Just use primer paint and then paint the color you want. But you'd better the sand the surface and clean it first before you do and painting work. Here a profession wrought iron company in New England Area, especially closed to Boston. If you want to get some Wrought iron products, the company definitely you need to go is Evan's Home Luxuries. Their wrought iron railing and forged products are really gorgeous. They also make marble mantels, marble statues, marble fountains, marble gazebos, marble tile only for $3/sft. They also sell Copper doors, Brass Doors and Bronze doors. You will not find these products in other company here. Hoping this information is helpful for you guys. Their websites is http://www.evanshomeluxuries.com.

I have lots of wrought iron, and this is what I found to be the most effective. I use wire wheel attachments on my cordless drill to take off any rust, obvious chipping and other rough patches, sand lightly with a sandpaper foam block (it forms better to the different kinds of surfaces) to rough up the painted surface, dust and clean well, then paint with a good primer and three top coats. I use Rustoleum in the spray cans, but I my iron is mostly outside. The spray cans are more expensive and messy, but I cannot duplicate the smooth surface no matter what kind of brush I use. I have also used spray paint indoors, but only after constructing an elaborate "tent" from boxes and plastic bags, and opening all the windows and covering everything within reach. Using spray paint this way would be the most timeconsuming part of the process, but worth a test run on a small section and comparing it with a handpainted section. If you decide to handpaint it, foam brushes work best. I use the new kind that are pads with a silky "fur" on the top...they make small ones meant for window sashes, but it can be time consuming and you can go through a lot of pads (they're cheap though). And if the new paint chips or rusts, it's a simple matter to touch up with a little sandpaper and paint. Hope this helps. PS: Also use plenty of protection -- My house was built in the 60s, and I bought it from the guy who built it, who left me every paint can he ever used on/in the house, so I have no lead paint.

I have done white below in my last 2 dining rooms. The first was a green above and this house has a chocolate brown above. I absolutely love it. I also did a board and batten treatment in my upstairs hallway with gray above and I love it too! I definitely like the look of color above/white below.

It's my opinion that, the less you have going on with the walls, the bigger the room will seem. So I would keep the chair rail, because it does protect the wall from being dinged by chairs...but paint it the same color you paint the walls. I'd even go so far as to suggest that you paint everything the same color as the walls. Use eggshell finish for the walls, eggshell for the chair rail, semi-gloss for the rest of the trim, and paint the ceiling with a paler tone of the blue. That will expand a not-so-big room more than anything else. Some of the most sophisticated rooms I've ever seen have done this...it allows the shape of the woodwork to add depth and interest just with highlight and shadow, and puts the real focus on your table, your lighting, and your curtains.