Wednesday, February 23, 2011

new dining room table and chairs


sooooo i finally did it...i've been talking for YEARS about replacing our dining room table and chairs. our last one seen here and then in our new house here has been wonderful for 13 years. it's served our little family when it was just the two of us and we slowly graduated to 3, 4, 5, then 6 people in our family...and well it still served us well. that last table has had so many spills and has gone through 10 moves. that table was the table my husband bought when he was still my fiance and was so proud when he bought it from some guy who was probably married for 13 years or so and was finally upgrading to a bigger table.


and now here we are 13 years of marriage and upgrading to a bigger table. it's from IKEA. i wanted a slightly bigger one but ended up with this one because of the length. the other one would of worked, but it's okay because now i really like this one and it's grown on me. (i don't do change well in general so no big surprise there!) this little sucker will sit up to 12 people. oh yeah baby! no more sitting in each others laps when the in laws or my mom come to visit! yay! anywho...i walked away around christmas time with just the table because the plan was to buy a couple of chairs each month as i came to save up for them. i'm happy to announce that i've saved up enough and have bought a few sets. yay me! i ended up buying these chairs because i felt like they went with the table and the look i was going for. but...now here's the big question:
what color am i going to paint my big EAT on the wall?...
any suggestions? i'm leaning towards black or gray.
maybe brown...or heck what about a walk on the wild side and do mustard yellow, orange, or teal? but not red, because i don't think it would go well? am i wrong?

edited: thanks for all the suggestions! i think i've narrowed it down to two colors...i'll paint and report! probably when the cold dies down a little, and when i finally make my decision...hmmmm maybe keep the suggestions coming.

93 comments:

Timolily said...

I think you should use different colours, maybe earthy colours such as burnt orange, khaki etc. like this: http://www.thefrogandtheprincess.com/detail99.php?RecordID=3988
Then you'll just have to make a matching runner..!

Tara said...

I was thinking how great red would look until you said no red. I'm having trouble seeing it any other color now! The table is fantastic! Can't wait until we get an Ikea in Denver!

Sarah Gough said...

Go for a splash of colour! You can always repaint it when you want a change.

Aimee said...

I say a bold color, even red would fantastic I believe.

hawkeyejlp said...

How about the trendy faux zinc? I've seen lots of tits for it around the interwebs. Love the set--we lucked into a great "new to us" table & chairs a few years ago.

dudrear said...

What about a green- like the green from plant on the table.

amylouwhosews said...

Really cute!! I miss IKEA. I think you should paint them turquoise. The rustoleum painters touch in aqua is my favorite. You can never have too much turquoise can you? Weeeeelllllll, my husband might think so.

trish said...

Good Morning V.
Congratulations on the fabulous table and chairs!! :o) Imagine all the memories that will be made around it. :o)
Can't wait to see what color you choose for the letters! :o)
Have a great week.
Sincerely, Trish

Ellyn said...

haha I too was thinking RED! Until you said no red. Of course, if I had my way everything would be red. How about lime green?

NorahS said...

My first thought was also red, but I would go for a splash of color. Maybe orange or granny apple green. You can always repaint!

Sam said...

I agree with everyone else about a bright color - I think mustard would look fab!

Holly Wilcox said...

teal or mustard. You def. need something bright. A bright color would be great with the black table.
Looks good!

Brenda said...

LOVE the table. Seriously, 12 people? How awesome is that! Our table is nice and large for my hubby and me, seating 6, but someday it will hopefully be more than just the two of us :) As for your EAT, I'm partial to the earthy tones and having the letters be different colors like Katy suggested. I looove avocado green myself, as well as the burnt orange or mustard that you suggested.

trish said...

me again V.
I have a little question on my blog today, if you get a chance, will you check it out?
love, Trish

Unknown said...

natural might be nice - i kinda like the way the letters repeat the color of the basket and the curtain in the background.

but a splash of color would be a delightful surprise, too! rusty orange or aqua!

honeybunny said...

Where did you get the BIG EAT letters?? I have been looking for some letters like that! Thanks!

