Hello all. Hope your week is going along nicely. The summer is slowly coming to a…
Dining Room Dilemma
So we’ve got this dining room right. In a 110 year old Colonial house. Image what it looks like before I show you the pictures.
There’s some of dark wood which is all over the rest of the house too, 4 windows total, entrance into the living room and kitchen, and overall it ‘s a big space.
For the most part, I just don’t have any clue how to decorate this room. I have some ideas, don’t get me wrong, but it has some well, challenges.
I’ll stop blabbeling and let you see. Here it is, our dining room in all it’s glory.
All around the room is a plate rail, which I think is what this is called since it is plate height and not chair height.
Below the plate rail are vertical wood slats about 12 inches apart. {That is the previous owners wall hanging not mine.}
It’s a really good sized room, but when I first saw it, those slats just did not appeal to me. So I’ve tried to think of what to do about them. We won’t take them out or paint them. Will wallpaper in between work, should we paint the space in between a darker color to reduce the contrast, can I do something fun with paint otherwise?
The slats have really got me stumped. Except for that there are some nice features including the shiny floors.
There’s also a fun window bench which even has storage, there is a door that opens. It’s like our own secret passage way. To nowhere I guess! I haven’t put anything in it, but it will be great for dishes or movies or ….
To be honest decorating this room hasn’t been a priority because we wanted to get some other spaces done, and the dining room is the only place left that still has unpacked boxes and decorations yet to find a home.
As far a feel or style I’d like this room to me, well that’s still up in the air.
Something is compelling me to use this chair as inspiration.
A friend gave it to me and I like it’s color and sophistication. It could be something classy for the dining room, bold and sexy don’t you think?
I came across this set on Houzz the other week and am loving it. This room also has a blue chair! And dark wood and wood floors like mine!
Plus I love the wild horses art, I’ve always wanted that in my home. I might have to find some. And the patterns on the textiles. I have to bring more pattern into my life for sure.
I’ve also thought about those frame risers from Pottery Barn that allow you to hang a photo a few inches off the wall. Those might allow me to hang items over the rail and break up the top and bottom look a bit.
I think the dining room is a chance to play a bit, have some fun, do something daring, don’t you think? After all it’s where all the dinner parties will be and entertaining will happen.
But there the dining room sits. A sad and lonely pass through that barely has furniture or decorations, except my dollar store hurricanes.
We definitely want to paint it. I’ve thought of glossy light grey or white on the ceiling and some other colors on the walls, perhaps the living room color on the bottom and something fun above the plate rail. As a note we will not be painting the wood. That 110-year-old oak will stay as it is, shiny and new. I love white trim and all, but not a stitch of it in the house is painted and we kind of like it that way. I’m going to bring back the dark wood!
What do you think of this space? Any ideas? Something you think would work really well in here? A dining room decor project you’ve always wanted to try in your dining room?
Please help with the dining room dilemma, it needs some decorating expertise!
You’re on the right track. The problem with the slats is that there is too much contrast between the dark wood and the white paint. If you paint or wallpaper in between them with something like a toasted pecan (like a toasty, cinnamon brown that has just a tinge of orangeness to it) it would look lovely. Then on the top, I’d keep the color a little lighter but warmer. Again, because the white is too much contrast.
Michelle
from Trash to Treasure Decorating
I love this room. And, while I would totally paint the slats and make it look like wainscoting, I understand that not everyone is paint happy with perfectly lovely wood. (My husband would be in that category.) I think a darker color between the slats would look lovely). And, I love the blue chair. I think blues and browns naturally work together, so I would probably try to play off that.
It’s just a lovely room. I can’t wait to see what you do with it.
Kim’s right. If you keep the color between the slats in a cooler shade of chocolate brown, instead of the reddish tones that I suggested, you can make the blue chair work.
Blue and a blue-based brown that has a slight grayish tone would look great together.
You really HAVE to post after pictures when you do something.
Thanks for the color suggestions. I like the idea of blue grey – two colors I have in other rooms, it will go well!
This might not be a project I work on soon, but I will certainly post about it when I do.
Jessica, How crazy fun do you want to go? I would love to help you with this project!!! My thoughts: faux ostrich leather between the slats and soft and sophisiticated blue/graphite mix up top. We can use a great blue/cream fabric for the cushion on that window bench! Oh I wish I had that woodwork in my dining room!
I think it would be fun to paint the walls above the boards a light blue, like say, a cornflower color, for the bottom part i think it would be fun to alternate like a fun patterned wallpaper like a paisley print or something to that effect and a darker colored blue- since you are interested in blue.
I really think the room screams for a deep cranberry like color with a slightly lighter shade on top
I LOVE your inspiration pic and those colors are very “in” right now…just go take a stroll at Target. They have an entire aisle devoted to deep blues, teals and plums. I think you should run with it, incorporate some mercury glass and different textures, a great rug and you’d have a beautiful & very sophisticated diningroom!