I was so inspired by the BHG.com photo I showed you last week (below) that I decided to recover my dining room chairs in a blue toile! It took me a few hours to get used to the new look but now I love it! I found the fabric online, 3-3/4 yards for $24 with free shipping so it was a fairly good deal. I still have fabric left over too. Below is the inspiration photo.
Now (and this may come as a shock to some of you) I'm considering stripping the paint off the table top and staining it like the photo above (just the top, not the legs). I think it might look better. What do you think? Let me know... I've set up a poll at the bottom of this post.
Below is a view from the kitchen, I think the wood table top might look good because of that pine wall cabinet. I also have a wood shelf way over on the right next to my TV armoire which you can't 'see in this photo. I think design-wise (not that I ever follow the design rules) it would be better with the wood table top.
Here's what the chairs look like now with the toile fabric,
and here is a photo of the fabric I had on there before. Something about this floral fabric made me think of a vinyl table cloth...I was never in love with it and I'm glad it's history!
I think the toile goes so much better with everything else downstairs.Let me know what you think about the table top by taking the survey below:
89 comments:
Hi Cindy. Oh how lovely! I've always loved that toile pattern in blue and white and a couple of years ago found some pillows on ebay. I love this pattern on your dining room chairs! Thanks so much for sharing yet another inspiration in your beautiful home. ~Arleen
The chairs look great. I didn't think I could like any fabric better than what you originally chose for the chairs but I do think I like the toile better. :) Very pretty.
Now about that table... This is really too funny because I left my table top dark and painted the bottom part white... like your inspiration photo. I cannot tell you how many times I have wished I had painted the whole thing white...like yours! At this point 'tho, my husband would probably think it was the end of the world if he had to eat dinner on a tray for a few days while the top was being painted. However, if/when I ever get to the end of my list of painting projects, I may paint it then. For the time being, I just keep a lace tablecloth on it to help cover up the dark wood.
I say if you want to strip it, do it! It's an inexpensive change that would probably give you a lot of pleasure. And it's not that much trouble to paint it later if you decide you want to change it back.
Hi Cindy,
The toile looks perfect on your chairs. I absolutely love it, and what a good deal, too!!
I just voted for a stained wood top for the reason you stated. Your table has gorgeous lines but I think it tends to blend in with its surroundings. I say, showcase this beauty and give it a presence! :-)
As was mentioned earlier, if doesn't work out, you could easily change it back to white.
That table is beautiful. I've always admired it.
Marilyn (in Dallas)
It has never dawn on me before but I think we have the same chairs.....same legs......love the toile just perfect........ what ever you do will be wonderful I am sure....but I like all white
Linda
Cindy, I love, love, love the blue toile! I like the table as is, but I think it would take on a whole different look and be pretty with the top stained, so that's what I voted for. I've got a French Country sideboard that white on the bottom and stained on top, and it is a nice look.
The toile is beautiful. And YES, go for the strip and stain.
The toile really just set it off. I would strip and stain the table top...add a bit of contrast
changes in your room give more poetic and light look! how awsome, best regards, Anna
Whew! I finally caught up and had a lot of fun in the process ;)
I love the way the table is now, but I think it would look great the other way too and you're right about it bringing in the stained cabinet.
You did an amazing job on this room and it looks like the inspiration with just enough difference to make it "you" :)
xo,
rue
Regarding the table top: I love white but I love the mix of wood-white even better!!!Adds a lot of warmth and texture to a room. You might not even have to stain it, depending on the kind of wood you have, after you sand it really well, 2 or 3 coats of bee wax might do the trick and protect it...Good luck!
Marcela
Wow, Love the toile fabric on the seats. That was a brilliant change. Yep, I think you're on the right track. The table will look richer with a stained table top & your dad's shelf will "belong" with the room. Great ideas! ☺♥☺ Diane
Hi Cindy,
Love the chairs, you did a fantastic job. I like the table top white, but I love everything you do, so I'm sure it would be gorgeous!
