How can I modernize my antique dining room?

Question

My husband inherited an antique dining room set from his uncle and it's very sentimental to him. Most of my house is decorated in modern/contemporary decor and I have no idea how to decorate this room! I want to try to add a modern/cont flair to it so that it doesn't feel like my grandmother's house. What can I do??

V Valencia · Answer

Very nice set of furniture and a great size room. I would update the color scheme to something more lively and updated. You may have a color in an adjacent room that you can use. You could select a nice upholstery fabric and use that to select paint, window coverings and possibly a new rug. I can't see the rug you have now well, but if you like it, you can use that to get more color in the room. I'd replace your light fixture to something more updated too. Another idea might be to remove one of the cabinets in the room and replace it with something that has a new, modern feel. Maybe a painted piece to mix it up a bit on that empty wall that has shelving where you could add a focal point such as artwork and other items that tie into your design. Maybe if you liked the uncle, you could have a (small) picture of him in the room somewhere. :)

Found & Fancied Goods · Answer

I had to do the same exact thing. Let the wood surfaces speak for themselves; wood is natural, beautiful, and timeless. Update the fabric on the chairs, this alone will make a huge difference. It's really easy, you can do this yourself. Detract from the 'grandma' look with brighter colors. Update the design with the items around it. Runner on table, modern centerpiece, artwork on wall, maybe a plant or two to soften the lines. Paint the walls a color that seamlessly blends the eras and brightens the room. Honestly, I like a simple happy bright white for this. White will also make the pops of color 'pop' even more. Make the room 'glow' with thin fabric curtains to allow privacy yet flood the room with warm natural light. This is a great use of 'juxtaposition'. Opposites attract so have fun with it. It will turn out unique and awesome! :-)

Creative Interiors By Connie · Answer

You could paint and glaze, but since it is an antique and if it is in good condition, leave it alone. Accessorize this room. Add some color to it so it want look so washed out. Color can come from your accessories. Put a beautiful centerpiece of tulips in a good looking container in the center of your table. Use some pretty dishes and set your table including napkins. Hang the mirror over the breakfront, centering it. Flank each side with a picture or candle sconces. Add tall buffet lamps to each side. In the center add a large low bowl full of fruits, fresh or artificial or fill full of beautiful orbs or display a collection of old silver pieces. Add a large greenery arrangement to the top of the hutch. Greenery adds life to a room and also softens it. Add artwork to your walls. Since the hutch is so close to the windows I would hang one panel on the right side of the right window and on the left side of the left window. Pull them to one side and use a drapery holder. This will add some color also. I promise you, this will be a beautiful room. Shop your home before you spend money. Then shop the consignment & thrift stores. You never know what treasures you might find.

Cynthia Jensen · Answer

I agree with the previous posters. Keep the set the way it is and update it with upholstery and make all excessories and paint etc. modern. You might need to exagerate modern a bit to balance the furniture. If it is not an antique I would paint the chairs and legs white and a the table legs. Antique means 100 years old or near 100 years. It bothers me when people call furniture from the 70's or 80's antique.

Juanita · Answer

Try using chair covers in a bright color or stripes to make the chairs look more modern. Add some modern art on the walls and bright, modern accessories on the sideboard.

Cindy L K · Answer

dont forget the greens...can get them cheap at any craft place or whatever or use real plants! I agree accessorize it. Go to Pier One...get a big piece for the table and for the side table get some kind of big piece of silver tray or decoration. Flowers on the table will make it look outdated.

Carole · Answer

I would put new seat covers over the existing ones. As the chairs are antique, keep the originals underneath. A pretty table runner and some centrepiece or something on the table - think hurricane vases or similar. You need to compliment the antique qualities and work with them not against them. Something pretty on the walls would brighten the room up whether paint, wallpaper or something else or simply some pictures or posters. The room is badly in need of some colour - all of which can be simply introduced without needing any major decorating makeover. Modern can go well with antique if the two compliment and don't fight each other.

Lola · Answer

I like the top of the table, maybe get some slipcovers to go over the chairs, sort of a parsons chair look, some large candle sticks, maybe mercury glass on top of the sideboard cabinet, one drape panel pulled away at each window, put up a chair rail or wainscoting and paint or wallpaper with a new large scale paper on one wall. Large centerpiece on table, maybe a art glass bowl with lemons. etc.

