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Formal Dining Room

3 years ago

I need help taking my formal dining room to the next level. The dining room is enclosed by three walls. It opens up into a formal living room and is adjacent to the kitchen. The table, chairs and China cabinet are family heirlooms. The table can be enlarged to seat 12 which we often do on holidays. Is the painting too big? I am not wedded to it. Also, I was thinking of adding 2 captain parson chairs but am unclear as to the color. Thoughts? Any suggestions on decorating this space?

Comments (17)

  • 3 years ago

    Lots of potential !

    I think the first thing I noticed is that the chairs and the chandelier are both very dainty. I’d change one of them out for something more substantial.

    Honestly, I personally don’t care for the art. The frame is passable if you want to just change out the art inside.

    Id wallpaper the whole room 🙃

    Maybe as curtains too

  • 3 years ago

    I'd like to see the window area used. Do you have a nice view out those windows? Perhaps lining all the chairs across from each other on the table and placing two comfortable chairs by the window with a little table. Make sure these chairs are the right height to be used at the table if needed.

  • 3 years ago

    I think the painting size is good & style of frame seems good match to dining set. Can’t see the art subject so no comment on that. It looks floral so should be nice color add to room, I don’t think chairs are too dainty at all - they’re a set with table, correct? I think they’re very pretty. Would like to see table without that cloth on it & with a beautiful centerpiece to add some interest to the room. Do you have more chairs in set or what do you use when seating more at table. How much room is between far end of table & window? Do you have room to always have 3 chairs each side & different kind of chairs at each end so the ’permanent’ set up seats 8? Parsons chairs? It’s ok to have a very different style than the other chairs - but would they go with your LR furniture style? Whatever other chairs you choose, I think they should have a tie in to the dark blue/green seat upholstery on the current chairs. Is there room to add a sideboard type piece under the picture? I can’t tell the dimensions and space of this room around the table. It’s a beautiful set & wonderful to have this family heirloom. I look at this room and want some color & warmth. Add window treatments - either just a tailored valance over all of them or stationery side panels - not drapes but panels between each set of windows to soften them. I do want that table cloth off so the warmth of wood table is showing - a pretty & colorful - to match chair upholstery - table runner would be good & add that centerpiece. Is the chandelier special to you? It does seem a bit dainty. Can it have white shades added on each of its lights to give it some more bulk? You could add an area rug to room for instant warmth & color but it would cover almost all of floor since rug needs to be large enough to be able to pull chairs out & still be on rug. The floor is a nice feature of the room so I’d hesitate to cover it up but I would work on window treatment, shades for chandy lights & remove the plain white table cloth & add interest to the table with runner & centerpiece to show off that lovely set.

  • 3 years ago

    What is your style? Are you more casual or more formal? I think the room needs more drama, have several ideas, but they really depend on what you like.

  • 3 years ago

    Style in this part of the house is more traditional. The dining room is to the left of the living room separated by a ponywall and a walkway. I have thought of putting a rug, wall mirrors, chair railing, or even a stone wall in the dining room. The shutters open up to a beautiful view of the front yard.


  • 3 years ago

    Nice room - great piano! Seeing this room, I think adding dining chairs in a parsons style or a style with straight lines will complement the simple furniture lines in this room. Seeing the window treatment in this room - I’d add plain panels to DR windows - Use the panel type rods - short rods that stationery panels hang from. Use a lighter color fabric than you have in this LR but suggest complemtary or close color. Looks like LR pillows & drapes coordinate with DR chair upholstery. Use that color & also the red of LR carpet in creating a table centerpiece. No to a stone wall in DR - just cannot even imagine that. No to mirrors also - the walls available in DR seem best suited to art. I think I’d nix the chair railing too because of the wiindows in DR - Chair railing would be too broken up by the windows. Just draw attention to the lovely shutters & the view when open, by adding drape panels between the windows to soften them. And the white table cloth - remove!

  • 3 years ago

    I would also remove the tablecloth and put up wallpaper. Perhaps hang some curtains and it would look lovely. The chairs are beautiful and I don't think the painting is too big.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    🤗

  • 3 years ago

    Thank you for the ideas of removing the table cloth and organizing the chairs. I took a new picture with the shutters open. We are in a ranch house with strong inside/outside vibe. TThTheThe newThe new pictureThe new picture alsoThe new picture also isThe new picture also is takenThe new picture also is taken withThe new picture also is taken with theThe new picture also is taken with the living rooThe new picture also is taken with the living roomThe new picture also is taken with the living room The new picture also is taken with the living room aThe new picture also is taken with the living room anThe new picture also is taken with the living room andThe new picture also is taken with the living room and backThe new picture also is taken with the living room and back.The new picture also is taken from the living room. There is a walkeay to the kitchen between the dining area and living room. Between the living room and dining room is a pony wall with a matching buffet in front of the ponywall.


  • 3 years ago

    Agree lot of potential.
    I the art picture is something you love, keep it, but from the photo angle it does look large and heavy- the frame- compared to the furniture & placement. Council just be camera angle, though. if I were starting from scratch and the walls are staying light I’d try to use something a bit brighter , maybe with more lines or slightly modern, that kind of echoes the tracings of the chair backs. I know tgat borders on buying “ art” to match a room and I don’t mean that exactly, but something more playful or dramatic as a bit of contrast to the traditional, IF you find something that speaks to you. If you like that idea, finding something like that doesn’t have to be immediate fix-it, just a goal over time.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I’d start with the rug first and go from there. I think wainscoting and paint, wallpaper, or grasscloth would look wonderful. And curtains or Roman shades.

    Just some examples of various colors and patterns.










    There are rug sites that have visualizer features if you want to play around yourself. Rugs Direct and Incredible Rugs and Decor are two of many.

    Lovely look:



    I like the end chairs here:



  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Most of our home is styled traditional. Our DR is similiarly shaped to yours though not as large. We utilize the high walls for display space which primarily views from the adjacent LR. Window exposure is NW and have Plantation Shutters.






    LR looking into DR


  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Color..and rug by @Jinx.



    I think a different chandelier would help as well. The current one disappears.

    See the difference?






  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Grey-green walls and one of the other rugs...better to pick your rug first though and then choose the paint.



  • 3 years ago

    Colored the drapes so you could see the difference.



  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Can you post a close up of the big wall art you have in the room…is it a option to change out the chair seat fabric? You could go all neutral chairs, drapes and a rug in subtle muted colors and just let the beautiful furniture take all the attention…white ginger jars on the table…GORGEOUS

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    🤗

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