OK. So I think that has been established for a while now, but what I’m really after today is some advice (professional or non), and I always get the best answers when I ask my blog friends.
See I’m hosting an Extreme Makeover (Furniture Edition) party next week, (I hope to see you all here), but none of my furniture is extremely made over, YET. I’m am hoping to crank out a project or two on Saturday, but before any cranking can occur, decisions must be made.
You’ll recall that I have been deliberating about dining room chairs for a while. Our table and 4 chairs (that I do NOT adore) were given to us by some friends. The table is heavy duty, and a nice style, but the finish is worn, and needs to be redone. I deliberated about the chairs, here, but didn’t end up getting the additional ones. So after looking at dining chairs and benches that all cost more money than I have or want to spend at this time, I was thrilled when I walked into Big Lots (of all places) and saw these solid wood benches on clearance for $30/each. (Yes, I even shop Clearance at the cheap stores!) I’m pretty pleased with them, and like that they give this area a much less cluttered appearance than the mismatched chairs I previously had in here.
Here is the dilemma. The are done in an ebony finish. When you get close, you can see a little bit of wood grain, but really they are black. My plan had been to sand down the table and stain it a deep walnut. I don’t think deep walnut and black will work well together. I need to go for the same color or more contrast. I am afraid if I try and get the same black finish on the table as the benches, it might be off a bit and bug. The two chairs on the end will be redone as part of this, and hopefully look much different!
So here are the options I have thought of. You can vote for one below, or leave me a comment with a new suggestion. This picture gives you a little more context (except for that blue plaid fabric on the couch…it will be gone, just as soon as Mom comes to visit again!). Keep in mind that we have very young children and need something that will stand up to their abuse (and not highlight their messes).
A) Paint everything black (I have bits of black in my area, but not sure I want the heaviness of having everything black) hope it matches the benches (I guess I could paint them again, too, but if it ain’t broke…)
B)Leave benches black, paint chairs black, stain table a maple (?) color. (I want to disguise some of the oak wood grain a bit. Not sure if this would accomplish that).
C) Leave the benches black, Chairs black, bottom of table black, top of table stained in a medium (maple?) tone. (I’ve been leaning toward this one. I don’t think it will be as obvious if the black finish isn’t identical when it is only down below, and won’t feel so over powering, since we have a lot of not painted wood around. Still not sure about all of that grain, though)
D) Paint everything creamy white (nervous about the kids on this one).
E) Paint everything a Martha Stewart green (These last two options involve more work on the benches, than if I can leave them black).
I will likely distress it all a little, just so it will look natural when my kids add their distressing. What would you do if it were your table? I wanna know!
And if you are feeling generous with your 2 cents, I’d love to hear what you would do with this little table. Serious sanding, yes. But then what?
Can’t wait for your suggestions! Don’t forget to come back, Tuesday Sept. 1 to hopefully see a finished project of mine, and share yours with me!
(Visited 9 times, 1 visits today)
What a cool project–and SCORE on the $30 Benches!
Ok, here's what I'd do…
-Leave the benches black
-stain the chairs green
-stain the tabletop dark maple and the base either green or black.
"Mismatched" is totally in right now!
Use those three colors around the kitchen and living area in flower arrangements or pictureframes
or get some tablecloths in similar colors to pull it all together.
If you can sew or have a friend that sews, you could make some long cushions for the benches in green/black–that would look so cool!
Just my 2 cents, we'll be waiting to see what you do! Have fun!
My work is done, time for bed!:)
I would paint the entire table and 2 chairs cream (yes, even with little kids). If you make sure you put a couple of coats of varnish/polyurethane on top of the paint, anything the kids do can just be wiped off. Then use coordinating cushions in the fun green or whatever.
As for the little table, depending on where it is going I would do something bold and fun – red, green, blue, etc. Lately I've been on a yard sale hunt for a small table that I can paint apple green!
Well, as a preface, I tend to paint everything black. I would paint the chairs black and the base of the table. Then stain the table top a darker and more red tone. Your kitchen cabinets look like they have more red tones in them and there seems to be a lot of burgandys in your living room, so I think a dark reddish stain work work and hide more of the grain that you don't particularly like.
I love looking at your blog and all your cute ideas, I guess that makes me a blog stalker and have never made a comment but I have a walnut table and black chairs and i hate it, it looks so wierd. I would leave the benches as they are, and paint the chairs cream (maybe with a green crackle finish?) and then do the table black top, cream base (or vice versa). Then use green as an accent color to make cushions for the chairs and a cute greenery centerpiece. I think Cream brightens up a room and I'm a sucker for black/white motifs.
