Pic

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Can also be configured round

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

It could work if you use French Country table runners. Williams-Sonoma has some beautiful one's! With a nice centerpiece like flowers of some sort, you could pull it off.

The chairs though are definitely country..not sure about FC though. You could always put a darker stain on the table and chairs or paint them.

French Country isn't very matchy, whereas both those sets are.
When I think French Country I think long thick wooden table,almost beat up looking. Mismatched chairs in wonderful bright colors or all painted white with colorful cushions.

I'd keep looking. You could paint or distress the table, but the chairs are definitely countryish and I don't see them as FC, and the cost of the set is mainly for the chairs. I don't know what they're asking for this set, but I can usually find round, oak tables without chairs on my local Craigslist anytime for $125 or less. I think the table with some skirted Parsons chairs would work well.
Dee

I agree those look more just plain ol' country...In my opinion, the queen anne style furniture with the curved legs leans more towards french country.

in your craigslist search try: queen anne and see what syles pop up.

I'd keep looking. The chairs are very country and common in this area.

I'm sorry...I agree to wait~

Here's an idea of what always1step is talking about. Pottery Barn has these same type of chair (Queen Anne) in several different colors for $250 each. Repainted, and reupolhstered with a large checked plaid or toile, and they'd be gorgeous for just a little bit of money! AND give you the FC look you want.
Dee

Here is a link that might be useful: Queen Anne chairs

That's American Country. I don't see it as French Country.

Here are two examples of what I may think of when someone mentions french country. Different styles, but still a french flair to each. Pictures aren't great, since they are from my local Craigslist. The trestle table it at an antique store so pricy but the other is $250 for the set, just to give you an idea.
{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}

lorrie

Link below to some FC dinning sets that may help your search

Here is a link that might be useful: FC

Honestly, those two sets are just horrible. Sorry to be so blunt. NOT French country at all, just John F Lawhon special. The pic that someone posted above with the rushed-seat chairs is more what I consider French Country.

The idea behind French Country is that the pieces were collected over a period of time, like it would have been in a real French household.
The lines of the pieces should be simple but elegant.True classics.
Quality pieces that lasted not only for their beauty but because they retained their function over many generations.
A long table well worn like a farm table with many chairs all slightly different but pulled together with color or fabric.
Another option would be a table with a sofa on one side or bench and then chairs to fill in, making it look like you used what you had on hand to fill the need.

alex9179's set with the rush seats has "the look". Carol_from _ny...has some grat ideas too.

Have you picked up a copy of Country French magazine? I just saw one on sale @ the grocery store. It has a bergere chair & ottoman on the cover next to a fireplace.

Here is a link that might be useful: Article with pictures.....

Thanks guys ~

I NEED ya'll to keep me on track LOL.

I have been *researching* FC style online and in magazines for years so I know better LOL.

It's tough because I am on a very limited budget.

Next week I am going to post pics of my existing table, chairs, bench and see if there is anything I can do with it?

Or what I should look for to go with what I have.

It's possible I could paint the oak bench I have (church style with storage) Possibly robins egg blue to go with my blue kitchen cabinets? Or green, white? Or I could ditch it!

AGAIN.. it is more plain country than FC BUT if painted the right color and used with other pieces it might work (like pulled together with matching pads)

Also I have some black wood X back chairs (Again, not FC but more contemporary pottery barn look) I might be able to sew some slip covers for the Backs only and then put a pad on the seat. Not sure. I'd rather replace those with either some rush seat chairs, or ladderback chairs (or both)

I also Love the parsons chair look. Not too sure about using Bench, parson chairs, and wood side chairs?

I LOVE the idea of a settee on one side of the table!
But can you actually eat off it? How would it be high enough to be functional.

So many options.. uggh.

Thanks.. I will post pics next week to show what I have. The wood underneath the top of the table looks nice (IMO)I wouldn't know what the top looks like underneath the awful black paint job until I sanded it!

The table is Shaker style, but def country shaker looking.

It Could work with the right chairs for FC .. (pretty sure)
It is Solid Wood handmade farm table. The bench I use with it fits perfectly in scale. I could paint the legs of the table to match the bench? Leave the table top natural wood?

I don't want to proceed in that direction until I check with you guys whether it could *work* as french country with the correct chairs!?

thanks so much for your honest input. I wanna make smart decisions LOL

Loretta

I think Carol from NY has given you great advice.

Just throwing in this pic for a reference. Don't have a finished pic handy but this will give you an idea of the press back chairs painted. My mom had these in her basement and I painted them with a spray gun. I painted the legs (left the top brown) to a 36" round table to match and now have a cute little set for the break room at work.

[IMG]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/Lorriekay/Table%20Dining/DiningTable498.jpg[/IMG]

I sanded a small area and found this wood (smooth as a baby's butt) underneath

What kind of wood could this be? Hickory?

Question #1 So .. would this table work with different chairs? If I got the ladder back, rush seat chairs?

I am not going to use the X back chairs at ALL, just showed them in the pic to show what the table would look like with wood chairs on one side and the bench on the other side.

If Yes.. Could I use that bench on one side (perhaps painted a french country Yellow or Blue) Then put matching pads in a ticking stripe, toile or some other FC fabric on the chairs and the bench?

If Nay to the Bench.. would the table work with the rush seat chairs (once sanded)

I would sand the top and leave it bare wood. I would repaint the legs and apron to make the painted color of the bench.

Or I can ditch the bench.

Or I can ditch everything and forget this table entirely LOL

it was so hard for me to post these pics, I am challenged ack!

thanks, loretta

Loretta:
It may be good for you to start a new post with questions about your room. There's lots of members here who can help you put together a beautiful room on a budget. This thread may not attract them.:)
Dee

Loretta, I think that table would work just fine if you removed the paint. Lots of French homes in rural (and many in urban) areas have similar tables-wooden with simple straight legs-doesn't matter if it is a small home or a chateau. Simple ladderback chairs with rush seats are seen frequently, and if your have only two or three horizontal slats, that would work especially well. Most are relatively plain. Although, these days, the chairs and tables seem to be as varied as here in the US.

I have included a link to a property. If you scroll through the pictures, you will see a photo of a dining area.

Here is a link that might be useful: French home

Dee, I took your advice and started a New Thread. The new thread has the name

*Dining Room Ideas? French Country Vision PICS*

thanks

Dee thanks for the link. I notice in the dining room pic there is also a blue painted chair sort of what I was thinking for my breakfast barchairs (painted blue or yellow)
then having the regular wood ladderback chairs at the table. It's also good to see the laddered chairs shown with the straight leg table. thanks, loretta