On A Parallel Path With Yikes, Let's Re-Decorate the Dining Room
I thought I had better make my own thread and not hi-jack Design2girl's thread Yikes, Let's Re-Decorate the Dining Room.
We've recently moved. I've gotten us pretty much unpacked. I'm in the process of living in the space and starting to decorate. We didn't have time to have the interior painted due to a very short moving window.
I have a fully established household with my own acquisitions, some of my mother's furniture and the need to acquire one or two additional pieces. We have always lived in historic homes and renovated. This new home is only 20 years old. It's located in an established neighborhood of much older homes with some newer infill in a historic Southern town.
We have a very mature landscape. There is the need to prune and remove lots of overgrown plantings.
I seem to be on parallel paths with Design2girl's daughter. Lots of similarities.
My dining room table is a 53" round when broken down. Instead of adding a second ring to the round as in her table, I have five leaves that expand it into a long table to seat 10. I usually set it up for six unless I'm entertaining.
The previous owner took her crystal chandelier and draperies. That put me in the market for a new chandelier. Hence, the purchase of the Bette. While I am at it, I'll add the ornamental plaster medallion. These are not the cheap Home Depot things. This is the real deal. They are stunning when installed.
I typically don't like drapes. I have pretty bad allergies and have always avoided them as much as possible. The current panels are neutral, I brought them from the other house, and they were already paid for. I know they are a tad modern, but I don't think that I would find anything else that would interest me.
The previous owner had pale pink silk curtains and the walls were painted pale to match. While I am not a pink person, it's has grown on me. My plan is to paint the walls SW Naval with SW Creamy trim. It will be the only saturated color room in the house. The rest of the house will be painted SW Creamy satin with the SW Creamy gloss trim.
I want to remove the window transom that was added. It's visually busy and makes the doorway short. I'm short. If it bothers me, I can imagine how it bothers my tall DH. The doorways aren't tall enough to accommodate them. I think a plain doorway will look better in this space.
Here is a picture of the dining room table broken down at the old house. Nowhere to put it.
Comments (199)
Seajay Sparkles
4 years ago
homechef59
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Dining room? Pantry? Library? Help! (pics)
Comments (29)Deb, one question that I haven't heard yet is, is your library-media room the main gathering/ tv watching in your home? It's a really lovely room (actually every room you've shown us is lovely). I'm so impressed with the gorgeous bookcases your DH built. I see that you have steps down to this room, which would mean that you'd be carrying platters and bowls of food, plates, glasses, etc, down those steps for every meal that you serve in there, as your new dining room. It's only two steps, but you need to seriously think about whether this would become a real irritant after a while, let alone a possible tripping danger. Unfortunately, having the steps would make it near to impossible to move the wall between the present dining room and library, to give you more space in the dining room. That would have been ideal . . . if it was possible. More questions and thoughts: ~do you have a family room or living room that you can move the tv into comfortably? ~ what do you and your DH actually need the most, a home office or a butler's pantry? ~ With both rooms having wide doorways that open into it, instead of actual doors that you can close off, will you be happy seeing a desk and other office things in full view from your kitchen (which is lovely, BTW)? Friends and family will be passing through it getting from your kitchen to the new dining room. ~ If you turn it into a butler's pantry, are you willing to set it up nicely enough so as not to detract from your kitchen or your new dining room? ~ another idea to consider is to just incorporate the present dining room into the kitchen with, perhaps, built-in cabs to house your nice serving pieces, china and crystal in glass-fronted cabs with closed cabs below for storing what ever you need. You could set up a seating area on that side, too, and/or a secretary desk and chair that you can close up when company arrives for a meal. Personally, I think that turning your present dining room into a sitting room, would be a wasted space, that probably wouldn't be used all that much. But, that's JMHO. Anyhoo, just some other things to think about. Lynn...See MoreYikes I see so many white kitchens! Am I making a mistake?
Comments (68)PineBaron I'm with your DW on white or really dark, but I've had the white (although not my first choice at the moment) and gonna go for the really dark. Glad to hear I have a buddy in the process :) Sounds like you have a similar color scheme and other ideas I'm going for. I don't know why it makes me feel good to know that I'm not out in lala land with my ideas. lol omg i just clicked on the link! are you kidding me. that is gorgeous property, view, home! Loveit! the interior, the kitchen is what i envision on a smaller scale. I even have several sizes of that long bar hardware pictured in your kitchen drawing. Love the stacked cabinets . May I ask how tall those cabinets are stacked? such a cool look. Just wondering if there is a rule for stacking sizes? I like it when the bottom one is still somewhat tall then the top more of a square. Not sure if I have the ceiling height, but looks like you will! Living room, bathroom love. wow thanks for sharing all the pics. i'm gonna go read the whole thread and I'll be following you! good luck your blessed to have all that, enjoy! thanks again for sharing :)...See MoreLet's Decorate my Living Room/Den!