Lola · Answer

I just realized you're in Hamilton and I'm in Middletown, 15 minutes away. We have Ikea in West Chester, right down the road from you, you could get a lot of items from there and verycost effective.

Cookie Dorner-Vogel · Answer

You can make a long table runner with matching chair covers. A brightish color to make the room pop.

Z · Answer

What a beautiful set. 
First off painting it will not make it look contemporary so I hope you are not planning on that. It would be such a shame too. 
That aside, I'm with Juanita and Iola on the idea that full slipcovers could help. I like that idea better than modern fabric on the seats alone. If there's a way you can move the pieces so that the table can be placed at an angle in the room I'd try that. If you are keeping the rug, Which seems to work well with the furniture, I'd paint the walls to match the background. Fill the china cabinet with modern dishes and place modern lamps, something that matches the finish of your chandelier, with drum shades. 
I also like the idea of a table runner for the table with a modern center piece, also in the metal to match the light fixture.

Maria Urban · Answer

You may want to think about replacing the chairs at the heads of the table with modern chairs in your color scheme then recover the existing chairs in a coordinating fabric and then add a modern rug.

Cindy Marks · Answer

I would move the buffet (I think it is a buffet pictured in the bottom left) to the blank wall at the head of the table above which I would place a large oval mirror ( at least as long as the buffet and oval to add some curved lines to a very hard line room) You could then move the cabinet that is located between the windows to the wall where the smaller buffet is now located. The smaller buffet could be located to the space vacated by the larger buffet or located in another room altogether. If the ends of the table can be lowered I would do that as it is not necessary for the table to be fully extended at all times. You could recover the chair seats in a lovely damask and you could place mirror panels in the china cabinet to help lighten the look. I would do drapery panels on the windows. You can also add crystals to your light fixture (ebay) to give it a 'chandelier' look. As stated in previous comments, a lovely centerpiece on the table - and placing mercury glass candle sticks in various heights with cream candles on the buffet would be lovely. The carpet is not quite large enough but that is something that can be changed out at any time (when they are on sale)

Doris · Answer

Go for farmhouse look to make this room special. I have done this with the breakfast area of my kitchen...antique secretary, husbands grandmother's homemade farm table, antique bentwood chairs, old lawyers bookcase. Everything in the room is inherited. De or is old silver trays, depression glass, flea market finds, crocheted doilies. It works with my traditional house.

Kayo Frazier · Answer

If it's an antique, the ONLY thing I would do is maybe strip it down to the wood & re-varnish it maybe a lighter color...I would never paint it. It will lose it's value as an antique. If you ever bequeath it to a family member, or sell it. I would store the chairs & replace them w/ a more modern design maybe a high back upholstered chair. That is ALL I would do.

Mary Gemmell · Answer

It's a beautiful set, one thing that would help is to move the tall cabinet to a different room and add a more modern piece to that window wall. that tall cabinet overwhelms and hides the far window.

LTorrans · Answer

Completely agree!!! Keep the wood. That looks like a lovely butter yellow color in the rug! Start layering in color and texture. Floor to ceiling drapes in a solid rich fabric --- most likely found on discount now that spring is arriving. I would use a deep butternut fabric with a lighter butternut paint. Then throw in a print on the chairs. PLUS for the chairs be sure to add some foam padding with a foam square wrapped in quilting batting and THEN your fabric. Possibly BOTH a table runner from the fabric and a secon runner laid across the sideboard. MAKE THE DRAPES SOLID ... AND POSSIBLY ONE OF THE TWO RUNNERS WITH ONE MATCHING THE PRINT ON THE CHAIRS AND ONE MATCHING THE DRAPES. Or I recalled an image from a shopping expedition and linked it here which is similar: http://richardsonmercantilestores.com/?attachment_id=302#prettyPhoto[postimages]/0/ Accessories and color! I would put a screen in behind the China cabinet to enhance the height ... from Craiglist. You do not have a focal point behind the chair at the end. Close the table and possible put the sideboard there with fabulous art, candlesticks ... and if you want to paint ... paint the ugly chandelier!!! Give it a red or orange color to contrast the walls (which would be a deep butternut color) and if that mirror is NOT an antique paint it to complement or even match the chandelier.

