Need dining advice...and thanks, Ttodd!

14 years ago

I recently painted my dining room with SW Requisite Grey, and wanted to ask for some advice on the finishing touches. I also wanted to thank Tiffani for her pictures of Requisite Grey in her bedroom, which was THE reason I selected that color. Since we have natural woodwork, and most of the rooms I see here have painted, it's difficult to determine what looks good with mine. I wanted a grey but was reluctant because of the brown woodwork. Anyway, I love it!!

The help I need is for the rest of the room. The table and chairs and china cabinet (a family piece, not in pictures) stay. I can take out the silver chest and the buffet table if I need to, but I really need some kind of side table. I'm concerned because my taste runs pretty traditional, and with the somewhat contemporary rug, which direction do I go with lamps, and can I use the below mirror? I had the mirror previously on the opposite wall. Can I still use it as kind of art work, or am I better to ditch it? I also own two glass ball lamps with silver bases. Can I use these with the black chandelier and/or the gold mirror? Should I put shades on the chandelier instead of the glass globes. I own some beige shades with black eyelash trim. Too much? I also need help with artwork. I like the current calmness of the room so don't want anything too colorful. I previously had two black matted doillies from my grandmother. Not sure if I want them back in. I just need some more eyes to look at my dilemma. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Dee

Dining room:

Table wall:

Mirror:

Framed doillies:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

forhgtv
14 years ago
First of all, I love your dining set and the spoked mirror, but I don't like them mixed with the console table. What does the china cabinet look like and where is it placed in the room? I agree with you that your chandelier would be more in keeping with your style if you used shades rather than glass chimneys.
0
graywings123
14 years ago
The various styles of furniture, lighting and accessories seem to be pulling the room in different directions. Photos can be deceiving, but the big "odd man out" looks to be the light color of the dining set. If you painted or stained the wood a darker color, it might help it blend in with the rest of the pieces.

I don't know what your budget and timing are for finishing this room, but maybe you should consider taking a step back and seeing what pieces can be changed out. It's one thing not to have a matchy-matchy suite of furniture, but the eclectic look usually needs some harmony to the pieces - whether it be in style, in color, in shape or something else, and I don't see that right now. My local craigslist regularly has dining room pieces for sale. If yours does too, maybe you could do some tradeouts.

