Posting pics...

1. sign up for free photo hosting account (photobucket)
2. download your photos
3. go to "my album"
4. select individual photos you want to post (there is a little box by each pic)
5. at bottom of that page it gives you a command button to "generate html", hit that button
6. next page will give you 4 options for what format you want, choose the 1st or 2nd, hit it
7. go back to your post and IN THE BODY of your post paste the link and it will appear as codes until you "preview" message. When you preview you should see pics. Give it a few tries, sometimes it takes a bit to "get it"

Would love to see your pictures.

Here are the pics, thanks for your help!

My Mom has the same exact dining room set with the china cabinet. I love it. It is strong and so pretty.
Eventhough I love red walls, I read alot of blue in your description. Would blue totally clash with the rest of your house. I see that you have the chair railing, you can leave the bottom in the tan, and then paint the top in a warm blue. What color is the upholstery?
The windows, I would probably leave as is. The only thing I can see is two panels on the main window, and then one panel on the side window swept up to the right side. Both hung high at the same height.
Runner for the table?

Thanks for suggestions. Really the only blue is in the bowl and a little on the china. I love the blue, but don't have it anywhere else in the house. Red goes better with rest of house. I like table runners but the table is so long and table runners are much shorter. Might also be hard to find one that doesn't clash with bowl. I can't seem to bring it all together!

bump

I'm clueless as usual, but that is a gorgeous room(and furniture) and would be stunning in red!!! The small decoration in the bottom right of the last picture is adorable!!

What a gorgeous room (and I agree -- the little chubby-cheeked "decoration" in the corner is precious too)! I think it would be stunning painted red. I don't think I would do anything else to the windows -- the shutters make a bold architectural statement and you'll lose that if you add panels, IMO. I think that the three pictures hung to the left of the china cabinet would look better hung vertically elsewhere, and in that space instead a large print or painting would be nice. I also feel that the painting of magnolias is a bit too small for the space it's in. Can you look for a larger print/painting for that area as well?

Who makes your dining room set? It's pretty! You need Lindy or Squirrel to do some photoshop work for you so you can visualize the colors in your room & drapes. Les has a good eye so perhaps she can jump in & give suggestions.

I can picture Jan in Wisconsin's Red Kitchen color for you. It's Flower Pot from Sherwin Williams. I have a program that does SW colors but it doesn't select out the walls very good and makes jagged edges...but here it is. I only did it on the top to see what that might look like.

And here's one I did on Ben Moore that looks similar and maybe a bit closer to your inspiration bowl

P.S. I wouldn't do curtains either since your shutters are so gorgeous! And I would either leave the bowl where it is or put it in the china cabinet and add a floral arrangement to your table.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jan's Red Kitchen

How about doing red on the top and painting the walls on the bottom section the same color as the molding? You have a beautiful room to start with. I'd shy away from the blue as well since you mentioned you had green elsewhere in the home.

It might be helpful to see a closer pic of the upholstery fabric on your chairs.

I'd love to see some greenery there, like a tall potted palm where you have the hurricane, plus a larger painting.

I suggest that you should remove a leaf from the table and put a couple of the chairs in the corners to create a more spacious feeling in the room

Wow, this is my first time using this site and I greatly appreciate all the suggestions. Thanks for the comments on the little chub, as uasual she wa making a mess!
ideamom- I am not sure who made the furniture. We got it a few years ago and I can't find anything on it that says. Sorry!
lindybarts- That really helps me visualize the color, thanks so much.
I agree with everyone about the drapery, I am going to leave the windows alone. I am thinking of have a valance made for the kitchen window that incorporates the red. I love the fabric Jan chose for her red kitchen. I also have alot of black in my kitchen, but one room at a time!

Terriks- thanks for the suggestion on removing a leaf. I told my husband to do that, but he disagreed. Maybe now that someone feels the same way, he'll do it!

I agree the magnolia pic and photos need to go. They just filled wall space until I got to the room to decorate. I was thinking of hanging plates or trays on the wall in the colors I am working with. I would hang them where the photo frames areor where the magnolia pic is. What do ya'll think?

I was also thinking of getting some more of the blue, red and gold stuff from southern living to put in the china cabinet.

I wanted to get some greenery for the top of the china cabinet and maybe something else???

I like the idea of a tall plant for the corner where the hurricane is.

Any suggestions for the hurricanes???

