it is very ok for chairs to be wood tone and stools to be painted.

HI -- Are you going to use the stools or do you have them just because of the island . I don't see the need for the stools with a seating area right there. Maybe paint them a color . The kitchen can use an accent color . All is very woodsy and brown . All the stools and chairs wood do not need to match . Too much matching makes boring !

The bar stools pictured look good. IMO the table, chairs and rug are a little old fashioned for the room and your other choices. A much larger rug and more impressively scaled table and chairs would fit better.

I love the barstools with the kitchen island.
I would paint the dining set.
White chairs. Dark brown table top.

I think you need a larger rug under the table too.

Woods in two separate areas do not have to match, like 'lefty47' mentioned.

Ah! Okay! Could I paint the barstools white? Here is a photo of the barstools I mean...

Sort of like this but with white stools and the green cushions?

Oops....photo didn't attach....

Sorry, I am technologically challenged?..LOL! Here is another picture

I have stained a great deal of furniture. It is not as difficult as it may seem. A good stripper will make removal of the existing stain very easy, and then just needs a little sanding and staining and then varnishing. More steps than painting but probably more satisfactory results. If you paint, you still have to sand to rough up the surface so that paint will stick to it. Make sure you get a good quality of paint designed for use on wood furniture.

Send them out to be refinished in a greenish stain.

I just had another thought.....keep the bar stools brown, cover with white cushions........paint the kitchen chairs white.........I just don't know how to make the top of the table dark brown.....it has that plastic coating.....dunno what it's called.....so that it is easy to clean when you have a million kids like we do:). I love the idea of white chairs and a dark brown table top tho!!!!!!! Also....with a big family I have to keep within a budget.

You all are so helpful! Thanks so much!

How about putting a light paint wash on the bar stools? Creates a pickled effect. Or go one step further and go back over the paint wash with light sand paper in just the high points to create "wear" and then seal it? Add the light cushions and then you have the pop of color that someone mentioned above.

I would chalk paint your tables and chairs black. Easy to do, no stripping required.
One can would do it all.

You guys are great!!!!! I am so sorry but I have no idea what paint wash is:(....

What is it and how do you use it? I am thinking I can get this stuff at Home Depot maybe!??!?!?!?

This is all new to me...so sorry!

What color paint wash? Green. White?

I think you need to lighten some of all of the wood that you have between the kitchen and dining. Having all the woods too dark, is too heavy.

Another option is to paint the island wood white/cream.
Leave the stools. Nice contrast and brings some brightness to the kitchen.
Repeat white/cream on the chairs and table in the dining room.

LOVE! love the white table and chair idea! I have a bench and a temporary shelf too.... Should I paint them white too or is that too much?

Ah! I recognzie the shelving unit and wall! FUN to see more of your space here. And love that you are soooo eager to take this all on.

I think you can leave the shelf unit the wood tone as it anchors the art above it. I think I'd paint the bench white/cream too.

@Istroika
Paint wash, pickling, or similar techniques are ways to out a very light coat of paint on the wood so that the grain look still shows thru. You can use different techniques with whatever color you like. In your case a green or white color might look good.

You can use any type of regular wall paint. Either use a dry brush and put light coat on the chair or using a rag to wipe off as you go to get the look that you want. Also you can add a little water to the paint to make it easier to work with if it is water based paint.

Hints:
put a little paint in a different container if you plan to add water. makes it easier to control. (you can always add water...you cant take it away)

I did this with wood piece that had a sealed finish on it, but used a light coat of white primer as an initial coat to bite into the surface. Of course this meant that the finish on my piece was much more opaque. An alternative would have been to use a very fine grit sandpaper and rough up the original sealed finish first.

What ever method, you will need to put some type of final sealer on the stool or chair once your new coat of paint dries.

Good luck!

@Istroika
ps....Try type in the word whitewash or pickled into houzz and many picture examples will pop up.

Drop em in front a Cracker Barrel

I am so excited about my newly painted stools and bench! Makes my kitchen so much brighter and happier! Thanks so much!


Question....what should I do about this trash can?

Here is the icky trash can......

How did you do all of that? Are you magic and snapped your fingers? That was a lot of work and bam! It is done and looks just perfect!!!

Sorry, but I am just not a fan of garbage containers out in a room, especially in a room I eat in. I realize how extremely handy they are that way, but is there any room under the kitchen sink for a smaller one maybe? Then not only is it out of sight, but it is out of the way on that wall and in that corner, too.

Can you get one of those wooden things you put the San inside so there is a lid and it isn't so exposed?

Maybe separate cabinet or as Abbyjean suggested, which is the best, in an existing cabinet in the kitchen. There are pull out units to install in a base cabinet at Home Depot and Lowe's.

Some ideas for a free standing cabinet


https://www.google.com/search?q=garbage+can+cabinet&espv=2&tbm=isch&imgil=01xQhWFt-xgYrM%253A%253BzFZKIqCP8yvU0M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.amishfurnitureconnections.com%25252Fpine-furniture%25252Fkitchen%25252Ftrash-can-cabinet-p-2038.html&source=iu&fir=01xQhWFt-xgYrM%253A%252CzFZKIqCP8yvU0M%252C_&usg=__DREyJU8EWaTl8M7p7wFIznUS_S4%3D&sa=X&ei=qKkEVLGRA4W1ggSekIKQBg&ved=0CFoQ9QEwBA&biw=1122&bih=595#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=01xQhWFt-xgYrM%253A%3BzFZKIqCP8yvU0M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.amishfurnitureconnections.com%252Ffiles%252Fimages%252F205166-12.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.amishfurnitureconnections.com%252Fpine-furniture%252Fkitchen%252Ftrash-can-cabinet-p-2038.html%3B565%3B856

LOL ! I painted my little heart out for two days. :). My hand is about to come off! It was worth it tho for all of the good ideas I got! Okay! I will look for an inside garbage contraption. I hate the garbage right there too!

Good plan Istroika!

Looks Great! That little hit of color and the white makes a huge difference!

Ps...my husband wS unsure about painting the whole kitchen table and chairs white so I painted the lazy Susan white....