Alassel said...

I think teal would look fantastic. If you paint black/gray the letters will go with the room, but they won't stand out. A bright color would make them pop, if that's what you're after. I like the idea of teal as it's bright and cheery without being completely in your face. :)

catie said...

my vote is to either leave them natural (something about the basket, i think) or to go super bold! i like the orange idea!

(and question to you, is that woodlook porcelain tile inlaid into a stone look porcelain on the floor? because that looks FANTASTIC!! i heart it. a lot.)

Amy said...

Use a hammered metal bronze spray paint! Thats my vote!

~april said...

love your new table and those chairs are sooooo cool! really love them! as for "EAT"...how about lime green? or grass green like on your table?

PatSloan said...

I'm insanely crazy about words.. letters.. I need to start putting them on the walls!

Unknown said...

You could totally get away with like a rustic barn red, but that also depends on the rest of your house too. If you have a supermodern house with rustic barn red letters that would look a little strange. You don't strike me as the supermodern house type but I don't like to assume, you know what they say about people who assume.

Kelly O. said...

mustard yellow or black

bethanndodd said...

Gray or aqua (if you feel up to it!). No matter what you choose it will be perfect, no doubt.

Vicki said...

It's hard to say without seeing the other colors in the room and surrounding areas. Having said that, I played with this photo in Photoshop and tried blues, rusts, reds and then landed on a lime green and it rocks...looks fab with your centerpiece. You can try the same thing using Paint (under accessories in Windows) if you don't have Photoshop.

Greenstylemom said...

Well, I just painted the bookshelves in my family/eating area red, so maybe you shouldn't listen to my opinion... I would paint EVERYTHING red if I could!

Jen said...

Red would be GREAT!

momawake said...

I think the EAT looks good like it is. Although a bold look would work also.

Staci said...

I think there's enough black going on with the table, chairs, and floor. Go with something else.

All8 said...

I would pick a color out of your tile. A green of sorts. It definitely needs to be a Color though.

Like many others, I would pick Red. A Red like you mean it, but I think a blue or green would suit your sense of style/house better.

Anonymous said...

Not Red, I think mustard although I am intrigued but the suggestion of zinc.

Melody said...

I vote for a bright color - I'm on a turquoise kick right now, but I like one of the earlier commenter's suggestion of apple green -

QuiltyBee said...

aqua!

Danielle said...

I think you should leave the letters the color they are and paint the wall!

Heather at Happy Chippy Junk said...

I think you need to do something a little LOUDER!! Walk on the wild side lady!! I think RED or AQUA would look AWESOME!! I have seen people paint them to look metalish one lady (in blogland) did it copperish and it was delish!! Can't wait for a full home tour!!!

Anonymous said...

Lovely table. Although you didn't think red would work, I think a brick red would add some colour.

wilderlamb said...

I vote for orange!

Kelly L. said...

Maybe a color to go with your dishes

Heather Macbeth said...

Oh my gosh I have the EXACT same table!!! We love it! You have FABULOUS taste!

b.marie said...

i vote yellow! and gray! gray for the surface and yellow for the edges. we wouldn't want to get too crazy!

Marci said...

well of course my first thought was red! i think you should do it some bright fun color because it's a bright fun thing..orange could be cool.:D

Marie said...

Love the table!! I just got a new one also. It still needs to be put together.

Anonymous said...

Ok, my first choice was red before you said no to red! I think it would look great. However, I think a nice warm, not bright, teal would be great too. Make sure you show pictures of the finished product!

Unknown said...

I love the combination of bright colors with black and grey...especially grey! Trending towards the mustard yellow or a nice vibrant teal/aqua is uber chic!!
How exciting!! good luck!!

Salisbury Family said...

I wish I could remember where I saw this, but I saw letters like yours, tightly wrapped in yarn. I loved the texture, and the "textily" feel to this, plus...you could change it when you got bored with it! I think I would start with a plum yarn, and wrap away!

The Wifeyness said...