You think that you have traditional tastes, but I'm sensing that your style tilts somewhat towards transitional, almost modern. I think your modern accent pieces - rug, table lamp and starburst mirror, could be a wonderful contrast with traditional furniture pieces. But to pull that off, the furniture pieces have to match or at least blend well together.
0
Related Discussions
Help I need orange paint color...but I am scared! (Pic Heavy))
Q
Comments (68)
roseabbey, The 'one up' thing doesn't always apply to the way paint works present day -- because paint color strips are not all created equal. Back in the day, there was a lot more consistency and 'one up' kinda sorta could really mean something. Now-a-days if you go one shade lighter, it's a real possibility that it's not the same color that you initially chose. A lighter color, yes, but very characteristically different than the darker color on the strip. Not all paint color strips are the same - these days they're arranged in all sorts of ways. Sometimes, 'one up' is a viable option because the strip really is a progression of color arranged lighter to darker. Oftentimes, that's not the case. The strip is comprised of anywhere from five to seven colors that can be very similar, but are essentially different colors. The way to manage and determine what is too dark, too light or just right is primarily by using LRV. Light Reflectance Value. The number is a consistent piece of data that tells you a lot about how light or how dark a color can look/feel. LRV is especially useful if you have paid attention to it over time and have benchmarks for you, your house that you can refer to when choosing what colors to sample.
...See More
did i mistake in my dining room with these colors? please help!
Q
Comments (106)
I must have been underwater for 6 years, so as usual, I'm putting in my 2 cents six years after the fact. But as long as this thread is still open and searchable, I'll have at it. First let me emphasize that decorating is an art-NOT a science, so theoretically there is no right or wrong way to decorate if the end result is aesthetically pleasing to the occupants of the house. When you consult a professional designer, you are basically seeking their professional OPINION, not a one-size-fits-all protocol written in stone. That being said, allow me to share my thoughts on decorating with chair rails and picture frame moldings based on 40 years of helping people make some choices in that area. I generally suggest chair rails only for living rooms and dining areas. I always advise my associates to place the chair rail no more than one third the height between the floor and ceiling. With a standard 8" ceiling, the bottom of the chair rail is never placed more than 30" above the floor. When picture frame moldings are installed below a chair rail, the longer side of the rectangular frames are placed horizontally. If they are also used above the chair rail, the longer sides are placed vertically. I personally prefer using PF moldings only below the chair rail. It is wonderfully budget friendly way to create the look of wainscoting. The only color I generally paint the wall space below a chair rail when it has PF moldings is semi-gloss white in whatever shade matches all the trim and moldings. While you might normally paint the wall space above a chair rail a lighter color, it is quite acceptable to go darker when you have a white wall space below the chair rail. However, if you use too dark a color where the LRV value is below 20 points, you risk having the area look very top heavy. When you have a chair rail with no PF moldings, you can paint the upper and lower areas the same color. But if you use 2 colors, most people generally prefer using the darker color below the rail.
...See More
Please help with living/dining room design ideas.
Q
Comments (12)
I'd do: -a sideboard between two windows. Craigslist is an amazing idea as is Danish modern..problem is won't be for a song anymore since the sellers picked up it's hot (and nobody knows that I -well and probably some other people LOL- understood it 7 years earlier when all the vintage from these decades started naturally appearing in second hand stores and estate sales as the owners grew older and older and had to part with their stuff)..so try to compare the prices-everything mcm is, like, automatically twice, triple price of other pieces since it's mcm..especially when somebody's refurbished it. Still, very well worth checking into..saw totally amazing(was very hard not to write it in caps..ok still going to do that: AMAZING) credenza/dresser, wood plus white, rounded, great condition, leather handles, very tastefully done, looks like new..they wanted 500 for it which is great considering the piece itself, and the prices on this style right now..the owners probably weren't fans and just wanted it gone..and of course it was gone in a day. Hell I'd buy it myself -I just couldn't think of space to put it. Sorry that was long..just to repeat the Craigslist/vintage advice..and not to be surprised about the price discrepancy..I'd still hunt mcm since I simply love it..but there are many interesting things out there that can work. (if somebody asks me-I know nobody does, but just in case-buy armoires guys..while you can..they'll be all the rage very soon)) -an art above the said sideboard -shelves on the opposite wall. I mean if you feel a need for shelves..books etc. It can hold also other collections. And plants. And art. Slim shelves, great storage, great impact. But I love books everywhere including dining so take my suggestions with a grain of salt. Shelves can be used for many things though, as I've said. I don't like when they say "Conversation piece" but some pieces are like that. Once we had a laugh for twenty minutes over some improvised ashtray-it was a weird pottery piece. -corners? A tree/bigger plants would do great there. Indirect light. Lots of it. Not kidding..they'll thrive. Put the smaller ones you own already on the taller shelf-here's your corner. Or they have to be in front of the window? Depends on the plants of course. But bottom line-I'd play with plants arrangements there you don't need to fill up the whole room..as much as I'm into stuff I need some negative space as they call it..figure out your level of comfort as you go Also the more you consolidate in one place-art, credenza, shelves, etc-the emptier the other can afford to be. Just balance it out. -I'd repeat the white of the chairs somewhere..sideboard as was said or accessories..say even white ceramics or white mats in art? Center piece(ok hate this word too but whatever) in white, like a vase? I'm into vases lately..some are so indefinitely cool..and you can do pattern too..white plus something. White plus brown will be amazing too..picks up the wood and the upholstery. -Wouldn't paint the table-I think it's too nice as it is now Well..sorry for the lengthy post ..I wish you a fun and meaningful decorating!
...See More
How to layout living room when it's also a guest room? I need advice!!
Q
Comments (4)
I would use the den as TV area with TV between the built-in bookcases. Then do a back-to-back arrangement with two sofas (they don't have to match) and a rolling sofa table between them. The one in the den would be the guest bed. When you have guests, simply roll the sofa table under a window and close the sliding door. As an office, place a desk facing the window if you need good light for online conferences, or put it on the wall if you don't do that. A rolling desk chair can move out of the way for the sofa to be opened. In the living room side, use a round dining table in the corner right of the fireplace. A coffee table 12-18" from the sofa and perhaps a pair of small scale upholstered armchairs in an "L" with the sofa, their backs to the window. Art, not TV, above the mantel.
...See More
Related Professionals
Mount Vernon Interior Designers & Decorators · Mount Laurel Interior Designers & Decorators · Westbury Interior Designers & Decorators · Rosaryville Interior Designers & Decorators · Bridgeport Furniture & Accessories · Easton Furniture & Accessories · Lebanon Furniture & Accessories · Mansfield Furniture & Accessories · St. Louis Furniture & Accessories · Mahwah Furniture & Accessories · Decatur Custom Artists · Wells Branch Lighting · Whittier Lighting · Greensboro Window Treatments · Mount Pleasant Window Treatments
homebodymom
14 years ago
The color looks wonderful, and you have some really interesting pieces. I love the chandy, the dining set and the rug. Can we see a pic of the china cabinet? I think plain shades for the chandelier would look nice, and I agree about the console just not working for me for some reason. The mirror and the lamps are great.I had the same thoughts as graywings about the chair and table color, although I love the set. I was thinking maybe painting, but I would try everything else first. I don't mind 1 piece in a room with a different wood tone. I would make all the other changes first though, because it really is a beautiful blonde set. How big are the framed doillies?
0
deeinohio
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks so much for the feedback. The dining table stays, and it's really not as light as it appears in the pictures; it's more a brown pecan color. We bought it years ago with the only money my DH's mother left us. And, I love it. The hutch also stays since she left that to us, and we have nowhere else for it. Also, it's fretwork mimics that of the chair backs. The other 2 pieces, the table and the silver chest can go, and I'm not crazy about them in there. They're leftovers from our previous home, where the table was used behind a sofa. Maybe I should just leave the dining table and hutch? But I really need some kind of side table.

