I'd get rid of it, and purchase a buffet to put a large beautiful painting over it. I'd match the accessories on the buffet with the beautiful chandelier.

I can afford new but paid a lot for this back when it was in style. I am not in love with the cabinet but the table is nice and chairs are comfortable. Went to talk to someone today that specializes in chalk paint and she said I could cover it...not sure what to do. If I do paint the table, what would you replace the cabinet with?

paint everything, changes completely. You can also put on the chairs nice pillows

Maybe buy new chairs & paint the table. If you're going for a different look you could paint or re stain table & 4 chairs (or all chairs) & just buy 2 upholstered chairs for either end of the table. You could remove top half of the buffet & put art above it or leave top half & paint or stain entire piece.

Sell and buy a darker-toned wood set

What colour would you paint or stain it?

My SIL painted her oak set black, except for the the table top which she refinished darker. Looks good.

That was my thought, the style of your table is nice.

I inherited an oak coffee table with marble insets a couple years ago, which was a really nice piece if a little too 1970. So I did a couple layers of black chalk paint - looks like a brand new table.

Definitely agree with all black and a dark stain on the table top. Maybe even covers on the seats, just for a new look.

I think it would look great done in black! You might want to get a couple quotes on having these professionally spayed though; the finish will look hold up better and look great! I did this for a client a couple years back ; kept the top wood but had it stained much darker. It looked beautiful. I wouldn't be adverse to seeing the whole thing black though with a bit of rub through. I like your chandelier btw!

I'd sell the china cabinet and use the money to pay a professional to paint the table and chairs in a nice sprayed on lacquer finish. Black would be great.

From what I can tell of the picture, the cabinet and table look like lovely shaker-esque pieces. If they're solid wood, they might be worth keeping if you're willing to invest the time.

Depending on your personal preferences and the style of the rest of the house, I'd recommend looking up some shaker colors. They tend to be very earth-toned yet bold at the same time.

As far as type of paint, I'd recommend chalk paint. My mother in law swears by this Plaster of Paris recipe (No. 2 on her list) that's very easy to make yourself. http://salvagedinspirations.com/best-homemade-chalk-paint-recipes/

Best of luck!

Start with the chairs first…paint them black like the chandelier. If you like that, paint cabinet black and the inside of the top piece the same color as your walls. Then invest in new hardware

Assuming your current chandelier, nice, is the one we're discussing, and without shades? -- checking that it's black and not an iron-grey.... cause I wonder if you like idea of repeating a bit of black.... but what about a deep ink country blue?

pass it on

actually white might look really nice =)

Sell. There is no going back after the set is painted. The set looks like solid oak or ash - someone out there would love it. Then purchase what you want.

Let's imagine that your current set is painted black as suggested and you saw it in a show room with other dining tables/chairs. Would you still purchase this set?

If you decide to keep the hutch, I think we need to see more of the room as it seems a bit "off" where it is placed based on the one photo.

It's difficult to offer other color suggestions since we don't know what other colors that you have in your home but here are some other paint color ideas, You might even consider adding upholstered cushions as IMO it would take your set to the next level.

This is an oak piece I had sent out to be spayed. It's not nearly as nice as yours but with new hardware works so much better ! As JudyG says paint the inside a light color and it will be transformed.

I painted my oak stuff black and o have been pleased with it for 12 plus years. I guess it depends on your budget. Good furniture is very expensive so o have always figured why replace the existing with a lesser quality piece, so I just painted.

I agree, black would look sharp. For something different you could use the base of the table and simply mount a new top perhaps soapstone or honed black marble. Paint or wallpaper the back inside of the cabinet. I guess it depends on what you are feeling as aunthelma suggested. Good luck.

Black. leave the tops the wood. those two tones look great together. Try a black chalk paint. super easy to do and goes w/the style of the furniture.

heres an idea of what it would look like.

You can paint it, but it won't change the style, which is fine as long as you like the style.

I painted my old, dated set a bright white: White Dove-Benjamin Moore and I like the way it came out; nice and bright.

They are great pieces. Since your floors are dark, I wouldn't paint it black unless you are planning to put a lighter color rug under the table. It needs contrast with the surrounding space.

We do carpentry as a hobby and I have used milk paint on some pieces. I personally would strip table and chairs then stain chairs either a bold color that works for my house or a deep grey nearly black. Table I would keep on the lighter neutral side.
It looks too nice to cover with paint, even milk paint.
I would sell the other piece, if you feel you should let it go.
Good luck!

You already know you want to get rid of it you just feel like you should keep it because it's oak. Give it to a young family or college student and buy something more current that better suits the room! Rip the bandaid off!

Besides the style, one problem is the lack of color variation. Starting with the cabinet, I would put a strip of wood across the bottom to hide the dated curved design. I'd remove the cabinet doors to make open shelves and put strips of wood along the trim to hide the upper curves and nail openings. Then, I'd paint the cabinet white on the exterior and put new steel handles on it. I'd leave the area inside the cabinets the oak color. Or I'd go a dark gray on the outside and white on the inside. As for the table, I love it! I'd paint the base white or dark gray, depending on what color you choose to paint the cabinet.