Here's a selection of inspiration photos -- might be something there to help out too!

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: Inspiration photos -- Dining Rooms

Opinions please! Southing Living makes a really pretty tray and scalloped plates in the blue that matches my bowl. You can see them on their website it is the tuscan accent pieces. I was thinking of possibly hanging these on the wall in my dining room. Possibly the tray in the middle and a plate above and below it. I was also thinking of getting the pitcher for in the china cabinet. I got a stand for the bowl and I am going to leave it in the china cabinet. What do you think about the plates????

While I like red dining rooms, I think that your wood--and you have a lot of it--is too red-toned itself for red walls. What about a blue grey or even a charcoal color, if you want a darker, more dramatic room.

There's a lot going in on in the space--the carved chair backs, the windows, the curves of the lighting fixture. I'd pare down the accessories and let the architecture be the star.

I was going to suggest re-moving the leaf, but see *terriks* beat me to it. The room will look much more spacious, and if you don't use the table very frequently, there's no point in keeping it in. Put it under a bed. ;o)

This is just my personal opinion, but I think red dining rooms are d-o-n-e~sorry for those of you who have one. I had one too, but when I sold, painted it a nice warm tan.

Look at the colors in your dishes, or buy an area rug, and choose form there~it would make your furniture look even more beautiful! If you like blue, a slate blue would be very elegant looking, and look great with dishes with a silver rim. If you like warmer colors, coral would be romantic, especially if you have blue/white dishes, and a little more exotic looking. Gold?? Too common. A deep taupe would be beautiful with the white shutters, and decorative white plates would accent it even more~top of the china cabinet too. Your local thrift stores will give you a lot to choose from! I would also recover the chairs in a print as you need something to break up all 'the solids'. ;o)

I agree, we are going to remove a leaf.
Patty cakes- Good suggestions! I have always wanted a room in red or burgundy! I do like the slate blue suggestion, I am just not sure of how it will work with the rest of the house. I was planning on filling china cabinet with more from the same line the bowl in the pic came from and leave a few pieces of the china. I like your suggestion to recover the chairs.
Jan- would you mind changing the walls to a slate blue so I can picture it? How do you do that?

I have that same Southern Living bowl, I also got the matching platter and bought them in the blue/green color too, love them!!

There is someone that posted pics of their dining room finished last week, I have the link saved at work, I will post it tomorrow.

Ohh, here it is!

Here is a link that might be useful: before and after dining room

customdecorator- she did a great job, it kind of makes me think twice about using red. Can't decide! After looking at the pics I definately want to paint white under chair rail and recover the chairs. Since you have the bowl I am trying to incorporate, what is your opinion on paint color? Also do you think the tuscan accent pieces (plates and tray) would look good hung on the walls.
Thanks so much.
Sarah

Hey sarah...I'll play around with some other paint colors for you a bit later. Got to get the kiddos off to school and such! ;c)

Lindy

i like the chairs and the SL bowl. i just have to say that the china is the one thing that doesn't match. it sounds like 1950s or 1960s, with the delicate light blue and silver edge. would not look good in a red room, i think. it would have been in a silvery, mint, or powder blue dining room, most likely. also, the china sounds too delicate to coordinate well with tuscan, or wrought iron. i would store it elsewhere and put some bolder colored pieces in the china cab.
our dining room is red, still like it. our china doesn't match either....we just store it with the plates down and display glasses in the china cab. good luck kren

Actually Sarah, I do not have the bowl displayed, only the platter in my kitchen. If you are not sure about using red, then don't do it. I have always wanted an Orange room and after we had our moldings done last year I painted my formal dining room orange, I get tons of compliments on it, but I am tired of it, and wish I had gone with a more neutral color.

I would paint the color you love first and you may be surprised the bowl might flow with it.

Pic of platter in kitchen
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Hey Sarah

Here's a couple. I did a slate blue and tried to pull up those scalloped plates you were talking about. If I got the right website, then they are more of a robin egg color, aren't they? Not sure it goes with slate. But I do think your red bowl goes with it since the blue parts are smaller. I also tried those things in the red room. I did up a brown but didn't have time to "shop" in your other accessories. I think this brown is a little too muddy and I need to play more with it. P.S. What do you think of the idea given above about doing the area below the chair rail in the same color as your trim?

