Our current dining room has served us well for 15 years. Join us on our redecorating and renovation project. The journey begins!
A few years after we moved into our home, I purchased a dining set from Ballard designs which included French country table, chairs, buffet, hutch, chandelier, and artwork. See the before photos below.
The China hutch mentioned is not in the dining room photos because it was moved to an entirely different room. It simply felt too crowded in the dining room. The room measurements are about 15×13, and even though I longed to have both a buffet and china hutch in this room, it simply did not work No matter how the arrangement was set, the hutch made things a bit too crowded. So for now, I have moved the china hutch into our piano room (living room) until I can come up with a redecorating plan. Already, the space felt so much better with the large hutch removed.
Here is a photo of the china hutch. It’s fairly large so commands a generous space among other furnishings. Looking to the left, you can peek through the doorway to the dining room. It’s not a bad piece, but the color is not quite what I would like (has slowly turned very yellowish) and as mentioned prior, the size does not work in the dining room.
In general, over time the wood pieces have taken on a very orangey hue. Which is discouraging because this set is actually very sturdy. Perhaps it is just too much of the same color? Yes this set has served us well, but a freshening to this room is what I have in mind. Everything in here seems tired to say the least, including the faded artwork and graying fabric ceiling (yikes!).
The ceiling treatment
Everyone who visits our home asks about it. It’s an interesting conversational element, but it is also old and dated looking now. To share its story – when we moved into our home I wanted to do something fun and interesting to the tray ceiling in the dining room, thus came up with the idea of fabric. I went to our local Kmart and purchased Martha Stewart sheers (they were a light ivory color when new), strung them onto a wire coat hanger fashioned into a circle, then my husband literally stapled them to the ceiling. We loved how it came out back then, but that was 15 years ago. Because of the staples they have never been laundered, only occasionally vacuumed as best possible. I can’t imagine how much dust is up there between the curtain and ceiling. I know, I know… it is time. Like the other elements in this room, they have served us well and in this case, for much longer than we imagined.
Onward and upward
Creating a dining room design board
So I’ve put together a few ideas on a design board as to what I envision and how I’d like to style the dining room. A little wallpaper, paint, new chandelier, and rethinking the table and chairs.
Although I have thought to keep the table, I may replace it as the size is a bit too large for this room. For now, it is staying but my hope is to replace the heavy chairs with a cane back louis style and the arm chairs to slipcovered parsons. Eventually I hope to find an affordable antique French farm table. Not sure this will happen, but I am hopeful. For the buffet, I am replacing with an antique we have stored away. It is similar to the one I have pictured on the mood board and very sentimental to us as it is one of the first furniture pieces we purchased as a newlywed couple. It’s in rough shape (restoration is not possible) so my plan is to paint it a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore Simply White.
This is the beginning. We have many possible plans for this room such as new wainscoting, and ceiling renovations. Thank you for coming along with us on this journey. Much more to come…
