If you really want to replace the table, go for it if you can afford it. That being said, I think you may want to use some sort of protection while the kids are using it.
My favorite piece of furniture is one with age dings etc. that showed that our family really used it. My desk has the work Nana carved in to it by my first grand. I love it.
I love a home that looks like it's lived in. You have a gorgeous one.

Are you going to sell in the next year or two/ If not, don't worry about the condition of your floors for resale.

Have you looked into the cost of getting your current table and chairs professionally refinished? Just changing the table base and the chair legs and back to an off-white or a dark color would make the table and chairs look much better in the new kitchen. The wood top and seats go well with your kitchen colors, so I think you don't have to change them.

Susie- you kitchen is gorgeous- I don't think I have seen it before.
I think the dark table/chairs looks lovely. I too have a Canadel set which is a bit older than yours, and while I love the look of it it really has worn terribly.That is the only caution I would give. (and we used placemats and were generally pretty careful but we do live here--- and it is not just scratched but discolored). Sorry to put a damper on it- I do think it's a beautiful set and would go well in your home.

Keep your current set until the kids are a bit older and you don't have to worry as much. It's no fun having new things if you have to worry all the time because of the little ones. Your current table is very nice, you could always paint or staim it if you'd like, but I think It works well with your current set up.

I really like the set you have, and would echo the question whether you can refinish the table, maybe in a few years when you are through the messiest years. Both the chair design and the colour combination are really attractive and quite unusual in my experience. Is it comfortable? The proposed new chairs look like they have no lumbar support.

I think it's nice for kids to not be nagged all the time about being careful. I think having some good stuff is fine so they don't become completely oblivious to the effects of what they're doing, but being able to colour off the page sometimes is nice!

And I hugely prefer light to dark in that kitchen. So even if you went with new, I would stay with light.

KarinL

It must be fun having 5 year old twins! I wouldn't get anything that would interfere with my enjoyment of my kids at that great age!

My kids are grown now. I now it is a cliche, but really true.... they grow up in a blink of an eye. There will be plenty of time later for fine furniture. Enjoy every minute with them now, including the messes.

I like the set you have much better than the one you pictured and agree that it's better to keep that one until the kids are older. You can always cover those scratches and nicks with a nice table cloth. I can relate to that fear of scratched floors or messes from kids, but what I've realized through the years is that's just part of having a family and the difference between living in a "home" and not just a house.

thank you all-- i think i needed to hear that-- its not a model home- we live here-- told hubby maybe we can try to refinish it ourselves in the spring- or pick up a "used" set that doesnt cost as much so i'm not so nervous!!! thank you thank you-- time sure does fly and i'm tired of spending time on the house- i want my time back so i can enjoy the days with my family!!!!

Glass top to fit table.

I was going to suggest what you just said -- if you feel that you need a change, look for something at a consignment shop or CraigsList. Especially when everything else in the house is brand new, it's nice to have something that shows signs of being "well loved". If you want to refurbish what you have, I'd paint the white parts to match your cabinets (which seem to be more off-white or beige) and stain the light wood parts darker to match your island. And then stop worrying about wear and tear by the kids.

We put a beautiful addition on our house 3 years ago -- a large kitchen open to a family/sitting room and a mudroom. Hardwood floors throughout. About a week after everything was done, I could already see a path of scratches from the dogs' toenails (we have two fat bulldogs) right through the middle of the room. I was traumatized for about 5 minutes and then thought, Well, it was going to look like this soon enough no matter what!

I use that Restor-a-Finish stuff on my hardwood floor. It's like magic. I don't know if its' suppose to be used on floors or not -- I don't care -- I'm usin' it for the floors any way. That little can sure does make life a lot less stressful around the ol funcolor's homestead. Ginormous gouge in the floor? No worries, I have Restor-a-Finish!!!! :)

My kids did everything at our kitchen table - art, homework, playing games, crafts, etc. When I got the table 7 years ago our kids were 3, 8, 9, and 11. I would hate to have to worry about ruining my table, which is why I went with Bassett furniture. Their endurance finish is indestructable! The oldest even marked it up with permanent marker & it came off with soft scrub & never damaged the top. I'd keep what you have until your kids are alittle older- their just at the age where they'll be using the table more & more. Your table now really does look nice in your kitchen.

