COTE DE TEXAS: Readers Go Kooboo Crazy

Readers Go Kooboo Crazy

                                                     

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 After writing about these Kooboo wicker chairs a few times, an alert reader informed me that Cost Plus World Market sold them for just $149 (and sometimes they are on sale for even less!)  This price is hundreds of dollars less than the Kooboo chairs which are claimed to come from Belgium.   Maybe some do actually come from Belgium, but I don’t see why you have to pay so much more for something that basically looks the same.

 

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An alert reader sent me the link to this chair – $149.99 – amazing!  HERE.

 

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Even the magazine Country Living seemed to get it all wrong in this beautiful cover shot this month.

 

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The credits say these two chairs are from Restoration Hardware, $595 each.   To me, they look like the Kooboo chairs that are sold wholesale by companies like Artesia.  BTW, isn’t that daybed cute?   A few more cute ones from the same company HERE, and HERE.

 

 

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This is the closest Kooboo chair at Restoration Hardware that I could find – nothing at all like those shown in the Country Living magazine.  AND BTW, been to Restoration Hardware lately?  The one in my neighborhood was recently remodeled – all dark walls and moody, low lighting.  It’s absolutely gorgeous.  Gorgeous!  Go visit if you haven’t lately.

 

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I’ve loved these chairs for years, after first seeing them in Cynthia Davis’ house in Country Home.   Gorgeous!

 

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I recently noticed on Cynthia’s blog, Indulge Décor, that her dining room has changed quite a bit with a new faux bois table, crystal chandelier, and wonderful lamps.   Amazing this is in Houston, it’s so Belgium looking!   Just gorgeous – makes my mouth drool!!!!   This picture really illustrates how important texture is in a room – how much more interesting a room is with lots of different textures.  It shows how a crystal chandelier can dress up any spot and how versatile these chairs truly are.  Read Cynthia’s blog HERE.

 

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After learning about the $149 chairs at Cost Plus, I wondered aloud on the blog what my breakfast room would like with the wicker chairs instead of these smaller French ones.

 

 

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Two readers actually sent me photoshopped pictures of what my breakfast room would like  - here’s one view.

 

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And another photoshopped view – amazing how accurate these pictures really are!   Based on these two drawings, I bit the bullet and bought the chairs.   Although I first purchased the more expensive and larger ones from Pottery Barn which ended up outside in the back yard.  

 

 

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And here are the final Cost Plus Kooboo chairs in my breakfast room.

 

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  And the Pottery Barn chairs outside.  To read an analysis of the two chairs, go HERE.  After I showed my new chairs, I got email from readers who had also bought them!   Here are their pictures, perhaps they will inspire you.

 

 

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Karen sent me this picture of her cute breakfast room.   She bought a few Kooboo chairs to mix in, but is now saving for two more to put around her table. 

 

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This reader, Robyn, sent in a picture of her dining room.  I was taken by how cute her table was!  She said she had it custom made, copied from a table at Mecox.  The reader said the table was very reasonable – much cheaper than the one at Mecox.   Think about having something custom made – a lot of times it IS cheaper than what is found in the design store.

 

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This reader lives in a townhouse in Houston – she sent me this picture of her Kooboo chairs.

 

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Another view – I love how she painted the back of her shelves the dark gray and added the sconces – makes the shelves so much more custom looking.   This reader has a vacation house in Santa Fe and she went to buy Kooboo chairs there, but the Cost Plus chairs were sold out until September – they must be really popular in New Mexico!

 

 

 

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  This reader bought these chairs to put around her French dining room table.  She sent this picture last Christmas to show how they looked, along with her new seagrass rug, lamps and curtains.

 

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  In each chair, she had lumbar pillows made of the Riad fabric from Windsor Smith for Kravet.

 

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  I recently begged a friend to change out her French rush seat chairs for these!   She had just updated her kitchen with new black matte granite and white subway tiles.  She added two great looking polished nickel pendant lights from Restoration Hardware, but her breakfast room needed a little tweaking.   We removed a large pine bookshelf and replaced it with a British Colonial style console, new lamps and mirrors and the chairs.  It looks like a completely new room with the Kooboo chairs. 