Painting is all the rage if you want to update and change the look of your room.

Paint can change the whole look from outdated to updated!

Paint!! I was introduced to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint by a designer friend. Ever since then, I have been painting old pieces and they look great.

Inspiration photo... sisal rug (makes separation between dark floor & black dining set) , black table & chairs ( with light cushions), white cabinet (don't have to make dining set & hutch matchy). If you keep your hutch, I'd change the upper glass doors out to plain as the window pane look is help dating it.

Would you like the hutch better if the doors were removed?

i think I would.

i agree w black and painting the inside of cabinet light color and for sure new hardware

we placed grass cloth wallpaper under a glass top (no glue) on similar size table-adds color and texture-which matched seat cushions

its good furniture-keep it and have fun w it!

I have a couple of antique booths and I paint a lot of furniture.

I also don't paint a lot of furniture.

My suggestion is to paint the chairs black and then look at the room for a while.

I would probably visit the thrift store and get a cute and sturdy chair to practice on first. I also would not paint it with latex. Chalk paint or milk paint, depending on the finish you want.

Chairs are not really fun to paint. Get a bunch of movies and music you like and realize that you are not going to want to do more than one or two in a day.

As for the cabinet, those are not fun to paint either. My suggestion is to paint the back first and see if that is enough to liven it up. It looks like bead board and will be cute painted. It will be a lot easier if the shelves are removable.

If you decide to paint the whole cabinet then how is the glass in the doors attached? Some glass is removable and that makes things simpler.

You do not want to open the cabinet door to reveal unpainted wood behind the glass.

I recently bought and painted a cabinet and I looked at the door glass and was happy that it was removable. But I did not look closely enough as one door had the glass glued in so I had to take it to my glass man. He had to break the glass out and remove the silicone, then I took it home and painted it. Then I had to take it back and have new glass installed. It made the whole project a lot more expensive, but it came out really cute.

If you are thinking of selling the set, be aware that oak is not in fashion currently and you will probably not get a good price for it anyway.

http://www.casaart.bg/dining-room/sastareni-vintage-retro-shabby-chic-mebeli-za-trapezaria/bufet-bella-casa2014-03-09-15-21-12-detail?lang=bg

More inspiration photos for painting chairs black but leaving the table as it is.

Remove the cabinet doors on the hutch, paint the outside of the cabinet black but the back of the shelves the same color as the walls or striped wallpaper the color of the walls and a golden color.

I personally find it difficult to part with furniture and always end up painting or updating it in some form. I would paint it. I've used chalk paint on oak with great results. My colors were deep red as the base, sanded lightly and glazed with a deep brown glaze to give it depth and aging effect. Came out great and the paint is very durable. Worst thing that can happen is you don't like it and sell it.

I have a similar hutch, but years ago, changed my style so moved it into our home office. It's great for storage. Just an idea, in case you decide to replace.

Paint with natural or stained top

Hi wb14,

Painting black will make your room just dark. Not recommendable. The problem is that your natural wood furniture doesn't feet to the rest of your room or the all the way around, the floor is dark brown and the walls are grey. It would be good to see the rest of your room to give better advice but from what can be seen on the picture every part of your room has different style. First of all you have to decide what style you would like to have. I personally like the natural wood so I would recommend to rather paint the wall with warmer colour rather the your cupboard and table. Haw about green? And get a light rug so the room is not too dark. In case you would like to paint the furniture I would go for white or combine, some parts paint white and other leave as they are. In this case changing the colour of the walls is also recomendable. If you would be interested I could make 3d model for your room which will visualise all the possible options. Just drop me a line.

Marcin

http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/query/green-walls%2C-natural-wood/nqrwns/p/16

Here is what we did 10 years ago with our 35 year old golden oak set. Made me love it again!

I can't see who tagged me in this via FB but Thank you. If you don't love it, paint it. Home is about having pieces in your home you LOVE! Nothing else matters. You should be able to walk in and see that table and grin not cringe :) If you would like any inspiration or ideas please reach out in our support group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/shabbypaintsgroup/

Paint it with chalk paint then seal it with polycrylic for durability! It will look great! No need to buy new when you can get creative and bring new life into a piece of furniture you have. Plus it always makes me feel proud when I transform something I didn't like. It always makes me love it then!

It definitely takes time and effort but totally worth it!

Here's. my before and after I had the same diliema , I got rid of the chairs and brought new , took the top off the China cabinet and used the base only , pained the base in BM cloud white . Then I sanded and stained the table and top part of the lower cabinet to match . Was a lot of work a few hundred dollars in paint , but for now was worth it as I did not want to buy new for this house as planning on moving . Hope this helps your decision .