Dining Room Reno: Progress Pics!!

15 years ago

Although this is still a work in progress, I'm getting there! The first pic below is our "Before" dining room. Whitewashed table & chairs with handcarved detailing. Ugly old chest of drawers to hold tablecloths, placemats, etc. Chandelier is pewter. Rug is a good one, although I still want to replace it within the next year or so. Oh, an our sweet Tibetan Spaniel, Chloe, rolling around on the rug there!

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And then my DH surprised me with an antique mahogany buffet and chest of drawers. We'd been looking for new pieces for this room for quite a while but had never found anything we liked until these. They fit the spaces like they'd beeen built for the room . . . except the table and chairs looked totally "off" then!

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Sooooo, after checking with experts here and finding out that Minwax's Gel Stain was not going to work on the table and chairs as I'd hoped, I started hunting for a new antique set with DH's blessing. Unfortunately, every table I found was so darn diminutive; usually 5-feet long. If they still had their leaves, they were either warped, badly chipped, very discolored or a combination of those. And, I just didn't think they looked very good with their leaves in. As for the chairs, they were small and uncomfortable, to boot, although usually very nicely carved. BTW, thank you all who warned me that our modern day chairs would probably be too tall for the antique tables!!!

Next I looked for new tables and chairs, but didn't like any I found . . . although I did find a lot of comfy chairs!

I was getting extremely frustrated with my search when ~ last Tuesday~ I ran across a fabulous set in a consignment shop down in Albuquerque. After showing DH pics of them, I bought the set the next day. They delivered them last Friday morning, right before my out of state company arrived for the long holiday weekend!!! Anyhoo, we love them. Although not antiques, they are solid mahogany, beautifully carved and the chairs are extremely comfy . . . which is great because our meals this past weekend went on for hours. Here's a couple of pics I took Friday evening. I still need to recenter the table on the rug better. I'd like to replace the rug soon and rehang the chandelier or get a new one. It's a good one and pewter. What do you all think about the chandy? I'm also looking for a new lamp for the buffet with a bit more weight to it.

Again, many thanks for all your help so far with this room.

Lynn

Here's a pic of the carving where the two 18" table leaves come together. Isn't it pretty? I like it so much, I'm planning on keeping the leaves in all the time. Thank goodness our dining room can handle the length!

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Comments (21)

lyfia
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Lynn - I love it - looks great! I like your chandy form, but I'm not so sure about the shades with your new furniture. Maybe just look at some different shades?
deco_clueless
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Simply gorgeous.
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IdaClaire
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Holy wow, lady! I hope you appreciate how absolutely gorgeous that is, because if you don't -- I'm heading to NM with a U-Haul. ;-D
IdaClaire
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
As for the chandy -- what's there currently is nice, but I'm wondering how an olde-world-looking wrought iron fixture would look. Either that, or an antique-style crystal chandelier?
zipdee
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Fantastic !!!
dprisock1027
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I love your taste! I have the matching breakfast table and barstools! :) We have had them for about 2 years and still LOVE them. The chairs are heavy but I like it that way. I get tons of compliments on mine so I hope you love and enjoy yours as much. (I am jealous that I didn't get mine in a consignment store though) :)

Your entire room is awesome! Love the antiques!

And if you care to know what kind of light fixture I went with, I found a big wrought iron chandelier.
lynninnewmexico
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Many thanks on the comps. Dprisock, I'd love to see your chandelier if you have a pic of it. Auntjen, they both sound great. I'm going to start working on DH for a new one.
perky_2
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
just beautiful!I agree that a wrought iron chandy would 'top' it off!
kim2007
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Fantastico! The new dining set is just beautiful! Tough call on the chandelier...I really like pewter, but maybe with the darker, deeper tones of the antiques and new dining set a wrought iron one would be better. I also like the idea of trying new shades on the pewter chandelier. Whatever way you go, it's always fun to see what you've done.
Valerie Noronha
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Lynne: I'm so happy for you and your wonderful finds. They look stunning together and I love how you have decorated everything. I agree about replacing the chandelier--it's it amazing how one new purchase requires another and another.... What I'd like to see is somthing along these lines:

Here is a link that might be useful: chandelier
brutuses
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow, what a transformation. Looks beautiful. Love your taste in furniture.
sundial
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm new to this forum although I have spent some time over on kitchens and more recently lurking on bathrooms, but I just had to chime in on your stunning dining room transformation. The proportions and style of the new table is so perfect for the room and really compliments your other newer pieces. Nicely done! I also like the idea of a wrought iron chandelier for your lovely space. By the way I live in New Mexico too.
tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Lynn,

The new table looks great. I do think that you need a chandelier with more visual weight to it. Happy hunting!
redbazel
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I told you already, but wanted to repeat myself here, this looks so lovely. Your home is beautiful and I love your taste. And putting a room together with both very old and new things makes it so cool.

Red
mpwdmom
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It's all stunning but I'm wondering, is your chandy centered in the room? From the photo w/ the new dining set it looks like it could be over too far to the left, and I think I'd love it more if it was lined up with the center between the french doors.

Susan
dprisock1027
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Lynn,
Here's a picture of my breakfast area. (sorry the picture is fuzzy) We had the chandelier installed last week. I'm actually thinking about having some amber color drops to it. This chandelier was not my first choice but I was told the one I loved wouldn't be large enough.

Btw, your room is so inviting. I really do love it. Dee
teacats
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What a gorgeous room!! Very warm and charming!

Jan
lynninnewmexico
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Dprisock: thanks for the pic of your chandelier . . . it's gorgeous! Do you think you might add shades to it? The reason I ask is that my current chandy has the candle lights that face up, like yours, and I've always been frustrated with the light it gives off for our evening meals. I've considered adding shades to mine, but now plan to just replace it instead.
Susan, no, the chandelier isn't centered to the room. We did that on purpose so that we wouldn't have to walk around the table to get to the living room. It actually looks great IRL. The room's wide enough to keep the table off center.
Kim, good call on a darker chandy to add more weight and presence. I see your point and agree.
Sundial: another New Mexican??? How cool! What part, if I may ask?
Valinsv: thanks for the link. I love it and am having a hard time tearing myself away from it.
Tish, I agree about the visual weight. With our cream colored walls and whitewashed ceilings, the pewter is disappearing.
Red: thanks. Good points all. I answered you over on GI.
Lynn
dprisock1027
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Since we just had it installed, I haven't had time to get frustrated with the light. To be honest, I don't think we have sat down at the table together since we put it up. I will keep that in mind if it does bother me though. Thanks.
diydevon
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
beautiful does not even begin to describe that room!!
lynninnewmexico
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Dprisock, let me know when you finally eat in there, will you? I wonder if it's my high, whitewashed ceiling that's causing it.
Diydevon, Awwwww, thanks! That's so sweet of you to say. I still have a ways to go, but it's nice to know people can still appreciate what I've done so far.
Lynn

Dining Room Reno: Progress Pics!!

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