The dining set may have been handed down to you, but it's not that old, and its value would be largely sentimental because it's a mishmash of design details rendering it a style that is not collected.

I know you don't want them painted, but white paint will give them a new lease and make the set look like it was really planed for the home.

Thanks Beverly! Yes exactly it’s value is very much sentimental so we would like to keep it and use it and I need to design the room around it. Thank you for sharing these pictures, they are great! I might just have to think about painting them afterall!

Please don't paint your lovely dining room set. The wood tone is quite nice and adaptable to any color scheme you prefer and the style is transitional. I would only paint a dining room set if it were in poor condition to disguise it. (and I say it as I have one I inherited from a slightly earlier era myself).

Sentimental value is fine, and it is a nice set. And you can still be sentimental with it if it's updated. doesn't do anyone any good if you look at a dated dining set! Give her a makeover!

Take a look over at The Resplendant Crow. and look at some of the hutches here on IG.

https://www.instagram.com/theresplendentcrow/ 

check out the yellow china hutch she did. gorgeous. All of these started out w/that 1960's pecan or fruitwood veneer finish.

(here are some others , but make sure you look at her page and all the beautiful colors she does.

These are stunning. Much better than their 60 year old veneered wood finish.

tried a quick photoshop. now imagine the chairs done to match, and the seats done w/patterned fabric in the blues/whites. Try adding a nice piece of art over on the wall.

You could do this soft blue if you want to keep the same colors in your rug
and you don't have to do a super glossy lacquer either. a softer matte finish is also doable.

a soft black or matte charcoal would look nice w/your wall color. I'd pick a cream/black/beige print fabric for the chairs

I think this maker is the same as yours. this was done by Kayla Payne. The lacquer or heavy gloss enamels give these old girls new life.

She professionally paints these pieces from the 60's. (heirlooms? not yet. and they were mass produced, so really aren't even worth much. I'm also a pro. vintage furniture painter and refinisher, so I know how much these are actually worth)

However, if you plan on getting the seats redone, you might want to get that hutch lacquered. It will look so good. You could do a nice bright white, or pick out one of the colors in whatever new rug you buy.

This one is more of a creamy white, gold hardware, and a stenciled back panel. It's very, very pretty.

http://honeysweethome.blogspot.com/2012/03/drab-to-fab-makeover-hutch-love.html

consider a nice pattern fabric for your chairs, or else everything will look too sedate.

you could also have the chairs done in the same color as the hutch, and leave the table as is.

just to show you similar cane chairs from that era that were redone

You asked how to update it. This is the way to do it.

Following

Not a decorator but an owner of Grandmother’s dining set that I would never paint. (Well, maybe one piece) I love your table and chairs, such a pretty shape and wood. They look nice and warm and echo the warmth of the front door wood.

A piece of modern art will instantly change the mood and feeling of the room. You may want to start with this before you commit to changing the furniture itself.

You may find that if you paint the set but the art, rug, table decor and chandelier stay traditional, you may find that it's still too serious (and dated) for your lifestyle. From the toys I see in one photo, it looks like you have a young family. Your room style can be younger and more fun without changing the wood finish.

Repeat one or more of the main colours from the artwork in your rug, the new wallpaper for the inside of the china cabinet, and new fabric for the chair seats.

Be sure that the art you choose gives you a lift or makes you smile. It can be a reproduction, doesn't need to be expensive. But it will need to pull a bit of a punch to change the tone of the room, so it can't be small or shy.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/opposites-attract-modern-art-in-traditional-rooms-stsetivw-vs~385428

The first thing I would do I’d change out the chandelier and art. I would remove top of china cabinet and move buffet part to long wall with art and interesting accessories on buffet. You don’t appear to have much in the upper china so give that some thought. If you go in a French direction I would get chair back slip covers to help tone down woods.

A neutral tablecloth over the table in place of the table runner will lighten the look without major changes to the wood. Reupholstering the chairs will help but not as much as one would think as chairs are tucked under the table and out of sight.

Perhaps deep ceaning the wood will lighten it to its original color? Someone who strips and restains furniture could verify the latter.

Stephanie. You can pick any style you want. I just love French Country for your room. Just some ideas.

I'm in the camp of leaving the finish on your pieces alone. Certainly re-upholster the chairs and I think you could go a strong color in the wallpaper of the hutch, a deep navy?

Not a Pro.

I think if you did a nice shade of navy on the walls in the dining room, it would make your dining set pop. It would also pop from the rest of your rooms, making it stand out.

Change out your lighting and add a large pop of art. Change fabric on seating.

Some inspiration:

Glenveiw Residence · More Info

Some thing different:

Philadelphia Penthouse · More Info

I love that furniture and wouldn’t paint it ... it has beautiful lines, nice details, lovely color, and more depth as is than paint would. I think it works better for a transitional dining room ... it brings the traditional to the mix. I’m a fan of painted furniture, but more for pieces that don’t have original, redeeming qualities (although there are some beautiful examples posted here for sure).

There’s nothing wrong with embracing sentimental value, unless it’s something truly hideous. :)

I would wallpaper the big wall the bar is on. Of course there are a million photos in searches ... here’s some:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/wallpaper-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~a_3406-20866

You really could go in any direction: bold, colorful patterns, grasscloth in natural or colors, a muted color/pattern.

I like your idea of sconces with the bar.

You said you have gray in your house, too, which made me think of these rooms using vintage furniture in an updated style:

Not vintage furniture here, just showing the wall color and other elements:

I hope you’ll keep us updated!

Flo Mangan I really like those chair back slip covers! I'm looking at my own dining room set and setting up my sewing machine LOL!

Easy to make too! Get some brown paper from Lowe’s and lay a chair down on it so you can trace out pattern of the chair back. Then it’s like making a pillow case! Add ties you make from fabric or buy coordinating ribbon. Done. Have fun!