Need help with my dining room...please!

14 years ago

Please help me with my dining room. I've done things totally backwards with this dining room. We moved into the house last year. I bought the lights a month after we moved in followed by rug, mirror, and curtains and finished it with paint last month. The problem is that I never had an initial vision so now I'm trying to figure how to get things to work. The paint came out lighter/brighter than I expected. I've removed the rug yesterday – repurposed it to the bedroom. It was totally throwing the room off. Now I've bought two pictures and I'm trying to figure out which one will work – if either at all. I'm open to buying new art, rug, table top etc. I DO NOT want to change the table, curtains, lights, or paint color. Most of our house is earth tones. I really wanted to have color in the house. I was thinking about adding a natural (sisal, chenille, or seagrass) fiber rug. I also want to add some accessories to the room. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

michigammemom

14 years ago

last modified: 14 years ago

I personally think that both art pieces you have selected are too casual for your formal dining room with your lovely crown molding, dining table and drapes. You might consider something like this abstract seascape from etsy or look for an original piece or print at a local art fair or gallery. Collect some art that is meaningful rather than mass produced. http://www.etsy.com/listing/96144646/painting-acrylic-original-gentle-beach?ref=cat2_gallery_4

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Comments (19)

jean705
14 years ago
You are off to a good start. I really like the drapes and the art with the orange in it. The orange gives a nice pop of color. You could carry that color onto the table with placemats, candle, flowers (I would like to see something glass or pottery for a different texture. I like the idea of a natural looking rug. Its hard to see the lights that you have and the color of the seat covers.
animalplanet
Original Author
14 years ago
I'm leaning towards the pic with the orange too. If I don't use that exact one, I'm definitely going to get one with similar colors. The lights are brushed nickel.
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amy410
14 years ago
I'm of no use in terms of providing any advice, but I love your wall colour! Would you be able to share where you got the paint and the brand/colour name?
tgac
14 years ago
Definitely the orange art, but I'm not sure it's large enough for your space. A sisal rug would look great, maybe with a contrasting border. Good luck!
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Dytecture
14 years ago
I vote for the orange art as well.

Contemporary Dining Room · More Info
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Sally Phillips Custom Window Treatments
14 years ago
Love the drapes, love the wall color, and love the art with orange color. I suggest putting that between the windows. Then pulling in wall color, new orange color, and natural on the table, maybe in pottery as Jean705 suggested. I like that idea, I think a natural colored rug would be great also. I also like the border idea from tgac The mirror on the sconce wall looks a little small for that space, so if budget allows, get a bigger one and I would prefer it to also be brushed nickle or even a silver color. Let us know your thoughts :)
PRO
Chroma Design
14 years ago
I prefer the blue and yellow art. While I like the pop the orange brings, the first is more harmonious with the curtains. You can still uses touches of orange in the accents as well as more yellow in the accents to give the room a bit more depth.
The curtains are nice and I know you don't want to change them. But, would you be open to changing the sheers? A lighter off white similar to the background of the curtains. It will give more zoom to the curtains. The dark sheers relate too much to the curtains and interrupt the beautiful blue wall color.
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Charmean Neithart Interiors
14 years ago
One more vote for the orange art. Blue and orange are great together. Just find a rug that ties those two colors together. Try www.rugstudio.com and search by color.
Hope that helps. Charmean Neithart
betsyweisberg
14 years ago
Impluvium House · More Info

Go orange art!
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Susan Mills Design
14 years ago
I too feel that the art is too casual for this room. I don't mind the orange with it but think this piece does not work in this room. Art is very personal so do not want to post an image but try to find something that really speaks to you and is something you want to have in the same room you entertain your freinds and family.

I do think that a sisal with a border would work well as long as it was the right size and if the border picked up the drape colour. The Pefect Rug company has a great site you can play around with the rug and border, here is one suggestion based on what I can see of the colour of the drapes.
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Susan Mills Design
14 years ago
oops just the border showed up:)
pcmom1
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
You need to give the illusion that your windows are larger: extend the rods so that they are almost twice the width of the windows,then pull your drapery panels to totally clear your windows except for barely covering the trim on the windows' sides. For privacy, etc. you may need to add woven wood shades, or blinds.

The sisal rug will help to warm up the look of your room.

I vote that you keep looking for art. I think you need to be sure not to settle. The one with the orange is too small. I would put a large painting where the mirror is now. The mirror is too small, at least by itself .

Add a tall palm in a great ceramic container in the corner. It will add life to the room also.

I am assuming your lights have a dimmer option. If not, get one for "mood".

Only thing left is to dress up your table some.
Ann Marin
14 years ago
The curtains are what is throwing this room off. The murkey sand color and silky material is not right with the wall color which is clear and clean. Also, they read formal, but the art is young, funky and fun. Try the art again but with the curtains gone. See what you think then.

If you like it better now, and this is the direction you want, try some fabric swatches that read modern and clean for curtains: like a geometric trellis print with white featured prominently in a canvassy material. A sisal rug would fit right into this scheme.

I, too, like bright orange with that blue wall color, but I would use it very sparingly. Maybe a vase or some candlesticks as a punctuation point, not a full on accent color. It is way too strong IMO for that, as your tastes seem to be more traditional.

Have fun!
animalplanet
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I wondered if the mirror was too small for the space. I didn't spend much on it, so I'm not opposed to changing it at some point. I'm also going to continue looking for art. I like the earth tones and orange, so I'm going to focus on those colors. I like the idea of using the orange and adding some textures. I spent a decent amount on the curtains, so I don't see myself changing those, plus I thought they were neutral enough I could change the wall color later if I wanted to without changing the curtains.

The paint color is trade wind by sherwin-williams. Thanks again to all for your help. Good information.
darlenetennis
13 years ago
Hi. Great suggestions. I also like the orange floral. Can you tell me where I can purchase that?
animalplanet
Original Author
13 years ago
The orange picture was actually purchased at target, but the print is quite popular. I wanted it in a larger size and found it online. I can't recall the name of the print, but you may want to try www.art.com. Hope this helps.
Darzy
13 years ago
I vote for the orange print and sisal rug as well. But, for a big pop, how about the orange color for the bottom wall color?
jack1260
13 years ago
Hi-I think your drapes are fine and will blend with alot of different decor ideas, so no worries there! If you could hang them as close to the ceiling as possible to give an illusion of height. The mirror I feel needs some anchoring, meaning a piece of furniture below it. I feel like it is just floating right now on that wall. Perhaps you could find a small server, buffet, and flank the mirror with smaller prints. I do love the orange, and blue combo, which is quite popular right now, and is nice together. I like the idea of a sisal rug, they tend to blend with everything, and let other things become more of the "wow" of the room. Good luck!!

Need help with my dining room...please!

michigammemom

Comments (19)

jean705

animalplanet
Original Author

Related Professionals

amy410

tgac

Dytecture

Sally Phillips Custom Window Treatments

Chroma Design

Charmean Neithart Interiors

betsyweisberg

Susan Mills Design

Susan Mills Design

pcmom1

Ann Marin

animalplanet
Original Author

darlenetennis

animalplanet
Original Author

Darzy

jack1260

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Need help with my dining room...please!

Comments (19)

animalplanetOriginal Author

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