How can I redo a 64 year old fruitwood dining room set?

Carol
by Carol
I would like to replace handles and change color of wood. The cane back chairs need repair and I would like to know if perhaps I can cover them.
  5 answers
  • Anna @Annabode Anna @Annabode on Sep 09, 2014
    I would trade the enormous china cabinet for something less bulky, paint the buffet white (not stain it a different color) and switch out the hardware for something modern and brass. You can definitely upholster the chair backs. Good luck!
  • Z Z on Sep 10, 2014
    Dang, I just lost all I'd written while learning how to use my my new wormhole from my old computer, where most my photos are, to this computer. Anyway, if you want to change the color of the wood, I suggest using a furniture refinisher. I buy the one that's in with the thinners at HoDe. I can't for the life of me remember the brand now. It's less expensive than the big name brands and less odor. Once that's done you can either just add a polyurethane or stain darker and then add the poly. As for the chairs, you can have them upholstered or another idea would be to have slipcovers made, something like in the photo below. This not only saves on cost, but allows for them to be removed and cleaned. Well I guess the photo didn't really transfer from my one computer to the other so I'll be back.
  • Z Z on Sep 10, 2014
    Lets try this again.
    • See 2 previous
    • Z Z on Sep 11, 2014
      @I love these types of slipcovers Jeanette. I have a question though, when you enlarged my picture I posted, did it crop it from what you seen in the thumbnail? It does for me and I have no idea why.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Jan 13, 2015
    Overall, looks sturdy. Would maybe stain a darker colour, leaving some original colour on the squares for a new look.
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Feb 14, 2015
    I have seen these type of pieces painted with chalk paint and they look spectacular! All of the detail shows up beautifully when painted and distressed or just painted and glazed. Your walls in the room appear to be yellow and tan with white trim. My suggestion? Try to find a fabric for the chair cushions that includes or complements those colors, then base your paint color choice on that. For the hutch, you can even "french countrify" it a bit more by removing the glass from the top doors and just leaving the brass inserts in place. Becky (above) showed some very cute slipcover options for the chair backs that you could use as well. Unless you are going for a modern theme, I would use that vintage hardware-either polish it up (you'll be amazed at how gorgeous old hardware looks when polished) or glaze it with the color of the wood piece to have it blend.