Design Dilemma - Dining Table - Which finish? Help!!!

11 years ago

Help! I found a dining table that I plan to purchase, but haven't pulled the trigger because I can't decide on the warm cherry or the black.

It is now on sale for 50% off!!! But only for a few days, so I can't pass up this opportunity to purchase it. Please help me decide!

My dining area is right off the kitchen. The kitchen and surrounding areas are still under construction, so I am hoping to get some feedback by giving you a few details and pics of the space (current and future state).

- The kitchen cabinets are white and counters Caesarstone Raven.
- All the trim work (baseboards, window trim, doors) is white.
- I have not selected a paint color for the dining area, but will be along the lines of light tan/taupe.
- I will have a darkish wood (bamboo type) shade in the dining room window (not shown).
-The table will be on a silsal rug so it will break things up between the table and floor regardless of which table I select.
-Wood floors are the color shown in the fireplace photo.

Do I have too much wood already (floors/window shade) that the warm cherry would be overkill? (And actually I read a review that it's not too much on the cherry/red side.) Or will the sisal rug break all the wood tones up?And would it be a better contrast from the gray counters?

On the other hand, will the black table look too "harsh" with the white cabs and gray counters? (The counters tend to look on the black side from a distance.)

I apologize in advance for the separate pics.

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Comments (21)

blackchamois
Original Author
11 years ago
The black finish ...
blackchamois
Original Author
11 years ago
My "under construction" kitchen ...
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I would wonder first if I wanted to match the white paint as in the kitchen (white?) also, if I love the wood of the kitchen cabinets and hardware to be able to keep a uniform base for the rest of the home. You have white trim, okay, great start to be able to open the space up. Rugs: runner at the entry, at least a 8x10 in the living area, and at least a 5x7 for the dining area. How about coordinating curtains for this space. Is the dining room a sliding door? Because the hanging blinds in the livingroom suit more a sliding door spot. Rather have blinds or shades paired with curtains if both just windows. Rods and knobs in a coordinating finish as the kitchen knobs. The round table in the rectangular dining space seems off. Would love to sneak a peak at your lighting fixtures. Your entry table setup looks nice, what is your style, the table in the dining space seems cottage, the sofas heavy, could we get more of a view of the other corner of the fireplace? How about a curio on long wall in dining area. A table with a bench on the kitchen side would be nice.
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Thank you everyone for your time and great feedback. Let me try to answer some of your questions and clarify a few things… The kitchen and current dining space combined is 11’5” deep by 23’8” wide. Our budget is around 20K and we could and are willing to do some plumbing or move a gas line for our oven/stove. We recently replaced our dishwasher and oven/stove. Our fridge is still fine but could be replaced if necessary (but we don’t want to spend 6-10K on a new counterdepth fridge). So the budget would be primarily for cabinets, countertops, any plumbing or gas line work, etc. We are one of the largest houses in the neighborhood so we aren’t wanting to spend a ton on the kitchen and overprice the house for the area, but for the size of our house our current kitchen is not working (we only have one drawer for silverware and then a small 12” drawer for utensils…it’s just not very user friendly or functional) and needs redone. We tinkered with flipping the current kitchen and dining space but run into some problems. 1) The large 72” wide picture window in the dining space is only 29” up from the floor, so it would be below the cabinet and countertop. The smaller 36”x36” above the current sink would likely need to be altered to fit the space more appropriately. We have stucco so it is a lot more involved and costly to change window sizes or placement leaving us pretty much stuck with the present windows. 2) We have soffits above our current kitchen cabinets that we were hoping to be able to open up but we realized the one along the top wall over the sink is filled with plumbing from our 2nd floor main bathroom as well as HVAC. Too costly to move for our budget so it would have to stay and look out of place all alone over there without cabinets or something else to help camouflage it. The one along the shorter wall can be taken out and we plan to do so in order to have taller cabinets on that wall. There was a wall between the kitchen and current dining room that we took out (only a small 30” deep stud wall remains next to the fridge). We have a standard fridge and would like to try to decrease the amount of space it takes and projects from the wall. We realized there is a double wall on the right wall in-between the kitchen and bathroom. We have decided to move the fridge there because we can recess it back 3-4” making it appear closer to a counterdepth fridge. Our current “living room” acts more like a family room for us, but we also just refinished our basement in the last year and that area serves more as our present family room. Since it is a large room, it would be a bit awkward to put our kitchen table there and have some extra space in the living room that leaves us wondering how it would be used. Our current “family room” with the fireplace is a room we don’t use because our fireplace isn’t functioning. It is merely a room we walk through in order to access our backyard and why we thought taking some space from the room for a mudroom might be a good option. Our current kitchen table is large (40x72) with a bench and 4 tall/high back chairs. It takes up a lot of space in the current “dining room” space and why we were tinkering with a smaller table for the kitchen and moving the larger table to a new dining room in the back. However, it does make sense that we would likely no longer use that second table and would be a wasted space. @emilyam819 Yes, we will be removing the small stud wall by the current fridge to allow more freedom in the design. Please see note above about the wall removal and possible fridge relocation. @latifolia Our current dining area is the left part of the open space in front of the large picture window. We are considering putting a smaller table there so we can still have a place to eat yet have more room for cabinets and then moving our large kitchen table to the back room with the fireplace. It currently is an unused space as the fireplace is nonfunctional and why we are considering making a mudroom back there as well. But we understand dining rooms often go unused so maybe that area is better served as a den or office space like you suggested.Our laundry room is in the basement as we have a laundry chute and don’t have the room to put it on the 1st or 2nd floors. @Cherie “Too bad you can't remove the walls.”—I know, right!?! It’s so frustrating! But we have sulked about it too long and need to accept it and move on, but it is such a bummer in our books!
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blackchamois
Original Author
11 years ago
Fireplace/flooring - Note, this is NOT MY fireplace, however, this was my inspiration photo and mine is almost identical - same color stone on face, white mantle, and my wood flooring is exactly this color/style.

