I think the color leather works in your room just fine, but agree there needs to be some sprucing on the cane. Could you use a stain to richen (is that a word??) up the color?? A shade to go better with your floor, to not read so yellow-like??

I don't see them as dated at all. I think they are timeless and classic. I would clean them up some, maybe with some of that wood restore stuff. Then add some classic handmade pillows (needlepoint or toile) with some red. Also, if you don't have a rug in that area, a rug with some warm, spicy red tones. And while the lamp is on the tray table is lovely, I can see something in a classic brass or blue and white. Love the chairs.

Those are cool chairs, reno!

I know you've been on a paint kick lately, but I really like them as is. They have so many neat elements on their own and seem to melt into the rest of the room (in a good way).

Unless you want to have the appearance of separation in the two sections of the room, for some reason, I love them the way they are.

You already have painted molding and these chairs look so great against the wood floors.

Another vote for leaving them as is. I agree with sprucing the cane/wood up as it looks a bit scratched. Maybe a good cleaning of the leather if it's needed.

I also agree that the crystal lamp needs to be changed out. Something in the old brass finish would look great.

tina

Dixiedo, the part that you're seeing that's reading yellowish is actually where some of the stain has chipped off the caning. I can easily re-stain it, though part of me likes the chipped of part, as you can see the caning better. The darker caning barely shows up next to the leather pillows and wood floors.

Susie100, it's funny that you mention that lamp, and a possible replacement. Just this morning I told myself while in the shower that I needed to get a blue and white vase-type lamp! Great minds and all that jazz....

Parma They have so many neat elements on their own and seem to melt into the rest of the room (in a good way).
That's almost verbatim what DH said. He said the wood tones help them feel like they're part of the LR. Sometimes I don't know whether what he says is because he gets tired of my never-ending projects, or that he really does have a workable opinion.

I guess he's right this time. He'll be so pleased. :)

I wouldn't touch them. They're great as is.

Agree: Touch 'em up and leave as is. Nice chairs! Hmmm, a shorter lamp with lots of black would look great next to the, perhaps.

I'll make it unANNimous...don't paint them. They really are great looking chairs. Love the old but not broken down aura.

Ann

I agree. Love those chairs. They're a classic.
We have a caned wing back chair from the early 70's.
To brighten up the faded caning, an upholsterer suggested that I try a little paste type shoe polish on an inconspicuous spot and buff it out well. Haven't tried that yet---a little worried about it rubbing off.

This link shows two chairs painted and re-upholstered...

Here is a link that might be useful: Look here

Black frames with natural colored rattan....

Here is a link that might be useful: More chairs

Reno, don't paint them, but use a polyshades in a dark color~ maybe the walnut, or mix the mahognay and walnut~the mahogany is too red, the walnut maybe too brown. I started the 'black furniture thing' a couple of years ago, and have a select few pieces in MB, and LR. IMO, dark wood and black painted accent pieces make for an interesting room. I'm all for mixing things up, but you don't want to have too much of one thing.

After hunting for new furniture the last several weeks, I wouldn't change the upholstery. I saw a lot of butterscotch, rusts, carmel, color upholstery. It was accented with tangerine, and eggplant, which was very Tuscan looking and gorgeous. Olive green would also look great.....or red! ;o)

Lovely chairs! And what a fantastic bargain!

Another vote to leave well enough alone .... or basically STEP AWAY FROM THE CHAIRS ..... PUT DOWN THE PAINT BRUSH .....

deep breath

and another .....

O.K. -- and yep! great idea about switching out the lamp. Maybe something with a black shade? And a animal-print cushion for each chair??

Is that a paint brush behind your back?????

((just teasing! I'm just in the door from spray painting two mirrored sconces to black .....LOL!))

Jan

Go paint the kitchen woman!!!

LOL!! Okay, okay...I'll step away from THAT paint brush, and pick up the other one!

(I'm balking at the kitchen. Know why? I don't have all the paint I need, and need to go to Sherwin Williams. That's why I've said that 90% of the reason my other projects go so quickly is because I have all the materials on-hand. If I have to gather materials it takes me longer, and I start actually thinking about the work involved. "Hmmmm....all those doors will need to come down. I'll have to empty all the cabinets. I'll have to sand. I'll have to prime. I'll have to paint at least two coats....." If I just had the paint already, I'd be too excited NOT to just do it!)

:::Note to self:::: Go get the dadblamed paint, already.

:::Note to forum:::

I did find a cute blue and white lamp today, and already had a black shade. I LOVE the new lamp. (Can't beat it; it was only $7 at the Salvation Army!) It ties in all of my blue and white stuff, and the shade is just enough of the black. MUCH better than the clear lamp.

