I think I hate my new dining room chairs ...

4 years ago

But I there's nothing I can do about it (cannot be returned - custom as per Ethan Allen) -- so am looking to the Houzz folks to help me make it work! The designer somehow convinced me that mismatching tables and chairs are the thing -- which I should never have listened to because I'm never one to be edgy. The chairs are black and they DO NOT work with the table at all -- I don't know why I thought they would. So now I have to buy a new table. The idea of a black table does not thrill me, though. The whole thing is crazy -- I knew we would have to buy a table so why I went with black chairs is beyond me. I feel sometimes that I need to have an intervention when I buy furniture because I always end up with something I hate! I do like the chairs objectively and they are very comfortable (don't get me started on why I got white seats when I have an eight-year-old). This is now our everyday eating area -- maybe I was thinking these chairs looked less formal? It's all a blur now ... here is how the room looks and there's also a photo from the ethan allen page of one of the tables these chairs are shown with (I think the top is too rustic for this room). Will an all black table just be too dark? I just painted the room so changing the color is not an option and piano must stay.

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HALLETT & Co.

4 years ago

Groveraxle knocked it out of the park again. The curtains make a huge difference. Since you prefer traditional I would get a glass or brass chandelier vs iron. I would paint the table base black, leaving the brass medallion and the top as they are. The side table and the glass cabinet are not a good scale for this room either, can they be used elsewhere in the house?

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Comments (43)

Angel 18432
4 years ago
Are your table legs black. My thought would be to paint that little edge of the table black to tie in the table with the chairs.
pink_peony
4 years ago
3 things.

1. I think you need a flat finish on the table. Yours is not and I think that is what is throwing off the look of the chairs.

2.Also the oval shape of your table. I think you need rectangular with those chairs.

3. Your wall color is not doing any of it justice.
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pink_peony
4 years ago
Make that 4....light fixture. It needs an update. Your chairs are only going to look as good as the room they're placed in. I think they are great chairs. I just think there needs to be some updating to get the look the designer at EA was envisioning. Even if the chairs were the same wood as your table they would not be what you're hoping for.
shead
4 years ago
I personally think the black chairs should be the least of your concerns right now. I agree with everything pink_peony said and more. You need a vision for this room. Right now, it's all very mishmatched. New wall paint, light fixture, window treatments and a rug will go a long way to ease the abrasiveness of the black chairs.
Jeanne Cardwell
4 years ago
I would paint below chair rail same white as trim, then center the piano on the wall, new chandelier, rug, centerpiece. Don't fret the white chairs, they can be reupholstered down the road with more durable fabric and a staple gun. Painting the side edge of the table black is maybe a good idea after other changes are made.
housegal200
4 years ago
Paint the table white, not black.

Add a rug, if you're planning on a rug, or curtains in white/black and possibly tan to tie together everything.
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housegal200
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Leave side pieces in wood to echo your floors.
jccrowley73
4 years ago
I actually love the chairs. You can do a mismatch of chairs & table, but I think you were steered wrong if you were told that your current color of table would work with the new chairs. I do think a rectangular table would work best, but you could re purpose your current one by sanding it down, painting the base a matte black & refinishing the top in a similar tone to the floor, but lighter. When accessorizing, think black framed artwork, black wrought iron light fixture & black & white rug. The key is to bring in small pops of color as simple as a vase with bright pink flowers in the center of the table.
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Design It!
4 years ago
Hi eliznewjersey! What does the base of your existing table look like? The oval top definitely does not work with sharp modern lines of the chairs. A rectangular table would work much better. If a new table is not in the budget, consider chair covers. Look for a durable washable fabric. Chair covers can soften the overall look and work better with the traditional architecture of the room. You can also consider two large houseplants in the corners on either side of the window and remove the two buffets. Remove the mini blinds and add floor to ceiling curtains with the inside of the curtains lining up with the outside of the window. Use curtain rings or back tabs, not grommets (too modern for the room). The large plants and curtains will add balance and symmetry to the room. Right now everything in it seems too small. If you do replace the table find a rectangular one with a black base, and traditional turned base or traditional legs. The top should be lighter in color, white or stained wood. Does the piano get used? Is there another place for it? The current piano location would be a great spot for a larger buffet. Again, keep scale in mind. Add an area rug, a new ceiling light fixture and some artwork to tie the rest of the room together. Design It LLC offers remote design planning, if you are interested. I am happy to offer additional help. Have a great day!
eliznewjersey
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks, everyone. I really can't repaint the walls -- just painted and they are a bear. I like the idea of a wrought iron chandelier and maybe a black and white rug. I really think I have to replace the table before I do anything else. My husband has his heart set on a round table but it sounds like that's not a good idea. I hate to sell the chairs as I'm sure I would take a loss and they were expensive (at least for us). But I'm thinking I may not have what it takes to make this room work with them ... they're just too modern for my house and heading more in that direction might just be pushing me even more out of my comfort zone. Any recommendations about how to sell?
pink_peony
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Before you give up contact Ethan Allen. Make them send their designer out. Tell them the chairs they recommended aren't working as they assured you they would and now you have a space you absolutely hate and you need them to help you. Make them present you with the vision they had for your room. Even if you can't purchase from them there are plenty of other less expensive options you can take to get the same exact look. Ethan Allens designers do not charge and they should have given you a design plan instead of just selling you some chairs.

