apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hi Jessica ~ I am having the same problem. My table looks similar to yours but the legs have more detail. I would love to replace it since mine also has damage to the top. But right now I simply can't. So, I am thinking about either painting the table in a antique ivory color and purchasing some inexpensive mod. dining chairs.
I've seen them sold in sets of 4 which is what I need. In the meantime I use lots of vintage or casual tablecloths and slipcover the chairs. If you sew you can make them yourself although this could be time consuming.

I like Lisa's idea to paint and Cielo's idea to incorporate fabric.

I like the shape and legs of the table so it would be nice to clean it up either with paint or strip it and put on some polyurethane. The chairs don't stand out as much as the table to me, so those I'd add cushions or slipcovers that pull in the other colors in the room.

I like the idea of painting the table although I might choose a color similar to the either an accent color like celery or a color that's similar to the stacking side tables. I would fold the chairs, using them in emergencies and go with some elegant contemporary chairs like these at west elm http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf337&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNDIN&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNDIN

For the table, some alteratives:

a. Sand first and then as alternative to paint, stain a darker color - .
b. Paint alone on a table can get too scuffed for the cleaner look you appear to be going after. A couple of coats (or more) of a satin polyurethane can give the table durability.
c. Add tile to the top; check the discount bin of a tile store for discount remnants.
d. Add a laminate or veneer sheet as a contrast texture to the top. Your edges are sharp enough to attempt this. You can even attempt a pattern if you are daring.

For the chairs:
a. The slats add to a casual look. A slipcover or seat cushion might push you in a direction you may not wish to got. The slats on the seat appear to be inset a bit from the seat edge... add a matching laminate or thin sheet of veneered board to the seats, within this inset. Paint or finish the rest of the surfaces as above.

a. Alternatively, you can pad the seat back and upholster it. This is tougher to do, as you need some level of support for the gaps in the slats. After you address this issue, wrap it with some batting. Grab a coordinating fabric and finish the upholstery work. Make a coordinating seatcover with some thin wood, batting/foam, and a staple gun. Size it to fit in the small inset of the slatted seat.

The table has nice lines, just the water damage is obscuring it. You could refinish (sand and polyurethane) the top, or paint or stain the whole thing, maybe that trendy dark brown, or to match something in your living room.

The chairs look awkward and less luxe. If it suits your style, you might consider slipcovers for them, like the ones linked on my name. They should be pretty simple to make if you sew (and even if you don't- just use iron-on seam binding) and would look great in a grey linen to match your couch.

I also would sand and refinish the table. Not necessarily polyurethane. I do like the lines of the table. New chairs when you caare able. Nice apartment!

Refinish the table to a nice maplish tone. Paint the chairs white.

I would think seriously before spending any money on the table if you are not planning on keeping it in the medium term. The whole look could be updated with a table cloth, either in white or one of the other colours from the rest of the room. Remember that anything you spend on this table takes you further from purchasing the table you really want, add that to what you could get selling the table as it is and you might not be too far away from buying the new one after all!

I had a similar problem with a table. I used a palm sander to take off the finish and then rubbed it with mineral oil. I would recommend a stain rather than paint. You can get custom stain colors to match your digs.

Tim has a point, I would invest in a couple of cool tablecloths and save your time and $$ for hunting for a future table that you really love. Sorry if that's a cop-out, I'd go with the trendy dark brown if it was something you were going to keep but that's a lot of effort if it's just filler furniture.

I like the lines of your table so, rather than covering them up with a tablecloth as previously recommended, I would just go ahead and stain it the "trendy dark brown" color. Staining really isn't all that expensive, I recently stained a filler-until-i-can-afford-better entertainment center (former buffet) and the stain was only about $7 (for 35sq.' coverage, more than I needed) and the small can of satin poly was only about $8. Sure it took time to sand down (and I believe I would go with a chemical stripper next time), but the end product was worth it to me because now the entertainment center looks decent enough that I can focus on trying to "accidentally" set my husband's hideous $20 couch on fire so we can buy a new one with the money we saved from not buying a new entertainment center. :D

Also, in your case, I would stain the chairs the same color as the table and add seat cushions in either white or an accent color from your adjacent rooms. Either way, god luck with whatever you go with.

I can't comment on the table -- all of the above suggestions are good. Just wanted to say that I have similar chairs and that a couple of years ago, Cost Plus World Market sold both a seat cushion and a chair slipcover. I think there was a sale, but I remember them as being very inexpensive. Nothing fancy but the two together improved comfort and appearance in our room. It seemed like a staple item -- might be worth a look if you choose that route.

I echo all above about table treatments. I have an unfinished, simple table much like yours from IKEA which I stained cherry, and it turned out beautifully. I got it as a temporary solution because the price was right, but now I love it. Refinishing really made a huge difference.

As a more modern touch (and to add functional flexibility) I also added industrial-looking casters with locking wheels. Seems like this could fit your aesthetic, and made my table a more comfortable height.

I did, however, save my pennies to buy Crate&Barrel Infinity chairs and the outlet.

I'd also like to throw in a plug for reusing before buying new- it's cheaper and more sustainable. While it's a great point to say don't spend money on something you aren't going to keep, at the same time a small investment of time and money could make the table a keeper.

i would mirror the look of your nesting tables - what about a slate color top and grey legs - blue chairs that compliment your walls. look through some desgin magazines at a book store specifically on dining rooms. It seems that color is such a quick, fast way to satisfy a need for change without the $$. maybe a silver spray paint for the table and a gray or slate for the chairs. you want to blend it in rather than draw attention to the table and chairs. Plus, you can always, always repaint later.

wow! thanks for all of the feedback! it's one of those borderline things where i have to ask myself if i really want to put the time and a little money into making this table work, or just save for a new one.

one deciding factor that i hadn't mentioned is that i will be in this apartment for at least one more year, probably two, and then i would like to set my sights on buying a house or condo *we'll go with the wishful thinking here!* with that in mind, i don't necessarily want to buy a new table that fits in this small dining space, and then turn around and have it be dwarfed by a realisticly sized dining room!

so, with that in mind, i am glad you have all ponied up some great ideas! let me just say, Ann that i LOVE the idea of putting casters on it!!! and all of you who talked about trying to emulate the nesting tables, that looks like an appealing option. i just don't want it too look kitschy, but the table does have pretty clean lines.

i think i could refinish the top of the table in a dark brown, and then paint the legs that grey metal color. the thing is the chairs. i think they would look better in the same dark brown stain, but they will be a *royal pain* to sand and stain. i just don't think i could muster up the will to do them.

so, what color to paint the chairs? maybe mimic the brown of the stain and then do cushions?

i love the idea of putting a veneer or laminate on the top slats and then upholstering the seats...that sounds doable...

it will be a little while before i can get going on the project, but i will send in before and afters! or tag them on flickr, maybe they'll post them on the blog!

thanks again, y'all
can't wait for the AT:ATX
Austin is ready and waiting for their blog!

Those are definitely the World Market chairs, which also come in cherry and walnut finish. If your chairs are in good condition, it might be worth calling one of the stores and seeing if they'd swap colors.

I've got the same chairs, and they look like a pain to paint or refinish.

I like the idea of high-gloss paint but just do accents. How about just sanding/cleaning up the table/chairs and then just do the top and maybe one side of each leg in that green from your pillows. And the chair you can do just the back each leg/back rest etc.

I think this will tie in the table chair to oyur color scheme and take advantage of the pretty good quality wood they seem to constructed of.