I love the toile fabric on the chairs. Very nice change. I also think the stained top on the table would be beautiful. If you decide to keep it white, its beautiful too. I don't think you can go wrong either way. Debbie
I absolutely LOVE the blue Toile, even blue for a pink lover like I am, lol.
Love Toile, period ♥♥
That toile is so pretty on your chairs! I have to say that I LOVE your white tabletop; it is just so dreamy. But you are the one who lives in your house and you have to be happy with it, so follow your bliss :)
Love the toile fabric!!! Chairs look fabulicious!!!
I say, strip the table top & stain it. Live with it a few months & if you don't like it, repaint it.
My dining room table is painted black but we left the top wood. I love it!
If you don't like it you can always paint it again! My kitchen table is the opposite...it's an antique oak pedastal that I painted the top of. I love the toile on the seats! Beautiful! Lauralu :)
Hi Cindy,
I never get tired of looking at what you are doing at your place!
Love the new toile and I think the staining of the table top would be great, nice contrast and the good thing is, you can always paint it again if you want.
Go for it! Can't wait to see it done.
My dining room furniture is black but the table is the same way with the natural wood table top. I love it!
Linda
Love the new toile pattern on the chairs.
I would leave the table the way you have it now. It looks just like one of Rachel Ashwell's tables.
To me the darker top reminds me of those tables from the 80's that were painted white legs and the top was left stained wood.
I also think by leaving it white it makes your shelf pop out and stand out which is nice as it's a special piece made by your dad.
My vote is to leave it as it is.
Hugs,
Joanne
My goodness, Cindy, just when I think your decorating couldn't look any better, it does. Love the new blue. I think that table top would look great in the wood tone, but my goodness, what a lot of work. I would be tempted to leave it as it is, but I'm not as ambitious as you are so I say, "Start strippin'"
Charlotte
The toile is perfect, great choice for your beautiful room :-) I'm on the fence about the table top.
My thoughts:
Going natural would make it a focal point (desired or no?)
IMO, it would look less formal, more cottagey (desired or no?)
For my home, the natural top would definitely work. How about cutting some builder's kraft paper to fit the table top, put it there & live with it a week or two, playing with tablescapes?
My vote was for the stripping. That's what I was going to do, if I had gotten the dining set a few months back. Paint the bottom and leave the wood stained. You could do half and see if you like it rather than committing to it completely.
Good luck
Ciao
Hi, Cindy! Haven't heard from you in awhile, but then again, I haven't devoted a lot of time to blogging lately. I love the blue toile on your chairs (even tho I'm a PINK lover!) Thanks for stopping by to see my pool side gardening!
I like your vote box! I like the stained top look but I'm not sure it would make your room look better just different. I like the Toile too but I love your roeses also. I know no help. I think you should change it because it sounds like you want change, I love your dining room the way it is but think your new ideas are great!
Thanks for sharing with us!
Hugs, Lisa
LOVE the new toile on your chairs! It is just perfect.
I would leave the table top white, but that is just me. I have a oak pedestal table that the top doesn't look the best so am thinking of painting just the top. I am sure it will look beautiful no matter what you do! I could move right in!
Blessings~
Hi Cindy, WOWeeee it's looks lovely! CHEERS! Michele
Love the chairs, Cindy! Interesting about the table top... never thought about it, but I can see your point about tying into some of the unpainted pieces, plus the table in the inspiration photo does look awesome! I agree with Shari, you could always repaint it white if you didn't like the exposed wood. Whatever you decide to do, your table will always be awesome!
I love the chair fabric, it really looks great. I haven't met a toile I don't like!
I think the tabletop would be o.k. either way but I really would like that cabinet in white. It just sticks out in pine and I don't care for it. That's just my opinion, lol! I know that your father made that however you just need to make it go with everything else. It's just too bright for your living room.
It looks fabulous dahling!!! Once again, our blog posts seem to be mirroring one another. Lol. Don't you just love those VIZU polls? I know I've used mine several times and love them.