Again I will reiterate that I don't think the issue is the table and chairs. Right now your just kinda throwing stuff together. But study your photos. There is no cohesion in the room , not the dining set. You have random pieces thrown in there with no balance. A piano in a dining room, a tall cabinet on one side of the window and a low one on the other. I'd pull all those pieces out. Buy some nice white draperies that you can hang as high as possible on that window. The window is small for the room. I'm guessing this is an older home. Hang the drapery panels to give the illusion of a larger window. now your walls are ready to be furnished. What belongs in there and what purpose does it serve in the dining room? Light fixture, art work, rug, lamps etc. all of those things are what is going to change the look of this space not the dining set.
Tia M
4 years ago
I just received my order of 8 of those chairs all armless and love them. I looked for over a year trying to find something to go with my Tommy Bahama dark table. My room is definitely still in progress. Anyhow I think you can find a new table for your chairs or have your current table refinished or painted to compliment the chairs. They really are great quality. I'm sure if you live with them a few more weeks and look at some inspiration photos you will find something perfect for the chairs. Ethan Allen does push more of an eclectic style with mixing and matching furniture.
erinsean
4 years ago
I like your chairs but do agree you probably need a rectangular table with a black base and one of those rugs pictured that are black and white. Some art with black frames and a new chandi that has black wrought iron on it would be great. Ignore the paint....you can redo it at a later date. I really do like your chairs .. just not with that table.
Tia M
4 years ago
Also for the fabric. I'm not sure what you went with but the grade I selected should be fine and the fabric should also be treated. I also have children. I have my younger one sit on a towel or pad to protect from stains, hands or spills. This is also our every day table since we don't eat dinner in the kitchen because it only seats 4.
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BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
The chairs a stunningly beautiful, but I agree that there seems to be no vision for this room. If budget is an issue we can find you well-priced items that can work for this room. The table will have to be addressed because it really doesn't work, and please don't close your mind to painting, because for some reason, on my screen your walls look rather pink! Are they supposed to be a beige or taupe.

Climb off the ledge and take a deep breath. This can be fixed. All these tables from Overstock are from $500 to $700.

Area rugs for consideration

Natural Fibre in Charcoal
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BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
A black fixture can work for your room, but I don't think you mean wrought iron because that would be either Colonial, Country or Spanish in style. These fixtures could work

https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Dining-Cushion-Covers-Protectors/dp/B00B7BR4AA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1522956928&sr=8-5&keywords=plastic+dining+room+seat+covers
pink_peony
4 years ago
For the chairs , choose one or two you would like your children to use and go down to the fabric store and buy some clear vinyl "fabric". Its usually in the decorator fabric section near the faux leather. Buy a yard and simply upholster over your existing fabric with it. It will protect you fabric and make it easy to wipe/clean up the seats until your children are of an appropriate age to be more mess free.
liubabk
4 years ago
There is nothing wrong with your chairs, you just need decor, all you have right now lots of furniture,wood just put something on table, add pictures and rug
bossyvossy
4 years ago
@OP, your new Ethan Allen chairs w/existing table dont bother me at all. The pinkish wall paint does, as well as the diagonal direction of wood floor against straight grain of your table. I think that visual incongruency is what’s making table seem like it doesn’t go. A nice big rug would hide the visual distraction, so an easy fix.

I’d try really hard to relocate piano. Who’s going to play while people are eating? Seems out of place.
jenwen
4 years ago
Slipcover the chairs, or paint them.
jenwen
4 years ago
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groveraxle
4 years ago
I like the pink paint.
groveraxle
4 years ago
You have too much furniture in the room, so I removed it, changed the chandelier, added curtains, and funked it up with a rug.
groveraxle
4 years ago
Here's your table painted white. I don't think this is going to cut it. Keep in mind that store designers are really salespeople, so if you call her back, I'm sure she'll be delighted to sell you a new table.
eliznewjersey thanked groveraxle
Alison
4 years ago
Jenwen OP said they just bought these custom chairs from Ethan Allen. Why would she cover them or paint them????
pink_peony
4 years ago
Actually the Designers i suggested she ask for at Ethan allen do have degrees in Interior Design. The person she purchased from may or may not have been a designer. If you call in as I stated and ask for a designer to be sent out to your home they have Designers in staff. You are not obligated to purchase from them to have this service.
Kim Q
4 years ago
Can you try to sell the chairs? I don’t think they’re going to work. Table aside, they don’t work with the room. I picture something like this working with your walls and table.
groveraxle
4 years ago
If you decide to paint the table, paint it black.
Tia M
4 years ago
Does the table have sentimental value?
Tia M
4 years ago
The designer that has been helping me has been amazing. I purchased 12 chairs from her from ethan allen, a sofa table and bar stools. She helped me make my selections, work with my existing pieces and pick a new sofa, coffee table and kitchen table from completely different furniture stores.
eliznewjersey
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks to Groveraxle for saying she/he liked the walls! I did pick the color and I still like it and don't want to repaint. The photo of the room is basically post-paint and we just finished moving the furniture back in, so I do have artwork for the room (I have two original charcoal pieces that should work nicely plus a 19th-century oil with a black frame) and was planning to change the window treatments (those are the old ones we just stuck back up after painting for privacy). I really like the way the curtains look in Groveraxle's rendering and the idea of a more casual rug is great, too. I love the chandelier Jan Moyer suggested (where is that from?). I actually looked at a chandelier a lot like that one in more of an antique brass.

