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daylightca

Please Assist with Redecorating our Dining Room on a Budget.

12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Here we go again, Houzzers! You've helped us with our living room and our Christmas tree project, so now we're moving on to the dining room. We basically haven't touched this room since we first moved in. All finishes were existing when we moved in.

Room Description:
- The dining room is centrally located in the home. It's basically open to several rooms
- It's about 158" long x 127.5" wide.
- One wall has a half circle cutout into the small entry
- there is a 36" wide opening into the kitchen
- there is a 70" wide opening into the living room

Thoughts:
- We are on a tight budget for this specific project, so we only want to make a few budget-friendly changes. As a result, the traditional lighting fixture is probably going to stay (unless we find budget-friendly dining furniture)
- we definitely need a new table and chairs.
- the strange half-circle cutout in one wall must stay for now.
- The shutters will stay, although I am considering adding some budget-friendly draperies.
- Since we don't know how long we'll be in this house, we want to spend the majority of the $$$ on a flexible furnishings which can move with us. (table, chairs, rug, etc)
- The room is open to our living room, so we need the furnishings at least work with what we have in the living room.
- We would like to be able to sit at least 8 people, if possible.

Things that can be changed:
- the table and chairs need to go for sure.
- we definitely want to either repaint the red wall or paper it. Those horrid wall sconces will be removed as well.
- artwork can definitely be removed

Questions:
1. Does anyone know of a quick, free website I can use to generate a proper floor plan to scale?
2. Extension tables? Opinions?
3. Round table or rectangular?

I'll try to post pics and floor plan within the next few days, if possible.

Thanks!

Comments (114)

  • 12 years ago
    I was thinking that perhaps the tone of grey used could be picked up from the rug and/or sofa. Thoughts?
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Yep - you can certainly do that, and it would create a really nice flow from the Living Rm to the Dining rm. I threw together a quick moodboard with West Elm products to show how this could work. The paint color featured is BM Tweed Coat CSP-85. You can then accessorize with those sort of butterscotch colors that your current walls are.

    Paint: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/tweedcoat
    Table: http://www.westelm.com/products/emmerson-dining-table-g504/?pkey=cdining-tables&cm_src=dining-tables||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-
    Drapes: http://www.westelm.com/products/cotton-canvas-bold-stripe-window-panel-maize-t584/?pkey=ccurtains-drapes&cm_src=curtains-drapes||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-
    Fabric: http://www.westelm.com/products/fabric-by-the-yard-retro-ikat-h358/?pkey=ccurtain-fabrics&cm_src=curtain-fabrics%7C%7CNoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-&group=1&sku=1304393
    Light: http://www.westelm.com/products/faceted-capiz-drum-pendant-w873/?pkey=call-lighting&cm_src=all-lighting||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-
    daylightca thanked Chicago ReDesign
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Another very easy option would be to simply paint the red wall the same color as the rest of the walls. I'm not sure if you have left over paint or if you know the color or can color match. Then add the brown grays in through your soft furnishings and accessories.
    daylightca thanked Chicago ReDesign
  • 12 years ago
    Chicago ReDesign, that's AWESOME! Thanks so much!! I usually have a decent eye for the furnishings I like, but I really struggle with accessories and color. I REALLY like that paint color! The drapes are great as well!
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Fantastic! So glad I could help. Looking forward to seeing progress pics!! :)
  • 12 years ago
    This morning I had one other curious idea. What about painting wide horizontal stripes on at least one wall, using the existing beige and perhaps white? I still want to bring in that shade of grey. I'm thinking I could do that through paint behind the buffet and maybe one or two thinner horizontal stripes in the room. What do you think?

    I would then either paint the chandy a high gloss white with new shades/bulbs or just get a new budget-friendly fixture altogether. Thoughts?
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    So, my initial thoughts are that I wouldn't try to create a "feature wall" in your Dining Rm because 1) I think it would feel arbitrary due to the layout and 2) The room will feel much more cohesive if all the walls are treated the same - so that means either continuing the stripes all the way around the room, or painting all the walls the same solid color. I would also stick to just the two colored, wide stripes (so the white and beige as you mentioned, and not adding in a gray stripe). BUT that's my personal opinion... if you LOVE the idea of doing a striped accent wall wit all three colors, then go for it! And you know what, if it doesn't work out - paint over it. No big deal :)