 

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All in the family!   I had to laugh.  My daughter Elisabeth is moving into an apartment this year at school.   She’s working on floor plans (oy!) and shopping the internet.  Last night she came home all excited about the slipcover sofas at Ikea.  I kid you not!  “Mom!!  They are so cheap!!”    I know, I know!   She picked up a few baskets to get her decorating started (naturally she just had to buy something) – and here’s what she bought.  Four Kooboo wicker baskets.  The small ones were around $5 while the larger ones were $10.     I just smiled thinking about how I was writing this article about Kooboo, while she’s out buying these baskets.  I want her to buy the Kooboo chairs for her dining table. but she prefers the slipcovered ones from Ikea.  

Thanks to all the readers for sending in your pictures!   I’m accumulating a lot of kitchen redos which I will show soon – so if you have a great kitchen redo – send it to my email:  mrballbox329@aol.com

 

 

67 comments :

  1. I absolutely LOVE the chairs. I'm considering replacing my old Pier One ladder back chairs with those; however, have you found that they take up a considerably bigger amount of space around the table than the average chair? My other option is to slipcover my ladder backs. I'm curious if this can be accomplished, especially when the top of a ladderback is not completely level. Great post Joni...always looking forward to the next one!

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  2. Oh PS....it's (almost) 5:00 Friday.....time to turn on the Van Morrison and pour a Skinny Girl margarita! Have a great weekend.

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  3. I love the addition of the chairs in your kitchen eating area, but I do love the other chairs too!! It is fun to change things up a bit. They seem to look good in all sorts of homes with all different tables. That is one versatile chair, Kathysue

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  4. I remember the post you wrote on these chairs. I love your breakfast room. These chairs really are a great buy, Joni.
    have a great weekend.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  5. Well Joni...I love those chairs for $149 too!

    Call me kubu crazy, right?

    xo kelley

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  6. Whats not to love! Its beautiful, I love the rustic elegant vibe that they give and at that price..how could you not! I love that a follower was kind enough to photoshop the chairs for you...thats loyalty for you!
    Beautifully done..now they are on my mind too, love the way they look outdoors with the blue...oh can't wait to be able to do this myself..enjoy your weekend!!

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  7. I like Kooboo chairs but much prefer the small French slipcovered chairs in your breakfast room - they are so beautiful and eye-catching.

    I'm thinking of getting Kooboo chairs for my apartment balcony but am worried about how they will weather in the rain.

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  8. Now you've done it! I simply must have a few of these chairs. I am officially on the prowl now.

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  9. Joni,
    These are a great look at a reasonable price. Thanks for the post. Very inspiring. Buying these won't make a person feel guilty when the urge comes to change again.

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  10. Love the chairs and thought about using them as well... I'm just not ready to bite the bullet. Do they wear well outside? I'm curious about getting a couple for my veranda/patio... just as added chairs because they are so charming!
    LOVE the baskets from IKEA! I wish we had an IKEA around here...

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  11. Hi Joni,
    That's it! I'm changing out my kitchen chairs to kooboo. Gary--the husband has been "begging" me to buy the Pottery Barn ones. We hate our kitchen chairs that we have now. The problem is that I want kooboo EVERYWHERE! He wants the outdoor ones for outside at our country home in Asti! Is there such a thing as too much kooboo! What a difference it made in your breakfast room. I absolutely love your table too. Wish I had bought it when it was available. It's from Wisteria-right? ~Delores

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  12. Ok, don't hate me Joni, but I am not KooKoo over Kooboo. I liked your french chairs better. The Kooboo doesn't thrill me, too chunky and thick looking. But it looks like you have lots of Kooboo lovers in your corner...watching Stanley Cup finals and blog reading during periods...if I didn't have 2 glasses of wine, I would keep this to myself I am sure. Ha ha. Go Bruins!

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  13. I like this share.!!!
    Kooboo wicker chair really appear good and add a uniqueness in the furniture stuff.I will buy it in future really great share captures shows the ways to utilized kooboo chair.
    Adorable captures.....

