The Conversation Chairs
Kristen Coates
Pair of vintage upholstered chairs | 2025
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Some pieces of furniture hold more than form and function.
They hold energy. Stories. The quiet residue of a thousand conversations.
These vintage chairs, curated by Kristen Coates, seem to carry that weight effortlessly. Placed side by side in the gallery, they offer more than a place to sit, they offer an invitation. To stay. To talk. To listen. To fall into the kind of exchange that only happens when time slows and attention deepens.
“I brought these in to create a sense of space for the show,” Coates says, “but all I’ve done since is sit and chat with dear friends. They’re like magnets for intimacy.”
Presented as part of Lost in Paradise, The Conversation Chairs remind us that the best parts of life often happen between the official moments, over coffee, at twilight, in a pair of chairs just like this.
Coates is known for her painter’s eye not only in the studio, but in the way she curates physical space. She has a particular love for sourcing vintage pairs—especially chairs—and giving them new life through upholstery, placement, and story. These pieces often begin as forgotten objects and become quiet anchors in a room, shaping the way people gather, speak, and feel. In The Conversation Chairs, that transformation is on full display: what began as a functional gesture now hums with connection, character, and the gentle art of presence.
When making this purchase, you are committing to Kristen sourcing a pair of your own conversation chairs. This includes a consultation call and a digital document with 6 option concepts for chairs that make sense for you. It does not include the price of the chairs or any additional sourcing or materials.
