Starter: remove the rugs. There should not be one in the traffic lane to the door. It's an easy way to trip. Your light fixture is too high. I think the standard is 36" from table top? And turn the table the other way. Do you need those shades down during the day? Most of the time, you can only see into a room if the lights are on which would mean, in your case, to close them at night. My other thought was that you consider some tall plants to live on that patio to give you more privacy. That would depend upon where you live, however. I realize these are kind of vague ideas, but maybe a start.

"my toddler is insane". lmao. i had one of those. wait until he's a teen-ager.

frist off, I like what you've done w/the black trim and woven woods. You're worried about neighbors? go way out to your fence and look at your door. can you see in through those blinds? If it's bothersome at night, can you do drapes for nighttime?

so if you want something a bit thicker, what about a top/down option or some roman blinds?

top/down cellulars

or something like the pirouettes?

what else were you thinking?

as for decor, a new light would be great

Great ideas!! I’m unfortunately in Upstate NY which is not plant weather currently, but I do like that idea nevertheless. Maybe even some plants in general would freshen up my space.

Upon further inspection with the blinds (took my butt right outside) you actually can’t see as much through them looking in, as I can see looking OUT, so that’s a definite plus! Thanks for the input ✌️

Remove the rugs for now. Something that helps with "cohesive" is to paint the table and credenza the same color of black. Wood is fine if it's more similar in tone to your blinds. I like the woven woods! Consider different hardware for the credenza since you have industrial chairs. A more industrial style light (hung lower) would help with cohesion as well. For more "cohesion" consider painting the door trim the same as your floor trim. Another option is paint the FP brick white so you have some contrast and it becomes more of a feature wall. White lamps or some with a pop of color. Look to your tabletop-your dishes, linens for color and style inspiration.

I agree, the area rugs are not helping the space. It seems like you are aiming for a vintage industrial look? I love my vinyl area rug from Spicher and Company. It gives me that extra unique kick while having the ability to wipe up spills with no staining! Next I would add a clean vintage island type light fixture and last hang a mirror over the buffet and small art pieces to the right and left. Good luck!

I’ve been toying with the idea of painting the fireplace black actually! I actually painted it the current grey from white, proceeded to put in new flooring, and this dining room identity crisis was magnified.‍♀️

Hi mystarz-

It would be a good idea if you could take a photo of what this dining room is adjacent to, so we would know what the overall style is that the dining room needs to be congruent with.

I wouldn't paint the brick around the fireplace black, that would be too much black in the room.

Also, the table is a lovely dark brown wood, I wouldn't paint that black either.

For window treatment, you can get curtains that are semi-sheer so they filter the light rather than block it totally.

When your tyke has simmered down a bit you can get dining room chairs that are more to your style that you don't have to worry he will smear his messy hands on. (Been there, done that :)

Why not get a piece of artwork for over your buffet?

It should be no longer than 3/4 the length of the buffet and hang it so that the bottom is 8-10 from the top of the buffet. One large piece is better than several smaller ones.

You can do much better for a dining room chandelier.

The diameter of your chandelier should be 3/4 the width of your dining table and the bottom of the chandelier should be hung 30 - 24 " above the table for a room with an 8 foot ceiling, and 3" for every additional foot in ceiling height.

Whether or not to get a nice plant depends upon the extent to which your child runs around the room careening into things.

Same with a rug- Do you want to invest in a rug when a young child is spilling everything right now?

Those of us who have been there surely know this.

Yes just focus on adding some contrast and a little pattern- in a future rug or artwork.

Thanks for the additional pic.

What color are your kitchen cabinets.

Oh my eyes/monitor!

I can't tell what is black and what is navy blue here.

Well, you have a lot of darkness here.

Is the light wall in the yellow family? If so do you like that? If not, change it to a very very light grey that isn't obviously grey. More like in between white and grey.

And please put up some art that will incorporate the cool colors that you like of blue and grey and black maybe, and add some other colors with verve.

Whatever other colors you like.

If you can't think of what colors go with dark blue, think of nature.

For example, think of flowers and birds.

e.g. the iris flower has dark blue with yellow, and the stem is green.

So just google image blue flowers and blue birds and see what else is in them.

Google image poison frogs, they are the most colorful, they will knock your socks off, and your child will be fascinated.

The grey and black are neutral, and navy can go with pretty much anything, so think about what colors you like and find art to go over the buffet and you will perk that room (and your self) right up!

If you are going to use the wooden slatted blinds, you need them on all the dining room windows, otherwise get rid of them.

You can get curtains for blocking/diffusing the light.

You can get double rods with sheers to minimally filter light and the second rod for a more tightly woven fabric to block more light. They both should be a light color because you have a lot of dark color.

If you want a little pattern in the curtain you can do a trellis or quatrefoil pattern in the curtain like this or not have a pattern in the curtain and wait until you get a rug and get a pattern in the rug.

The kitchen cabinets are “Queenstown Grey” by General Finishes, but it actually looks like a navy/charcoal mix. That is not my kitchen, but he lighting gives you a much better idea of the color.

The wall accent is SW “Anchors Aweigh” (navy). The lighter walls are called “Cream in my Coffee” by Valspar. It does pull quite a bit of yellow.

Love the dark walls.

couple of suggestions for kitchen. nice color rug, and some hardware. you cabs look bare. use copper if you want, to match the backsplash,,or a bronze. can't tell what your light was so I threw in this one.

for the other room a hide rug like this would work great w/the black and white (if you do black FP and then paint walls white)

then pick some sort of art for over the buffet

maybe do a cool walnut piece to play off the black tones

well since it's blue, then how about a set up like this in the dining room?

Wow! Stunning! I love that!!

You are getting good advice.....I like the strength of this room.! It is very contemporary, keep it up.....A new chandelier will go along way....please try a BIG piece of art over the credenza, or two pieces of art over the credenza, add the chandelier at the proper size and height, 30-36 above table is great. And get some tie on seat cushions in an accent color for the chairs, my some has them and they are cold and hard, so please consider cushions? Lastly some softly rounded ceramic jars in pottery in rounded shapes try 3 in three heights and widths......

Big art, big stuff on table to balance art, cool chandelier over table at right height. Fun flat rug is a bonus. Love your room.

Dining Room · More Info

My brain is a little beat from working in the new yard all day, but I had to chime in because you really have a great space to work with. I love all that light you get in this room.

The first thing that jumps out at me is the wall color. It's wrong. I'd go with something like Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray or something similar for those walls. Can you paint the trim to those windows and doors white? And maybe leave the doors themselves black? And I'm going to buck the trend and say paint the brick fireplace a darker color but not black. BM Texas Leather or BM Iron Mountain would work. The idea, for me at least, is that the dark color makes the wall "disappear" or recede.

I'd hang a big, cool framed picture or piece of art above that credenza. Google "Soicher Marin" to get an idea what I'd put up there. To the left of the credenza I'd place a large fiddle leaf fig (with a nice canopy) in a pot. My FLF is super easy to care for. Then I'd place a decent sized ZZ plant on the right of the credenza (on it not beside it).

The hanging light should, imho, be more geometric to play off the angles on the large windows/doors. Also, personally, I'd do a big fat wooden (not the more common expandable metal ones) drapery rod over the windows/doors and have some nice, unfussy drapes on them. I'd also probably do away with the rugs. Put a clear glass bottle/vase/container on the table with some greenery in it.

I like that space.

found a cool light,,,stuck in the walnut console, some art,,,,and maybe to a nice over dyed blue rug to play off the dark blue walls.