Please post a picture of your open floor plan living/dining rooms.

I am one that does not think the furnishings in a period home have to be thta period so why not go look in some good furniture stores that carry different styles and see maybe it will open your mind. BTW I have no idea whay PB is even in the running for good furniture . Yes we need pics for sure posted here in a comment DO NOT start another post.

Thanks for the replies. It's been a busy week, so I haven't had time to tidy and photograph the room. Hope to do this WE. I agree, PB is not good furniture. Do you know where I can find some in the SF Bay Area? I googled who was selling Stickley furniture, not that I want that, but I figured they may have other high-quality brands and real wood.

Yes, style-wise I agree that the furniture doesn't need to match the period exactly but I'd like there to be some connection. For example, in the front bedroom (that I use at the TV room) I have an antique Chinese armoire. Obviously not craftsman (and not even Japanese, which is usually more associated with Craftsman) but it has simple square lines with nice quality wood and only a few decorative touches, so to me, it feels connected. (and I like it.;) I don't want MCM or to introduce new elements. Room and Board might have better quality but it's too modern, I think. I don't need a big chain store. Thanks for your help!

i’m probably no help as it’s not a change from what you have perhaps, but fenton mcclaren is my favorite. custom made amish - much of it is craftsman but they also have more updated simple styles and you can choose your wood/stain. can’t find better quality! i also wonder if you could keep your nice oak table and update everything else.

Hard to say without pictures

Pictures would definitely help, but my first reaction is if you want to lighten up or refresh your dining room, you can do it by changing the wall surfaces, floor covering, and window treatments, and keeping your existing furniture. Sounds like you have good quality oak that's going to be difficult to replace with the same quality at an affordable price.

A new, lighter color palette driven by a new rug, wallpaper, or curtain fabric could work wonders in your craftsman home. You aren't limited to the burgundy/sage green palette that is most common in craftsman/bungalow interiors.

Sanderson carries William Morris wallpapers in updated color palettes that you may like.

https://morrisandco.sandersondesigngroup.com/

And check out this dining room:

My Houzz: Bold Wallpaper Kicks Up a Century-Old Craftsman · More Info

Traditional Rumson Home · More Info

If you really want to change the furniture, you might consider the Biedermeier style. It's lighter wood, but still traditional. Most of it is vintage and you can get it on 1st Dibs, Ebay and other marketplaces. The downside is that it is quite expensive. Here's a link to a blogpost detailing its resurgence: https://www.theglampad.com/2023/05/the-elegant-resurgence-of-biedermeier-furniture.html

Stickley has a couple of lines in addition to the classic Mission style: https://www.stickley.com/pages/dining-room

Also for a pared down take on classic New England furniture, try Chiltons Furniture, made in Maine: https://www.chiltons.com/collections/dining-room-furniture

Thrift stores and estate sales could be a great resource, as could the San Francisco Design Center for inspiration: https://sfdesigncenter.com/showroom_type/home-furnishings/

Unfortunately, the typical way to "lighten" the appearance of a traditional room is to mix in modern furniture. Switching one traditional style of furniture for another traditional style of furniture doesn't really do it. And since Craftsman style was a more "modern" and a more casual style than the traditional styles it replaced, putting a style in it that is "older" than the room may not really do what you want either.

We need to see your space please post the pics /

I respect your opinion, palimpsest, and agree that replacing the furniture with a modern style will lighten up a room. But I don't think it's the only way.

I am not saying you can't do it with other traditional furniture, I think it's more difficult. Actually I think a mixture of traditional and modern works best because it's not one traditional style (room) vs. one different traditional style (furniture)

Contemporary chairs with a traditional table or vice versa, for example.

And I don't think that a lot of current "traditional" furniture like the adult Pottery Barn stuff, which is all really transitional and non-committal will do it easily either.

Hi everyone, I finally uploaded photos with some comments. thanks for your patience and your help!!!

Thanks for all the suggestions. Diana, I didn't realize Stickley made other styles. I like the white oak of their yarrow collection. The style is definitely interesting but I'm not sure it's quite the right fit or a style I'd like for the long run. Thanks for the concern about price. I'm not sure what my budget is but I tend to keep things a long time (I've had the dining set for 25 years and I hope to get able to sell it for a reasonable amount). So I'm willing to pay for quality...which may be why it was a mistake to look at PB to begin with. Thanks!

