I would either paint it, or lighten the walls and rug, right now it all looks very dark. spraying furniture is pricy, are you painting yourself?

Yes, I would paint it myself. I have painted a lot of furniture, walls, and cabinets. Just a little hesitant, even though a lady that distresses furniture for a living told me exactly how she does hers - and hers looks great. Actually, the walls are a cream color and not very dark. I bought some of the paint that does not require that the furniture be stripped and redid my laundry room cabinets. Worked great & has held up over a year. Thinking of using that - it's a distressed white. What do you think - would it go with other things already in room?

Yes, I think so. Take a tip from one of the recent Houzz articles & paint the background of the cabinet a fun color like red or navy to make your dishes pop.

Also a battery powered light inside the caibnet

start with the cabinet first for sure and good point about the light from felix. for the dining table you could do the chairs different from the table.

I like this distressed look. file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Sharon%20Reifers/Desktop/Like%20this%20dining%20furniture.htm

Hello reiffers, I totally support and encourage you to go for it with the China cabinet.me what a great way to update an already beautiful piece of furniture. And I love your Transferware btw!

I wouldn't paint everything - maybe just the china cabinet. I'm also wondering if the china cabinet can be moved out from the corner and be centred on that wall. I think it would look a little more up-to-date that way, plus then it looks like it would allow you to hang stationary panels on your windows.

I'm noticing the blue colors in your rug, and thinking how lovely your DR would look painted a rich blue that pulls that color out of the rug. Ben Moore's Santorini Blue maybe?

It's a beautiful room and it wouldn't take much at all to give it a fresh, new look!

The cabinet has a light - I need to put new bulb in! Do you think white chairs and leave table stained?

I really like the transferware, also. Doesn't limit color choices in room. So, the majority opinion is paint china cabinet, only at first? BTW - the room is not very big and I already had this furniture when we bought house. I would actually prefer a corner cabinet or something smaller, but...

I can take the leaves out of the table to make smaller and then maybe the cabinet could fit on a wall.

The window has plantation shutters - they just happen to be open in photo.

Love all the comments. You have great ideas and have "almost" convinced me to take the plunge! Keep ideas coming!

Reifferss, Yes just do the china cabinet for starters. If you paint it all white you'll have a problem with white overload instead of cherry overload! But do consider painting the walls as well. It would be nice to see them in a color that will make the cherry colors just sing!

I'm guessing if you slid the china cabinet over, it would be difficult for seating everyone when you need both leaves? On the other hand, if you pretty much never use both leaves, yes, just take one out - problem solved!

I Love to use a spray paint that's being discontinued called Rust-oleum Painters Touch Ultra Cover 2X for the base coat . Since your wood is cherry in color , try a base coat of this paint in Sweet Pea SATIN ( baby pink) & then over that paint the color you want to be the main color. Something like a Paris Gray would be nice . The pink paint & the cherry will leave a reddish glow underneath the main paint color .Will see if I can find a photo of an example of this .

The wall used to be red which added to the darkness of the room, so I painted it a lighter color. The room adjoins entry hall (sage), den (dark kahki) and kitchen (brighter green) - all colors chosen by a local decorator. He chose the red dining, also. Everytime I go to him wanting to change paint colors he tells me don't - although he dosen't know I changed the red.

Painting the china cabinet will be a lot of work. You will need to remove all doors hardware and cover glass. Then sand every where before you prime. It looks like there is some fine detailing on it that may be difficult. Just wanted you to know that it may be more work then what you want. Totally your call but maybe consider selling it and getting something you really want.

Reiferss, How do you feel about the apple green in the kitchen?

And can you post the names of the colors, and brand?

Should be more worried about the potatoes green.

Chook I repeat - do you ever sleep???

I you want to paint it after 30 years you earned to right to do just that. Clean off the wax and have at it.

I like the rug! My suggestion would be to get rid of the china cabinet entirely. That will open up the room and make it a bit more modern. Recover the chair seats and take away the fake plants. You could change the chandelier to something simple. Add a palm in the corner where the china cabinet was.