I voted for striping the paint and stainging it. Good luck with that. I just did a coffee table like that. OH and you want a cheap tip? Use oven cleaner instead of paint stripper. I know, I know. I was skeptical too when someone told me to do that. BUT, I did it and it worked just as well, it's less smelly and less harmful. Can't wait to see what you do.
Hugs,
Crystal
The toile looks great on the chairs. Your whole house is lovely but I think stripping the table top back to natural wood would be an improvement as there is a lot of white/cream in their now.
Your chairs look great!
I voted to stain the top. If you were not happy with it later, you can always repaint it.
Glenda
WOW! I'm for leaving the table white - visually it gives you more space.
Cindy...The blue toile is magnifique! It looks perfect & I voted for stripping the table top & staining it. I think it would give more of a contrast to all your lovely white things and make them 'pop' more. I love white, but sometimes a bit of natural wood is just what is needed. It's always fun to see what you've done over the weekend! :) ~Sue~
Oh, to have your energy! Yes, I like the chairs much better with the toile. Looks more "you." I'm torn on that table...
Brenda
Your chairs were pretty before, but I think that toile was a Very good choice...beautiful!! I also think the table top would be lovely stained...and I'm a fan of all-white furniture!
I know, whatever you do, it will be beautiful!
The chairs are beautiful. They look so fresh and neat with that blue toile.
I voted to keep the top white. I just love the shabby chic look.
Thanks for sharing.
smiles,
Pat
While I initially fell in love with your rose quilted fabric, I have to agree that the toile looks better. I voted for the stained table top because it will break all of the white and will definitely compliment your father's cabinet. I like the two toned effect and am currently looking for a sideboard to do the same thing.
Debbie V.
Love the chair fabric. So beautiful, and happens to be my favorite fabric (blue toile) anyway!
I do think refinishing the table top to natural wood would make your apartment look smaller. It would like nice either way, but I do think that's something to consider, IMO.
I have fallen recently in love with toile, and love your redo on the chairs.
I said strip the top and make it more like the inspiration photo. Change is good, and if you dont like it you can always change it back.
LOVE the toile. It is just gorgeous. I say strip the top and stain it. I so agree you can paint it again if you change your mind down the road. Your home is just lovely. Hugs, Marty.
Hi Cindy...do you really want to change the table top, or maybe it would look better if you painted the cabinet white to match everything....I love the BHG pic too and that shell mirror...I wouldn't know what kind of glue to use on the shells though..maybe liquid nail? What do you think? also love the toile chairs!!Great job girl!! Linda ;)
Hi Cindy, I love what you did with the chairs! I think the toile fabric looks wonderful! I always look forward to following your blog:) I think the table looks beautiful now but like the other gals said....You can always change it back if you don't like the stain look. Good luck! Let us know what you decide:)
Blessings,
Sandra
Cindy, I love the chairs in the toile! I just voted and I'm with the majority!
I love your dining room...It's just gorgeous!
Hi Cindy,
I love the toile on your chairs ~ you are so funny continuously making improvements on beautiful things that you've already improved before:) I'm the same way, though, at least with the many ideas in my head, I just don't actually get around to doing them:) I know the feeling when the wheels keep turning, or you spot a great idea in a magazine or blog.
I voted for refinishing the tabletop ~ you have all your gorgeous white tablecloths for when you want it white, so it gives you two options.
Have fun deciding,
Karin
I am very partial to blue toile so I think it looks wonderful! Great job!
~Patti
I actually have this exact project on my list of things to do. I have a sideboard with a white base and a dark stained top. My table is pine and doesn't match at all so I'm going to paint the base and stain the top dark. In your room, I really love the white tabletop but based on the poll, I'm guessing you'll be staining!
The chairs look great too! I almost did a faded blue damask on my chairs but ended up going with a more beach cottagey stripe.
Good luck with your projects!
Love the toile! Your chairs look wonderful. Are you going to add the little arm pads in the toile too like on the inspiration chairs? And I just voted to strip and stain. I think it would look very nice with your cabinet. Love your home!
