nice or naff?

[jollymollie]

we've just inherited an antique pine round table and four chairs. It's in my kitchen now but i'm not sure whether i like it or not. Our house is sort of modern inside and i'm not sure if this table and chairs fits in but i sort of like the chunky, farmhouse look of it. would you have one in your kitchen or are they considered old fashioned now? i'm a bit clueless when it comes to furniture!

Maybe you could paint it? Pretty easy to do and you could even go so far as to sand it slightly and get that oh so trendy shabby chic look going.

I wouldn't have it in my kitchen, but that's simply because there's no room for any kind of chair, never mind a table!

i was thinking of painting it but don't want to spoil it. It is lovely but worried it's a tad old fashioned.

We only buy secondhand retro furniture (I'm mad and therefore think old furniture has a soul, new furniture is souless, don't ask!) so I would have it in my house.
Live with it for a few months, and if you can't bear it by the end then give it up. What does everyone else in the household think of it?

Try Annie Sloan paint very nice. Or get someone in to sand and re oil. Someone I have does my work tops with special stuff that lasts a whole year.

Paint it. I hate yellowed pine and does not go with a modern interior. What about a nice grey like F&B Lamp Room Grey???

I would have it as it is probably real wood unlike the one we have that turned out to be laminate and was very expensive and is ruined .

swaying more towards the painting it option. It is lovely in itself but doesn't really fit with the rest of the kitchen. Planning on having a go myself when dh at work, hope it turns out ok!

If it doesn't match the rest of the kitchen could you get a few accessories that would "tie it in" a bit? Tea-towels, oven gloves, place mats which are a little more rustic/shabby chic/farmhousey?

Can you put a pic on profile so we can see it? It sounds fine to me.

I would paint it. I have been going mad painting all our furniture lately, its amazing how you can change the look of it. The trick is a good sanding to start, lots of light coats of paint, lightly sand and rub with white spirit between each coat. I have a coffee table on my profile pics actually that I was showing to another poster. I painted it but ended up using Plasti Kote spray for the final finish, its much more even and no brush strokes showing.

i'd pair it with modern or classic chairs - series 7 or those 'ghost' ones

Paint it!

Sand it down and see how the natural state looks, amazing how different they can look. If it doesnt look right you can always re-varnish or paint it :)