OMG!! You are the diva of deals, girl!

Just right! :)

Jan

This one was awesome. I hardly EVER go out and find just what I'm looking for, the same DAY I decide to look for it!

They had 2 of the lamps. Now I'm wondering if I should have bought the other as well. I don't need it in the LR, but I so love blue and white! Grrr.... I probably should have bought it. I probably could have found somewhere to use it.

They are so beautiful as is and for the price, WOW!!

However, just out of curiosity . . .

{{gwi:1547758}}

No, no, no! For the love of God.

Wow! $5 a piece ?? That's an amazing deal! I've been looking for a set of cane chairs rework and paint for ever, but so far, nada. Personally with the leather, I love the natural finish, they are very warm and have a beautiful patina, Reno. I'm with the leave them as is camp. Beautiful chairs, awesome deal!

Wow! Thanks Kellyeng. I am totally not good at photoshopping intricate pieces that that.

I actually greatly dislike the black! Whoo hoo! Now I truly can step away from the (black) paintbrush.

(And I promise, I'm going to Sherwin Williams tomorrow to get the yellow paint!)

Slightly different chair style, but "DROOL" all the same...

{{gwi:1547759}}

Here is a link that might be useful: $799 per chair

Parma...that cracked me up!... "NO! For the love of God" ;>):>):>) Also teacats"is that a paint brush behind your back?" Amy: "go paint the kitchen, woman!" You guys make me laugh. Love it! p.s I hated the black chairs, too. Love the lamp.

Okay, I am glad you hated the black, because I agree with your DH that it was getting to be a little much...

Now, here is something that I think could be amazing, given the style of the chairs, but I will probably be the only one. I think they could be stunning in a cinnabar red finish, antiqued a bit especially on the caning. Then an oriental toile, or something like this one for the upholstery.

bonchere wheat

Great chairs - I love caning. No need to change them at all, just polish and stain a bit and you are done!

reno,

what about using the crystal lamp shade with the white/blue lamp?

Puna, I tried it, but that lamp shade is champagne colored, and the white on the lamp is very white, so it didn't look good at all. They clashed pretty badly.

Les, I love that toile, and actually have it bookmarked for a chair in my other room!

too_bad :-/

Somehow the black just does not work for me :) and searching blue/white lamps, all had light shades, although that does not mean anything for your house of cause ;)

LOL, no problem. In real life the black shade helps tie in the black secretary to the immediate right of the chairs, and the black piano. It's *just* enough to give the whole area a cohesiveness that just wasn't there with all of the other shades I tried, including gold, white, cream, bronze, etc. (I have about a million different shades!) Other than white, no other shade worked with the lamp at all, but the white shade was too stark to tie in the other side of the living room, and the other lamps I already have in place.

I'm another one that's glad you left those chairs alone! I love the leather on them. Also like the new lamp with the black shade!

Is that a lamp I see on your piano? Ooooo pretty.

The chairs are incredible, you lucky bum! (an expression from my childhood, not to mean disrespect)

Just yesterday when reno posted the pic of the blue and white lamp with the black shade, 'chijim' and I had been discussing the SAME THING! I have some blue and white lamps, but in my current decor, the white shades just seem too stark. I'd like to maybe use the lamps to lighten up my look a bit for spring and summer and knew if ANYONE had a pic of a blue and white lamps with a colored shade, he would. From his extensive inventory of photos -

So, reno - You GO, girl! You've gone black; no need to go back!

My3Dogs, Holy cow, is that ChiJim's personal home? *Beautiful*!!

We'll just buck a bunch of trends and have brass, black shades with blue & white, and love every minute of it!

Jim's is just as stunning, but these are from his books in his library of decor 'inspiration pics'.

I swear he can come up with a sample to inspire one to try anything. I 'met' him on HGTV when he posted a picture of a beautiful bathroom with a sink I fell in love with. I wrote him about it, and we have been wonderful cyber buddies ever since. He has pointed me to some lamps that I have later bought, and we share ideas and pics frequently. He's my mentor in Chicago for this hick from the sticks in Maine!

Reno
Great thread - Great chairs, agree step away from the paintbrush - they are cool and def add to your room
I think a good cleaning (I use mineral spirits, superfine steel wool, toothbrushes, baby diapers you get the pt) in every knook & cranny - after you have the wood really clean put some marker type stain & rub in - then you could lemon oil - recondition the leather, get in all the knooks then add a lovely little fabric pillow - done!

GL