Love the toile! I have a side table with the wood top and painted legs and love it! Fabric or lace runners actually show up more on it. Lots of work though :(
I definitely like the toile better. Much more grown up. The floral belongs in a little girls room. I also think the table top would be better wood tone. I recently received a round pedastal table and wanted to paint the entire thing black, but mayrethink and leave the top stained.
Your new chairs look so lovely! The toile was a perfect choice. I left my vote, I think the wood top would look wonderful in your place. Everything you do looks wonderful. Btw, thank you for stopping over at my new blog, it was very sweet of you. Hugs, the other ~cindy s~
Cindy, I LOVE the blue toile on your chairs. They are gorgeous! I think I would stain the top, as much as I like the white. Like the other gals said, if you don't like it, you can always repaint it. Whatever way you do it, it is going to be gorgeous. You have exquisite taste!
Blessings,
Sandi
Because you have so much white in your home, I think striping the top would add a nice contrast. And I think then anything white you put on it would really stand out!
Go for it!
I love the new chair covers. Looks beautiful. I would say strip and stain. I think the wood color would add contrast and help your white linens on the table to pop more. I voted to strip and stain. Hope it all goes well for you.
The chairs look really wonderful. I voted for the stained top because I think it would have a grounding affect to the room. You know how some rooms need a wood floor, a good contrast. Go for it! Not too dark, though. ;-)
Hi Cindy,
I say stain the top a light stain, not too dark. It will break up the white a little bit. Also, love the toile a lot better than what you had before. Nice improvements, as always!
jill n.
Kim, I voted that you keep the
table top white.....but, the
good thing is, you can always
strip it, stain it, and if you
don't like it, paint it again.
Sounds like a lot of work but
at least then you would know
if you like it in your home.
The toile is very pretty!
Becky
Cindy, I voted that you keep the
table top white.....but, the
good thing is, you can always
strip it, stain it, and if you
don't like it, paint it again.
Sounds like a lot of work but
at least then you would know
if you like it in your home.
The toile is very pretty!
Becky
Cindy, I have obviously lost my
mind!! I was at Daisy Cottage
before visiting you and called
you Kim on my posted comment. I
then went back thinking I had
not posted it and put YOUR name
in my comment.
Good Grief! Now you and the
other millions of people visit-
ing you will know I am a total
fruit loop!!!!
Just chalk it up to SENILITY!!!!
Becky
Hi Cindy,
When the heck do you sleep? And whatever kind of water you're drinking, I want some! You've got so much energy. I think the table would look great in a natural wood color and if you don't like it, you could always change it up again. I'd go for it - I love pine wood. Have a great night - we missed you at the Barn Sale last weekend.
Love, love, love the blue toile. Great choice!
I like the chairs. They look lovely. I like the idea of stripping the table top. To me it adds interest. I've been thinking about painting the base on my table but I'm not sue how my husband would react. Maybe I'll asking when he's sleeping :D
I love toile. I have red and white toile wingback chairs with red and white toile curtains in my formal living room. I also have blue and white toile dining chairs in my kitchen. I never get tired of it. I am thinking of painting the kitchen/dining chairs' wood white - they are now sort of a bleached natural. I voted and I think the table top would look nice with the woood finish -- more sophisticated.
The chairs turned out great! I have pink toile on my dining room chairs and I never tire of them!
I think a stained tabletop would be a nice contrast to all of the white. :)
I love that new fabric! You are so right about this being better than the old one! Love what you did with that. Also, love your blue hutch. Your home is lovely.
Cindy,
LOVE the blue toile fabric on your chairs!!! It's perfect!!!
As for the table, my vote is to keep it white. I have a table that has white on the bottom and wood on the tabletop, and I've always wanted to paint it white like yours. But, I think that you've made perfect decisions in your rooms so far and that you should go with your gut.
I couldn't vote on the actual survey because it didn't show up on my screen for some reason.
Hugs,
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
Butterfly Whispers
Love the blue toile - I think the tabletop would be lovely either way.
HI cindy!! Love the look of the new chairs! Yes much better:) I also think stain the top of the table:) Just love your home.
