Wood choice for dining room server
+27
My dining room table and chairs are dark, and the dining room is an alcove with no windows. I have ordered a server that has wooden oak legs and a glass top. My dilemma is what color to stain the legs. I've been told to go light, but won't that look odd with the rest of the furniture?
This is the dining room
The server will be based on this design. The dilemma is what colour legs?
28 answers
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Wood would be fine. If you went black it would over power your room. If you wanted a color you could stay with a smart red to add accent. Your choice.
Valerie W
on Nov 25, 2015
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I would go dark,,,I think it should match table.
Lagree Wyndham
on Nov 25, 2015
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There is already enough black within the room. I think this really is more of personal taste, however to break up the color a bit I would go a dark black brown.It would them compliment your existing color. Then I suggest using a color runner or placements to soften down the black. I also have a black table and I always change out the tablecloths.
Janet Pizaro
on Nov 25, 2015
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The natural color of the wood would be very good. You can add any accessory of the same wood on the walls (near the server) or at the dinner table. Maybe hang a mirror in a wooden frame. Then there will be more light and color will match the color of the frame legs.
Caromio
on Nov 26, 2015
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Your walls and carpet look white or at least very light. Light colored wood will fade to the background. I love contrast but in this case I think dark. However. You could do something like a bright red or blue or whatever your favorite color and do a centerpiece on your dining table with matching color. That would really pop!
Karen Rydzewski
on Nov 26, 2015
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I think you should do an entirely different bright color and add a matching centerpiece of same color for your table. This will add some color and interest to your room. I picture a bright red.
Karen Rydzewski
on Nov 26, 2015
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I agree with Karen Rydzewski, you need an accent color. I personally would paint a wall a bright color, red would be good. The wall with the mirror, so it would pop more. I would do a red wash on the wood legs to pull that in also. Accent colors are important. I would use a colonial red.
JoAnn
on Nov 26, 2015
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Chrome...
Jim L
on Nov 26, 2015
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I'm with Jim on this. I was thinking a Chrome on the legs and some paint on the walls, maybe a taupe with a grey undertone. This color might work to add warmth and make those metal and glass details shine.. SW 9167 Polished Concrete/ Sherwin Williams or SW 6010 Flexible Gray
Joanie
on Nov 26, 2015
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This has nothing to do with your question, but once you get the server in place consider moving 2 chairs to flank the server, leaving 6 around the table. It looks crowded and uncomfortable right now with 8 chairs around the table. I think "loosening up" the arrangement of chairs and adding a centerpiece would be more aesthetically pleasing. Just a thought. Good luck putting the final touches on your room!
Karin From B'ham
on Nov 26, 2015
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Good idea Karin! I also think a bright color with matching centerpiece. I also like red, which also matches the picture on your wall.
Janet chambers
on Nov 26, 2015
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i agree with colour and bringing a bit more colour in, leave the room as is and go with a sideboard one of those bright colours from your art work on the walls. The blue or red? Bring that colour in on the table with a runner or incorporate your candle holders into a base.
Fab and Pretty
on Nov 26, 2015
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I agree, paint instead of stain.
Suzanne Lee
on Nov 26, 2015
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Maybe try the burned wood finish that way it will be light and tie into the dark chairs. Plus you would not need to re-paint it if you change your decor colors. Look up burned wood finish in hometalk's search bar for an example post/picture.
Mabeline
on Nov 26, 2015
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Pick an amazing pop of colour on those legs! Vermillion , which is an orange red , or Chinese Mandarin red ( a blue red) or turquoise or yellow ochre , or sage green or yellow
Barbara Butters
on Nov 26, 2015
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Since you have chrome/silver in your lighting and mirror, I would finish the legs a silver finish.
LD
on Nov 26, 2015
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I agree with metallic silver (thanks Linda) if you want to stay elegant, yet modern. I've used a metallic silver spray with a hammered finish (a mottled metal look, slight glow/sheen but not mirror-like) on everything from metal light fixtures to leather shoes and it always turns out fabulous. I'd seriously consider giving your dining table legs the same hammered silver finish to lighten up the room a bit more. Dark table & dark chairs makes it look very heavy compared to the rest of your lightweight chrome accents, so there's a bit of a disconnect between the two. Since yours chairs have a straight back at the top... to lighten up even further, I'd consider getting/making some sheer light fabric "table" runners (silver or another light colour in your artwork) that you would actually use on your chairs (the 2 end chairs for sure) to drape over the chair backs (up the frontside & down the backside) and make sure they're tacked down into the seat seam in front & top edge seam. These chair runners would still leave a few inches of chair showing on either side of the runner, so the intention is not to create a slipcover to hide the entire top of the chairs. You also could use a tiny bit of the dark colour repeated in the room so that everything works together better, maybe some dark wall sconces or picture frames. How does that sound??? Can you visualize it?
