Living with the Carl Hansen Wishbone Chair | Interview with Abi Dare
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Time to read 6 min
For over 75 years, the Carl Hansen Wishbone Chair has remained one of the world’s most recognised dining chairs. Designed in 1949 by Hans J. Wegner, its distinctive Y-shaped backrest and woven paper cord seat have made it a favourite with interior designers, architects, and homeowners alike.
It’s a design we know well at Holloways of Ludlow. The Wishbone Chair has long been a feature in our showrooms, admired not only for its appearance but for the remarkable craftsmanship that goes into each piece. Each chair is still made using the same traditional techniques introduced when Wegner’s original design first went into production.
While visitors can experience the Wishbone Chair for themselves in our showrooms, we’re always interested to know how an iconic design is experienced in someone’s home and how it fits into their everyday life.
We recently spoke with Abi Dare, the interior, travel & lifestyle blogger behind These Four Walls. She has been lovingly restoring a beautiful nineteenth-century cottage just outside Bath and recently introduced a set of Wishbone Chairs into her newly renovated dining room.
From everyday comfort and craftsmanship to how the chairs naturally fit alongside antique furniture, Abi shares why this iconic Danish design has more than lived up to expectation.
Abi's Dining Room Featuring the Wishbone Chairs
An Interview with Abi Dare
Now the Wishbone Chairs are part of your home, what is the one little thing you find yourself appreciating most about them?
The beauty of the oak. We chose the white-oiled finish, which adds depth that brings out the grain of the wood while also subtly lightening it. And there’s a slight variation in tone and pattern from chair to chair, which highlights the fact that the Wishbone is made from natural materials. I love that – it brings soul to a space.
The Wishbone is a must-have piece for so many design lovers. Are they a piece you’ve had your eye on for a while? If so, what was it that originally drew you to them?
I’ve always loved Wishbone chairs. They strike the perfect balance between humble and high-end, classic and modern, lightweight and supportive, and they’re truly timeless – this is a design that was created all the way back in 1949 but it looks just as stylish today as it did when it was first launched.
I’m also drawn to the quality of the materials used and the level of craftsmanship – something which I appreciate even more after being lucky enough to see how Wishbones are made in person on a visit to the Carl Hansen & Søn workshop in Denmark a few years ago.
We all have a vision in our heads when we source a piece of design. Did the reality of the chairs in your room match what you’ve been visualising, or did they surprise you in a completely different way?
Well, I knew they’d look beautiful and they do! But I think what surprised me most was how much our cat loves them, and how easily they withstand his attention! I know that sounds like a silly thing to say, but it shows that this isn’t a design to admire from afar – it’s one to use and enjoy, and one that can cope with the demands of daily life.
We all have a vision in our heads when we source a piece of design. Did the reality of the chairs in your room match what you’ve been visualising, or did they surprise you in a completely different way?
Well, I knew they’d look beautiful and they do! But I think what surprised me most was how much our cat loves them, and how easily they withstand his attention! I know that sounds like a silly thing to say, but it shows that this isn’t a design to admire from afar – it’s one to use and enjoy, and one that can cope with the demands of daily life.
The play of textures between your antique sideboard and the oak dining table and Wishbone Chairs creates a really beautiful contrast. What inspired this mix of styles, and how did you make this feel balanced within your space?
We live in a 19 th-century stone cottage on the edge of a small country town just outside Bath, which we’re gradually renovating (it had stood empty for almost two years before we bought it). My décor style is pared-back and neutral yet very textural, and I love adding interest with unexpected elements of contrast.
The mix of pieces and styles plays into that, and it also reflects the age and evolving story of the house. And it embodies my personal love of minimalist Scandinavian design while incorporating a few rustic nods to the rural setting.
What role does your dining area play in your everyday life? What activity do you find yourself using the chairs for the most?
Many people call their kitchen the hub of the home, but for us it’s the dining room. We use it for everyday meals, for hosting family and friends, and sometimes also for working. And my husband and I love playing board games, so we spend many relaxed evenings at the dining table doing that. The Wishbone chairs work perfectly for all of the above!
Everyone talks about how the Wishbone looks, but what does it feel like? How does that woven paper cord seat actually feel when you’re settled in for an evening of board games?
It’s incredibly comfortable – much more so than the lightweight appearance would suggest. Hans J. Wegner was one of the first designers to consider ergonomics when creating chairs, and that really shows in the Wishbone’s famous Y-shaped back support. The paper-cord seat also has just the right amount of ‘give’ – it’s not hard, so you can happily linger on it for hours.
Because Carl Hansen pieces are built to last for generations, they tend to collect stories. What kind of memories or energy do you hope these chairs absorb over the years you live with them?
I hope they’ll play host to lots of laughter – to long conversations and relaxed meals with family and friends, to Christmas dinners and celebratory feasts. I really do think we’ll still be sitting on these chairs and enjoying them when we’re in our 80s!
Finally, for anyone who is currently sitting on the fence about investing in their first authentic design piece, what’s your best advice for making the leap?
I know investing a lot of money in a single piece of furniture can seem scary, but I think it’s worth considering the cost per use. An item that you’ll use day after day for decades to come will be much better value in the long run than something cheap that you end up throwing away after a few months or years. Also, try to ignore ever-changing trends and other people’s opinions. As long as you choose something you love, and that reflects you and your style, you really can’t go wrong.
When people talk about the Wishbone Chair, it's often its shape and design prestige that steals the conversation. But after speaking with Abi Dare, we're reminded that its greatest strength isn't just about how it looks; it's how effortlessly it becomes part of everyday life.
Perhaps that's why, more than seven decades on, the Wishbone Chair remains as relevant as ever. Not because it's an icon of Danish design, but because it's a chair that people genuinely love to live with.
Take a closer look around Abi’s beautiful rustic and minimal dining room and discover more about her inspiration for the interior.
See more designer furniture in real homes by visiting our In Your Home series, where our customers share the spaces they've created with iconic design.
Written by Mark Holloway:
Founder and CEO of Holloways of Ludlow. With a lifelong passion for exceptional design, Mark has built the business from the ground up, curating a collection that reflects both integrity and innovation. He doesn’t just sell design - he lives it - with many of the pieces he champions proudly featured in his own Wimbledon home.