Colleen · Answer

That is a beautiful set. Opposites can absolutely mix well and the result is often much more unique and interesting than a single one. The chairs stand out as quite ornate - if your hubby doesn't object, make some tailored slip covers for them but don't hide anything else. Pull a paint color from your rug for the walls. Remove the slatted blinds and consider something like what was done for these windows: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/-3675051. First though, consider moving the sideboard to the blank wall and place a bold piece of artwork over it. Then move the tall cabinet to where the sideboard is now, and move the small table seen in the corner of the photo to in between the windows. Choose a few bold accessories for around the room in one standout color. Keep them clean lined, on the large side and add just a few key pieces to keep it from getting fussy or ornate. Also consider changing the chandelier to something larger and more modern, such as a drum shade. All of this can be done in a very thrifty way with the help of this site and the internet in general! Would love to see photos when you finish this project.

Cherie · Answer

You have so many suggestions that I won't offer one, but would love to see what you decide to do. The furniture is lovely and you'll find if you do some color on the walls, etc. it will fit in much better. Please post pictures when you're finished! Thanks!

Linda Gonzales · Answer

Put a really large canvas painting or canvas photo on the back wall to draw your eye and interest and deflect from the scale of the furniture. Agree about the slip covers for the chairs, Put the mirror over the buffet. Put a runner on the table and buffet with sleek modern centerpieces, like a long brushed silver bowl with clear glass balls (something to match your light fixture). Good luck :)

Swan Road Designs · Answer

First, you need color. If you plan to keep the rug under the table, draw from the colors there. Choose the most vibrant one for the walls and paint the woodwork white. Add interest to the walls, such as framed artwork, display items, etc. Either create yourself or have a professional make a 'focal point' floral arrangement for the table. Make it big to make a statement.

Use the tops of the china cabinet and buffet to showcase some of your loveliest and largest pieces of china and/or glassware or silver if you have it. Adding the glass and/or silver will give the eye some sparkle to enjoy and divert away from the furniture, which is beautiful in its own right.

As others have already mentioned, cover the chairs in something else. Choose a deeper, richer tone of one of the colors in the rug and add a braid trim to the edge of the seat bottoms. The trim will update the chairs just enough and make them look lovelier.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

The set is beautiful and an heirloom. Please do not paint. I would get a large piece of modern art for that wall behind the table with a bit of the colour(s) from your rug in it . Then I'd pick colour(s) from the art for recovering the chair seats, and possibly adjusting the wall colour.. (Can't tell if it's taupe or green toned.) Choose a suitable modernistic centrepiece for the table. Finished!

Julane Johnson · Answer

The dining set is gorgeous. The room is dull. A more lively paint on the walls, some artwork, a bit of table dressings and you'll appreciate the set more. If you still don't like it, give it to me. :)

Claire M · Answer

Have you ever had it appraised? If the set is truly an antique, I suggest you find out its history and value, and then decide from there. If so, I would paint the walls an interesting color, restore the wood pieces, and refresh the upholstery and add interesting art and maybe an area rug to tie it all together. Or you may find another place for the side pieces to give them a brand new storage use in another room. If it is a reproduction, by all means, paint it a color that makes you happy! If it is not making you happy, it's not working for you!

Claire M · Answer

Thinking of how beautiful that wood would look when complemented by walls of your favorite color! Sage? Soft teal? Sienna? GO for it!!

Linda · Answer

Sarah Richardson always starts with several co-ordinating patterns; she'll use one for draperies; another to cover the chair seats; and another to make the table runners or use a matting for artwork. The wall and carpet colour would come from the fabric too. The final result is very pleasing to the eye. You might want to google her for ideas.

Loretta Clark · Answer

At least it's large enough to seat at least ten, right? I'm sorry, but I it's yours and painting the bottom part of it white would do a great deal to lighten the space. Same with the large cabinet between the windows, but definitely take that to your local glass shop and have them put mirror in the back. (I've done that and it's not very expensive) There are a blue million antique chairs with no homes, so do whatever you want with yours!

Candace · Answer

Accent with silver and white on table and wall art

Victoria · Answer

:0) Hello!! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/diy-dining-table-makeover-tutorial-6419507

Rosalie chow · Answer

Never change or paint antique furniture. If you do it decrease the value of the furniture. You an put a modern tick table cloth to modernize it. Yes the cabinet either move to another room. Your antique dinning set is beautiful. I love the chairs.
Thank you for sharing.

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