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bought a new house and need to update.

12 years ago
Most of our furniture is traditional. We're buying a home that was completely remodeled and now without throwing everything out and starting again I want to move away from 1983 traditional, 2000 still traditional to add a pop of contemporary to our outdated furnitue....or do we need to get rid of dining room.....our dining room table was purchased and finished by us in 1982 -1983. It's solid oak. We added more traditional pieces during the 80s and early 1990's as we moved up in finances. Now we are much better off and could get rid of it, but hubby has resisted over the years because we built it together.....so modernize or get rid of?Sorry....tried to get a picture of uncovered table. but can't find one. traditional medium oak. Most people flip oat and say don't paint. What about darker stain. Included is picture of new dining room.

Comments (16)

  • 12 years ago
    Honestly, you need to recycle that table and chairs. It does not compliment your new dining room at all. Some less fortunate family will be thrilled with its quality and durability.
  • 12 years ago
    Since money i no problem and your husband doesn't want to part with it then call a professional and have it painted black get a crystal chandelier and you will have an instant new look ,oak furniture is expensive :)
    Custom Chandelier · More Info
  • 12 years ago
    And this one to compliment it
    Cristal De Lisbon 3-Light Chandelier · More Info
  • 12 years ago
    I agree, either paint it or buy new. That new dining room would AMAZING with new window treatments and a new chandelier! I grow attached to my furniture too, so if you can paint it (black or white - nothing crazy) I say go for it.
  • 12 years ago
    I was thinking about redoing it with dark almost black stain.....getting rid of chairs....hmmm.....we'll' see thanks, ladies for suggestions.....yes, paint may be in order. This house was all repainted, but ugh! it needs life!
  • 12 years ago
    Let us know what you decide! Would love to see some "afters"!
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    How wonderful that you have a sentimental partner. I think your idea of stain and new chairs best honours that and will update it enough for its next location. Should you find the table undersized for the space, consider another DIY together for a larger top laid over. Congratulations on your new home.
  • 12 years ago
    Your dining set has a lot of good memories. Sometimes that's the best reason to keep it. However it does speak more to a cottage/country design aesthetic than the modern look you say you'd like now. So my suggestion would be to keep the table, paint it and get more modern chairs. Sometimes doing a mix 'n match approach works wonderfully! As for the chairs, if you have room, put them in a storage room for now. Someday you may be able to give or sell them to someone else (with or without the table) when you're ready to move on.

    I did a consult for a family who had a table/chair set very similar to yours. The rest of their house was quite modern. She said "Nobody sits at the table. Why is that?" Well part of the reason was the fact that their dining room was sort of tucked away from the main part where everyone gathered. But also it was because it looked so out of place with the rest of the house, it wasn't very enticing.

    Various styles can be merged but there also has to be something that connects them. In your new home the 'connection' might be a light fixture above the table that melds both traditional/cottagey look with contemporary.
  • 12 years ago
    We have a table of same vintage and oak! It has wonderful memories so we also can't part with it but we now use it as my husbands desk.

    Can you repurpose it in some way?
  • 12 years ago
    You can also break up the pieces by not using them together. You can get an eclectic look mixing your furnishings. Say use the chairs with an ultra modern kitchen table. Maybe the china cabinet in a guest bedroom and furnish it with guest towels and pretty baskets of must haves. Use the table with some wicker chairs....etc...
  • 12 years ago
    well my concern has been while the stager that set this house made it all very contemporary we really started thinking about it and it's not really contemporary.
  • 12 years ago
    really confused staging in this house.....so trying to figure out what I want to do. I guess I need to see it empty!
  • 12 years ago
    currently staged dining room
  • 12 years ago
    The dining room all by itself looks more traditional to me...even leaning towards the Tuscan design. However, you might feel it's contemporary because it's sparse ;-) But hey, do a few of those "what's your style" quizzes online (I think Houzz has one too) and see what suits you best. Then carry that design forward :-)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I think to paint, refinish or redesign the pieces you will be throwing good money to bad. In other words, money and effort may cost more in the long run.