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ash8177

Progress in dining room.

15 years ago

I posted a while back asking for help in my dining room. I wanted to reply to my original thread but had login issues with every attempt. And I don't know how to directly link you guys to that thread but here is the url:

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/decor/msg1114003129003.html

Anyway.. I ended up keeping the two smaller cabinets.. a hutch and a corner cabinet.

Here's pics:

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I painted the walls Raffia Cream by behr. Dh still has to replace outlets and switches for me and replace the chandelier. And I need to hang window treatments, find a plant for the plant stand and change the hardware on the corner cabinet.

Springtime I'll be refinishing the table to match the hutches better.. it needs to be refinished anyway! Hardwood floors are in our plans too but it might be a while before we get to that.

So, what do you all think? What should I change?

Does that painting look out of place in the dining room? Does it look crowded in there? The room is a bit over 10x11 by the way. Does the decor on the cabinets look ok.. I was worried the candlesticks on top of the corner cabinet might look odd. Should I put a rug under the table?

Any comments/suggestions welcomed! :D

Comments (10)

  • 15 years ago

    I think the candlesticks and the greenery surrounding them would look better on the table.

    Drapery panels would warm up the room. I would work on that before or in combination with looking for an area rug.

    I would look for some way to bring additional light sources into the room. Can you somehow add lights inside those cabinets?

  • 15 years ago

    Did you repurpose your large hutch in another room? Have you come up with a preference for the new chandelier yet? I think the existing Tiffany competes with the painting so would stay away from that style. If you stay with Tiffany, maybe the painting could go in the hall so it's viewed through the arch and then place a mirror where the painting is now. Whatever style you decide, consider lengthening the chain so it hangs lower.

    Agree with graywings on placing the candlesticks on the table and need for additional lighting. Check Ebay and CL for an area rug. I wouldn't worry too much about matching the table when you refinish. Once the damaged wood is gleaming again, it will be nice. Good luck!

  • 15 years ago

    I agree with the candlesticks being put on the table. I see you have your hutch AND your corner cupboard on the same side of the room.....could you put your corner cupboard in the other corner (other side of the window where the plant stand is now). I think it would balance out your room better.

  • 15 years ago

    I could be wrong, but it doesn't look like there's enough space to move the hutch to the window side, and even if you did then the room would be out of balance it that direction. I think you have some options if you want to add visual weight to that side: find a torchiere, try a table lamp for the plant stand, place another taller and narrow piece there if you have one, or put a 5' potted slender palm on the floor. Just be careful as you don't want your precious little ones knocking a lamp down on top of them.

  • 15 years ago

    "I would look for some way to bring additional light sources into the room. Can you somehow add lights inside those cabinets?"

    The chandelier is on a dimmer and there is recessed lighting at the window. Lighting in the hutches is a great idea though. Dh said it would be easy to do so I'll add that job to the honey-do list. :D

    "Did you repurpose your large hutch in another room? Have you come up with a preference for the new chandelier yet?"

    I sold the other hutch.. I just didn't like it that much and couldn't find a good place for it.

    I definitely don't want another stained glass chandelier. I think I'm going to get a teardrop crystal chadelier or something along those lines.

    "I think you have some options if you want to add visual weight to that side: find a torchiere, try a table lamp for the plant stand, place another taller and narrow piece there if you have one, or put a 5' potted slender palm on the floor"

    How about an antique organ lamp?

    Here are some pics of the room with some of the suggested changes made:

    The candlesticks on the table.. the logical place for them, lol. I have 5 kids, 7 and younger, so I always tend to put everything UP! But, really, they're not bad, they are pretty good at leaving that stuff alone. Anyway, I think this looks better...

    {{!gwi}}
    Now, should I leave the top of the cabinets bare? Any suggestions what to put there, if anything?

    Here is what it looks like with the corner cabinet moved to the other side.

    {{!gwi}}

    Thanks so much for all the help! Keep the suggestions coming! :D

  • 15 years ago

    I misunderstood grandma's suggestion. That looks much better! Ebay sometimes has terrific buys on chandies.

  • 15 years ago

    Here are my thoughts on your space:
    - consider painting the trim to match your cabinets (that way, the room itself begins to tie with your furniture)
    - change the hardware on your corner cabinet to black (to match your other cabinet)
    - consider painting your table black (but if you choose to stain, don't match the cabinets. I personally like some variation and also, you probably won't get it to match exactly which will then look like a failed attempt at matching)
    - a chandelier would add sparkle to your space so go for it, but choose one that has black arms in it (to connect with your black cabinet hardware)
    - add an area rug and drapery for softness, but shop for them together, as has been mentioned, so they complement each other, and take into consideration the colors in your painting, if you're keeping it there
    - for drapes, I suggest hanging them almost as wide as the wall to give the illusion of a large window (you'd have to move your cabinet again! Hopefully it fits on the same side as the other cabinet)

  • 15 years ago

    I like the corner hutch on the right hand side of the window like in your updated picture. What about a slim tree in the the other corner where you have that pillar like accent table.

    My first thought as soon as you said you were eventually getting hardwood floors and that you'll be refinishing the table to match the hutches...was that everything (wood) is going to blend in with no contrast...I know you said you want to put an area rug under the table...Would you consider painting the top of the table just to break up all the wood tone? Just a thought. But your room is very pretty. Or you could even just use a table clothe to add additional color in there.

  • 15 years ago

    Thanks for all the suggestions. :)

    So far here is my plan:

    -find a crystal chandelier, consider metal arms to match hardware on cabinets.

    -hang drapes.

    Should I be looking for a solid color, maybe with some texture? Maybe a light blue or lavender to pull color out of the painting? Or would a pattern be better?

    Also what kind of rod should I look for?

    -Change the hardware on the corner cabinet to match the hutch.

    -Find a table cloth.

    Would it be too much if the table cloth was the same color as the drapes? Should I maybe just go with a cream color, like on the walls?

    -Consider buying a tall tree/plant for corner.

    -Look for an area rug to coordinate with drapes.

    This is going to be hard for me.. I don't even know where to begin. What size? What style? What kind of pattern and colors?

    -Put lighting in cabinets. AND the rest of my hand-painted china that seems to be missing after the move. Ah!

    -Oh and find a different china set. The set I have in the corner cabinet is white and blue. I'm not really fond of it and don't think it looks great with the rest of the room.

    -Then way later.. like maybe next year, replace the terrible linoleum!

    I'll share pics as progress is made but it may be a while.. I'm working on every room in the house atm! It will be so wonderful to complete at least one room!!

  • 15 years ago

    Looks like you're off to a lovely start, and others have made great suggestions. It could just be the photos so please forgive me if I'm wrong, but the table top looks like it would benefit immensely from an application of Scotts Liquid Gold, which you can find in the grocery store. It's a marvel at covering up dry patches, scratches and dings in wood. I use rubber gloves and paper towels. The stuff is magic!