If you want a change I suggest that you get a lighter color rug and also consider painting your walls some color. Right now the dining room is too stark for my taste so softening it would help mitigate that.

Looking at your pictures, I find that your living room sofa and club chair seem to have seen better days. Also, I find there's a complete disconnect between your open concept living/dining area. Here's what I suggest:

Living Room

- Replace your sofa and club chair. Look at Ikea Uppland Series, it's really not expensive and surprisingly goes through the test of time (10 year warranty) and it has washable slipcovers (they stay in place - do not move).

- Replace the area rug with a washable vintage flatweave rug (Wayfair)

- Replace your accent pillows with ones that coordinate with your new decor.

- Buy an end table and table lamp (Pottery Barn), I can only see 1 floor lamp.

- Looks like you have natural colour curtains that will be fine with this decor

- Find a large framed canvas you like to hang above the sofa preferable to coordinate with the colour scheme

Dining Room

- Replace the area rug with a vintage one that's coordinated to the living room (Wayfair). Although a patterned rug the colour is much softer than what you presently have.

- Reupholster the seats of you existing chairs

- Paint you dining room table black in a furniture finish, it will contrast nicely with the chairs

- Looks like you have a small oak buffet, possibly Craftsman style, place it on the back wall.

- Hang a chandelier above the table

Entrance door

You can buy a frosted look film to place on the door window instead of a taped "something".

With these changes, the room will look coordinated and your dining room furniture, which is good quality, will fit-in very nicely with the new colour scheme.

Note:

On the photo with the empty room, looks like all the wall are white but on the one with furniture, the long back wall seems to have a yellowish tone. I would recommend all walls to be a warm white.

Also, nothing in all of the above suggestions is very expensive.

If you're in the SF Bay Area, I suggest you go to Giorgi Bros in SSF. They have some very good people there that can steer you in the right direction. Don't be put off by the showroom! The catalogs, their catalog inventory, and pricing is the best!

Fenton-MacLaren in Berkeley is also a good store to check for the style you appear interested in. Their furniture is beautiful!

I think the table is quite nice - i think changing rug and adding a chandelier would brighten things up. that being said while the windows are craftsman the interior is otherwise quite simple so i think you could furnish with any style here.

After viewing the photos of the interior, I'd agree with lharpie that it's very simple, without any real craftsman details. I think you could go with any style you like.

Your home is very lovely! I can see why you love the front room, the light and the pretty windows! If you ever visit an English "country house," you find that people who have owned homes over long periods (500 years sometimes) often mix styles as they collect as they go. (You probably know this :) Do whatever style you want as long as the scale is right. Your home seems to have lost some of its original features or perhaps was modest to begin with so why not?

Thank you everyone for your comments. I really appreciate it.

I like the exterior of my house ( including windows, arbor, etc. ) but, as you pointed out, the interior doesn't have much craftsman/bungalow style, aside from the wide trim of the doors, windows, and baseboards. I don't want my interior to feel like it's from a different era, but to feel like it goes with the exterior, but to be a bit lighter/brighter.

Can I buy a new dining room set that brings in the feel of the front of the house while also being lighter? I want nice wood (not the faux-finishes at PB). I liked the PB designer's suggestion to put a large framed mirror on that backwall (assuming I get a new DR table and side board) to bring in more light and also reflect the windows.

Or is this a lost cause and I should just stick with my dining room set, get a lighter rug and appropriate light fixture and recover the seats? This pic shows a lighter rug and recovered chairs. I plan to redesign the LR but wanted a direction for the DR first. thanks for your help.

Modern Craftsman · More Info

Great ideas, Kendrah!

