this set was given to us by sean's parents, very generously, when we bought our first house. yes, my mother-in-law just read about how i think her old dining chairs are sort of ugly. but! she has a beautiful thomas moser table now so, you know, she wins.
sean (the recently converted mr. spendy) keeps saying - just buy a new table and chairs! but i really really like to make do with what i have (if you will) which i think is a concept totally lost on my generation. we all want bigger and better and shinier! and a walk-in closet! just like the pleasure i get from a recipe that uses up all the almost-bad veggies in the fridge drawer, upcycling (ugh, i kind of hate that word) our furniture is so gratifying. or maybe i'm just that cheap.
anyway, i actually like the table and love the idea of our someday kids eating at the same table that sean grew up with. and my first step to bringing the chairs into this decade? paint! of course! i'm thinking a minty green. maybe? (nobody seems to think this is a good idea but me)
i have no idea if a fresh coat of paint will make my ugly chairs pretty. or just make my ugly chairs green.
and the second step? buy new chairs.
Have to say, I don't love the idea of the mint green....but I do love the idea of painting them. And then get some funky patterned fabric and get some seat cushions made. (A Sunbrella fabric would be good, so you can keep them clean easily). I am dying of envy over your rug, by the way! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Carol-Anne and of course I would go with a color that blends with the livingroom.
ReplyDeleteYou my be just cheap, in your genes; ask any Wrona.
I actually kind of love the classic lines of the chairs but agree that paint could help freshen them up a bit. I don't have any color suggestions. A dipped-leg effect could be cool though.
ReplyDeleteYeah, man. That could go either way. I love the picture, but your chairs are a very different shape/style. I like Charlotte's suggestion of dipping the legs.
ReplyDeleteyes, paint can absolutely make ugly chairs cool. i would LOVE to have the chairs you currently have. they are obviously well made and i think the traditional style of them makes them even more perfect for a funky shade.
ReplyDeletedid you know that i bought a bunch of chairs at Salvation Army and then painted them all bright red? Every one thought I was crazy. But now they are one of the things I get complimented on most. So, I say go for it!
haha--the joke's on both of us--that set came from MY mother-in-law! at the time, i was thrilled to replace our old mid-century set, and the cabinets that went with this were a godsend in our tiny kitchen. now, someone in your area is making good use of the corner display cabinet and the smaller console is still serving the family at the beach cottage--win win!
ReplyDeletei saw in coastal living (??) a similar table with only the base painted. the best part of your table is the smoky glass topper--dresses it up for the dining room and hides a myriad of flaws, and is great for cleaning spills as well as protection from matchbox cars ;-) i see this chair style often, so i guess it's a classic. but i would definitely consider at least cushions--easy to change when you get tired of it, too. coordinate with table base color?
not a fan of the mint green, but then, it's not my furniture anymore! *LOL*
I think mint green could be very cool, but I think you need to paint the table as well. Mint green chairs with the existing table finish might look funky (and not in the good way). Have you thought about painting the chairs two different colors? Like two and two? I saw that on Pinterest (of course I didn't pin it and now can't find it) with a neutral table (white) and two red chairs and two turquoise chairs.
ReplyDeleteoh, don't paint the table at least not to match the chairs. I think the chairs will stand out more a different color but not the mint green. I think we are all agreed that the mint green isn't a good color for those chairs.
ReplyDeleteI get it! No one likes the mint green! ;)
ReplyDeleteI still like the idea of painted chairs and the wood table. Or a painted base. Or dipped legs. So many options!
What about just changing out he legs? They are the most dated looking part?
ReplyDeleteOMG, no, I love those chairs!! I love the table, and the chairs are perfect for it. And the color of the wood is so rich and brown. Please don't paint them! I agree with your mother-in-law (making this the first time that I have ever agreed with ANYONE's bother-in-law;) and I would have cushions made for them. You can choose a wonderful, even expensive fabric, cause you won't need much, and anything you do will be easily changed whenever you decide you don't like it anymore. OK, that's my two cents. I can't wait to see what you actually DO!
ReplyDeleteXOXOXO
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Another vote of NO on the mint green! I think painting them could be neat, but I also agree that they are architecturally interesting on their own, and maybe some really nice cushions and a fun rug under the table could achieve the effect you're looking for. Or at most, dipping the legs of the chairs.
ReplyDeleteJust my very thrifty $0.02 :)
I definitely think so cushions would spice up those chairs a bit! Not opposed to painting them, but it'd have to be the right color...
ReplyDeletehi! you don't know me but i'm going to offer an opinion... i vote paint the base of the table white or a light gray, and keep the top stained the deep natural color. then paint the chairs butter yellow, or a cornflowery blue, or a different shade of green (not mint sorry), or a mix of all different colors! i'm a big fan of paint.
ReplyDeletekeep the chairs brown. paint the table the yellow from the curtains or a grey-turquoise(?) from the rug. The chairs are classic - if they are still sturdy. Besides - painting all those rungs - ugh! If you get a rug - the chairs won't match/compete with the floor as much.
ReplyDeletekeep the chairs brown. paint the table the yellow from the curtains or a grey-turquoise(?) from the rug. The chairs are classic - if they are still sturdy. Besides - painting all those rungs - ugh! If you get a rug - the chairs won't match/compete with the floor as much.
ReplyDeletekeep the chairs brown. paint the table the yellow from the curtains or a grey-turquoise(?) from the rug. The chairs are classic - if they are still sturdy. Besides - painting all those rungs - ugh! If you get a rug - the chairs won't match/compete with the floor as much.
ReplyDelete