Well....this has turned into a discussion of pain ted vs not painted furniture.....when the forum is about antiques. To me things that were not originally made to be painted and get painted looks like "early marriage" decorating on a shoe string and if it looks beat up...paint it! And this assumption affirmed by all who says a Duncan Phyfe looks "Fresh and young" painted.... It would be criminal to paint those chairs...And I really think a painted Duncan Phyfe style looks very "improvised" painted....like look....I couldn't afford new....so I painted this! A real wood finish, with a coat of good paste wax....or if you must refinish it a coat of oil based poly is pretty resistant to wet glasses and milk spills.

I love your dining furniture! Your chairs are soundly designed, and I agree with itltrot that the backs of the chairs look especially nice. The chairs appear well built, and the wood tone matches your table exactly. I would see if they could be reupholstered in a darker color to contrast with your light rug, or even an ivory color leather if you like lighter tones, as I do. Leather or even a leather look-alike would be easy to maintain. Surely the cost to reupholster those great chairs would not be more than their replacement cost.

Thanks for the feedback, yayagal and walnut creek. I was beginning to get nervous about the black. I don't know if you looked at the Thomas armchair, but that is quite simple. When not in use, I was going to place them in front of the window where the low red/goldish chairs are now. I was getting them in a pretty seafoamish-sage green because all my furniture in the adjoining family room is cream. To go with them, I was thinking of these aimple mission style side chairs, in black, but maybe now to match the table, with the same green upholstery seats. Thoughts, photos? Here is a link that might be useful: Mission chairs

Just dug out some pics of the room, which might help. A few things have changed since this pic was taken but the basics are the same. I'll be getting new curtains and maybe a new rug too if I can convince DH. There is now a 5' tall narrow shelf unit to the left of the settee, a "bar" type small table where the floor lamp is (floor lamp is moved closer to the settee), and the stuff on the bookcases is all different now. Hard to tell the orientation from the pics, but the bookcases are directly opposite the settee.