Very nice house & some great pieces of furniture. Love the front bedroom armoire & the windows of the house. To the suggestion to paint your DR table - No!! Sell it first if you don’t keep it - paint will destroy the beautiful wood. My thoughts about furniture - think about a different sofa arrangement before buying new one. Think about what size fits a new arrangement. Seems like that LR section would be better with back of sofa facing DR & maybe a long table behind it. A couple of chairs in front of window facing the sofa will create a cozier seating arrangement. Floor lamp belongs somewhere else than DR but imagine you’ll do that when hanging light changed. Would the existing DR sideboard fit along the wall by front door where the smaller table is or is it too wide? It’s a really pretty piece & works well as a strong focal point. Would help ’meld’ the two sides of room together & create more DR space. Wondering if current DR rug fits LR space? More natural light at that end of room so the stronger color would be good. Your floors are so pretty - I’d think about no rug in DR. That would be easier to arrange furniture, easier to clean floor after meals & really open up & lighten the space as well as reduce the hallway look of the long walkway from front door past LR & DR spaces to back of house. There’s no rule one must have a rug under table. Proper chair feet / sliders will protect the floor. The window in corner of LR - I’d extend rod a bit past the smaller left window so that drape can stack off on that long wall instead of in the corner. Small detail but it would really soften that window with drape panels at each end of window. I’m intriuged by the weight scale siitting on your LR floor. Guessing it’s a project not a decor item! 😊

thanks Kendrah for your comments! Wow! I looked up the two designers you mentioned and love their work. Heidi Callier is based in Seattle but helps clients around the country (interesting...) She also haS a book that I may order. I like Jessica Helgrenson's work too. Thank you for your enthusiasm and confidence that I can do this. I have my doubts lol. (my previous hairdresser was studying interior design and helped me pull together that front den, and gave me the confidence to buy the armoire, which I loved). One thing was interesting about the photos you posted was how much the rug makes a difference (the Big Lebowski knows this. Why don't I? lol) That made me realize that if I got a lighter/different dining room set and a rug that was lighter but still sort-of Persian (vs. contemporary or beachy) that might help the DR fit with the house. I love your idea of the round/oval table with chairs. I also like buying older or antique furntiure (the armoir is an antique and so it that sideboard) but of course, it can take longer to find; not like going to a mass produced chain store. BTW sorry to hear about Ohmega Salvage closing. I loved them.

Anyway, the picture of the Sandi table with the Persian rug motivated me to try to hack my rooms to get a sense of what they may look like. (I have a hard time visualizing things) These are random pieces I have--it's not final but it made me realize that striped rug in the LR is not helping the cause. I want to replace everything in the LR --yes, narrower framed pieces; sofa with exposed legs probably to have some visual lightness. And two chairs--one in front of the window. The PB designer suggested lower-back upholstered chairs that were a bit curved and which swiveled. Maybe? On this hack, I also moved stuff off the back wall and swapped out the picture above the sideboard (I'm sick of the old one). So this is not at all what I'm actually doing (I'm still buying new furniture) but it educated me on how rugs and other accessories can pull the room together.

KW PNW Z8 thanks for your thoughts too. I'm not painting/staining that table. As you said, I'd sell if it's not working. I used to have the sofa cutting across the room and to me, it felt like it chopped the room up too much. I'm hoping I can make the rooms flow more visually and I'm aiming to get a smaller upolstered chair and another against the window (window chair represented above by the wooden chair lol) I think I'm going to stick to rugs--I like the designs and they can add color (and protect the floors). Mostly I like the look. I think the rug in the den helps pull that room together too and maybe helps make it fit with the house (?). Good creative thinking on the sideboard but it's too wide (20" vs. 14" of the current table.) Also, it's handy to have the side as a counter when I have people over for dinner. Thanks for the comments on the drape. Actually the LR area is so small, that pushing the side window drape away from the corner would mean the sofa needs to get pushed out a bit. And since the front window's stack is already in the corner it felt less visually obtrusive (?). Not sure if that makes sense. But maybe I should reconsider. Because the front window is so close to the door, the front rod doesn't protrude on the right beyond the window. But...maybe something to consider. Sorry for the clutter! That device on the floor is a (semi-heavy) piece of exercise equipment--my vibration platform (my doctor recommended it for bone health. If you're curious, I can post more info lol) I also have that extra table in front and all those magazines etc. Hard to clean up everything for these photos lol! But yes, when I'm actually decorating, it will get moved. And the front door will have a new piece of stained glass. ;)

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts! ;)

@girl_wonder I was curious & looked up vibration machines / plates. Interesting concept. I’ve not heard of this form of exercise for bone density. I went down the rabbit hole reading about effects of vibration on different body systems. Thanks for answering my nosey remark!