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  14. Hi, Joni - a friend who is a regular CPWM shopper sent me this link for a $10 savings - if someone was going to pick up one of those terrific chairs to try it out, may as well use it!

    http://www.worldmarket.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=3842321

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  15. I like your new Kooboo chairs, Joni. But then, I like the old antique French chairs (Tara Shaw?), too. It's good to shake things up a bit sometimes. Does your husband like the new chairs? How hard (or easy) is it to pull up to & push away from the table in the new chairs. I'm sure they probably have some type of metal or plastic caster under each leg, but do they mark or scratch your wood floors? Thanks.

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  16. I like the Kooboo chairs too, but when I see something this popular I wonder how long they will stay in style. ie roosters, sunflowers, angels.

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  17. I love the chairs too Joni. I appreciate them more in an outdoor living space than indoors. Thats just me though. The breakfast room images really do work well!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  18. Note to Angeldog - you can slipcover your ladderback chairs and take care of the "dip" between the posts. Wrap the top rung of the chair back w/1" foam rubber 2-3 times to pad it. Then cut a length of thick quilt batting twice the length of the full chair back. Wrap the batting around the full length of the chair back and baste closed. Then create your slipcover. You can increase the foam padding to build up the back of the chair so it is even with the posts. Or you can create the slipcovers w/eyeholes so the posts stick up like finials above the chair back. Either way, you have created a softer, more padded silhouette for your ladder back chair.

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  19. Joni,
    I love the chairs, especially for summer. But the Cost Plus / World Market link is off, it points to "buzzillions". Try this one http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4301206
    Paula ~ Mise en scène

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  20. After reading your original post I took my handy dandy cost plus coupon and went to buy two chairs. After sitting in them, I only got one, they seem small but are very stylish. I recovered the cushion with an ikat and put in my son's room. He isn't crazy about it so I will probably create a reading nook for me, it looks great with vintage fortuny. I can't wait to see the BHG shoot of your house with the kooboo and your french chairs, I think the mix will be sublime. I'm not a designer but I think combining the traditional(luxe) with the textures (rough)like your reader photos with crystal chandies and tht beautiful french table looks classic and not trendy.

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  21. I love the way these chairs look! I am especially in love with your kitchen table! Do you know who makes it? It is fantastic in your kitchen!

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  22. Love the chairs, and unlike some popular things, these are timeless. I expect the difference in price is tha material. The Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware chairs are all weather wicker...i.e., not real wicker. For outdoors, I am going with the all weather, only because they will hold up. For indoors, you can use the real wicker, no problem. I like the grey chairs at RH.....not exactly the kooboo, but close and very classy. I will use them in my patio. Joni....love Cote de Texas.....you are amazing and soooooo talented and funny too.

    Diane

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  23. I am on the same bandwagon - I remember seeing a photo of a beautiful old home on a hill (in a magazine several years ago), where the owners worked for Ralph lauren and their kitchen had wicker chairs and white marble. I cannot find that photo, anywhere - hope it turns up in one of my files, soon! I am thinking about going the IKEA route and using the Majby chair to save a little cash. Not the same nice "full" chair, I know, but I have to pinch pennies.
    -Trish

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  24. love the chairs! Ikea has a version too, but they don't sit well as dining chairs unfortunately. Especially love the story about Elisabeth... the apple has not fallen far from the tree;) I think you have a budding designer on our your hands!!

    joan

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  25. Great examples of those chairs! Dress em up or down...Maryanne xo

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  26. I too, bought the Kuboo chairs and matching table. I used the Pottery Barn slipcovered arm chair as host and hostess chairs with them.

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  27. LOVE these chairs, just not able to buy new chairs right now:( They are really ME though! How sweet of someone to photoshop the pictures for you!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I knew how to do that I would do it to MY breakfast room! Your readers do love you! Great post! XO, Pinky

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  28. The wicker chairs are very cute and are such a nice change in your breakfast area, but I like the French chairs much better. I'm glad you still have them as I predict you will go back to them in time.

    It is so much fun to see all the photos of these chairs in different homes.

    Good point about what texture can do for a room.

    Great post as usual!

