I'm sorry to say but I REALLY like your original set. If it was worth $3000, I think it's worth having it professionaly refinished and fixed. Even if you just have it repaired and did the refinishing yourself.
I would however like a round table there. I have a very strong round table and love it. But between the two, stick with the original. It even looks more expensive than the other.
(LOVE YOUR KITCHEN!!)

I have to agree with mlraff! Gorgeous table! I think you should change out the chairs though... the high backs are bothering me for some reason.

Actually your two tables pictured side-by-side might give you a THIRD option -- a large square table that would seat lots of folks.

I do love round tables -- but an oval table might work too!

And yes -- that NO help at this point ...... LOL!

Jan

I like the first table because it's got such pretty legs!

i like the first one. don't care for the style of the second one but that's just my taste! your kitchen's very nice!!!

Another vote for the first table. Looks like it belongs there. :) Beautiful kitchen. Good Luck on your choice.
Crystal

I vote for the first table, too. Fits right in with your kitchen. The second table looks too contemporary.

Wow - didn't expect it to be so unanimous!

lobotome - yes, the high backs for these chairs have always bugged me. They are also very uncomfortable and, as I mentioned, kind of falling apart. I would definitely try to find replacement chairs at the very least. I'm not sure if the schoolhouse ones would match though - they seem to call for a more clean-lined table, no?

Just to be absolutely sure, let me post some closeup pics of my current set, so you can see why I've been thinking of replacing it. Yes, the set was $3000 new, but it seems to be kind of crappily built. It was the first real piece of furniture that dh and I ever picked out at real furniture store (as opposed to the salvation army), and I guess I didn't know what to look for. Now I'd probably raise heck if they delivered something that looked like this to me, but back then, I just assumed that was the way it was supposed to be.

As I said, this is a mexican distressed pine table. They seem to have used quite a bit of wood putty in the construction. All of the things you'll see in these pics have been there since new (except for the green stain - that was courtesy of one of my kiddos!) So here's the closeups:

Wood putty holding leg together (ignore the half-naked doll on the chair - oops!):

Wood putty holding other leg together (all those yellow splotches are putty):

The distressed tabletop includes lot of cracks that have gotten worse over time. Makes it almost impossible to write at the table without using a notebook or clipboard as a writing surface.

And oh, yeah, the green stain (watercolor paints from one of my kids):

It's hard to think of getting rid of the table because it does hold a lot of memories and it is really cool looking. But the top has become such a pain in the butt with the kids' homework - I can't count how many times they've put a pencil through their paper because they hit a crack or dent under the place they were writing. And all those little dents catch every single crumb - it's really hard to get them out unless you vacuum it (yes, I've been known to vaccum my table, LOL!)

I do think a round table would work very well for us - ideally I'd like to find one with a similar style to the new chairs (clean shaker-type lines). But all I can find are big oak pedestal tables with lion paw feet or ones with big swirly empire feet. I don't think either quite goes with my kitchen. Any suggestions for a round table that might work? I'm thinking at least 48", maybe as big as 60" in diameter.

What if you painted the legs of your set white/cream (whatever the color is of your countertops)? That would hide some of the leg damage and would tie the look of your kitchen set in with the rest of the kitchen.

Oh dear, the closeup of that table has changed my mind, but truthfully, I don't think I'd keep the other table either. I feel that the second table is too spartan and not enough "country" for your space. As for your present table? It would drive me batty to have to vacuum my table! But I must admit, the pockmarks and distress sure gives it alot of character that I adore... I'd want to keep most of it as long as it's not too too deep.

I have a farmhouse type table as well, although not quite as hefty as yours. We bought ours at a lumber store, totally in pieces. Husband had to put it together, and stain it himself (It's actually just varathaned). That might be a cheap alternative to the one you have now if there's somewhere you could buy unfinished furniture. Oh I just remembered... the picture of the table is actually in a recent thread here called "refinishing chairs". I also have remnants of my daughter's experiments permanently stained on my table LOL!

I think you should look for a similar table of what you already have, it fits so well with your gorgeous kitchen!

"New" table, hands down.

I love the oak from "school houses", remember sitting on those great shaped seats, lol.

Oak will outlast virtually anything and it's beautiful.

You know distressed farm tables are popular. It wouldn't suprise me if you could get alot of money for it somwhere like craigslist.
You can always look for an oval table with a leaf. Remove the leaf and your left with a round (non-pedestal) table.

I would say that the old table has served you well. If there are that many issues, not just the dents in the top (which probably could be sanded and perhaps filled and then sealed), I say it is time to bid it a fond farewell.

Not crazy about the new set, sorry. It doesn't seem like the right look for your space. Not old school, as you recall it - it reminds me of the chairs in the reception area of my dad's law office when I was a kid. Not comfy, not meant to be, but rather utilitarian.

Have you looked at Shermag products? You can choose the size of the tabletop, the legs (or pedestal) the finishes for the top and legs and chairs either solid or wood/paint combos.

I have a round table and four chairs from them and have been very pleased. They are our kitchen set, and get used every day. We have the birdcage chair in the black and wheat combo, and the round table with the quarter round leg in the black and wheat.

shermag dining sets

Put both sets in the basement and go shopping! :)

First, I LOVE your kitchen. The hanging hurricane lamp is perfect there and gives it so much extra charm.

Your old table is perfect. If it were me I'd pay someone to fix up the old table, and leave the top smooth for the kids' homework and the entire thing strong. The color is perfect. I'd sell both sets of chairs and the new table on CL. Then I'd get totally different chairs that you find to be super comfy. Not high backed.