home with oak and walnut, and all three come with free UK delivery.
If it is between the Ashford and the Henley, our Ashford or Henley guide goes into those two in more detail.
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The Elmsworth. At about 47cm wide, 51cm deep and 78cm high it is the smallest of the three in every direction, which helps at a small table or in a tight kitchen.
The Ashford, with a 50.5cm seat height. The Henley is 49cm and the Elmsworth 47cm. Aim for about 28 to 30cm between the seat and the underside of your tabletop.
The Elmsworth, in brown, and the Henley, in black or white. The Ashford is fabric only.
All three have curved backs and warm brown wooden legs, so they sit together better than most. Check the seat heights first: the Elmsworth sits 3.5cm lower than the Ashford, which shows at the table.
The Ashford and the Henley are both curved-back mid-century dining chairs on warm wooden legs. How they differ in shape, width, seat height, colours and upholstery, and which suits your table.
The Ashford: a tall, gently curved upholstered back that flows into softly shaped seat sides, on tapered solid wood legs, in cream-beige, olive green or grey. Sizes, the 113kg rating and which colour suits which room.
The Elmsworth: a curved wing back with a softly dipped top edge, a thick padded seat and slim tapered wooden legs, in linen-look cream or mottled brown faux leather. Sizes, the two finishes and where each one suits.
Designer looks, a fraction of the cost
