Those would look wonderful with my grandmother's maple colonial style hutch thingy, probably also from the '60s. Some of the pieces from that period were just awful ugly colonialwannabes with bad proportions and shortcuts on trim. But those chairs (and my hutch) look nicely made (and maintained). It would be a challenging DIY job to redo the cushions but if it would be easier to find a spot for them in your house in a different color, it might be worth having it done.

BGlad, here is a plan I found online which might be close to your house. You might have it reversed, which many builders and plan books could do. About your woodwork, I don't think it's been refinished...mine looks very similar, and I know it is untouched. And, it was never painted--even kit houses specified either natural finish or paint as options, with stain being the preferred choice whether the wood was douglas fir, southern yellow pine or oak. If anything has been done to your trim, I think at most it was another coat of shellac to even out the 'bumpy' spots which can occur after nearly a century. I'm torn about re-shellacking mine because I love the patina, but it would be nice if it was smooth again. I think that the ceiling molding in your foyer is probably later, done when the tiles were put up. Can't tell from the pics, but is the opening to your dining room just a wide opening, or is there a door of some sort? Here is a link that might be useful: Harris House Plan

It's Franklin-type stove. I grew up in house with one and it was not painted white. Before you fire it, make sure the white paint can take the heat. To my eyes (from only the Craig's ad pics) it looks like it was painted and is now, in its present condition, only a decorative accessory. However, you might be able to take any non-high temp paint off, and rehabilitate it. Although it has doors, it is not a modern air-tight woodstove, so it's essentially a free standing fireplace. You will have to take special care that it is installed safely. The best place for it would be in a fireplace hearth, perhaps with extra floor protection front. You may be able to see manufacturer's name or mark once you look it over carefully. I have a copy of a book on cast iron fire appliances made in the Troy and Albany NY area, if anything like that turns up on your examination, I'd be glad to look it up. There is also an outstanding collection of cast iron stoves at the Albany (NY) Museum of History and Art. The area was an early cradle of the stove industry and the stoves from here were shipped all over the world. I once stayed at a very remote farm high in the Andes in Peru, and was totally flabbergasted to find my breakfast being cooked on an enormous Stewart range, made in Troy c 1880. HTH, Molly~

Katie, your house is waaay cool. I live in a house about 10 years older than yours, and I'd like to share what I've learned: The dark wood molding, with its many imperfections, has grown on me in the year we've been here. The dings that drove me nuts a year ago are now character and patina, and I NEVER thought I'd see it that way. I have had great luck with Farrow and Ball colors. Dorset cream in living room, mouse's back (unbelievable color, you really have to see it with the old wood to appreciate it) in the family room, and light stone in the dining room. I also have farrow's cream in the hall and stairway, but i think it was a mistake; dark wood can take much darker colors than you think, and they all look several shades lighter up on the walls. There seem to be a lot of strong opinions about custodianship, which may or may not be off-putting to you (disclaimer: I've got a foot in the custodian camp too). But look at it this way: from a resale standpoint, as the years go by, a well-maintained older home with original details will pull ever and ever higher premiums from buyers, so you will reap the rewards of your "custodianship" in very tangible terms when the time comes. So, to me, self-interest and good custodianship actually align. Also, you will sometimes save money while you're living there if you have chosen period appropriate finishes, materials, colors, and decor: because they are timeless. I was over on the kitchens forum, and people were moaning about their "so-80's kitchen" and how to make it less dated. If you do things to the original decade of your house, they will never look dated: only timeless. You will never need to redecorate when styles change unless YOU want too. Now that's freedom! Finally, I found, and you may find too, that the styles appropriate to your house grow on you. When we bought our house, the first thing we did was remove the bronze statue from our newel post so we wouldn't clock ourselves when we moved in. We NEVER intended to put it back up, and almost gave it away to a neighbor. Well, it has grown on me, and I look forward to the day that I put the other "lady of the house" back on the newel post. (Dh would probably tell you are days that he wants to screw my b... on there--naw we usually get along lol!) So, enjoy!!!!