I think I’ve been watching too much HGTV, because I’m itching to do some home improvement projects. And since I have the NaBloPoMo Post A Day this month, I thought I’d get some feedback on my ideas. Most people know I’m not all up on style, so feel free to give me some advice. :)
First off, the dining room…
This is my dining room on a random day. It’s pretty bare, but it’s clearly viewable from the TV room and front entryway, and the main path to the kitchen walks right through it. Thomas and I have been discussing some ideas for how we’d like to improve the room.
This post is pretty picture heavy, so I’m putting the rest behind a Split Post. Click Continue Reading if you want to read on.
Before I start on our ideas, here’s what the room looks like dressed up – this was last Thanksgiving.
First, we’ve thought about some paint. Separately, we picked out a paint color, and we both picked the same color. I think we were inspired by our china set. And Pottery Barn had some nice photos of orange rooms (click View Larger for Half orange wall, and View Room for Full orange wall). Our concern is that the room is small, so we don’t want it to feel too closed in. We have thought about painting just a single wall, but I’m not sure which wall. Or maybe half walls with a chair rail, though I’m not sure a chair rail is our style either. Click on the photo to see which paint chip we liked best.
Next, I’d like to add some curtains. My challenge is that I’m not sure how to add drapes with the three windows. I did find a sheer pattern that I really liked at Target. I would pair it with something else to anchor it, either a cream sheer, or maybe something that would accent the painted wall(s).
Then, we desperately need to reupholster the cushions on the chairs. We bought them used and they’re very stained. I’m not a huge fan of the chairs in the first place, but reupholstering them might help. We considered this fabric, but decided that it’s too casual. I think I was inspired by SouleMama’s Chairs. Cute for her…not for me. Maybe a plainer cream would work – damask is too formal, stripes are too modern.
Finally, we would remove the fan which is never used and replace it with something fancier. We haven’t found a good chandelier yet, but it would be something sort of like this.
Oh yeah, and we’re considering painting all of the trim in our house to white, so factor that in.
So if you made it this far, what do you think?
- Paint dark orange? A single wall? Which wall? Half walls? What color?
- How would you do drapes on those three windows?
- Fabric recommendations for the seat cushions?
- Chandelier recommendations?
Related posts:
I do like the dark orange. I wouldn’t paint all the walls that color though because it might be too overpowering for such a small space. Either choose 1 wall for an accent wall or do the half wall if you decide you can live with a chair rail.
I do really like that fabric for the cushions, but you could also consider bringing in some blues which are complementary to orange. And sheer curtains are always really nice for dining rooms because it still allows light to filter in rather than solid, heavy drapes that make the room too dark. Painting the trim white will also lighten up the room considerably.
I can’t wait to see what you do with the room!
Normally I would say paint the trim white but with wooden trim I have issues painting over wood… I would take the color you like and add some white. In small rooms always take the color you want and go a shade or two lighter as it’s much richer on walls then on a small little chip. If it’s too dark do large white window treatments. White is simple but it will also soften things if it’s too dark and it’s meant to be a soft accent and not over power everything else. If you wanted more dramatic window treatments then white I’d scale back even a few more shades on the wall color.
Hi. What they said. Also, I think the chair-rail look goes well in older houses, or if you have older-style furniture like Queen Anne. You have a really neat contemporary house with dining room furniture that fits right in. I think you could just skip the chair rail thing. Besides, it may break it up too much to do a chair rail in a smaller space. But one accent wall may be nice. Just a thought. Have fun!
I love all the ideas, and just wanted to encourage you to try the dark orange. We had a bathroom that I painted orange and it was beautiful- not to mention that it had a warm glow coming from that room. It will look lovely with all your dining room windows, but I do think you should stick with one wall- maybe the one with the buffet dark orange and then the other walls could be a much lighter shade or the brown color from your fabric. By the way I LOVE the fabric for your dining chairs.
Here’s what I’d do in your room, based only on the pictures and a vague memory of having been there. I acknowledge that these suggestions may not work for you at all, but since you asked:
First, I’d turn the table the other way. Compared to your other pieces of furniture in there your table looks kind of small, and I think it would look really nice oriented toward the windows. When you need to extend it for company you could always turn it back the other direction.
I’d probably also try to find another home for the large hutch. Your buffet is a beautiful piece of furniture, but your hutch just looks kind of big there. Also, you didn’t give us a photo of that wall, so from these angles it just kind of looks like something that’s taking up valuable walking space.
I would definitely paint the room orange. I *love* orange, and I love dark dining rooms. I’d paint the whole room, but not the trim.
The fabric you rejected above as chair cushions would be beautiful as curtains, or if that’s too much then maybe as a valance over creamy sheers. I’d want a light colored fabric hanging from close to the ceiling to the floor to accentuate the big windows. I’d also ditch the blinds. A light colored table runner or tablecloth to coordinate with the curtains would be great, too.
I’d want a lower hanging light fixture, as the one you have somehow makes the room look smaller. I don’t know that I’d choose the one you did, though, but that probably because my style is more traditional and yours has more modern lines.
Last, I’d go for larger accessories and art than you have now. A small space can handle a few larger pieces better than it can a lot of smaller ones. A tall centerpiece on the table, a large piece of art over the buffet, something on the wall where the hutch was… that’s probably it.
Good luck!
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