Mid-Century Modern Dining Set Refreshed

Over the years, many pieces of my grandparents’ furniture have made their way into our home.  I’m so thankful to have the same dining set and matching hutch sitting in our home that I remember sitting around when we’d visit my grandparents for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays when I was a little girl.  Most of the furniture is from the 1950s, what is now commonly referred to as Mid-Century Modern, and most importantly I love it!  I love it for all the fond memories and for it’s simple, clean lines.

Here’s some of the family gathered around the table for Thanksgiving dinner in 1988.  Yep, my look was complete with a hair scrunchie, braces, and my baggy Esprit sweatshirt… don’t judge!

When we first inherited the dining set, it had been well loved and was looking tired.  Rather than give up on the old girl, I wanted to freshen her up.  My parents weren’t super enthusiastic about deviating from the natural look she came with, but come on, a little makeup goes a long way.  After all, I was simply wanting to enhance her natural beauty!  At the time, I didn’t have the confidence to tackle the project on my own, so I found a local woodworking guy and asked if he’d be willing to paint it the antique white color I had found.  The chairs also needed a little tlc and that was way out of the scope of my comfort level.  I told him I wanted the set to look a little shabby chic, not perfect.  He told me he had no idea what I was talking about.  This made me nervous, but I showed him some pictures and figured he could pull it off.  We helped him load it into the back of his truck and waved goodbye.

While it was being painted, Mike and I picked out some fabric, so we’d be ready to reupholster the chairs once they returned.  Thankfully, the set returned looking beautiful and feeling extremely sturdy. 

We’ve been sitting around that table for ten years now and I still love it!  Every move we’ve made, it has come along.  We’re creating even more family memories with each passing year and it warms my heart. 

I know my grandparents, George and Maxine, would be so happy to know it has brought so many people, young and old, together over the years since they’ve passed on.  Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa… I love you!

Xoxo,

Inger