To me, it looks like the top will need to be refinished. I'm not sure you will really be saving any labor over painting your set.

If you like the set you have, keep it and paint it. Considering you'd have to move that one, move the new one, etc., it actually seems easier to just paint it. All you have to do is sand it a big and prime it and paint it. Not a big deal.

Also, stay away from rush-seat chairs. You don't want to have to deal with having to have them redone when they tear, rip, get holes, etc.

I agree, paint the one you have. That CL one does look like the top is in rough shape.

I think the CL set is more current looking, so if that's important to you, you may just get away with redoing the table top, which would be lots less work that refinishing your whole set.

It's only any hour or two; I'd go check it out and make sure that's all it needs, and that the chairs are comfy.

Just now that PB dining room tables are soft. I had the Montego and it is a terrible finish, and doesn't wash well( rag on top to clean up dinner, etc). Get a really good paint!

A friend of mine had an oak set like yours. They painted everything black except the top of the table and the chair seats. It looks very nicely updated now. Sorry I don't have a picture.

Something like this.

Maybe its me, but 125 sounds so cheap id be tempted

I am tempted by the price! Plus I'm starting a new job and really won't have time for a big DIY project....hmmmmmm? I guess it won't hurt to take a look...

Make sure that you have your current set's measurements, as well as room measurements with you when you go look. I was tempted to get new dining room furniture because I was so tired of my old Colonial Revival set. But once I started looking, there really was nothing available in a size that fit my room and family as well as the one I currently had. I ended up keep my set, refinishing the chairs in black, and changing out the hardware on the server. It looks like a new room :)

Your current table and chairs are what I see in my dining room--and I'm tired of mine, too! I could never paint a piece of wood furniture, but if the wiping stain works on the kitchen cabinets, my table will be getting a new look. Unfortunately, CL does not seem to get as many good items at an inexpensive price here, or they disappear quickly.

If your PB table just needs the top done, I would not think it would be too time consuming to tackle. When I have refinished furniture, it is the round legs and decorative elements that eat the time.

What Tibbrix said. What you have is probably far better quality than the PB. You might want to chalk paint what you have now. If you plan to dispose of it for something lesser, then it is nothing lost. The chalk paint is expensive as far as paint goes, but it takes very little to no prepping. I recently did a piece that I am very pleased with. I used this blog as my "bible" for doing mine.

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/02/kitchen-cabinets-tutorial.html

This post was edited by patricia43 on Wed, Aug 13, 14 at 12:53

Your chairs are the worst "time warp" offenders. Maybe for the money you will mix and match..paint the base of your table later?

Decent chairs are expensive--not saying these are PB does not scream QUALITY, but for the money they may be worth the cost. As far as the other two chairs--I have to wonder why they are not shown in the picture.

He posted many pics including the rush chairs, but I only put one in my post . They are from ABC Homes. I dont remember what I paid for my current set but it was no where near Pottery Barn prices! We bought it about 14 years ago pre-Kids. I still love my hutch, which we bought separately. I want to keep it and sell my table/chairs.

I like your set except for the outdated chairs. Keep in mind that your table does not have corner legs, so you can squeeze more people around the one you have. I always have people straddling the corner legs when we have a large group, and I hate that.