EllieH
on Nov 26, 2015
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Thank you to EVERYONE for your comments and advice. I really appreciate you all taking the time to answer my question, and I certainly have many options to consider
Nadia Lipsitz
on Nov 27, 2015
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Gorgeous table & chairs but too much matching can be dull. I too would choose silver for contrast. If you find it hard to decide, pick up a few sheets of colored paper [China or Vermillion Red, Turquoise, Silver, Cobalt Blue or? from Michael's and tape to legs to see what you prefer. If you can't find the colors suggested, try craft paint [$ Store] and paint sheets of ordinary copy paper the colors you prefer.
Honour Min
on Nov 27, 2015
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It's not uncommon now to have several different woods in the same room. I saw a room recently that was designed by a professional and it had 7 different woods
Beth Snow Martin
on Nov 29, 2015
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I too would try the metallic look. Besides, it's paint. If you hate it, change it. But it would be quite stunning, I think.
Sandra
on Nov 29, 2015
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Hi Nadia, You're off to a great start with your "modern luxe" dining room. I think the issue is the stark white against the heavy dark wooden table. I think it's ok to have a mix of woods in a room to make it look collected over time. The glass keeps the server modern. My suggestion would be to add some color to the room to tie in with your vibrant art. If it's not a rental, consider painting at least one wall a color from the art. You can afford to go medium without fear, since it will have the mirror and glass to reflect from. Pick a sheen that is a bit light reflective like satin. You can absolutely try a satin nickel finish on the legs but I'm not sure it's my first choice. Select a color that also ties in with your adjacent room so it flows together with the dining room. If you're feeling adventurous, go ahead and paint the legs a color to mix in with your theme. You have beautiful crown moulding, a color will show that off. Consider adding a chair rail and mixing 2 colors, one above and below. As far as painting the server legs, Taping colored paper to the base is surely a way to visualize the result. Stick to colors you love and sprinkle them throughout your space. Change out or paint your frames black on the art if you stay with white or light walls. If you go darker with paint, consider painting them in satin nickel. Your corner lamp would pop against a color. If you don't paint, add a colored lamp shade. Sorry this is long, but one decision made changes everything else. So think about what you're willing to change and offset so there's a balance of color. If you need to, make a couple of changes & re-post. We'll help you get the room you want, one step at a time. Go to magazines, or a website like Houzz & find pics of dining rooms you love & compare them to yours. You'll figure out what you need to elevate your space. You may find when the whole room is cohesive & properly dressed, the legs won't even be noticed. PS: consider a lamp in the opposite corner to balance the light in the space. Good luck!
Sharon
on Nov 29, 2015
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It's a stunning server table. Since the dining table is dark with a glass panel, I would make sure the server matches - dark frame with glass top. The frame isn't solid so it won't look heavy if it is dark. Instead it will all look like a coherent matching set and the frame design will be a point of interest against the light walls. Your room is more formal rather than eclectic so matching would keep with the theme. If you decide to leave it timber you will need some other matching timber elements on the table to tie it all in. Since there is no window you have absolutely done the right thing by including a large mirror. No matter what you decide, the room really would benefit from the addition of foliage. A large floor standing indoor plant and more greenery as a centrepiece on the table (even a potted plant rather than cut flowers) will soften the room and you won't miss not being able to see out.
Dan3001797
on Nov 29, 2015
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What is the color of the chair upholstery and what stain/color is on the dining table. Those answers would help to decide the color of the base. Since the area has no window I like the fact that you are using a mirror to reflect and fool the eye giving the space more depth.
Decoratingdiva
on Dec 02, 2015
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With the colors of the unholstery and the table base I think silver/metalic silver would be a good choice as others have also mentioned. For a great accent, to tie all together, what about a painting in blacks/browns and white on the wall where the white smaller pictures are hanging. It should be smaller or larger than the mirror and might be a dynamite piece in your contemporary room. You could even get a gallery wrapped canvas at Michaels and do an abstract of your own or a contemporary cityscape. Have fun!
Decoratingdiva
on Dec 02, 2015
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Add some color, please!
Snapoutofit
on Dec 02, 2015
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Beautiful space with loads of light! I am inclined to think that it would be best to stay with the dark tones, as the glass top is already a "ghost" feature. If you added white or silver legs, the entire piece would essentially disappear into the white wall. Unless, you paint the wall that the server will be up against a different, deeper accent color, which will make the silver or white pop against it. Or, you could stain it dark, but not necessarily a wood tone- try a deep red or blue- whatever color you love- could create a stunning accent piece and add a touch of color to the space. Good luck- post after pics!
Country Design Home
on Dec 04, 2015
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Thank you for posting this. I have been looking for a coffee table. One that is interesting, grounding, but not weighing the room down, like an anchor. I am going to make one. I stained sides of my kitchen cabinets "gunstock," which is a deep red, so I will use that. Under it I have a large traditional Pakistani rug, which will highlight the red stain wood.
Mark F. Ziemann
on Nov 13, 2016
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