Dining Room Dilemma

Finally I am making my way across the room to our Dining area...home study, Living room, now Dining. We were lucky enough to get a free dining table from my husband's cousin. I like the size for our room but I really dislike the oak and the finish on the table. So, I have been exploring other options to jazz it up a little bit.

When looking throughout the web on a million blogs and sites, I have come to realize what a different cool chairs can make:

via Design Sponge

via the style files

via digsdigs

I'm wondering if just a simple set of new chairs and a new light fixture would jazz it up a little and give it a more modern look?...The wheels are turning...