A little bit of table love

I've had my kitchen table set for almost seven years.  I LOVED it when I bought it and have loved it ever since.   I didn't want to get a new table.  I'm still in love with this one. It's rock solid and in excellent shape.  I love the creamy white distressed finish on the table base and chairs.  I love that it has two leaves that fold into the table, so maybe when we get some sons or daughter in law, we can fit everyone.  But sometimes, things have to change.  I found myself not loving the pine finish on the table top so much anymore.  And I knew what to do about it.

I sanded it down.  Yes, by hand.  Our hand held sander has disappeared.  It didn't take that long, but I was covered in fine powder.  And like a dummy, I had just swept and mopped the floor earlier before I got my wild hair to do this project.

I then started applying the stain in sections, wiping off as I went.  I did this a few times and then brushed the last coat on as if it were paint.  The lighter grain still shows through a little which I like.  I also took a hammer to my beloved table to ding it up and give it some character.

I hope it can forgive me. 

And this is what it looks like now:

I still need to put a couple coats of poly on to protect it.  And then tackle the chair seats because they are still light pine.  Should I paint them the chair color, or stain them to match the table top?  Any ideas?