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  29. Love how you wield your good taste and influence upon us mere mortals.
    Seriously, you are so generous and you have helped so many people.
    xo xo

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  30. What a great find! And appreciate all the photos showing the chairs in context. CostPlus better put in an order to Indonesia for another shipment 'cause looks like they'll be selling out soon....

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  31. Oh I see the new paint on your dining room walls... did I miss a post about that? Love the new color. Love that your daughter came home with the same wicker! Lovely.

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  32. Hi Joni- I love your post today, and always look forward to them! Would you please share who makes the drapery hardware you used in your breakfast room? It's just beautiful! fellow Houstonian here....

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  33. Hi Joni,
    I love these chairs at your table! Very beautiful! We have them since 2 years around our outdoor table.
    The breakfast room from your reader from Houston is gorgeous!!!Notice the French pottery on top of the cabinets!!
    Wish you a nice and warm weekend Joni!
    xx
    Greet

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  34. I think the pictures of Cynthias house are of her breakfast and dining rooms, and she has the same chairs in both.
    Tina

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  35. Amazing how well those chairs work with drastically different dining room tables!
    -linda,ny

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  36. I love those chairs and they look fantastic in your breakfast room! I met Bonnie Broten last week and told her I had just seen your post about her visit, she sings your praises, as do I... Wonderful blog!

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  37. What fun to see my table & chairs on your blog! Also fun to know I have kooboo friends out there. I'm still loving the chairs and like putting big pillows on the end chairs for a splash of color in the dining room. Thanks for including me in your post! ~Robyn

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  38. What fun to see my table & chairs on your blog! Also fun to know I have kooboo friends out there. I'm still loving the chairs and like putting big pillows on the end chairs for a splash of color in the dining room. Thanks for including me in your post! ~Robyn

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  39. angledog - they do take up more space i think - go get one and try it - you might be surprised!

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  40. Joni, you are so sweet to worry about me getting the chairs!!!! Thanks for the advice and tips. I WILL get some. I couldn't have a laundry room in the garage or would FREEZE in the winter:):):)

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  41. They are all beautiful but talking about price...sometimes you get what you pay, even if they look the same they may squeak more, last less or who knows...maybe they are all the same! In any case they are gorgeous.

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  42. I love the kooboo and have been trying to justify - here is my question- I have 4 wooden captains chairs (painted black) around my 52" round wood table ... I love the kooboo but am worried that with my 4 little kids (all under 7), cleaning them will be a mess ... Thoughts? Opinions?

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  43. I love how the chairs look in your home and such a great price!

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  44. My kooboo dining chairs are holding up with young children. They love the cozy feel. The World Market chairs come with a white cushion and you could replace those with cushions covered with the easy to wipe off Sunbrella fabric. You might bring one home and try it out, if you have a store near you.

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  45. I could be wrong but maybe the reason there is such a difference in price between Belgium and "made in China" products such as these chairs is that Belgians expect decent wages for their labor where as the Chinese are still dealing with factories and slave labor wages..these Chinese factory laborers have no job security, get paid so little and work in some of the worst third world conditions, such as lack of bathroom breaks, no air conditioning in sweltering heat, 10-12 hr work days etc...that is how we here in the states can buy things so cheaply..off the backs of the poor and impoverished ethnic laborer...

    just saying...

    maureen

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  46. I love these Kooboo chairs but banging my head here on the table, I paid a lot more for my chairs then $149! After seeing the ones in your breakfast room I went and bought two for our screened porch, small table so only needed two and I made lumbar pillows for mine as well. They’re very comfortable and pretty much go with every decorating style!

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  47. Joni,
    You sold me the first time I read about them, then when you showed how wonderful they looked at your kitchen table I knew I had to have them for my patio. I now have 6 Kooboo chairs from my local Cost Plus, where I was told that these
    were the last 6 until September. I love them, hubby loves them and we thank you!
    Karen

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  48. Thank you Judy for the directions on slipcovering the ladderbacks! PS I'm a Judy too!