I love a good grey, but I think this corner screams for some color! What about yellow on the face of the letters, and red on the sides of them? That way there's a little surprise pop!

Kacey said...

i say leave them natural or go for big color. you want some contrast. the table and chairs are dark, so i think black or gray would be too blah.

Cheryl said...

I think red would be a great choice. IT is a good color to have in the dining room. It represents life and warmth...well, to me anyway. I know we love having a crowd eating at our table and this color would make it pop off the wall as well as your furniture.
So, all that being said, i am not sure what is opposite your table and what colors you have going on. I know you will pick a great color and it will work for you and your family.

Wren said...

I'm thinking a print would be good--it would give the room some movement. Maybe mod podge some fabric or a great printed paper on it. Love the floor and the table!!

Rachel said...

The table is nice, but I want to know about the floor under your table.

bjahlstrom said...

No, no, definitely red. Do red!

Amy said...

ooooo...teal sounds good!! Whatever you pick though will be beautiful! :)

Jess@craftiness is not optional said...

mustard yellow or teal! love the chairs with that table :)

Kerstin said...

How about a crisp, fresh shade of green?

Mandy said...

I vote for red!

Anonymous said...

Pull a color from the flooring. A teal green would be nice. Is there a way to get a marbled look with paint?

michaela hoenigman said...

Having read your blog for awhile, I know in the past you like to keep things simple and streamlined. So....just to throw it out there, I think a white to match your walls would make more of a STATEMENT by being UNDERstated than anything. It would draw the eye, that's for sure. Or be REALLY crazy and just leave it alone. I know, I am such a rebel that I scare myself sometimes.

Unknown said...

These few letters are a perfect way to bring color into the room. My color palette is the same as yours and mixed in a reddish orange, because it allows me to bring in a yellow in spring - it goes well with green as an additional color - it's great in autumn and Christmas, you guessed it is fantastic with all the Christmas colors. Love, love your new table. And if you'll allow me, I will dublicate your idea with the letters (love it).

Kara said...

lime green. we are painting a chalkboard wall in our kitchen right now and used lime green frog tape to tape off the trim and I'm LOVING the lime green with the black.

Pat S. said...

I guess I'm the contrarian here. I'd say go 2 shades darker than the wall. Otherwise it will ALWAYS be the focal point of the room.
If you keep it subtle, your table's centerpiece (which you may want to change with the holidays or seasons) won't fight it for attention.

I think the EAT is a nice backdrop for everything else going on in the room, but if you go bold it will always upstage anything else in the room.. including that occasional big family meal with beautiful platters of food. :-)

Rachel said...

My first thought was silver, but I am now leaning towards a metallically black.

Jen said...

Love your table, and I especially love those chairs. They are perfect for the table. I would paint the sign turquoise or green! Just my opinion :) Really though love the table!

Anonymous said...

congrats on the table! how about forgetting paint and wrapping each letter in 1 - 2" strips of ripped fabric? each letter could be different but co-ordinating (of course!)...

April (Polkadot Sparrow) said...

Aqua or turquoise. Or a green. Because those colors are friendly "when you're eating" colors. Hmm...perhaps that statement only makes sense in my own head.

Anyway, good luck.

Four of our maple dining room chairs have all bit the dust recently. I need a new set but I am so hard on furniture that the cute Ikea stuff would bust within a year. I am jealous that you got your previous table to last you that long. I'm wondering if I need to just chop some sort of seat area out of a bunch of oak logs and put those around my table. They may last. ;)

Jen said...

I like the idea of a pumpkin or deep brown. Love the table, but I am TOTALLY HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE with you FLOOR!!! That is gorgeous! I so want to steal that for when/if I ever replace my flooring.

Diana said...

I don't know how it would go with the rest of your kitchen, but I think orange would be awesome!!

amy said...

We have the same table and I love it! I replaced a four seater glass top in our kitchen and I haven't missed the old table for even a second.

I like your chairs better than my current ones...so now I have chair envy!

Lori said...

