Need Dining Room Help Suggestions

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

I need some help for my dining room. We just painted, replaced the carpets with oak hardwoods and the valances with curtains. The dining room is pretty bland with all the wood. I want to add some pops of color using art work and a centerpiece.

I took the flower picture from somewhere else in the house. I was thinking of using it but changing the mats to something more colorful. Good choice or not? Any mat color suggestions? Other suggestions?

Do I need some sort of table under the picture? There is only 30 inches between the wall the picture is on and the side chair?

Any thoughts on a centerpiece?

The books are the floor are without home. I need a place for the them either in this room or the living room.

The dining room and living room are L-shaped. My living room dilemma is listed here:
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/need-living-room-help-dsvw-vd~796763

I appreciate any help Thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

CDR Design, LLC

12 years ago

A good idea is to choose an inspiration photo. As I recall, this was yours for the dining room. That way, you can keep going back to your inspiration.

See how they kept things simple? Nothing on the floor. A simple decoration in the center of the table.

Recovered the chairs.

Spheres in the center of the table in a bowl are indeed back in style and really, they are timeless and never go out of style. At Christmas, you can switch them out for ornaments. In the summer, if you want, you can change them to starfish.

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Comments (70)

mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
No Kirklands here.

I would probably frame the art so it looks more formal. I love the girl at the piano picture.

The drapes are unusual but they are pretty neutral. I hung the rods wider than the window to make them look bigger. I thought it looked more balanced with the weight of the couch. The darker panels hang on the walls, not the window, so I have maximum light. I like the idea of the glass ball rods.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
I think the piano girl would really tie in with your real piano (in living room) as well as the color of your drapes. I think a piece on canvas will look better.
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PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
I like the piano girl a lot but in the dining room she might look better in a frame.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Yes, definitely a frame. I notice she can be purchased in several sizes. The size of art you have there now is appropriate.

Piano girl and this fabric for chairs (or you could go bold and do red)

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pbrown58
12 years ago
Firstly, you have a beautiful room. If you are not in love with the artwork I would replace it. If you are in love with the artwork I would take it to a custom frame shop and have it re-frame with a dramatic thicker frame. I would repaint the walls a dramatic color. If you repaint the walls in a deep saturated color (indigo blue, chocolate, charcoal, etc), I would chose a metallic frame for my picture. If you repaint the walls a lighter color I would go darker with my art frame. You could replace the curtains with an ikat print. Still use sheers to go in between but hang curtains on a double rod (See photo attached). Also, you can recover the dining room chairs in a beautiful stripe fabric.
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
The LR and DR are treated as one room so I match the curtains. Busy curtains won't work with my sofa.
PRO
Robert
12 years ago
I think adding a good and colorful center piece should do the trick. The room looks a little dark and subdued and so opening up the windows or adding more light to it may help brighten up things. Also the idea of having double rod curtains in thicker drape and sheers can help you add color to the room and at the same time you could opt for pastels or whites for the other set of curtains.
athomeeileen
12 years ago
Not sure what's going on in the living room, but I would change the curtain rod to a dark metal one, hang the curtains from rings, and separate the sheers and panels onto different rods. You can get the rods inexpensively from any big box or discount store. Use clip rings if that makes it easier to hang. You could also paint the chandelier a darker color. I painted mine while it was hanging! Good luck, you have a lovely room!
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
I am going to change the artwork and lower it a bit.

Do I need something under the picture?
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
No. There is no room under the picture and you don't HAVE to have something under it.

Are you going with your piano girl art?
PRO
Robin Lechner Designs
12 years ago
No more furniture!!! How about painted wainscoting with a simple molding topped with either a wallpaper in a mural design (eliminate the painting), or paper with a simple pattern, or painted a different color than the wainscoting.
PRO
Angelo Design
12 years ago
I agree with Robin, no more furniture is needed. Cover the chairs in a fabric that will match the dark color in your draperies and add a large area rug under the table. This rug needs to extend out within one foot of the walls for the best effect. A nice dark berry rug underfoot will tie the room together. Good luck!
myrns
12 years ago
If your ceiling is paintable, I would paint it half a shade lighter than the walls. Put a tall green plant in the corner where the books are.
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Someone is going to make me a bulkier frame for the picture. Grover photo shopped what it would look like (see picture). I am keeping the print for now. Bought a vase for corner of dining room? Not sure about it. The green is brighter than what the picture shows. Any thoughts?
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Hi, you do not need anything for the corner.......just cluttering things.
Ellen Schafer-decker
12 years ago
I love the vase! Use a picture of that when choosing chair fabric! The table runner would look better if placed in the opposite direction. (That was my first opinion of the room.) The walls look brighter in the last two pictures... are they cream or gold? If not already gold, they look wonderful that way!
Ellen Schafer-decker
12 years ago
Just read your livingroom thread...answered my paint question AND I saw the bird pillow! Those colors would look wonderful in a centerpiece, too!
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
I know you want to update your room.

So, if you want to update, please remove the urn.
Please remove the runner.
Reupholster the chairs
Bowl filled will balls or tight floral grouping the color of your art.

Chandelier changed when in the budget

Done.

Not the right colors, but the idea.

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Ellen Schafer-decker
12 years ago
Up date? I have seen a bowl full of balls for at least the last fifteen years! Since the large vase is there already... and it looks fantastic with your drapes... listen to what your heart tells you! Wonderful that you could see the larger frame, that is one perfect addition! Wish I could afford to purchase that pillow for you... see more like it on Etsy!
Ellen Schafer-decker
12 years ago
Decorating should be FUN! Looks better when you are reflected in the rooms!
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
It is very hard to decide what to do when people say opposite things.

I did return the vase because I thought it was overpowering the room.

