80's Kitchen Table & Chairs

Tracy Frerichs
by Tracy Frerichs
My daughters in college were just gifted a kitchen table & 4 chairs: wood-grain formica top is in really good condition with 1 leaf, legs are painted off-white, and the cushions are a peachy-orange fabric. Suggestions? (sorry for not better pic's, it's all loaded for delivery in the back of my SUV.)
table leaf with chair stacked on top
chair back
complete set in the back of my Journey
  14 answers
  • Irish53 Irish53 on Jul 07, 2013
    Easy enough just to unscrew the chair seats and recover with fabric of your choice.Use staple gun to reattach the material and screw seat back on. Do same for the back of the chair. I think the material on the back of chair is nice. Maybe use denim for the seat. Slipcovers from second hand store to cover the entire chair is another option.
  • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jul 08, 2013
    I love the idea of using Denim. I probably would also pain the white - maybe an antique bronze? Krylon or Rustoleum has that color and it would look fabulous with dark denim.
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 08, 2013
    Pick a color your daughter likes throughout her home and use those colors pattern print on the seat and solid on the backs of the chairs. If needed you can remove the seats and backs and spray paint the frames and table legs whatever color she wants.
  • Tracy Frerichs Tracy Frerichs on Jul 08, 2013
    Thank you Irish53, Kalamity Kelli, and Therese C! What about leopard print? Any ideas there? They didn't like the idea of denim, but we discussed recovering with a hand painted verse on linen or using chalk paint on the fabric. I hadn't though about bronze legs - good idea!
  • Z Z on Jul 08, 2013
    If the painted legs are in good shape and they want a more feminine look I'd leave it as is and make slipcovers for the chairs and a fitted table cloth to match. All could be removed and easily washed. I'm thinking short chair covers as shown in the middle picture below in the "Related Posts" area with a matching short pleated side table cover.
  • Larose LoganOakes Larose LoganOakes on Jul 09, 2013
    I know that you said that the formica table top is in good shape but you might consider doing something with the Rustoleum Countertop Transformations.See Below.You can also go to their website and see all of the color choices for yourself. I have seen this done and it is really nice.You can get these products at either Home Depot or Lowes.You can check this redo out. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/bathroom/countertops/update-an-old-laminate-countertop-636410. Good Luck!
  • Kat =^.^= Kat =^.^= on Jul 09, 2013
    oooh leopard! i like that too! well, paint the metal part of the table and chairs a brown that you find in a nice leopard print for the chairs, the table top would be a match neutral too! MEOW! loving the leopard!
  • April E April E on Jul 09, 2013
    if u like the leopard print I would get krylon hammered bronze to paint the legs and chairs
  • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jul 10, 2013
    I like the Leopard idea myself - I put it on an ottoman recently and love how it turned out! The hammered bronze paint is perfect - just like my fellow Okie @April E says!
  • Tracy Frerichs Tracy Frerichs on Jul 10, 2013
    Good suggestion!! What fabric would work with the a black painted formica top & mirrored paint on the legs?
  • Larose LoganOakes Larose LoganOakes on Jul 10, 2013
    I thought that I should let you know that if you don't find any decorator fabric that you like to redo the chairs then you can use clothing fabric and then spray the cushions with some scotchguard to help keep them stain free.You might even consider using outdoor fabric as it has already been treated.(usually)
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 11, 2013
    Tracy if you paint the frames in mirror-like finish, might I suggest using Mercury Glass paint? With that you could still use you leopard print idea in gray and black with a dash of green. What a stunning piece that would be with the black table top!!
  • Tracy Frerichs Tracy Frerichs on Jul 11, 2013
    I really like all these ideas!! Thank you!!
  • Christy Necole Christy Necole on Jul 12, 2013
    I would definitely use some outdoor spray paint on these and reupholster with an out door fabric and take these outside!! Great frame for a patio so long as they are coated with something so they dont' rust...Rustoleum is a great product! The table I can't really see but you could sure use an outdoor paint on it as well and cover the top with a clear vinyl cover and with a table cloth of your choice and/or paint a trendy or interesting design right on the surface. You could also drill a hole and put an umbrella right through it . There are some plastic umbrella holders that go right in the hole to keep a table cloth in place and if it's long enough it should keep everything dry. And of course you could use it inside as well. It's just summer and my mind is on outside!!