Hey friend! It really looks good, you IKEA shopper! I have to say, I'd like to see EAT in teal, or Alyssa-blue! It was fun to talk to you tonight, even if it was a brief second!

Bonnie said...

I would say a burnt orange or the mustard but it depends on the rest of the room, is it attached to the kitchen or family or living room. What are your accent colors there?

isa debat said...

il manque une couleur forte comme le orange

Suzie said...

red was my first thought! then I move on to orange. I thinks some sort of print would be wonderful.

Sharla said...

I say go wild with color!

Heather M said...

I would go with a delciously herb-like green!

Anonymous said...

Aqua or clover green!!
Kelly O'B

christy said...

In my head I said NO RED! I love red, I just don't think it would work here. I like mustard or teal. I think teal would work nicely with the floor.

LuLu said...

Your table looks wondeful... i'm liking the grey idea
xo,
LuLu

Little Chicks Info said...

Red goes with everything...it's the new black...but TEAL...amazing TEAL! That's one of my new favorites...no black or grey...it's gotta pop!

Elizabeth said...

I agree with the person in the begining about doing green like the plant on the table.

Lo said...

I think any of the colors you mentioned would work... the good news is that you can always repaint EAT! So I'd go with whatever you feel like now! I'm definitely leaning toward the Burnt Orange or Mustard Yellow now...and then adding some other additional colors into the room? But I have to say I think the red could look good! You just have to do whichever color you feel like now! :)

Lynnette said...

My first thought was RED...I love red...but you said no red, sooooo I don't know, but I would definitely go with a bold color.

ecuakim said...

Oh, I love the idea of painting the letters a bright color. Needs to pop. But, honestly, what caught my attention was the flooring! Does it look like quilt sashing on purpose?! It's gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

I know I am a bit far down the list here and you may have already made up your mind. After looking at your picture this is what I would be thinking about doing. I would be afraid of those big letters being red my self but would maybe do a coat of red and then several coats of black and sand the edges, not a new idea. I would also consider bringing in some green but I personally would go with a sage not grass green. You have wonderful neutral colors in your walls and floor I don't think your color accent has to scream. Just a thought. I am sure that what ever you choose will be fantastic! Have fun.

Misty said...

Yellow! Then do some gray accents in the room. I love the yellow and grey color scheme. Maybe a grey and white chevron table runner?

Monica Lifferth said...

Love the table! We've been married 12 years and our table is still the tiny Shopko buy we got after we got married. Hopefully in a year or two we can upgrade.

Okay, I love red. So def, go with a red. Aqua or teal would be nice too. Nice and cool.

Oh, just wanted to let you know that I featured you on my blog. Pretty much I envy. I linked back to you, so hopefully you're cool with that. :)

AMessWorthMaking said...

Mustard, all the way. No question.

Mimi Sue said...

Where did you find those great big letters? I need some that spell PLAY! Mimi

Team Clark said...

Wow, lots of comments-lady! I just wanted to tell you that I love it and I'm glad you got a new one. That's a super fun thing to do and I'm so happy for you!
Good luck with the color of the Eat sign!

Kendra said...

I love the chairs, so hard to find a decent chair that doesn't cost a fortune! I've almost bought that table at IKEA about 10 different times. I love it- it's BIG! Someday... Anyway- go with COLOR! It makes life so much more fun, and you can always paint it black if you hate it.

Susan said...

Dove-gray...definately soothing and relaxing as you enjoy your meal!

Deborah in Atlanta said...

If you've narrowed it down to a couple of colors, and those colors look good together, why don't you paint the letters one of those colors and then do dots or crazy designs like zig-zags or stars or whatever with the second color you're considering? And the best thing? It's just paint - paint each letter differently and then figure out which one you like best, then paint the other ones that color.

Anonymous said...

I love orange paired with the gray and black in the floor and table. Same orange as the blogger logo, or even better, the original le crueset color (ties the color to food and eating)

KellyH said...

I have that table. It's pretty great! Love your new chairs!

Tiffany said...

I say the mustard yellow

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