The table I will change to one with a black base and lighter top or get a dark one like the Tommy Bahama one above (with a matte finish, another great suggestion). I can paint the one I have (no sentimental value - got it at an estate sale), but it's a pretty nice table and it seems a shame to paint it (especially the kind of job I might do!). I have a gigantic buffet that it goes with and I have an antique dealer interested in buying that, so I'll just throw in the table as well (they are both Rway, apparently a well-known brand?). I can move the other pieces to my living room -- they were a gift from my husband before we got married and I want to keep them for that reason but I get that they're a bit fussy (or ugly as my mother-in-law says). Not sure what to put there, though -- just leave it empty?

The piano has to stay. It was a gift from my grandfather when I was a child and I do play it (not while we're eating, of course!). The only place it could go is our living room, which, while a decent size has no wall space big enough for it (too many doors, windows, built-ins, fireplace -- it's a 100-plus year old house!).

I really appreciate everyone's help. Wow! So many great suggestions in only one afternoon and evening! I think I'm getting to a place where I may actually like this room -- despite the fact that almost everyone hates the pink ... it really is quite pretty in person. :)
katinparadise
4 years ago
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Laura Villar
4 years ago
following
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JAN MOYER
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Change the chair
seats, the LIGHT add curtains, Add a rug.......It isn't decorated yet!! Do the table switch last........ The light is Hubbardton Forge, The rug is an 8 x 10 charcoal sisal , 225.00

There's a lot of junk in tables, with finishes that will not hold up. .............switch the table last. Or paint what you have, to a soft black top, and white base. This is a minefield category of junkola out there. Arhaus on the one below........save your money : )

https://www.denverfabrics.com/p242131_66467-greypeachpink-plaid-linen

https://www.lightology.com/index.php?module=prod_detail&prod_id=207623
groveraxle
4 years ago
The iron chandelier gives you a totally different look:
bejessica
4 years ago
@groveraxel what software do you use
liubabk
4 years ago
I think we trying to hard to make everything look perfect, we are not staging houses for magazine photo shoot, yes we want our place to look nice and stylish. But because we have so much pressure from all kind of resources showing us perfectly decorated places we may get too obsessed and worried about the look of our living space.. We don't need to buy or change things as often as stores and somebody tells us. It is impossible to be always in trend and get rid of some valuable, memorable things like your piano just because it doesn't look good in the room :)
Kay Addis
4 years ago
I, too, was persuaded to buy flat-black chairs with a brown wooden dining room table, but I happen to like the combination. My table, though, is rectangular, a distressed finish with a trestle. The table is in a large kitchen/dining area, and the new house aready had black drawer pulls on the kitchen cabinets and a black iron chandelier above the island. I bought a black iron orb chandelier with wood accent for above the table, and I think it looks great. The table sits on an Oriental rug, and I picked fabric for the chairs that picked up a color in the rug and in adjoining open areas.
bossyvossy
4 years ago
You are so right that we are constantly bombarded and encouraged to get latest and greatest, unnecessarily so, but many of us don’t care to admit that we do fall for ‘the more is more trap’. Suggesting to get rid of something is not the same as suggesting to find a better place. If room was twice as big, then it could be an entertainment parlor (w/piano) and a DR. As it is now it just looks crowded.

Admittedly, OP wanted input on table/chairs and we’ve gone on a tangent, as arm chair decorators often do.
Lexi GS
4 years ago
Grover,

You do amazing mockups. Please tell us what software you use.
groveraxle
4 years ago
@bejessica and Lexi GS, I use Photoshop Elements, Photoshop's skinnier, cheaper cousin. However, I understand that something called Gimp is similar and is available as a free download. There is a learning curve to both of them, however.
jenwen
4 years ago
Alison, because she said she doesn't like them now, and they don't work with the table. Easier to cover them or paint them than to spend even more on another table that may not work.