Also, should I leave it as natural wood ? Or should I paint it another colour?

It's a beautiful dining set! Too bad you don't like the color because refinishing this is a big job! Actually, it's huge! Once the paint has been stripped, you will need to sand all parts lightly, clean and nourish the wood (Formby's has good products for that), then choose a new stain (color). After it's been stained (which may take more than one coat), then it will need a polyurethane protective finish (perhaps more than one coat). Minwax polyurethane Gloss Finish is a good product. Are you planning to refinish the piece yourself or have a professional refinish it? I would recommend you have a professional do it -- it would be well worth it. Here are some samples of stain colors for you to consider.
Christi for ThosBaker

Thanks for the tip Christi! I'm getting our regular carpenter to do it so your advice is much appreciated.

Here's a couple of pics of what the rest of the living room looks like.

I was toying with the idea of putting a wood stain for the table top and paint the legs a pop of colour. Too much?

chia, if you stain the table top, and paint the table legs and chairs the same or coordinating colors, I think it would look great, and not be as huge of a job as refinishing everything.

Paint chairs and table base the same with stained top would look just fine. Go for it!

Table is perfect, play with the seat brighter colour, stripes or even a nice Damask pattern

Zebra print on the seats!

Thanks for your suggestions everyone!

Thanks for your suggestions everyone!

I have a very similar table and chairs and when I was tired of looking at the dark cherry/mahogany finish I stripped just the table top down to its natural color and clear coated it, then I painted the legs and chairs black and covered the seats with a black and white print, it came out great and was very inexpensive!

You have a modern looking home but that set is very federal-style formal. I would paint them. Here are some. I might even paint each one a different color.

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You're very welcome Chia! I'm glad you're going to hand it off to a contractor. Now all you need to do is figure out your color scheme!

Since the dining set and living room are all in an open space, I would consider colors that will tie in with the living room. You don't want it to clash. I would also consider that since this is such a large dining set, whatever colors you use will be even "bigger" than if the set was, say....a small kitchen table. Once it's done, you will be living with it for awhile -- unless you sell it or refinish it again. So, make sure you really love the color!

It might be good to consider a solid color for the wood and then create pops of color by upgrading the chairs with a modern fabric. I like the black or gray because it would play off of the lacquer screens in the room. I also think it would be nice to leave the top surface unpainted, as in the bottom right photo. It all comes down to what makes you happy and what you will enjoy living with!
Christi at ThosBaker

Just for fun -- here's some fabric choices for your chairs. The gray swirl or lime green fabrics would be striking with a black table. All of these fabrics would work with neutral colors in the tables above. My only reservation would be that the lime green chair fabric might not be the best choice with the colors in the sofa and area rug. But, it's fun to play with ideas!
Christi for ThosBaker

I have one other idea that might come in handy for you. If you really want to go bold with fabric and color, without making it permanent, you could always use chair coverings in a fabric that you love. My only concern is that this been a design trend for many years and it isn't as popular as it once was. But, it's a functional option and again....it's what you enjoy living with.
Christi for ThosBaker

I've actually sent the seat covers to be reupholstered. Fabric choices are really limited in Malaysia so I've opted for plain raw silk textured vermillion.

You're right Christi, because the dining table is so huge, putting a colour on it will make it the central focus in the space so colour coordinating would be that much harder. Now with the vermillion seats, options are even more limited!

What about doing it in the same color as those two cute little chairs facing each other on the veranda?

If the chairs are already being reupholstered in the vermillion silk fabric shown above, then yes...you've got your color scheme! And what a beautiful one it will be. No worries -- it's a great color and a gorgeous fabric.

Get more input from other designers first, but if I were you, I would paint the dining room set black, which would be very dramatic with the vermillion seats. This color scheme will also work beautifully with the color of your sofa, so I'd have accent throw pillows made out of the same vermillion fabric for the sofa too. Last, to give the whole room a complimentary dimension, you might want to consider changing the area rug in front of the sofa to one that captures vermillion. Chia, you have the makings of a stunning room!
Christi for ThosBaker

And finally....once everything comes together and takes shape, you'll have a wonderful color scheme for accents on your walls, bookshelf and centerpieces on the dining table. Have fun with it!
Christi, on behalf of ThosBaker

Be careful of having to many colours though. Imagine a wood finished top with black legs, vermillion seats and gray frame. May be one colour too many!

Yes, I agree with Shen Loh-Lim. With the beautiful bright vermillion fabric you've chosen, it would be best to keep the dining table one solid color. Black gets my vote.

Christi, on behalf of Thos. Baker

love the set don't paint it. If real wood I think better of stained. Also if you want to do less work how about changing fabric on seat cushions on chairs. Me personally I think it is a beautiful set.

I would either leave the set as is, colorwise, or paint it black...and then, add a tabletop runner and jazz up the top with place settings and decor. With all of that going on, the table will not just be the focal point ;)...You will have a great rotating canvas on the top for different Holidays, Seasons, etc.... Your home is looking great :) Please post the finished project :)

Denagrl, you could put a couple of teal coloured pillows on the sofa to bring it all together. Cheap and easy to do!

Renos are done and we are into day 2 of living in our new home! Tons of boxes still to unpack and frames to be put up. But we're getting there! Here's a couple of snapshots of what our home looks like.