Fine steel rods, welded into an open grid, form the shell of this example side chair. Configure it by metal finish and cushion option, and the quote request spells out every choice.
With an open wire shell, the finish carries the design. Chrome is bright and reflective. Brass and copper bring warmth to a dining room. Black or white read as graphic outlines against a wall. The cushion changes the character just as much: with no pad the lattice stays visible, while a full pad turns a sculptural chair into a softer one.
Furniture Configurator demo
Steel Mesh Chair
- Product
- Steel Mesh Chair
- Colour
- Chrome
- Cushion
- None
Illustrative product. The design and images are generated examples, not a real model for sale.
What you can configure
Metal finish is the swatch: chrome, black, white or brass, from six. The cushion choice runs from none to a seat pad to a full pad, and it is captured in the summary without changing the image in this demo. On a mesh chair that choice is significant, because the pad colour sits against the wire, and finish and fabric need to be judged together.
- Colour: Chrome, Black, White, Brass
- Cushion: None, Seat Pad, Full Pad
Why a configurator suits chairs
Metallic finishes are among the hardest to photograph consistently. Chrome, brass and copper reflect the studio around them, so each needs careful lighting to look true. Six finishes with three cushion options make eighteen chairs, and every pad will come in several fabrics. Photographing that grid is impractical. Copper and gunmetal are harder still, as their tone depends heavily on the light.
Restaurants and cafés choose wire chairs because they look light in a crowded room and wipe down quickly. Those buyers decide fast and order in volume, and they often mix: chrome in the bar, padded brass in the dining room. A configurator that saves several builds into one project quote matches how they actually buy.
For home buyers the worry is comfort. A seat pad or full pad answers it, and showing each clearly reduces returns from people who expected a softer chair. Plated metals also wear differently from painted ones, which is worth stating beside each finish. A side view showing pad thickness helps too.
How a production version would be built
I would shoot or render each metal finish once, then layer the seat pad and full pad on top as separate images per fabric. Because the mesh is see-through, pads need careful masking so the wire shows correctly round their edges. Each finish needs a name, its plating or coating type and an outdoor rating, alongside the pad fabric list. Hospitality orders become a project quote with quantities per finish. Retail orders can go to a WooCommerce basket, with the finish and cushion held as variations.
Build sheet for this range
- Colours in the full range: 6 (4 shown in this demo)
- Cushion choices: 3
- Combinations to support: 6 × 3 = 18
- Images for one photograph per combination at 3 angles: 54
- Images if cushion options can be shown as separate layers, at 3 angles: 27
- Data each of the 18 combinations needs: a SKU or variant ID, price, stock or lead time, and any dimensions or specification that change
Questions about chair configurators
How do you photograph chrome and brass so they look accurate?
With controlled studio lighting, or with rendering where reflections can be set precisely. Chrome mirrors everything around it, so a cluttered studio shows up in the chair. Brass and copper swing between warm and pale depending on the light, so identical lighting across every finish is what makes a fair comparison.
Can the configurator show a pad on an open wire shell?
Yes, as a layer placed over the shell image. The tricky part is the edge, where wire needs to show around the pad. With careful masking it looks natural, and each pad fabric then needs one extra image rather than one per metal finish.
Should we state which metal finishes suit outdoor use?
You should. Plated finishes such as chrome and brass can mark or tarnish outdoors, while some coated finishes cope better with weather. A short label per finish avoids a terrace of chairs that look tired by the end of summer, and the complaints that follow.
Can a restaurant order a mix of finishes in one quote?
It can. Each build is saved to a project list with its own quantity, so twelve chrome chairs and twenty padded brass ones travel in one request. You receive a single structured enquiry instead of a string of emails, which speeds up quoting and delivery planning.
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A configurator for your chairs
This demo uses an illustrative product. If you sell chairs, I can build the same experience around your own range, photography and ordering process, connected to Shopify, WooCommerce or a quote workflow. I reply to enquiries within two UK working days.