Here's the other side:

Dee
0
graywings123
14 years ago
I agree that the sofa table, while functional, would be better elsewhere. It should be fairly easy to find a server that matches the hutch.
0
jerseygirl_1
14 years ago
Your room needs to be grounded. The rug is great and can work. Change the chandelier to the shades. I would like to see clean lines for the shades (no trim).

Love the mirror. I would place it above the table with the lamp. From the picture, it looks like the console table or buffet table has hardware. If it does, my suggestion would be to take the hardware off and paint it black. You can have a black table with a black lamp. For acessories for the buffet, I suggest looking for gold, silver, and that mixture of both you may sometimes come across to bring the differnt metals together.

Beautiful dining set and wall color. I don't like see using plain paint any where on your set. My suggestion would be to stain the table base with a very dark stain. The seat covers are plain. You can tie everthing in with new fabric. It's nice to see pattern under glass tables. Treat the rug as a neutral. That's what animal prints are, neutrals.

The doilies,other lamp, and the small chest don't work.
Drapes are too dark. Look for a color near the wall color. You really want the focal point to be your dining set not the dark drapes when you vew the room.

These are just suggestions since my eye leans more to transitional contmporary than traditional.
0

Need dining advice...and thanks, Ttodd!

Comments (6)

forhgtv

graywings123

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

homebodymom

deeinohio
Original Author

graywings123

jerseygirl_1

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Need dining advice...and thanks, Ttodd!

Comments (6)

forhgtv

graywings123

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

homebodymom

deeinohioOriginal Author

graywings123

jerseygirl_1

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

deeinohio
Original Author