I can't advise you about the table. I have a Canadel table that I am disappointed in, especially considering what I paid for the thing.

I will discourage you from using fabric on chairs where kids will be eating and playing. My kids destroyed my fabric seat covers in no time. Wood is so much easier to just wipe up. Even in my dining room, which we use very rarely, it seems like I have to spot clean when we eat in there and my kids are 22 and 17.

Totally Confused

You have a beautiful home. I have to say really what sticks out about your post is your concern over the preservation from wear and tear of a young family.

I see in two of your pics, two children, I assume your precious twins.

I have a close childhood friend who after years ago of fertility problems, gave birth to healthy twins. When I first visited her home after the twins' birth, I was amazed to see/feel how tense she was about her white carpeting and her home in general. My DD was about 3 or 4 at the time of the visit and I found myself wondering whether my dear friend would change how she felt about "things". Priorities for some parents change, others put limitations on where the kids can eat, play, even the color of the juice they provide to the kids (and sometimes adults). This was 15 years ago, and sadly my friend is still consumed with "things", despite now having 5 children.

I think there can be a happy medium.

One of the first major projects in our home was having hardwood floors laid in every room. Although it was one of the more costly projects we've done, I really never gave any conscious thought prior to laying the flooring. We were then a young family with a full life.

When the job was finally complete, the floor guy nearly had a stroke when my then 3 labradors came bounding in to greet us. He actually could not believe that I wasn't upset at the prospect of the dogs on the new floor. He questioned me about blocking the rooms off from the dogs, or alternatively, keeping the dogs penned up. He actually told me that if he could, he would rope off my rooms like you would see in a theater or a museum. He was a great installer, came very well recommended and had more business than he could provide his quality service to. His anxiety over the preservation of the flooring that day was tangible and at the time, disturbing to me.

Being relatively new to this forum, I have read a few posts by Magnaverde and his mantra loosely stated - make the home for the life you have, not the life you want. I take it a bit further to include the life you think you may want.

I guess my point is, if the cost of the new table is prohibitive, don't buy it. If it is not, only buy it if you can accept that it will be in your home and will probably show the signs of life well lived. You have to listen to your inner voice and do only what you feel will make you comfortable. Doing otherwise would be counterproductive.

For me, those scratches, dings, etc. lend character to things, they tell a story. Things can be replaced, childhood, however, cannot be recaptured. If you will worry, keep the table you have until your children are older.

work in progress- thank you for your thoughtful answer....

This morning as my kids COVERED the table in playdoh-- i realized while i would love the look of the new table- it would only be a source of aggrevation and me yelling lol-- so we will keep the old- try to either refinish it or buy a used one that is in good shape and more the color i'm looking for. I cant see spending that kind of $$ and being ok with Playdoh lol

I've got three boys and my poor table has went through a lot!!! From one child getting mad and poking his fork repeatedly on the table, to writing on it with a sharpie. It's only a few years old and it shows plenty of wear. Yes, Magic Eraser takes it off but it also dulls the finish! I would not buy anything expensive like that until they are older. You can get something that is nice but doesn't cost a whole lot or yes, just refinish what you have.

It's your choice if you want a house or a home. Personally, I take a home that I can enjoy over a house with great resale value filled with furniture that could fill a museum.

Ha! Tryingtodecorate we have matching poke marks from when my kids didn't want to eat peas. We call them "memory marks" in our house. One wall has a bump from when my son & hubby were wrestling and put a whole in the wall. There are many more but you get the picture. Son now lives half way around the world and daughter 1400 miles away. I've come to appreciate the memory marks.

I'm not in the best frame to talk resale - after 12 years our house is worth less than we paid for it.... all the foreclosures around us. I say - live and enjoy - you never know what is coming. You can invest in making memories for your family. My mom never let us make a mess, or mess up anything. I feel suffocated still in her home. Just my jaded thoughts today:)