Sounds like your creative juices are flowing with the different ideas & suggestions made for your home. That’s what I like about this crowd sourcing brain storming site - lots of great ideas often spark just the right idea. As in, that one won’t work but what about …?! It’s a process & not something done overnight - it takes time & the fun is in the search.

I’m sorry I don’t have any suggestions to offer, but I have been searching for a rug exactly like you have under your dining table. Last year I saw a photo of one like it and fell in love with it. But I have been unable to find it anywhere. I see some that are similar, but not like yours. Where did you find it?

Forget the Pottery Barn furniture suggestions, you should hire your hair dresser! Yes, it is a part-time job sourcing used and antique furniture, but so worth it if the results turn out like your den.

Want to experiment with your table by the window and an 80-some inch sofa on the far back wall? It would feel more like one room instead of two separate spaces. You could get one arm chair and pull over a dining chair as needed for more seating. We do this when we have a lot of people over, but our dining chairs are really comfortable.

I'd love sitting at that table during the day with my laptop and looking out the window, but get that it might not be your cup of tea. I had this set up in one of my homes and it was wonderful having a sofa and table in such good conversation with each other.

KW PNW Z8 yes you're right. This thread has been helpful in getting me unstuck. So that's helpful. And a reminder that this isn't going to happen overnight. Plus someone mentioned an interesting designer with a book I may order.

A C that DR rug is Pottery Barn Franklin. I don't think they make it anymore, but I've seen it sometimes listed on craigslist. Do you happen to live in the SF Bay Area? If I ever get this room redesigned, it will be looking for a new home! ;)

Kendrah lol you're right. My hair dresser had great ideas. I had found the armoire but thought it was too big to the small room. She convinced me otherwise. She came me with to a discount furniture store and convinced me that buying that green sofa would work and could be neutral. I found the rug and then she suggested a pair of textured tables. It worked. Thanks. Yes, it all takes a long time. I guess I should just accept/remember that. And I do keep things a long too time. So it's worth it. Wow, that is a mindblowing idea of rearranging the furniture. It's something I could do with the furniture I have now, to try it out. One thing that's probably not evident from the photos, but the view out the den window is much better (of my front garden) than the view of out the LR window. Looking out of the LR: my front porch (wood) and driveway (cement) and some of my yard, the street, and then my neighbor's yards which aren't so lovely. (the neighbor to the left has a yard full of lava rock--ug!) But it's definitely something to consider to shake things up. Too bad the furniture is so heavy and a bit of a pain to move. But something to consider.

Thanks again everyone! I appreciate your help! xxx

@girl_wonder Unfortunately I live a long, long way from SF. But thank you just the same! :)

Yep, moving furniture is free! When I was solo, I managed to wrangle furniture around by putting half of the feet on magazines and pushing the other half across the rug. For furniture on a hardwood floor, I'll wad up beach towel under one half and push the other half around.

Love that your hair dresser thinks of green as a neutral and she is so very right in the case of your den. Spot on! Seriously, hire that woman!

You can get a quick whole room look by just purchasing whatever someone picks out for you at Pottery Barn but I love that you keep things for a long time and it will certainly be worth your while to find special pieces that you love.

I'm often particular about which chair I sit in and what view I'm facing when I'm looking out the window to avoid neighboring views etc. I also am a sun diva and just sitting in a window with sun no matter the view is a treat for me, especially in the winter. (NYC can be so grey!)

Kendrah's furniture sliders are free but if you are willing to spend a few dollars, you can buy inexpensive furniture sliders. There are sliders for hardwood floors (felt bottom) and sliders for carpets/rugs ( plastic bottom).

girl-wonder - I continue to think about your home. Part of what makes the living / dining room so long feeling is the sofa on the long wall. What is the width front of your windows? Since you don't love the view out of them, what about putting a low-ish sofa in front of them with two chairs across from the sofa? You won't block the windows, but don't need to make the view of them a focus either.

I'm thinking about a configuration like this in front of your window, though the chairs may need to be pushed closer together. (Ignore the colors, furniture shape.)