Otherwise, your room is very well done.

I love your furniture! I would take it off your hands as is.

Sell the set on Craigs List or other source and start with a totally new look you love as much as you loved this 30 years ago!

Agree with Susan and deco...the cabinet you painted is plain, while your huge cherry cabinet is not. Also, you stated above that you had always wanted a corner cupboard. After thirty years, you have your memories and money's worth from the cherry set.

I'd try just painting the inside an off white color to brighten the cabinet to start with. And if that isn't enough then go for it.

I do not think painting this furniture is a good idea. Paint does not go with the style of the furniture. Stripping the finish is a huge messy backbreaking task and the results are not worth it. Sell the set and get something you like. Or to convince yourself buy something at a yard sale strip and paint it and then determine if it is for you.

Okay found a few examples of sites with paint color . the Chalk paints like Annie Sloan will work well & You could begin with a pink tone for the base coat & then paint paris grey over that . then add a small amount of a dark color , just a touch to the wax that you'll hand rub with the brush . paint the Chairs only to begin ,. If you like the chair colors , then paint everything on the table except for the top . that way your china cabinet & table still "match " . Paris grey is the color you see in the fine European Manors. To me is too stark without a red base coat that really livens it up /

This is a soft and slightly bluish grey, and is the color most associated with painted furniture in an elegant French chateau and of an old Swedish manor house.
The color deepens when dark wax is applied and creates a Cherry Red color. Stunning~ ... Elegant when using as a base with Paris Grey on top and distressed. http://hueology.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-3-no-need-to-prime-or-prepare.html

http://uniquelyyoursormine.com/tag/paris-grey-chalk-paint/

http://www.lilyfieldlife.com/2013/07/painted-french-console-paris-grey-with.html

Okay Don't panic when you see the prices of the "Chalk Paints" they are a bit pricey . You can make your own with online recipes . http://www.lilyfieldlife.com/2013/06/french-chateaux-chest-of-drawers-in.html

here's the recipe for the one using WARM Water , Plaster of Paris & regular paint samples. I would buy the chalk Paint in the red for the base coat so it will adhere properly followed by about 2 coats of your homemade mixture of a paris gray .

Thanks so much! Great paint ideas!

I like the cherry and the china cabinet. I would not paint it. Just change up the room by painting the walls, new rug and accessories to get a look you love. Once you paint wood there is really no going back.

This is a very old post!

I would love to pics of laundry cabinets because I am thinking if doing the same thing - want to paint them.

I think a bold pop of color would be nice. Especially in a lacquer finish!

I think this piece is 2 pieces the base and the hutch. I would remove the top hutch and store or get rid of and use only the base as a credenza/buffet. Paint it depending on your color palette.

OLD POST 2013

Update to 2013 post about dark dining room furniture. Instead of painting anything, I made slipcovers for the chairs out of painter's tarps from Lowe's. Had to make up my own pattern for chairs with and without arms, but it definitely lighten up the room. Cheap fix - about $40.

Can you remove the hutch from the large piece, Leaving just a buffet? With re arranging the furniture as others have noted, you'll save time, etc and still provide respite from the cherry. Without the top and extra leaf in table you'll be surprised how airy it will be. Good luck.

reiferss, nice job!

Sell the set. It has very formal lines, painting it won't change that. I love the bureau on the far left, that's a piece that should stay natural and the room could be designed around that--- if you want to change the look and the overall feel. The rug is another great piece too. Classics that can work in a lot of different ways.

If you are looking to lighten it up like your kitchen cabinets in the back ground try chalk paint and you'll get the same color. Then paint a few accent pieces with your main pallet & add some slip covers. I can see this room white with a new rug & geometric ocean patterns. It would flow nicely from the kitchen & be a quick & cheap fix!

What did you decide to do with this cabinet?

Did nothing with cabinet. Made slipcovers for dining room chairs out of painters cloths from Lowe's. Lightened up room.

I see the photo update now. Looks nice. Trends come and go but you can't go wrong with a nice piece of wood furniture.