To paint or not to paint... that is the question

I love the look of painted furniture just love it.  I have a lot of 'Pinned' painted furniture on my DIY board on Pintrest, (link below).  I am just afraid, very afraid of doing this myself.  The furniture I would want to paint is old, really old and has come from family.  What if I mess it up?  It's not like I can go back to what it was before without a lot of work once I start down the painting path. 

So, to paint or not? 

Lets start with my dinning room set.  My grandparents brought this from Scotland when they immigrated.  They came with 10 kids and the clothes on their backs.  Once settled in Baltimore my Grandfather sent for the dinning room set.  Miraculously it made it in once piece.  It was willed to me when my grandparents passed and I've brought it to Colorado. 

There are no nails in any of this furniture it is all dovetailed.

Let's start with the table.  First and foremost, the chairs you see below do not go with the table.  They go with the table that we have outside (you'll see that in a bit).  The chairs that go with the table have not faired as well as the rest of the set.  After all they are about 100 years old and the years have not been kind to them.  Without nails, (only dowels), they have become very unstable so we have them stored. 

The table needs a good sanding, I've done nothing to it over the years that I've had it.  It has some nice details in it.  Sorry it needs a good cleaning!  A bit dusty there isn't it. 



So, paint it?  Paint it all or just the base?  What color? 

The next contender is the buffet...broken leg and all.

You can see the leg details match the table. 

I feel like the buffet is the best contender for paint.  So, leave the top dark and only paint the body?  What color?  I've been leaning toward a robins egg blue or a blue green, grey or white? 

I've also got the china cabinet. 

I've thought about painting the inside a light grey or off white cream color but should I paint the entire thing?  So is this a better contender to paint? 

I'd only like to paint one piece of the dinning room set.  Otherwise I think it will be too much.  What do you think?  Should I paint the chairs as well?  I know I need to reupholster them and that is in the mix for this year.  Overall I'd really appreciate some input. 

I'd also like to paint our outdoor table.  This is the table that goes with the chairs I'm using in my dinning room right now.  It was my husbands GREAT Grandmothers kitchen table.  There are 3 leafs and a total of 6 chairs.  This table came from the great-grandmothers farmhouse in Cheyenne Wells Colorado and was willed to my Father-In-Law who gave it to my husband and myself.  So this is another piece of furniture that has special meaning. 

I was thinking of painting the base white and staining the top a dark walnut color.  What do you think? It is protected on our covered porch and in the winter I wrap it in plastic.  So a white base and dark stained top or a grey base and a dark stained top?  OR another color all together?  OR should I paint the entire piece? 
Again, I appreciate suggestions. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your help and suggestions. 
Have a safe and happy week!
Victoria

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