I did a HUGE kitchen table project last year. The table was painted brown with 5 layers of varnish and I wanted to stain it. I completely sanded it down to find a mismatched piece of wood. So I ended up painting it white. I used an oil based paint for the table top with a hard foam medium (6 inches) roller. It takes way longer to dry but my kids didn't ruin it and I didn't have to put a stupid piece of glass on it. I would recommend oil based paint for the top and one or two layers of lacquer (we didn't do the lacquer and we were fine but it all depends on your kids ability to ruin stuff, i only had a two year old). Sanding lightly with a super high grain after every layer. It will pay off. Then we just used an oil based spray paint for the legs in the exact same white and those worked perfectly too. The oil based paints make cleaning the table super easy. Anyway I would do whatever it takes not to paint the benches unless they totally don't go with your final plan. I personally love antique whites but I think Black would go well with yours. Oh and my current table is stained and my chairs are blue (on purpose) so I just used a table runner in the same color as the chairs and it fits well so maybe try that. Runners are super easy to make.
Once wood has been stained it is almost impossible to bleach that stain out to stain it a lighter color, like maple. The grain in oak soaks up a lot of color and it keeps it, even after lots of sanding. That was my experience with a similar oak table. I was able to lighten it some, but not a lot.
I really like Anne Marie's idea of a dark red stained table top and black everything else.
Becky
Kendra, I vote for C! You're already 1/2 way there with the benches, I think you'll be fine with painting the chairs & bottom of table with a black satin too, it should match up pretty well with the bench. I'd go for a darker stain on top of the table, you could even try POlyshades in a couple of colors to get a tone you like. It stains & polys all in one step, in case you dont' want to completely sand the top & start over.
I definitely vote for C. Painting the base of the table black will help the benches tie in…and you won't have to paint the new benches. Great benches, BTW.
I vote C but with a twist. I think having the chairs in black would be too much. I think you want to promote the mismatched thing a bit. So either do a stain on them, with or without some black to accent. Or go really off the wall with them and paint them a color – red or blue?
Love your site, great ideas! I have a black dining room table with benches and LOVE it!! I think it give a modern feel to a classic table. Don't think it is too heavy in the space but I top it with fun vibrant runners, decor, etc.! Best wishes on your project.
Great pieces. I would paint and distress the chairs, table base, and bench black. Stain the table top a medium dark finish.
As for the little table, I think it would look lovely sanded and restained, or (without context) painted the MS green, or even red. Can't wait for the reveals.
XO*Tricia
Great pieces. I would paint and distress the chairs, table base, and bench black. Stain the table top a medium dark finish.
As for the little table, I think it would look lovely sanded and restained, or (without context) painted the MS green, or even red. Can't wait for the reveals.
XO*Tricia
Great pieces. I would paint and distress the chairs, table base, and bench black. Stain the table top a medium dark finish.
As for the little table, I think it would look lovely sanded and restained, or (without context) painted the MS green, or even red. Can't wait for the reveals.
XO*Tricia
Hi Kendra, I found your site when I was looking for a way to redo the same exact kids table and chairs. About your kitchen table set up- I like "c" also. I have a set myself that is all black (chairs and base) with a med/dark stain on top and I love it. Bench/ chair cushions would be cute too!
That looks a lot like my table.
Just checking in with everyone and to give an update.
I have a new party starting- Wed Sept 2. So each week I will have the Knock Off Knock Out party on Mondays and the Holiday/Seasonal party on Wed. I hope you come for a visit.
New buttons to grab as well.
Cheri
Its So Very Cheri
I have a mishmash in my kitchen and love it! My table is solid walnut and off of my wood chairs are from garage sales. Two are mustard, two are black, one is red and one is white.
I would leave the benches black, paint the chairs (spray paint is awesome) a contrast color and paint the base of the table black. For the top, I would go darker or stain it a color. Just remember, it is so easy to spray paint chairs, so if you are not happy you can change it!
Hello
I just got through painting and staining my oak table black with stain top and I love it. Come by my blog and you can see it so that you can decide if this is for you. :O)
Okay, I JUST saw the perfect example of what you need to do to your table…now I just need to find it again!
Your website is great!! How do you keep your kitchen grout so pretty ? (Refering to the pic of your kitchen)
Lately I've seen lots of cream/stain combos i.e. like the project you just did. But I've also seen the stain and black together and it looks pretty cool. So it would be cool to do the top of the table what you were planning on doing and the rest black…and just leave the benches black (or sand down top and stain them like the table top)…this probably doesn't make sense but just thought I'd share!