    I think the biggest thing is to take action - go get paint swatches or samples, spray paint the chandelier you have, take down the sconces, etc. Taking little steps can be very effective in propelling you out of "idea" mode and into "getting it done" mode. Post your progress and you know the Houzz community will be here with you for support and guidance each step of the way! :)
  • 12 years ago
    Best retail price I am seeing for live edge ( this site has other good options, too):
    http://www.moderndigsfurniture.com/modern-dining-tables.html?optionid=17509
    daylightca thanked studio10001
  • 12 years ago
    Good advice, Chicago ReDesign! Thanks.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    You're welcome daylightca! Good luck!!
  • 12 years ago
    As we're planning out this room, I just had a thought about the paint. I need to leave the ceiling it's existing color. The ceilings continue into the living room and entry. Will this work with grey walls in the dining room?
  • 12 years ago
    Just saw this table at World Market. What do you think? I wanted to mix it with white or acrylic modern chairs. Would this work?
  • 12 years ago
    another
  • 12 years ago
    Chair ideas...
  • 12 years ago
    Maybe something more substantial for the ends - like a modern wingback in leather?
  • 12 years ago
    Quite a mix of styles! The table especially seems at odds to me with the lightness of your home, overall, and a weighty piece for a narrow space. If you choose it, keeping all chairs the same will help in lessening that mass. In general, I think that if the legs of the table are highly decorative, then the chair legs should be simpler, which would make your first choice mine, as well - of these three.[houzz=
    Vintage and modern dining room · More Info
    ]
    daylightca thanked studio10001
  • 12 years ago
    Check for a second hand table with either glass top or one that is easy to refurbish. For the light, often times hardware stores have just the glass for the light, this could be a cost efficient way to modernize your lamp.
    daylightca thanked soccergurl1212
  • 12 years ago
    You will want to measure both choices to be certain that your chairs will fit between the table legs.
  • 12 years ago
    I made up a few renderings on ppt. Option 1
  • 12 years ago
    Option 2
  • 12 years ago
    option 3
  • 12 years ago
    option 4
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Relief - I was picturing a table large enough for 8, as you'd mentioned earlier. :)
    I like these in the order of 1,2,4,3.
    daylightca thanked studio10001
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks, studio10001! I'm still not sure. I have always wanted a rustic, thick wood table in the dining room. I just need something that will look good when mixed with our more modern aesthetic.
  • 12 years ago
    the table is 86" L
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Hi daylightca. I like option 1 above as well. The light fixture, drapes, and mix of modern and rustic elements with the table and chairs is really striking and also ties in really well with the Living Rm. You had asked about the ceiling with the gray paint earlier... is the ceiling currently white? It's hard to tell in the pics. If so it will be fine with the gray.
    daylightca thanked Chicago ReDesign
  • 12 years ago
    BTW, I haven't gotten the wife to buy off on it yet. Like you, studio10001, she likes the one with the chevron drapes (picked by Chicago ReDesign). She's not sold on the table yet...
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    There you are, Chicaog ReDesign! My wife really likes the drapes you selected from West Elm! Regarding the ceiling, it is the wall color tinted lighter. It's a light beige - just enough to contrast with the trim.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    daylightca thanked studio10001
  • 12 years ago
    That's a really well priced live edge. I like the legs as well.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    So glad your wife likes the drapes! I think the ceiling color will be fine with the gray walls, but you are going to need to do a sample of the gray to confirm. My thoughts are that because you are bringing those beige tones in with your soft furnishings it should all tie together quite nicely.
    daylightca thanked Chicago ReDesign
  • 12 years ago
    Would you hang the drapes right below the ceiling trim, higher than the window? I was thinking that this may help. Or is hanging them that high not a good thing?
  • 12 years ago
    It is a good thing w one caveat. Hung at ceiling level will give you a more formal look. This is splitting hairs, but in your instance, I would personally split the difference between casement top and ceiling, which is slightly more relaxed, in keeping w the table.
    daylightca thanked studio10001
  • 12 years ago
    Decisions, decisions! Regarding the chairs, I'm interested in your opinions. I think I've settled on the panton chairs for the ends of the table. We're considering 4 Eiffel-based chairs for the others. What do you think? In your opinion, would you stick with all pantons?
  • 12 years ago
    The Eiffel-based chairs come in clear and white. I like the clear, so the table can be seen through the chairs. Wife likes the white, but really prefers all panton chairs.
  • 12 years ago
    This is my best attempt at rendering the clear Eiffel-based...
  • 12 years ago
    My best attempt at all pantons...
  • 12 years ago
    Obviously, nothing is to scale in the rendering. I'm sure it will look quite a bit different if things were in proper scale...
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I like the Pantons. Its a cleaner look. Are you going to be able to squeeze two more in when you want to seat 8?
    daylightca thanked Chicago ReDesign
  • 12 years ago
    I'm not sure, Chicago ReDesign. The table is long enough, but the legs are chunky. And we do want to seat 8 for dinner parties. If the chairs won't fit, we'll have to get a small portable side table the same height which can serve as an extension. I will order 8 chairs regardless.
  • 12 years ago
    Consider that the Panton chairs take up more visual and physical space than the Eiffels. I like them for the ends, but I wonder if they are overkill if you do them on the sides. It also depends on which you are more "married" to...the table type or the chair type. One will dictate the other due to scale, which is...in my civilian opinion...the most important element of space design.
    daylightca thanked jen046
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks for the comments, jen046! I need to get something on order in the next few weeks.
  • 12 years ago
    I found an inexpensive 8 seater at West Elm on sale. This is a rendering of room with the table. Is the table too non-descript?
  • 12 years ago
    Pics of the table...
  • 12 years ago
    I'm hoping to get table, chairs and drapes ordered within the next few days. What do you think of the table posted above? I'm wondering if it lacks character. Or perhaps the clean lines actually work nice with the more modern mix of chairs? Does the black and white rug beneath add too much pattern (considering the drapes)? I am attaching an image of what I think it will look like in proper scale...
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I do like the simplicity of the table with the chairs - especially if you are going with a mix of the pantons and eiffels. And personally, I'm not loving the rug - the pattern is too similar in scale (in your drawing at least) to the curtains and they are competing a bit. Also, the black and white doesn't really relate to anything else in the scheme - unless you bring in black and white artwork maybe or a few b+w accessories in the buffet niche.
    daylightca thanked Chicago ReDesign
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks again for your valuable input, Chicago ReDesign! I may run down to West Elm and purchase/order this table today (and buy the drapes as well). I just need some validation that I'm not making a poor choice.

    I'm debating about the rug as well. Pro's: 1. it's cheap (Ikea cheap) and is fairly cleanable 2. I want to do a black and white mini-gallery/art wall. 3. I have just a few pops of black in the adjoining rooms. Con's: I'm a bit afraid that it may be too competitive with the drapes.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Well, the great thing about Ikea is that if you don't love it you can return it! :) What about something like this - http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60229033/
  • 12 years ago
    buffet area + table.
  • 12 years ago
    I went to West Elm last night to order the table. I ended up hating the finish. Argh!