Hi, Cindy! ♥ I like the new blue better. (That sounds like a tounge twister!)
I like the all white table but I've never understood how anyone could keep it from getting all scratched up. (Can you tell I've raised 4 boys?) It *would* help balance the other natural wood you have in the room but I would probably go with a lighter color than the inspiration photo.
I once heard a designer say that every room need at least one black item to anchor it down. Maybe natural wood can do the same?
Well I didn't vote cause I think it would look good either way and I couldn't decide, LOL, but the chairs look beautiful! The chairs I had in my dining rm before the ones I have now had pink toile on the seats and I never got tired of it, actually I use one of the chairs at my comp now. I have been thinking about putting my farm table back in my dining rm, it's in the apartment and it has the natural wood top and painted legs, so I guess were both on the same track with the wood! Can't wait to see what you decide!
Hugs~Kelly
LOVE that toile! I think the tabletop would look great stripped. I wonder what sort of wood it is? I keep expecting you to paint your walls white, and go for an all-white style...
xoxo,
mary
Cindy, I voted yesterday but then I forgot to leave you a comment. I voted for you to strip it back to the natural wood so that it would match the cabinet that your dad made. It looks good either way though. I love the material that you covered your chairs in. The other fabric was pretty but this goes better with all of your things.
Hugs,
Lee Laurie
Good morning Cindy!
Oh my gosh, how lovely! I see the chickies of blogworld like the stipped idea! You have some work to do now....... :-) My table is wood on the top with black legs....I always question whether I should paint the top too.. I adore the new fabric. So fresh and soft. YUM! It's gorgeous either way...
Blessings,
Spencer
I'm voting trying the stained look. It would give the eyes something to pause upon when enjoying all the "pretties" in the room. Your white 3-tier dish will really pop now! Sort of like surrounded by a frame. Doris D
What a beautiful job. your home looks like a magazine!
Was thinking...dangerous, I know and I should be working...are you likin the shell encrusted mirror in your inspiration pic as well? If so, what about encrusting that new longish type mirror you bought a while back?
I think stripping the table top and staining would provide a nice contrast to the white.
I love the Toile print! I wouldn't believe how great the table would look with out seeing the inspriation photo. I think that making the table top natural dark wood gives the room more depth but either way the table looks fantastic.
Cindy the chairs are lovely. I say go ahead and darken that table top! I was just recently given a lovely dark wood dining table, paired it up with six off white chairs and china cabinet and the whole thing just pops. The comments I have heard are "elegant and inviting" - I really think it would highlight your chandelier as well and showcase your table settings. Have fun!
The toile is lovely! I'm loving the change.
Hi Cindy ,love the blue toile! I would strip and stain the table top - add a bit of contrast
Kristin K.
I voted that you strip the top and stain. If you get a chance, please look at the one I recently refinished, April 17th "Born Again" http://campagnemaison-jacque.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html
I love mine!
I want your china hutch!! Gorgeous room!
Hello Ms. Cindy,
You have a beautiful home.
Stain away! Its going to be gorgeous! This would be one of the "little" things that make a big difference! After finding and falling in love with the french motif of your blog, I was so inspired to go out and buy something to paint! I wish I could attach a picture, it has a dark stained walnut top, and what was supposed to be beige but from age has now yellowed (reason I want to paint) Now that its been staring at me for months in my dining room, Im scared to make the first stroke, I get mixed fillings from guests which make me more confused.... I cant wait to see your finished product!!!
Where do you get the energy?
I like the all white....seems like your china and collection of table dressings go with this look.
You could line the wood cabinet with the leftover fabric to tie it in....
I love the Toile'....although I am a fan of all things WHITE...I am browsing through magazines all the time and seeing a trend of incorporating the real wood into the mix...I think the idea is splendid as it really makes things more interesting and gives you more future options...when everything is so matchy, matchy...well...I think the eyes can want a change....and since it is your beautiful home, I am sure what you decide will be wonderful...
deby
I've been thinking about stripping the paint off my white table top too :-)
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