Thank you so much for your advice!
ellendi
11 years ago
Black:)
andreak100
11 years ago
I think that I'd go with the black.
Holly- Kay
11 years ago
I'll be the contrarian and say go with the cherry. When I saw the table I thought of my goodness that is lovely and just the right size for a breakfast area. Then I scrolled down and saw the black one and I didn't like it. With that being said I love black! I also love cherry but in that dining table set I think the cherry makes it look like a much more expensive set. Can I ask you please where to find it? I think the chairs would be perfect for my antique dining table. I just took a second look and the black is growing on me and I think either one will be just lovely!
Sherrie Moore
11 years ago
I think I would pick the black too!
heidihausfrau
11 years ago
My first thought was the black would really match the counters. Then I scrolled down and saw the beautiful floor and changed my mind to cherry. That is a tough one! Both are beautiful and I think you can't go wrong either way.
(sorry--obviously I have decision making problems, just ask my GC!! )
rkb21
11 years ago
My vote is for the black. I think it will be a nice complement to your counters. But, I think either would work in that space. Good luck on your decision!
Bunny
11 years ago
Black. While the cherry is very beautiful, to me it has a very traditional look, while your kitchen and fireplace don't. The black is a nice contrast to your floor and other browns.
blackchamois
Original Author
11 years ago
All - Thank you for the feedback

Holly-Kay - I'm in a condo and limited on space. My previous table was 42" round with a glass top and wrought iron base. I wanted one that was slightly larger and could extend when I have family over. This one is 48", but extends to about 66" and I think will be perfect! The table comes in only 3 finishes, but the chairs come in several other options. I think it's a great deal and the reviews are really good. The link is below.

Heidi - I know EXACTLY what you mean about decisions. I am the worst. I drive my family and friends crazy! (I am trying to get better ... really I am!) :)

Linelle - Thanks. I agree that the cherry is more traditional and refined. My style is much more casual. I think if it were more rustic, I may have picked the wood, but my gut and all your feedback tell me I should go with the black. (One of the reasons I had been considering the cherry is because I thought if I ever wanted to restain it a slightly different color, it may be easier to work with vs. stripping the black paint. But I need to stop getting too far ahead of my self.) One of the reviewers said that the cherry was "fancier" than she thought it would be.

Thank you all for your feedback!!

Here is a link that might be useful: HDC - Sheffield Dining Set
Holly- Kay
11 years ago
Thank you so much! The price is great for the set. I do think the chairs in cherry would go great with my antique table.

The black will look just stunning in your space. I went back several times and I actually think I now like the black better!
islanddevil
11 years ago
Both are pretty, but I like the black which looks less traditional. You mention table, but what about chairs? Are you going with the ones shown or something different?
motherof3sons
11 years ago
Beautiful! I vote cherry! Cherry is forever.
blackchamois
Original Author
11 years ago
Holly-Kay - Thanks I think I am leaning to the black for sure. You can purchase the chairs and table separately, or as a set. I haven't read the reviews for the chairs, but for the table alone they were really good.

Island - I have 4 parsons type chairs with slip covers. I think the fabric of the slipcovers will soften the look vs. wood chairs. Plus I already have them so no money out of pocket there. And for when I add the leaf and extend the table I will use this bench for additional seating for 2 (cushion to be added and top will be upholstered).
Bunny
11 years ago
I checked out the link you gave to the website. The painted finishes are distressed. I'm sure you're already aware of that. One of the reviews did mention that the surface was easily stained. I'd be a little leery with only three reviews and two of them aren't so hot.
ppbenn
11 years ago
I love the black. LOVE the fireplace. It should all look wonderful together.
I was just on the decorating forum about painted ceilings. Did you ever find out the color of acountryhouse's beautiful glossy ceiling/trim color.
I bumped it to get a response.
blackchamois
Original Author
11 years ago
Linelle - The reviews for the table alone are very good ... and there are about 25. The 3 reviews were for the dining "set". But I did read them all and saw the comment about the stain ... hard to know which finish the reviewer was referring to. And the distressing may be more on the antique white one - at least it looks that way from the photos. I think I would be okay with that.

ppbenn - Thanks! I will have to look back at that thread. I don't recall that one.
lala girl
11 years ago
I'd go black too - I think that finish will give you a lot of flexibility with the look - btw, that is a pretty set!
blackchamois
Original Author
11 years ago
I did it! I ordered the black. The website says it won't ship until about 6/11. Gives me some time to get a few other things done in that space. I will keep you posted when I receive it. Thank you all for your feedback!
nosoccermom
11 years ago
Great decision. The black is less traditional and ties in beautifully with your counters and your slip covered chairs.

Design Dilemma - Dining Table - Which finish? Help!!!

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blackchamois
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