Its not a bad looking grouping. If it doesn't suit you, sell it or run it through an auction house near you. Unless you are experienced at refinishing, you'll likely not be happy with the results and will have made the pieces non-salable as a result. Grandma would want you to have what you like!

I often use buffet and hutch pieces in walk in closets for accessories , purses and hats even.I actually think the buffet is really attractive why not think ofwhere to use it like an entry or even in your new DR

Thank you both for your ideas @The KEEPING ROOM & @Patricia Colwell Consulting. I wouldn't mind making them work in the house. I think the red-toned finish just doesn't fit with my style. Is there a way of refinishing the pieces to a different, less red finish? Is this something a professional could do? Thank you for your help.

What is it about the "red toned finish" that doesn't fit with your style?? That would help us to help you with ideas.

The picture of the china cabinet looks like mahogany, which would have been appropriate for that time period. Mahogany means your Grandma had class, style, taste, and a little bit of money (or she saved forever to be able to buy it, which means she had perseverance). I like her already!

The table is very nice. If you have an eat-in kitchen, it would be a great kitchen table (as a family area, it would be the place to have something that honors Grandma). Or it would be a great conference table if you have a business/office that needs such a table.

The buffet and china cabinet could be separated from the table easily.. The buffet would be a nice dresser for a guest bed room, which can have its own personality within a home.

The bottom part of the china could also be a nice dresser for a guest bedroom assuming the top comes off. Or it could be a display in a library/reading area. Or now that I think about it, keep it together as a dresser in the guest room and put some books in the top portion for your guests.

If you can't get over the red, you should not try to refinish it yourself. You will just ruin it. A professional could possibly do something with it, but it would be easier to go darker than lighter. And it's not going to look good in Pottery Brown espresso. Before you go that route I would rather you give it to another family member who would appreciate the furniture for what it is. Or donate it to an organization that could give it to a needy family. Perhaps there is an organization that helps women who have escaped domestic abuse that could help someone start over with a little furniture at least. You probably won't be able to donate it to any of the larger charities (Goodwill/Salvation Army) , especially if you want them to pick it up.

If you sell it, set your expectations low, like $4 for everything. That's a little hyperbole, but no one wants to buy "brown furniture" right now.

PS. I don't care for the backs of the chairs, but I like the lines of the bottom. Sell them as a set. Someone is always looking for 4 or 6 chairs that match. If they want 4 and you have 6, sell them all 6 for the price they want to pay for 4....

you could use slipcovers over the chairs if that's a look you like or recover the seats to give it a different look & vibe. I think part of the problem could be trying to use it as a set. Could you use the buffet and hutch in a guest room or a bathroom or entry/hall to store items? Maybe figure out which pieces would give you the max use and keep those and get rid of the others.

I've had a few items for several years that were my grandmother's. They've been moved around between rooms and used for different purposes over the past 15 years or so. I am just now about to get rid of 1-2 pieces and keeping the other 2 that I love more. But they have served me well over the years.

I got $350 for a china cabinet like yours, consigned to a shop for 2nd hand furniture. I traded my mom's dining table like yours for an armoire worth $700. See about doing some swapping, selling, etc.

absolutely gorgeous pieces. i think lacquer is a great option to modernize some of the pieces if you dont want to keep the current finish.. i could see lacquer for the dining chairs and the China cabinet. The china cabinet could be used as a bookcase and storage in a living room or family room. I could see it filled with towels and toiletries and used as a linen closet in a bathroom. you could wallpaper the back of it.

I have a friend who runs a vintage store. She often refinishes brown furniture like this using a product called Fusion paint. No priming is necessary. She does amazing things updating furniture sometimes changing the knobs as well as painting. I’ll see if I can find some photographs.

No priming...just sand lightly. The end table was once brown with a leather top. That’s fusion paid with transfer on the top that’s then varnished to seal it in. Sometimes she leaves part of the piece in natural wood and paints the rest.

FYI, those are not made of mahogany. They are more likely maple of maple and have a cherry stain on them.

We painted our chairs; and leaving the table

A few options to help you decide, but so much depends on the size of space and also what is happening in the room.

Less formal table with new chairs. The original chairs can be reupholstered and placed in bedrooms - my daughter has one at her vanity for example.

If it just doesn’t work in your home, the set below was on sale for $1,100 as an FYI (ad has indicated it was sold)

I kept my mom’s China cabinet, chalk painted and filled with books and wood carvings and placed on my den

My sister left the sideboard as is and it’s in her living room with a tv overhead and mixed with modern furniture, it’s a really nice addition.

Beautiful suite of furniture…any brand name visible?

I, too, think the sideboard is gorgeous and would not paint it. I would suggest you replace the hardware, something Oriental to go with your Chinese pottery (I have one just like it).

etsy

The ribbon back chairs would be a stand out with paint and new fabric.

I'm not sure about the Duncan Phyfe table. My thought is to sell it, and the china cabinet and other credenza.