Can you tuck a small upholstered bench, stools, or narrow ottoman under your console entry table that you pull out for additional seating when you have a crowd?

I'd also get an oval dining table turned so the length of the table runs across the width of the room. I'd place the chairs 2 and 2 instead of 4 all around. I find this makes a room feel less crowded.

Consider one large rug to cover the entire space instead of two smaller rugs. It will really make the room feel whole instead of chopped up into two compartments.

Using upholstered furniture with cleaner lines that is not as overstuffed will help the feel of your room too.

RTHawk you're right. In fact I have some of those sliders. I was dreading the weight of moving that big dining room table alone but I think the sliders could work on the sofa, to swap out the rug. Thanks for the reminder.

Kendrah wow thanks for all your ideas. I used to put that sofa widthwise. So putting it (or another sofa) against the window would take the functional width of the room (leaving space for the door to open). It's probably not clear from the photos but that large window has a sill 14" from the floor and the window itself starts 18" from the floor, so any sofa would block the window. And...I'm not a fan of walking into a room with a big piece of furniture right there, kind of blocking the room. When the drapes are open, they are about 7-8" deep, so with a sofa, we're talking close to 4'. But I appreciate your thoughts and creativity. Thanks for your ideas on the table. A friend mentioned that too--that having dining chairs side by side can make the room feel bigger or different. That's probably right but I like having more room when I eat or work there. FWIW, my property is long and narrow, the house is relatively long and narrow, and this room and the kitchen are long and narrow. So that might bug some people but I've gotten used to it.

This conversation has been helpful in getting me unstuck and no longer discouraged. I will definitely pass on all the PB furniture and get something better, in time. I've ordered the book from Heidi Callier to get inspired by her ideas. And...I've moved a few things around, to help visualize, include my art. And I decided to reframe the one art piece I'd grown sick of. (Already bought a premade mat and frame, to mix things up). And...I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but I am commissioning new art glass for the door. It will be wisteria, not tiffany obviously but definite a hint to arts and crafts (I also have wisteria on that arbor in front. And i love purple and green). A friend and I went and saw an installation this week of a very similar design done by the same person who will be making my glass. So that will take a little while to make and install. Other decisions I've made:

--I'm going to wait until the stained glass is installed before buying/ordering anything new;; in the meantime I will shop and get ideas; will look into options for buying new LR sofa and pair of chairs and new tables in the LR

--I will likely keep my existing dining room set for a while and try it with a new lighter rug, new coverings on the chairs (I draped a dark blue pillow sham over one and it tones down the red/orange of the wood); new art over the sideboard; also, a new light fixture

--In the LR, I will move the blue striped rug out and move the red/blue rug back in (had been there before; I moved it out to mix things up); I'll consider buying a new rug to compliment the one in the DR

--I moved the small table that had been in front of the window to the corner; moved some plants, pillows, side tables; may do more with existing objets decor etc.

Anyway, I guess the "plan" is that I will do some short-term re-arranging with things I have and "styling" to make the LR/DR feel more cohesive with a nod to the period of the house while continue to shop for rugs etc. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and help! I really appreciate it!!!!

That's great, girlwonder, you have a good plan for the room. Keep us updated on your progress.

Your wisteria window sounds beautiful. Your plan for moving forward seems smart. It is nice to create a room that evolves over time rather than one that looks plucked from the page of a catalogue.

Having lived in narrow row houses, long rectagular rooms seem totally natural to me. Look for great living room dining room inspiration in pics of Baltimore and Philly row homes.

Hi everyone! Thanks for helping in the past. i’m moving forward, slowly. lol. i got the custom stained glass in the front door. yay!

i’d like your thoughts on the dining room area. I plan to keep the dining set and side board. what do you think of this rug and chandelier ideas?

Price rug in cream

https://www.rejuvenation.com/products/price-hand-knotted-rug/

chandelier ideas

(The two light fixture. i would get different glass shades)

(three lights so less linear than two. i like these shades better. Also up-lights vs down. not sure if that matters. This store, Metro Lighting in Berkeley CA makes all the lights so I may be able to customize)

(The three light fixture. i like the idea of art glass and can choose the shades but i feel like the room has too many linear objects already)

any thoughts? thanks for your help!