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kren- I kind of agree with you about the china. I was trying to work it in, but it may get put away. Thanks for suggestions.
Lindy- Thanks for all the help with the color selection. I still haven't seen the right color choice. I agree the slate blue doesn't really go with the blue on the plates. I definately want to paint white below the railing. I already have brown in the living room and want something different. I'm stuck!

Somewhere above it mentions that you have green in the house so I'm not sure if green is a possibility. I have BM Dry Sage in my dining room with white trim and cherry furniture and I love it...just a thought. Sorry, but I don't care for the red in there, doesn't do anything for your pretty furniture.

Another thought...not sure how formal you are wanting the room but the SL bowl looks pretty casual to me. Maybe it is something that you can use in your kitchen? Especially since you like it so much, that way you'd see it everyday! Then you can stick with the china for your dining room.

polkadots- I have a little green in the living, but it is not much. I would love to see a pic of your dining room! I don't really care much about china, it was passed down to me. I am ok with taking it out of china cabinet. So I would hate to choose colors around something I am not in love with! Thanks for suggestions.

Who made the china? they looked vaguely like Tiffany plates from the picture. If they are, and you need a place to "store" them, by all means, send them to me and I will help you out. (lol)

Love the robin's egg blue of those plates and if they were mine, I would build a room around them:-), but I get that they don't go with your other colors...

Here is an older picture of my dining room. I hope this gives you an idea of what a sage green might look like.

I was thinking you could decorate more around the china and not the red plates but then I just read your newest post...ooops. Oh well, here was the slate blue again without the red plate and just changed the artwork and added a centerpiece. I thought it might look nice with your china.

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And here's green. Whenever I pull up the lighter ones they get washed out because of the flash in the photo. So I keep leaning towards the deep colors.

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polkadots- love your room, the green is really pretty. I am still leaning toward the tuscan look, but rethinking the red. I am not in love with the way it looks in the pics. I have found a few tuscan prints on ebay that would be pretty in the room. Maybe I should get one and try to choose a color from it. I could possibly use a shade of green. I am so sad not to use red, I have always wanted a red room!

Lindy- your pics are really helping. I love the silver frame on a print with the blue or possibly a shade of green. Still stewing over the red! I also love the greenery in the corner, garden ridge here I come! I found a few tuscan prints on ebay, one is a cafe type print and the other is scenery. I think I can incorporate the bowl and more red and blue with these. Thanks for all your help.
Sarah

I am going to bid on two prints that are Tuscan. I tried to copy and paste, but didn't work. I anyone wants to give me their opinion, I would love it. On ebay search tuscan pictures, it end today and is titled Tuscan Style Art Pictures by F. deVilleneuile. Has all the colors I am considering.
Thanks

Your furniture is very pretty. I agree with taking out a leaf and putting 2 chairs to the side. It will make your room look so much more spacious.

I think a green or gold would be more complimentry to your furniture instead of the red. Then pull in more red with a rug.
Here is a room on RMS. They call it the green tuscan DR.
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Smiles:)

johnatemp- I love that pic! I am leaning toward green, possibly the sage polkadots has in her DR. I already removed the leaf and it does feel more spacious. Thanks for sharing!

Sarah, I couldn't find the exact print you are talking about but I know that artist well. In fact, I had a few of his artworks saved in my file to use for photoshopping. If you know the name of the print, I can pull up the exact one...but I LOVE his stuff. Here's one of them called Lemon Courtyard" with a few shades of sage.

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Sara, the slate colors shown are way darker what I was envisioning in *my* mind's eye. LOL If you can get your hands on a SW fan deck, check out Interesting Aqua(SW6220), but absolutely NO green in it. It's very soft, but not a pastel, like Tradewind, two shades above.

Could you add a little silver to the chandlier? There's a paint product called Rub 'n Buff, and not much is needed. The chandlier looks too flat against the furniture, although it is very pretty. I can't help think that adding a bit more glitz to the room would make it come alive. Sometimes it's not always a color change that's needed.

I don't know how you feel about silk flowers, but a huge bouquet in the center of the table would be stunning, along with two silver candle sticks.

I would put the hurricanes in the china cabinet with a candle in each, and bring them out to use during the holiday season~your table needs more for the other 11 months. As for the silks, some beautiful ones are sold in speciality stores, as well as department stores, and Z Gallerie. I saw seashell stems at Z Gallerie that IMO, would be out of this world in your DR, especially with the slate blue walls. Just more food for thought. ;o)

For patty_cakes....this color "might" work with those Southern Living plates you liked. Hard to say until you see them in real life. I couldn't find the seashell stems she was referring to...I did change out your light fixture to Pewter. Very pretty!