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  49. hey Joni
    I just ran across one of your old post back in 2009 about Belgian style interiors. I was just wondering what your thoughts were on it still being "the IN thing". You see it everywhere now from Restoration Hardware to CostPlus with their limewashed wood furniture. I personally still LOVEEEEE it. but wondering with it seeming to be so massed produced now it will lose its favor or is this just the beginning of the wave and we can ride it out for a few more years to come.
    Anyway-just kinda wanted to pick your brain on the subject.

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  51. I love those chairs so much and the price is amazing! :) I will have to send this link to a client of mine...I think these chairs are what we need! I hope your weekend was wonderful! I had the best weekend...I attended a Annie Sloan Paint Class...I learned a lot of tips and tricks that I will be sharing on my blog! Have a wonderful week!

    Xo, Meme

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  52. I love those chairs, thanks for tip on where to get "em" cheap. They will look marvelous on my back deck.

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  53. love those chairs and i love all the different looks...the photoshopped images of your dining room table look fab!!!

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  54. I'm loving Restoration Hardware since they decided to completely copy Axel Vervoordt!! The only problem is many of their furniture pieces are so BIG in scale...
    Seems funny that they would eliminate the small condo/home market from being able to use their furnishings.
    I'm liking your eagle-eye on those chairs... :)

    xx
    SP

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  55. I must be the only one who doesn't really get why everyone here is so excited about these chairs. I've been seeing chairs like those since the 60's. They just don't seem special to me at all and all the hoopla seems very disproportionate. They're probably comfortable. Well, here's another fad I can skip and save lots of money. But I do love everything else you've ever done, Joni! Yeah, pretty much everything! Except maybe slow down just a tad on the burlap. Ha! Other than that, love everything.

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  56. Oh, whoops, sorry. I was thinking of another blog I read when I said to slow down on the burlap. So sorry. Still am trying to figure out the deal with the chairs though...

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  57. Joni, what a fun post. I loved seeing the chairs in all the different settings. I love the library with the Kaboo chairs. I think that is so cool that some readers were able to Photoshop in the chairs so you could see how they were going to look in advance. I have Photoshop and am clueless how to use most of its features. I really have to take a class after reading this post! Love your blog, Joni!

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  58. Ok, so I'm seeing changes at Maison Webb! :) Love the dining room curtains ... when are you going to show us?

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  59. Love my new kooboo chairs from Costplus! Also purchased the matching side table/stool, baskets with liners and lumbar button pillows ..it looks great in my sunroom.thanks for the tip Joni!

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  60. This is a crummy newsflash...IKEA seems to be getting rid of this stuff already. I went to buy a basket for my patio at the Phoenix IKEA (Tempe) the other night, and it's ALL GONE. Cleared out.

    I'm bummed because, trends aside, all wood turns grey outdoors here in the low desert, but it's nice to not have to wait for it to weather. I'd kind of prefer the woods to be a similar color out there!

    C'est la vie, if you like it; get while you can.

    -Jennie

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  61. I remembered this post and had to tell you that I scored one of these beauties at a rummage sale today for $10!!!! The cushion needs to be replaced and it's not in showroom condition but I always love the well worn and character filled pieces anyway. Super excited.

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  62. Are the koo boo chairs from world market cost plus outdoor proof? They are not listed through their outdoor furniture link, and I am worried they will get ruined in the texas heat. They will be put on a shaded porch, but I'm worried they won't withstand the elements!!

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  63. Don't like the swine furniture.

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  64. Love your blog! Just went to order these chairs, but they were not listed on WM/CP web site. Tried to call the 877# listed, and a message said the # had been disconnected. ;-(

    Going to call my local store.

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  65. Hi! LOVE your blog!!!!
    Can you tell me if ALL kubu wicker eventually turns grey?! The reason I ask is because I have seen them both at a high end furniture store and also they are on line at One Kings Lane right now, but they both appear to be light brown in color and not at all the gorgeous grey color. I really want the grey!! Does it just take time to turn that color?
    Thanks so much !
    LIsa

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  66. Awesome designs....really inspiring post keep it up..!!!!!!

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  67. Hey Joni
    I m Tofik from Indonesia
    I exporter rattan furniture, and can make this kubugrey chair
    If need to info, please contact by mail tofik.cirebon70@gmail.com
    Thanks
    Tofik

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