Comments (41)so this is the issue with the rug centered by the fireplace... there is a hallway right there that leads into the den... so it looked kinda weird if the rug was sticking out into the hallway from the den.... does that make sense? I actually had the rug further back under the sofa but the husband insisted on moving it closer to the hearth.. have to compromise here & there ya know... haha but yeah, I had it centered more on the fireplace, but like i said, the only issue was that then the rug was jutting into the hall... soooo... i lined it up with the edge of the half wall that the sofa is butted up against because that's where the hall starts... I'll share some more pictures later on this evening! was thinking of getting a different lamp as someone suggested, and maybe refinishing that table by the sofa in gray or white or something... thoughts?...See MoreKitchen remodel (dining room & maybe living room too) - Ideas Wanted!
Comments (10)@ SapphireStitch While it would be nice to wave a magic wand with an unlimited checkbook - I don't have that. I do have access to some money (got a HELOC). If some of the changes need to be done in stages and can be done effectively - we can do that, because the more money I have to pull upfront from the HELOC, the more I'll end up paying in interest. (yuck). I'm also not averse to acting as my own general contractor/project manager, if needed; I've done that before (successfully) But I'd rather not have to overall manage the project, just because my current employment is a boatload more demanding than my previous employment. The nice thing is that we don't have a defined deadline where "this must be done by" - no one is getting married, boatloads of relatives aren't coming to visit, etc. However, the kitchen as it currently stands is a source of daily irritation. We're getting to the point that if anyone is already in the kitchen, we try to avoid going in there until that person has left the kitchen. Tempers flare....we've got my boyfriend (who was envisioning a quiet, child-free retirement), my teenager (while she's not as much of a drama queen as some teens - she's just starting the teenage years, LOL), and me - frustrated as the primary food purchaser, preparer, organizer, clean-up person. And if my boyfriend happens to suddenly realize his blood sugar has dropped - get the hell out of the way in the kitchen. He's not very good at listening to his body - he literally passed out one time when his blood sugar dropped too low - he dashed into the kitchen, grabbed a glucerna and the last thing he remembered was opening it up - but he woke up on the floor sitting in a puddle of the stuff. (I wasn't home at the time). When either I or my teen are in the kitchen and if boyfriend does the mad dash into the kitchen - we pretty much have to drop what we are doing so he can grab something and while he stands there and he starts shoveling whatever down his throat. And since the space is so tight - it can mean leaving stuff cooking on the stove, etc. One time he dashed in, grabbed a breakfast sandwich out of the refrigerator, yanked what was already cooking in the microwave out, and threw his sandwich in. Anyhow, I digress. I know that some of the things we want are going to be big-ticket items - new cabinets, granite or quartzite countertops, slide-in induction stove. That's why I'm also looking for cost-efficient plans, such as instead of moving the sink to the middle of the room, let's keep it on the same wall and just shorten the distance from the hot water heater to the new sink location. Let's not blow out any of the exterior walls, and we can keep the current windows, dishwasher, and refrigerator. If replacing the 10'x13' current laminate would be cheapest to match new hardwood to the existing hardwood, rather than ripping it all out and putting tile down in a 20'x13' space, I'm fine keeping hardwood. If a nice, medium-stain maple cabinet is cheaper than white painted cabinets, I'm find with the the stained version... I prefer it, personally. Rather than a huge pantry cabinet, if building a pantry closet with adjustable shelves is cheaper, I'm fine with that (plus with all the small appliances and bulk-purchases from Costco and BJ's - I think it would suit our storage needs better). If getting an island fits the layout, but is out of reach - I'm fine holding off on installing island cabinets and countertop and using a kitchen table in the meantime. And because we don't have a "get it done by" date... once I have a really solid design/layout... I have the time to shop different cabinet lines and stoves, wait for sales and then to be ready to capitalize on hopefully a decent deal. I don't know if it's true, but I did see some articles that indicate the best time to shop for kitchen cabinets is November to early January....See Morehomechef59
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoThe foyer lighting fixture arrived this week. While I like the shape and size, I can't say that I am thrilled with the finish. The listing pictures would lead you to believe that it's a much brighter gold. In fact, it's an aged gold that tends towards copper.
I couldn't send it back, I had it all unpacked. So, I thought I would try some rub and buff on it to brighten it up a bit. Next weeks project.
