I read recently, seriously, that black is the new black.
Personally, I like grayed greens.

I don't see white in furniture much anymore unless it's a cream/bisque but of course, I would get what works best in the context of your house.

Thanks! I'll have to see if I can find any articles about it. I like the grayed greens too, brings to mind the table Msrose just bought for her dining room. Really lovely. Cream or off white is more of what I had in mind. I love the look of black, but hesitate on actually using it. I think it may be too strong for the small room we have.

Bumblebeez is right. Whatever is best in context of your house. I wanted a black island forever. But when the house was under construction, and the sample door came I knew it was not right. I did get my touch of black in the back hallway hutch. Black is a strong color and it is a small space, but it works. The island ended up F&B French gray (a grayed green).

Our breakfast room table is very sturdy. Originally, it was a white base farmhouse table with a maple top. When we redid our kitchen, last house, the white no longer worked and the chairs were scuffed so I had them repainted and glazed a cream color. Much better.

In our current home, I almost decided to pass on the table to DD2, but our children grew up eating around it and it's a nice table/chairs (came from Storehouse, probably 1990). But the maple top was too "new" and bright for our new "old" house. So I had a new top made and the maple is in our lower garage waiting to become a workshop table.

Hi Allison, yes, I totally agree, the space really dictates what is right doesn't it? The French Gray you chose is a beautiful color and perfection in your kitchen. The breakfast area we have is not a large space at all and I suspect the black would eat the space up visually.

Your story about your table is somewhat similar to ours. The table I'm refinishing is about 20 years old, really nothing special about it except I've always liked it and through the years, it has been a part of all our memories. We've tried other pieces and struggled with quality and/or design. Problems I've never experienced with this table, sprucing it up and bringing it back to the dining room just feels right.

hmmmm I'm still seeing alot of the creme/off white or a distressed/waxed white (which will then look more off-white). Especially if you lean towards cottage style. I looked for well over a year for a set of cane back dining chairs. You just don't see them around here. I'd lust over them on blogs. They must be THE THING in California LOL!! Finally found a set. They are off-white and I am not using them yet - plan on using them with an old oak pedestal table. Will need to do some redecorating and have not decided what to do yet - I'm thinking I may need another piece of painted furniture in the room to tie it all together. I drooled over Marian (Miss Mustardseed)'s chairs for a long, long time! And she's on like her third set (at least)!!

I use what works for me and what I(we) like. What works in our house. Not what is the trend. I've heard time and time again that every room should have something black, but honestly that just doesn't work for me or my house.

tina

Hi Tina, no, I wish I was leaning towards the cottage style but our house is saying no. With it's oak kitchen cabinets (that DH won't let me touch grrr) and colonial style, it's screaming more traditional, rustic or even a little bit country (hopefully french).

The problem I'm having is I fully intended to go with the off white look cause that's what we've always had and are used to. However when I started looking for new chairs, the majority of what I like is in black or wood only. I prefer to avoid going with wood because between the floors and cabinets I'm afraid it will just be too much. And I don't want to try to match any paint treatment the off white chairs may have on the table. Black is basically the easiest way to go or have a white farm table with wood chairs with the hopes it will be enough white to tone down all the wood? I'm in a quandary with it, can you tell? LOL

Your chairs and table idea sounds lovely. With as long as you've been wanting them, I'm sure they will make your heart sing after you have them in place. You are so lucky that you KNEW what you wanted and what your space needed!!!

In addition to the table and chairs we too need a second piece in our little dining area. I've been looking for a hutch I can spruce up for months now. Sometimes the process can be so dragged out, it seems like it will never come together huh? I think the black will actually work better in our space than the off white because we have dark counters and black trim on our SSL appliances. I just can't seem to visualize this room as finished the way I could other rooms in our house. :c(

Lukkiirish, it might be more hassle than you want to deal with, but have you thought of painting chairs in a color that does go with your house? Maybe a shade of green that leans rustic/traditional, or some other color you can pull from your decor?

Hi Jessicaml, yeah I have, I would love to do a soft turquoise, it's one of my favorite looks, but I don't think it will work well with the direction we seem to be going. I've had such a difficult time sorting this out, I'd prefer something that's more neutral so it will last another 20 years without us tiring of it. Honestly, I dread the idea of having to go through this again! LOL

I'm thinking that black or the off white will fit that need. I wish I could stop flipping back and forth and just make a decision, I have a feeling I'm going to be taking some pics and posting another thread soon.

Thanks for the suggestion I really appreciate it. :c)

FWIW, we had those ubiquitous (sp?) black Pottery Barn chairs in the breakfast room of our old house (you know those painted wood ones with rush seats? they have been knocked off everywhere?) Anyway, they were the only black we had, the table was stained wood, we had wood floors, the cabinetry in the adjoining open kitchen was white, and the c-tops were santa fe brown granite. I actually loved those chairs. The black read totally neutral to me, and they wore like iron. I am seriously considering using them in the house we are building.

Very helpful indeed nini, thank you!!!

WHile I was out furniture drooling today - I fell in love w/a black dining room set. I have no idea what it is about it that I like but the black seems "clean" the way that white feels clean to me.
To try and lighten it up I was going to use (2) cream leather transitional chair and (4) matching black chairs w/cream and black print on the seat.

In reading what you are working with, it sounds like black chairs are perfect...
Any decisions yet??