it looks like it's a pretty unanimous opinion to leave the chairs alone lol! At first I thought they needed some sort of updating, but you know, the more I look at them, the more I agree with you all...they are really nice just the way they are! The finish is not the color I would have chosen, so I think that's why I was leaning towards painting them, but they are in really nice condition and the color is growing on me. I had to laugh when I realized that my grandmother must have bought the table and chairs separately...I had wanted to put the side chairs two on each side of the table and the arm chairs at the ends, but the arm chairs do not fit under the table top when pushed in! They stick way out and look ridiculous haha...so like my grandmother to have bought them separeatly and not known the chairs woudln't fit...gave me nice memory of her and her silliness :) I will post a picture of everything all together once we move the old hutch out of the kitchen and get the new corner hutch in place....everything is a mess right now. Of course, when I started painting the new corner hutch, it made the existing wallpaper look awful in comparison, so now I have decided I MUST strip the wallpaper and repaint the room! My DH just walked away when I told him lol! So, I will be looking for more advice on paint colors....something green so get your suggestions ready!

forhgtv: thanks so much for all the pics! Most of these are of oval tables, but not placed as I am picturing: with two larger( say wing) chairs. This look is seen over and over with a round table...can I emulate it with an oval dining room table? Would love to see an inspiration pic of that. Thanks again, hg, for taking the time to post pics for me:>)

It seems that you prefer the cherry table, so that's what I'd go with. Especially since it's in better condition. You are concerned that it might get worn with everyday use (and it probably will), but at the worst it will then just be in the same condition as the oak table is already. I wouldn't use a table cloth on a daily basis either, but place mats will look nice and provide some level of protection for the table. In addition, the cherry table is the least expensive option since refinishing the oak table would be expensive--and you'd also have to get new chairs to go with it.

I so appreciate all your thoughtful responses. I'm pretty sure this was my first post here, not convo. First question, anyway. Good point, Mimi, about the linens and stuff to block any views. I love that Mercer table, the simple lines and dimensions, I never noticed any sounds on our existing glass tables, Ingrid. Mtn, footsies? Very funny, ha. The Mobler table is pretty but too small, I think. I did look a bit on customade.com and need to do more. Thanks everybody. I had thought that this search would turn up lots of low priced options but not so. Oh, we also want a pedestal so there is room for knees. I had thought this would be easy, --wrong, wrong. Back to work.