apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Perhaps redoing the floors - something sleek and modern - and a great chandelier; maybe even a chair or two and a tablescape. Maybe then it might be . . . . . . . . O K . . . . .

What if you painted it some non-traditional color, like fushia? It would be great with that silouette.

We have a basically the same table, only it's still oval with no leaves in it. It's from Ethan Allen and we bought it used from my parents' neighbors. I wouldn't call it "hot," I'd call it traditional.

Hot, but only if you painted it black.

Not hot even in basic black with pearls... that table demurely murmurs: "Sugar, I'm from Highpoint, North Carolina, and have been in continuous production since 1917. I'm lonely without my rose-patterned balloon valances."

To be an effective wry joke on traditionalism, a piece of furniture needs more striking lines.

Not all of us require massive hints before we get the joke. I think it would look great painted chalkboard black with emeco chairs around it.

although, come to think of it, that would be true of a lot of tables.

I like the table. Some great chairs, china, and linens and it will be great. It's got good lines. I wouldn't paint it. Just think of it as a neutral ready to showcase your great stuff.

I'm having the same problem. My aunt left me a beautiful dining table but it has cabriole legs and I hate cabriole legs! The top is a beautiful cherry wood with drawers on 2 sides. I have it in storage because it doesn't even come close to going with my decor. I'm tempted to saw the legs off and put on more contemporary ones.

I like the legs.

And I'm usually a pec man.

Anne, if the top of the table looks good, by all means, replace the legs with more appropriate ones. Better to get use from it in an altered state than to collect dust in storage. I'm sure your aunt would approve.

I love Sune's idea of painting it some untraditional color: turquoise, orange, fuscia! Then pairing it with some modern chairs. Then it would most definitely be HOT!

Anne - perhaps you could try painting the legs of your table in an untraditional color? If it's still not to your taste you could always change the legs as you said.

Reef

Um, what legs would be "more appropriate"?

If the legs are what you don't like, get another table and give the table to someone who can appreciate it in its entirety.

Ah, Patrick, just about any other leg would be more appropriate than what's on there now. Why would I give up a beautiful table when creative thinking could solve the problem? And thank you for all the suggestions. New legs are definitely in order. But something I once saw in a magazine could also do the trick - putting small teacup hooks all around the table under the apron of the table and then hanging beautiful fabric from them. That leaves the top exposed and the legs covered. Um, I better get that table out of storage and figure it out.