Blakely 3-Light Foyer; Includes Flush Mount Option, Antique Gold · More Infohomechef59
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Alpine · More Info
The pillows that I ordered from www.aloriam.com arrived this week. I ordered some inserts for them from Pottery Barn. I really like the pillows. They are custom, but I asked to use the inverse side of one of the fabrics on the back side of the pillows. This means that I have another choice of design for the same price. DH has been playing with the proper combination. The good news is I don't think he can go wrong. All the combinations seem to work. The dogs have their own ideas. The no dogs on the furniture rule is being constantly violated.
PROFlo Mangan
4 years ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
4 years ago - PRO
homechef59
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agohomechef59
4 years ago
Design2 girl
4 years agoSeajay Sparkles
4 years agohomechef59
4 years agohomechef59
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoWe hung the foyer lighting fixture. We brightened it up with Rub and Buff finish. We were trying to get rid of the copper tint that wasn't in the online pictures. It turned out very nicely.
Alpine · More Infohomechef59
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoOn to the next project. I really hate these sconces in the staircase. I need suggestions for replacements. You can see the foyer light and the black wrought iron spindles on the stair case. I would prefer something simple, timeless, classic. I'm thinking gold or black and gold. Single bulb. Please offer suggestions.
Alpine · More Info
Molly
4 years agoMolly
4 years agoI thought this was interesting. https://www.kathykuohome.com/Product/Detail/51986-Hudson-Valley-Tate-Mid-Century-Modern-Silk-Drum-Shades-Aged-Brass-Left-Sconce
Too contemporary? https://www.kathykuohome.com/Product/Detail/18238-Regina-Andrew-Natural-Modern-Regency-Brass-Ring-Shade-Sconce?utm_campaign=
This can be found for less in other sites (although this is where I bought my media console and they have fabulous customer service). https://www.scenariohome.com/collections/wall-sconces/products/regina-andrew-hanging-teardrop-sconce-gold-leaf
homechef59
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago- PRO
niccidhg
4 years agoI like Flo’s suggestion because the square base echos the square shape of your foyer lantern. Also, I think your existing one light sconce looks too small and not weighty enough, so I think you could consider a two light for that location. I like gold for there , but any gold might need to be “adjusted” with R&B as you did your foyer fixture.
homechef59
4 years agoI've got a couple of candidates. I do prefer a candlestick type of arrangement over the lantern selections. Thanks for the suggestions niccidhg. Flo, I'll follow your suggestion to select a gold type of finish.
Here are the two I am considering. DH has approved both.
Visual Comfort Lighting Bristol Single Sconce, Gilded · More Info
Visual Comfort Chart House Flemish 1 Light Arm Wall Sconce in Gilded Iron with N · More InfoMolly
4 years agoSeajay Sparkles
4 years agoI like your first choice but throwing this out there. A little less depth at 6” and a bit more light in the staircase.
https://www.houzz.com/products/ef-chapman-cross-2-light-wall-light-antique-burnished-brass-prvw-vr~129493099
- PRO
Flo Mangan
4 years ago Molly
4 years agohomechef59
4 years agoMolly
4 years agoI came across this affordable option if you are considering https://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/hinkley-3670cpg-tress-champagne-gold-one-light-ada-sconce-2117702.htm
homechef59 thanked Mollyhomechef59
4 years agoSeajay Sparkles
4 years agoniccidhg
4 years agoMolly
4 years agohomechef59
4 years agoThey let me out of the asylum and I went to the monthly big antiques market. You have to keep me away from the Chinese importers of porcelain. I picked these fellows up.
Alpine · More Info
Alpine · More Info
And, it got worse. There is a gentleman from North Carolina that has a preserved floral arrangement business. He brings a selection down each month to Atlanta. The decorators mob him. I picked this up for the sideboard.
Alpine · More InfoThe new sconces should arrive next week.
Anna
4 years agohomechef59
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agohomechef59
4 years agohomechef59
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoEveryone, and I mean everyone, told us that our art work was hung too high. DH Googled the proper height of artwork. He had to admit that everyone was right and he was wrong. DH balked at rehanging the front parlor. Or, as I call it, the She Room. I told him that it could wait until I found the final wall elements. I found them.
Flo, told me that the wall behind the settee needed an additional element to fill wall. So, I bought two small Chinese vases from my guy at the monthly antique and design fair. (He knows my name, which means I've been hanging around too much.) Then, I went looking for two sconce shelves to set the vases upon. I took a chance at the antiques show and gave a guy $18.00 cash for two gold shelves. It was all I had left in my wallet after lunch. They turned out to be too small for the vases. Oh, well. I got DH to hang them below some plates that were already hung up.
Alpine · More Info
I found two larger shelves for sale at Ebay. The price was right. We hung them up. Old holes in the wall have to be filled and the room painted. We lowered the height of the picture to the suggested height. Here is the final wall arrangement.
Alpine · More Infohomechef59
4 years agoMolly
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Flo Mangan
4 years ago loobab
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Elizabeth Minish Design