Please HELP to modernize 2000's dining room furniture!!
4 years ago
HELP!!! Looking for some advice. We have this early 2000's solid wood dining room set (same as first pic below only table is more oval) that was a wedding gift from my inlaws (one of whom has since passed) so has some sentimental value. I don't love love it, but it's so functional and in beautiful shape, we do not want to refinish or replace it at this time. Instead, I'd love some advice re: area rug, decor, wall decor/artwork, table runner, etc. to make it work.
Other info: we are currently in the middle of a pretty major main floor reno.
- Our main floor is a very open concept with several levels (2-3 steps apart).... so lots of white railing.
- New kitchen cabinets will be warm white, counters white/grey granite, walls light grey/mushroom
- Flooring will be light wood tone (second pic below)
- I love indoor plants, so vibrant greenery seems to be my accent color of choice :)
- Adjoining living room (just a white railing away) has fireplace with chunky dark walnut mantle and slate grey tiles.
- Adjoining living room also has three antique side tables in very similar wood tone to the dining set (these could be refinished). Other furniture and area rug will be replaced with something new so possibility exists to coordinate there too.
Thanks so much for any assistance you can offer me! Really want to make things look right with our dining table and our gorgeous new kitchen. <3
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Comments (22)
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoIt's too bad you won't consider refinishing or painting it. It's going
to be difficult to have it look more modern or any different than what it is now, regardless of accessories.
I know these are different styles, just showing some color options that might update it nicely. Sorry I'm not any help otherwise; maybe others will have suggestions for leaving it as it is.Tara Dee thanked olychickRelated Discussions
Please show me your MODERN Dining Room lighting
Comments (14)chloe - yes! One thing to note is that the instructions say you need European size light bulbs, but you don't, just regular chandelier bulbs. I used philips LED (warm white) and they look good. This does not give off the rainbow sparkles of a crystal chandelier like you can see in beekeeperswife's beautiful chandelier. I would say the shadow patterns are a bit more like water/raindrops but not pronounced, in fact the light generally seems pretty even and the strikingness is more from looking at the reflection/refraction in the bulbs themselves. I like the warm rainbow-ey effect of crystal, so if I get a big raise some day I may go for crystal in the dining and move this to the foyer. The quality is mid, about on par for the price. I wouldn't want to look too closely at the chrome after a few years and wouldn't wash the metal parts ever - but I am lazy so chances of me washing my chandelier are slight. It was surprisingly easy to assemble and comes with a few extra bulbs (to assemble it just goes big bulb/little bulb). I would say it's easy enough that I would hang first and then add the bulbs. An electrician installed it and I wasn't home that day, so I couldn't use my usual method of counting swears-per-minute to guage installation difficulty. But no complaints. This post was edited by robotropolis on Wed, Apr 9, 14 at 13:23...See MoreHelp Blending Antique and Modern Dining Room Furniture
Comments (34)I get where you are coming from, you want something that looks good right now! And don't want to spend a lot of money on something you don't love or won't want for long. Two ideas. #1. Clear off all the junk on top of your current buffet. Go to Michaels or Bed Bath and Beyond or some home goods store around you and get some low storage baskets, not too tall, like maybe 6". You can put some of the junk in there to hide it if you want, like board games, linens or desk items that you might use on the dining table some of the time. While you are there, get a light colored tablecloth that goes with your desired color scheme. I'm not sure why everyone avoids tablecloths, I can't live without them, and I can't think of an easier way to "lighten up" a dark brown wood table and lessen its dark presence in a room. Later on you can take it off. Also while you are there, get some fun blingy shades for your current chandelier in a light color you like. Maybe even some crystal bling to hang off of it or shades with crystal edging. And while you are at it, get some cheap square frames the size that would suit a calendar art page or old record sleeve. You can then make a quick and dirty inexpensive art montage to go atop your current black buffet. Pick something colorful and bold that you can see from up there. Done for now, and you can wait to find the perfect hutch. Idea #2. Go to IKEA and find a plain jane white hutch set. The one Nosoccermom posted would be perfect. Doll it up with some shelf paper on the back and a fancy set of knobs, or not. Done for now. Once you get your nice things in it, it will look great. That's what I did in my last house. I still have the IKEA stuff in a different iteration in my current home, as bookshelves in the library, so not money wasted. Now I have inherited "Big Bertha" my mom's Rococo revival china cabinet. Suggestion #2 will give you a chance to figure out if you want or need a hutch as opposed to a buffet and also give you time again to find the perfect antique or more expensive piece. Or not, you may find that IKEA is fine for your needs. Since I see you are in NJ, there may be some unpainted furniture stores around you. The one near me was just over the river in Allentown where I used to live. That would be another option, as I mentioned, if you don't want to try and refinish an already finished piece. Edited to add after I saw Beverly's mock up, that is another way to go. Looks perfectly fab that way to me. I'm no Photoshopper, but there are any number of ways to doll up what you currently have and make it work wonderfully....See MoreLiving room/dining room furniture placement help.
Comments (12)I moved some things around and I think I like it better. I know the rug is too small and it shouldn't be "floating" but I don't want a new one until we get the other changes done. I moved the dresser into the dining room and hung (probably too high but couldn't convince 6'3" hubby to lower it and he had a point about being out of reach of the tornado. haha) the sign and pictures that had been on the mantle in the dining room. We also took off the ridiculous trim board they had up because we will be replacing the slider soon. So many things in this house like that silliness. I organized most of the books and moved the bookshelf. And grabbed a few canvases (I know they are small but can't remember where we left my big one) I did the flower, my dad painted the one on the right in Vietnam in '68. We need to fix the coffee table my dad built that's in the garage, I'll put it in front of the sofa, it's a little under 6'long, so it might be technically too big but, again, it's what I have. How'd I do?...See MoreFurniture arrangement help for rectangular living/dining room are
Comments (25)Update on my living room: Thank you so much for the suggestions on the previous pictures. It helped me tremendously to get an idea of what I have done so far. I just received my sofa after 5 months of patiently waiting. This was the hardest part. I'd really appreciate your ideas for this living room/ diningroom. We need to add accent chairs, coffee table, console table/a built-in shelf for the tv. I took everyone's advice here and our tv will go to the opposite wall from the sectional sofa. I'm struggling with the color scheme for the decor, accent chairs, accessories, side table, etc for the coffee table I really liked to have a nesting round, but I'm not sure if it would be too big for the space we have. Since we have a live edge dining table, it's difficult for me how to choose other furniture pieces. ps For the dining table I bought 4 chairs and was thinking I'll include two different color chairs. I had to return one char and keep three because two chairs were not fitting on both longer sides of the table. So, I decided to get a bench for the empty side instead. I hope my explanation is clear and not vague or confusing. Thank you in advance....See MoreRelated Professionals
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4 years ago
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4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoI played around with some looks. Yellow and gray tones can work well together — it’ll mainly be a matter of having complimentary decor nearby. In other words, not just this oak set in a house sea of ultra mod grays and such, but incorporating cool and warm tones throughout.
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Thoughts on adding a big wall clock similar to this to the room? Think it would help or hinder my goal?
2 years ago- 2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
Yes! Of all my photos, I think this one captures it's real tone the most accurately. I adore my floors, get a TON of compliments, and I'm seeing it surface in a lot of the home reno shows/decorators that I follow. To be clear, this is Natural Hickory - the Bone Hickory looks like this in photos but not in real life. So make sure you see samples first.
- 2 years ago
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