Bowls with balls seems to be a big thing again.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
mpetruze, the best thing to do is to take it all in and try a few things and see what YOU like.

So, try filling your bowl with something.....doesn't have to be balls and see how you like it.

Your room looks great....just finish your art and find something you like for the center.

Less is more.
PRO
LB Interiors
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
I think balls in a bowl are everywhere and overused. I think you could find some updated art at Hiome goods that may work for you.

I think you need some brighter color on the dining table and the chair fabric. Maybe a predominately beige rug with some great colors that you love. A rug is a great place to grab color for accessories.
PRO
LB Interiors
12 years ago
These will brighten your table. And complement the drapes.
I would spray paint a metallic silver on the chandelier.
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PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Good ideas, LB. I think mpetruze is using her current art and having it reframed.

Mpetruze, any updates?
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
Not too many updates. I keep visiting stores hoping to find answers. One store decorator said to try the mirror over my couch in the dining room. I did that and think it looks better. Plus it is soooooo much less expensive than re-framing my existing art. I tried different centerpieces. Most items were returned, I kept this wavy platter that I love. I have spheres in it now. While it looks okay, I am not thrilled with it. I think I need something in the platter with more height. Three candles, a faux water/flower arrangement? Any ideas?

LB - I like the pictures you posted, but I like gold tones more than silver.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
I love that bowl!! Good choice!

I would:

-add many more spheres to achieve some height.
-again, you don't need anything in the corner. Less is more.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
You said you like gold tones more than silver.

The bowl is silver?
Chandelier is gold?
Mirror frame is gold?

Is that correct?

Mirror appears to be hung a little high and needs some bling. You could paint it, add some decorative glass tiles.......lots of options.

Biggest impact will be recovering your chairs. Very inexpensive and you said you could DIY, right?
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
Bowl is a dull gold (shiny but not brassy), chandelier is antiqued gold. Mirror is a mix of gold tones with some deep brown/red speckles.

I know mirror is too high. I have to let out some of the wire.

I will recover the chairs once I get the living room figured out.

I am going to try the vase in another room instead.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Mepetruze. Good idea. You do not need anything in that corner, IMO.

I would not let slack out of the wire. Actually, a mirror should never be hung on wire. It should be hung on the D-rings. The support is much better hung on the D-rings and also, it will never go "crooked" hung this way.

What is the current height of the center of the mirror?
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
Okay, I will fix how it is hung. I didn't know that. There is 57" from the floor to the center of the mirror.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Okay. That height is actually not bad. There is a lot to consider as far as height when hanging a mirror. In this case, it might look good if it is centered on the chandelier.

What is the height of the center of the chandelier?
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
Approximately 51" floor to bottom of chandelier, 60" to top of lamp shades.
Jessica Mack
12 years ago
I'm chuckling at all the "bowl of balls" comments. Why? Because my family always keeps a big cranberry glass basket of hand carved and painted fruit on the dining room table. The fruit is very realistic although not all fruits most people would recognize because my Great Aunt bought the fruit during her world travels as a missionary so we have things like Cashew Fruits in addition to the apples, oranges, and pineapples. One year my father found a carved wooden apple core that matched some of the fruit in the basket, so at the annual Christmas gathering, he snuck that into the basket. It was a week or two before anyone noticed it, and then we got a big laugh because at least one of my grandparents was shocked because someone had eaten the wooden fruit!
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Okay. So, if mirror were lowered to 55" (center) I think that would be better.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Jessica, I love that story!!
mar_z
Original Author
12 years ago
That's funny. I have a friend who has a very realistic looking bowl of apples. Half the apples have bites marks in them from visiting nieces and nephews.
Jessica Mack
12 years ago
CDR Design, it's a big basket that looks similar to this photo I found on the internet. I can't find any photos of wooden fruit that are even remotely like the pieces Ethel brought back from her travels though.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Wow. That bowl looks very fragile!
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
mpetruze, you could go a lot of different directions with the bowl. Fill it with fake plums in the fall. For spring, you can use some huge lilac flowers. For summer, starfish. Christmas, ornaments.

Have fun with it.

I don't think you necessarily need any height, just more volume.
Jessica Mack
12 years ago
It's in the middle of a very large Victorian era dining table that seats over 12 people so it's really not likely to get bumped or jostled. It's a lot heavier than it looks too! However, that glass catches the light and is beautiful when the sun shines in.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Very traditional basket. I can see it working with Victorian decor. I looks like hand-blown glass.
PRO
LB Interiors
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Do you have different size wine glass goblets? Add some tea lights.
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PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
That is a definite possibility. You could add some colored crystals in the goblets.

You mirror could be more of a showpiece by

-painting the outside area of the frame a deep purple
-adding mosaic tile.

Can you take a closer photo of it?
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Yes, I see.....much more bronzy.

Your room will shine once you add a rug and change the seat cushions.
PRO
LB Interiors
12 years ago
I think the mirror frame is beautiful and perfect. It will all come together : )
PRO
LB Interiors
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
To cut costs, The .99 cent stores have wine goblets. Is there one near you? Big Lots too.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
If you like the look, you can also consider removing the shades from your chandelier (if the chandelier looks decent without them). Then you can bejewel them with resale old costume jewelry or jewels from a craft store.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
12 years ago
Hi.

The 3 spheres look too scant in the bowl.

Ideas:

-leave empty. The bowl stands on its own
-add a mound of spheres as in "Private Waterfront Residence".
-fill with fake lemons. The yellow would look great with the purple.
-replace bowl with large, simple floral arrangements. Cream hydrangea with a purple tinge or purple hydrangea as in "LaVista park renovation"
mar_z thanked CDR Design, LLC