I think part of what dates the set is the wood color. If you don't want to spend the money to buy a new set, you could try painting the chairs and possibly adding a custom seat cushion if you like that look. You could paint the table base the same color as the chairs and then make a wood table top out of old distressed oak and then stain and seal the table top, bringing back the wood look to the set. I think you might get more bang for your buck getting an actual wood top for the table than replacing the chairs.

I like the chairs you have better than the new options and agree that painting them would be a better update than buying whole new chairs.

I have to say that I find Pottery Barn furniture overpriced and not particularly good quality.
I think painting your chairs would be a great idea, maybe dark blue or dark red, cream, black?

Painting what you have or changing the table top won't eliminate the curlycues. It's not a crime to want to change your furniture after 31 years.

Think outside the box. Check craigslist in cities that are a one-day drive away. Chicago is probably a six hour drive? Kansas City? Denver?

The advantage you have is that you are not in any hurry to do this. But when people are selling dining sets, many price them very reasonably because they take up room and they want them out of the house.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chicago craigslist dining table.

I have seriously considered painting the chair, table base and hutch....but I wasn't sure what color. My sofa is navy leather so I kind of like nosoccermom's idea of navy blue or else the ivory/cream. Although I'd love the pop of red I don't want it to look like a patriotic scheme. Painting it would look so different! Black seemed too dark.

But like graywings said it would still have the curlyques. Chicago is about 10 hours for us. Omaha, Sioux City and Sioux Falls would be my nearest options.

I'd also thought of removing the top of the hutch and making it just a server/ bar area and then getting a large painting to place above it.

More to think about.

If you want new options that are similar in price point to crate and barrel or pottery barn, but are real wood with excellent quality, look at Traditions furniture in Overland Park KS. They have a website with info on what they sell, and carry several lines that I think you would like.

The are in the greater Kansas City area (and also Wichita KS)

Personally I would change the chairs and remove the top of the hutch, and possibly paint the hutch. I think I found some semi-cheap chairs that would look nice, I'll link to them.

I've had a similar thought about mine. My dining set is a lot like yours. But my grandmother picked out this dining set and hutch when they moved here, and it's all I have left of her. I have the round table and 5(!) leaves to put into it.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Here are a few ideas for inspiration:

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[Transitional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2112) by St. John's Photographers Becki Peckham

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[Contemporary Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2103) by Denver Interior Designers & Decorators Andrea Schumacher Interiors

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[Eclectic Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2104) by Fort Mill Interior Designers & Decorators Kerri Robusto Interiors

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[Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Washington Architects & Designers Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc

Idea for table top:

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[Transitional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2112) by Charleston Cabinets & Cabinetry Hostetler Custom Cabinetry

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[Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Atlanta Architects & Designers Blount Architectual and Interior Design

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[Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Milton Photographers Michael J. Lee Photography

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[Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Edmonton Home Stagers Revealing Assets - Home Staging Services
Chair Cushions:

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[Eclectic Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2104) by Los Angeles Interior Designers & Decorators Lu Tapp

I really like the lines of your hutch.

I agree that replacing the chairs will provide an update

These are from JC Penney -- I've purchase 2 sets of barstools from them and I think the quality is excellent. They often run sales (25% off) and you can return them to your local Penney's if you don't like them....

The link below shows how paint can transform a piece. It doesn't show the before, but if you find someone who can do it for you, that would be a great way to go....

Here is a link that might be useful: Painted Hutch

Before you purchase a new set or start painting anything, I would try removing the top of the hutch. Hang a painting above it and see if you like the look. You can paint it later.

I'm considering doing the same thing. I have a hutch I inherited, and it just doesn't work in my dining area. It's shorter than everything else. You really can't get much for a hutch on craigslist, and I think removing the top is a great idea.

I would keep the table and just update with new chairs. If you like your table and it fits in your space I would save the money and just buy new chairs. I don't think painting the chairs you have would really make much difference.

When I bought my dining room set 30+ years ago, I spent the extra money and got really nice heavy oak chairs. I hate them. They are soooo heavy and big. I like my table, so I too am shopping for new chairs.

I agree that changing the chairs would make the biggest difference. I like your table a lot, but the chairs make it look dated to me (not so much the color IMHO). Have you ever thought about just putting slip-covers on the chairs? That can make quite a difference.

Otherwise I highly recommend that you sit in and closely examine the construction of any chairs you are considering. We bought brand new Crate and Barrel table/chairs about 8 or 9 years ago. The table is okay, but the chairs were both expensive and so crappily constructed. One completely broke beyond repair 2-3 years after purchase. The rest have all needed repairs due to the legs becoming very wiggly. I'm not sure what I want to do about the chairs, but I'm thinking about searching vintage shops after the new year and choosing sturdy chairs that sort of coordinate.

I have a similar china that I've been eyeing to paint. Here are some inspiration pics:

I like your chairs and they are probably much better quality than 90% what is out there right now. I like the idea of removing the top of the hutch. I'd be more inclined to paint the hutch base than paint the chairs.

Is the rest of your decor colonial or is it more transitional? Is your dining room open to the rest of the house or is it a separate room?

Have you thought about painting your dining room? Removing the chair rail and a fresh new color would be a nice change.

I have to respectfully disagree with removing the top of the hutch....
Just look at nosoccermom's inspiration photos! Paint and hardware to a long way. Plus, if you're like me, you need the storage for glassware or to display special items.

Here's another one. The blogger removed the upper doors and the support in between, then painted it black.
Before:

I like the navy

You've got a nice table, but I would buy new chairs. Do you need to keep six chairs out? It looks a little crowded. Could you buy four new ones and bring in the others as needed? That would work unless you set a formal table.

I would take the hutch off. There's no mistaking that's it Early American, and that might lessen with just the base in use. As nice as the painted hutches are, in your case you'll have the issue of the oak grain showing through the paint. Not a nice look imo.

I think if you take the hutch off and get new chairs it will get away from the curlyQ look. See how that looks first...then look into painting or replacing.

If you are *this close* to replacing the chairs, perhaps try painting them first to see if you like the look. TXBluebonnet's pictures are great inspiration--if you wanted to stay away from red, the creamy white in the 4th picture is really nice.

If you have the time and patience, paint the hutch, too. I'm in the middle of refinishing an old hutch to serve as a family media charging station (to get the cords off my counters). It's labor-intensive, for sure, but if you have the time, space, and inclination to try, it's worth it.

I agree with deee, that your chairs are probably better quality than most things you are going to find today. I think painting will make quite a difference.

I actually like your whole set but if you are tired of it after all these years I would paint the buffet and chairs and add a new table top. The quality of new furniture for the most part is nowhere near the quality of furniture from thirty years ago. I finally bought new chairs to go with our antique table. I loved our old chairs (most likely from the 1920's) but we had to keep re gluing them so we decided to get new. I am pleased with the quality but went to see them at the design center before ordering.

I just love the hutches that NSM posted. They are so similar to yours and look great painted!

I agree that what you have is in much better condition than what's out there. I would consider painting the chairs, hutch and base for a fresh look. I really like the white set in TXbluebonett's insipiration picture number #4.

I would do two things; paint, and add two new chairs.

The slipper chairs you see in a lot of the photos above are a great way to freshen things up. Ballard sells good ones inexpensively, with slipcovers that are washable. They are easy to move and comfy to sit on.

Id start with selecting those, (one for each head of the table), and then based on that pick your paint colors.

I know this is an old conversation but if you are out there hill_topgw, I'd love to see how things turned out!