Hi Sam, I know where you're coming from, I too wanted to buy such a beautiful ornate table for my new home still under construction but it just wasn't going to look like it matched the modern home I wanted to put it in. I also wanted to feel like it could be used as most kitchen tables in a home are used, especially for me living on a farm, for eating or repairing something on some newspaper etc...impossible to do on such a beautiful table, you would ruin it to see it scratched !!! Not to put a damper on your tastes but your home will look so much better and have more style if you continue to try to match what you already have and that's at least a stunning kitchen that you've shown us all on this forum. If you think of the style and colour of your kitchen everytime you want to buy something or decorate, it will hep ground you to keep it similar. I understand there are people who say it's nice to have countless pieces of furniture that are all different in some way, as it can look like you acquired them along your journey in life but I think that this mixture of designs and colours doesn't gel in a modrrn house very well at all, perhaps a quaint old cottage but not a modern home with a lovely kitchen like you already have!!!

If you have long dinners, they are not particularly comfortable. I gave away a set years ago. Ok for quick meals.

Yes, I've heard "chalk" paint is easy to use. Would this need a top coat to protect Brandi? Alternatively, you could start by coating the table top with a limewash varnish. You can build up the coats to achieve the look you like. What is the colour of the wood? Chairs will be more fiddly to paint, so perhaps start with just the table. There's also trend of "paint-dipped" legs you could do for table or chairs, if you like this look. A way to bring in colour without doing a whole piece. If you'd like to give the whole chairs a face lift, here's some inspiration. The table in this image appears to have limewash (aside from the top) and paired with pastel chairs. You could do just table top and leave legs as is. Then do chairs in various colours...

Wishbone style chairs look nice with that style table. http://allissiasatticdesign.com.au/products/rodin-cross-leg-dining-table These resin chairs are stackable. Lots of different designs out there in resin chairs. http://www.zizo.com.au/Capri-Arm-Chair-WARW1025.html http://www.zizo.com.au/Ibiza-Arm-Chair-WARW1026.html