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That is so pretty, Lindybarts! and it looks great with the pewter.

That color also works with the (Tiffany blue?) china in the cabinet.

Hi, Sarah.. I am coming into this thread late in the game but I did read through all the posts.

I wanted to share a couple of thoughts and experiences but I am short on time so I will apologize in advance if I sound short or harsh.

I have a red dining room and I have grown to hate it. My wood is a medium to dark oak and I think it does nothing for it. I think it will do much less for your darker and more formal wood. My sister just did her dining room in a blue (leaning towards teal) and it looks smashing with her dark wood. I am the LAST person to choose blue.. it's just not one of "my colors" but I have to say I think it works very well in your room. I tend to green and I still prefer the blue mockups over the greens.

You keep referring to this as the "formal dining room" but the southern living elements you are wanting to decorate around are much more casual to me. I think you need to stop and take a breath and think about whether you want a formal dining room as your furniture suggests or a casual family style dining room like your bowl suggests. If you want the formal dining room then I'd use the tuscan bowl and the other southern living pieces in the kitchen.

Whether the dishes in the china cab are valuable monetarily or or personally, they are on display for a reason, I'd presume? Are they family heirlooms? I would never suggest that you store them away-- if for no other reason, because they work much better with your furniture and with the gorgeous shutters.

I strongly recommend that you look at pictures in the gallery and review the ones shared in this post with similar furniture and see if you can find a style that is cohesive and approaches what you see in your minds eye. I don't mean this disrespectfully (because I have been there myself) but you are going in the direction of a real mish mash of styles and your furniture is such a strong element in the room I don't think it's a room that will gracefully accept the eclectic look.

I agree with all others on the shutters-- love them! They look beautiful as they are.

pattycakes- love the way the flower arrangement and candlesticks look on the table, great suggestion. I was shying away from silk because I have quite a few already, but that looks nice. The pewter on chandlier looks pretty also! As far as color I am leaning toward sage green. I really like the color polkadaots has in her DR.I also like the green the the pic johnatemp sent. The blue lindy did in the latest pic is beautiful, but doesn't go with the rest of my house. The green will tie in better with the other rooms. Thanks for great suggestions.

funkyart- Glad you jumped in to share your opinion! The china was my mother in laws and she bought new stuff. I am not in love with it and I really only have plates and bowls. I really don't want to decorate around it. It is in there because it was all I had when we finally bought the furniture. I really like the pic that johnatemp sent. It is tuscan but still formal. I just have to figure out how to incorporate the stuff I love, like the bowl. My plan was to display it in the cabinet along with other similar stuff. ???? Your thoughts?

For everyone, I am leaning toward sage green. I bought some prints similar to the ones lindybarts posted. I plan on hanging one next to china cabinet and possibly hang the other where the magnolia picture is. I am leaning toward a flower arrangement and candles on the table. I like the latest mock up linybarts did, but will have to change the colors. I am thinking to getting one of the blue pieces for the china cabinet, just because I love them. I think they will compliment the bowl. Thought and opinions welcome!

The green in the RMS pic that Johnatemp posted is BM Louisburg Green.

Here is a link that might be useful: BM

me again! I found some tuscan sage pillar candle holders similar to the blue ones in lindy barts pics, but they hold 3' candle. How would that look? Since I am putting sage on the walls, I thought the color would be good. Just not sure about the size of the candle,

Sarah, here is your Louisburg Green (see the swatch in the window) with some greener candleholders. You said yours holds smaller candles..do you mean 3" pillars? I think that a bit small but maybe you can find something like it in a taller size. I put that blue plate in the china cabinet (sort of) LOL!

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That was weird...I have no idea why that picture cut off above.

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I like the green, what do ya'll think? I need taller candles like the one you showed in earlier pics, I'll have to keep looking for some in the sage. Thanks again for all the help.

I like the green posted above also. Great job lindy! Go grab a chip and see it IRL! I think it will look much warmer as in the RMS room Johnatemp posted. It's a good place to start!

Here's a slate blue DR with greens and golds and dark wood furniture ... in reality, the blue isn't nearly as bright as in the photo.