Short answer: Our Vela dining collection has four parts: a table, a chair, a bench and stools, all in Walnut or Oak. The Vela table is 157.6 x 98 cm (62.0 x 38.6 inches) and grows to 197.6 cm (77.8 inches) with an extension leaf.
The extension leaf is stored inside the table, the stools come in counter and bar height, and the chair, bench and stool covers are removable and machine washable. Vela is built as a set that you can mix and match, so you can start with a table and add seats later. This guide explains each piece in turn so you can plan the whole room with real numbers.
On This Page
- What is in the Vela dining collection?
- How big is the Vela table, and how does the extension work?
- What are the Vela pieces made of?
- What do the chairs, bench and stools measure?
- Which fabrics and colours do the Vela cushions come in?
- How do the covers, care and assembly work?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our dining range
What is in the Vela dining collection?
You build a Vela setup on our dining set page by choosing the table first, then the seating. The pieces are sold separately as well, so you can add a bench or stools later.
What is in the Vela dining collection?
| Piece | What it is | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Vela table | Rectangular table, with or without the extension | 157.6 x 98 cm (62.0 x 38.6 inches), 197.6 cm (77.8 inches) extended |
| Vela dining chair | Chair with a seat cushion and a back cushion, sold as a set of 2 | 53.1 x 56.2 x 79.3 cm (20.9 x 22.1 x 31.2 inches) |
| Vela dining bench | Cushioned bench for one side of the table | 150 x 38 x 47.2 cm (59.1 x 15.0 x 18.6 inches) with cushion |
| Vela stools | Counter and bar height, with a backrest and footrest | Seat 66.1 or 76.2 cm (26.0 or 30.0 inches) |
The dining set page offers a table only, 4, 6 or 8 chairs, 2 benches, 1 bench with 2 or 4 chairs, or 2 benches with 2 chairs. Our guide to contemporary dining room sets explains how to put a set together, and this page stays with the Vela pieces.
How big is the Vela table, and how does the extension work?
The Vela table is a rectangle that is 157.6 cm (62.0 inches) long and 98 cm (38.6 inches) wide, with a height of 76.8 cm (30.2 inches). There is 66 cm (26.0 inches) of clear height under the stretcher. The extension adds about 40 cm (15.8 inches) of length, for a total of 197.6 cm (77.8 inches), and the width stays the same.
On the dining set page you choose "No extension" or "Table extension". With the extension option, the leaf is stored inside the table: it folds in and out and stays hidden when you do not use it, so there is no loose piece to put away. We suggest 4 to 6 people at the closed table and 6 to 8 when it is extended. For room sizes and walkways, see our guides to how big a dining table you need and extendable dining tables for hosting.
The Vela and Ushi tables share the same footprint, so the difference lies in the chairs and the look. If you are short of space, our compact dining sets guide compares the options, and our Ushi vs Orsa vs Vela guide sets the three tables side by side.
What are the Vela pieces made of?
The tabletop and the extension leaf are 15 mm MDF with a 0.3 mm timber veneer and a lacquer finish. The frame, legs and stretchers are ash timber with a satin stain. Veneer is a thin sheet of real timber over a stable panel, which is why you see real grain on a top that is not solid timber. Our guide to solid timber versus veneer covers the trade-offs. Our dining set page describes the surface as scratch and heat resistant, and we do not quote a test figure for the Vela top.
The chair has ash timber legs and a 12 mm ash veneer plywood seat shell and back shell. The seat cushion and the back cushion each have 20 mm of foam under a 100% polyester cover. The bench has an ash timber frame and a seat panel of 15 mm MDF with a 0.3 mm veneer. The stool footrest is powder-coated steel. You can choose the timber finish in Walnut or Oak on every piece.
What do the chairs, bench and stools measure?
All three seats share the same look, but each has its own heights. Choose by the surface it sits at.
What do the chairs, bench and stools measure?
| Piece | Width | Depth | Overall height | Seat height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vela chair | 53.1 cm (20.9 inches) | 56.2 cm (22.1 inches) | 79.3 cm (31.2 inches) | 48.2 cm (19.0 inches) |
| Vela bench, with cushion | 150 cm (59.1 inches) | 38 cm (15.0 inches) | 47.2 cm (18.6 inches) | 47.2 cm (18.6 inches) |
| Vela counter stool | 51.3 cm (20.2 inches) | 57 cm (22.4 inches) | 94.4 cm (37.2 inches) | 66.1 cm (26.0 inches) |
| Vela bar stool | 51.3 cm (20.2 inches) | 58 cm (22.8 inches) | 104.5 cm (41.1 inches) | 76.2 cm (30.0 inches) |
The chair has a seat depth of 42 cm (16.5 inches) and a backrest that rises 34.8 cm (13.7 inches) above the seat. The stools have a seat depth of 43 cm (16.9 inches) and the same backrest height. The bench is 43.8 cm (17.2 inches) high without its cushion. Our guides to benches versus chairs and to counter and bar stool heights explain how to choose; the stools are for an island or a bar, not for the Vela dining table.
Which fabrics and colours do the Vela cushions come in?
The chair, bench and stool cushions come in eight colours in three fabrics. We measure abrasion resistance with the Martindale scale, where a higher count means more resistance.
Which fabrics and colours do the Vela cushions come in?
| Fabric | Colours | Martindale count |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Textured Weave | Ash, Parchment, Cerulean | 54,000 |
| Performance Chenille | Sage | 48,000 |
| Aquaforte | Snowdrift, Limestone, Basalt, Sesame | 78,000 |
Aquaforte is water and stain resistant, so it suits a household with young children. All of the fabrics are 100% polyester and OEKO-TEX certified. Colours on a screen can look different from the real fabric, so judge them in your own light before you decide.
How do the covers, care and assembly work?
The seat and back cushion covers on the Vela chair are removable and machine washable, and so are the covers on the bench and the stools. Replacement covers are sold separately for the Vela chair and the Vela bench. Follow the care label for the temperature and cycle; our guide to washable dining chair covers covers spills and washing in detail.
Assembly is mostly tool-free: the table goes together with the ratchet in its hardware box, and the chair, bench and stools use the Allen key in theirs. Assembly takes about 30 minutes for the table, which is easiest with 2 people, 30 minutes for the chairs and 30 minutes for the stools. The tabletop ships in two flat boxes, each 107.5 x 87.5 x 11.5 cm (42.3 x 34.4 x 4.5 inches), which helps when you plan the route into your home.
Our recommendation
- Small dining area that hosts sometimes: the Vela table with the extension, 4 chairs, and the extension only when guests arrive.
- Seats for a crowd: a bench along one wall side and chairs at the ends.
- Island or bar seating: Vela stools in the height that matches your surface, measured first.
- Children or a busy home: Aquaforte covers on the chairs and bench, plus a spare cover.
- A bigger table: compare the Orsa table in our Orsa guide.
Explore our dining range
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.