5 Ways to add interest to a dining room

When someone says dining room, what picture appears in your mind?  Try  it.  List the elements.<br /><br />For many of us these words conjure up a dining room set with everything matching, a chandelier and some sort of hutch or maybe buffet.  Probably a picture of some sort will be included.  I bet matching is the most obvious characteristic. <br /><br />It doesn't have to be that way unless that's what you like. <br /><br /> Here are 5 ways you can  make your dining space stand out a little.<br /><br /><h4>Mix and match your chairs and table</h4><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqlZSk94WdxZHxp1VJCbjtEDWEXZVo_qSEQ_tCoHf23c_jmnhmaMFojkXJTnmcPkMiWthPIM1CbQJ3VUu2QUrUOCsL-HJ8BuLV85LrcRYUOYbZeTNMLO2qDf8cnF13Og5NhH4UHKjb0g3/s1600/different+dining+chairs+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dining table, upholstered chairs, " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqlZSk94WdxZHxp1VJCbjtEDWEXZVo_qSEQ_tCoHf23c_jmnhmaMFojkXJTnmcPkMiWthPIM1CbQJ3VUu2QUrUOCsL-HJ8BuLV85LrcRYUOYbZeTNMLO2qDf8cnF13Og5NhH4UHKjb0g3/s1600/different+dining+chairs+.jpg" title="Designing Home: 5 ways to add interest to a dining room" width="261" /></a></div><br /><br />The days of dining sets have moved behind us.  In many magazines you will see all sorts of mixing of styles, materials and colours. I love the look of upholstered chairs with a wood table. They soften the hard edges and provide some relief in the "wood" department. Some adventurous types will go for two different styles of chairs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zb6YtBhfUjXjJoRC5b7cQU3Gv1Phn3NGQNb-cBv121jhukN0rClJL80rcRxn_OW_c5RgvaKsKxPZ2IGARv0Xi0cGZkABXG8ecpa0EEY0jJQxKR09GHMoRqaOsw6vuX7M0y9D7GyShnxD/s1600/how-to-mix-and-match-dining-room-chairs-adore-magazine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mixing modern table and traditional chairs" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zb6YtBhfUjXjJoRC5b7cQU3Gv1Phn3NGQNb-cBv121jhukN0rClJL80rcRxn_OW_c5RgvaKsKxPZ2IGARv0Xi0cGZkABXG8ecpa0EEY0jJQxKR09GHMoRqaOsw6vuX7M0y9D7GyShnxD/s1600/how-to-mix-and-match-dining-room-chairs-adore-magazine.jpg" title="Designing Home: 5 ways to add interest to a dining room" width="333" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Adore magazine</div><br /> Another option if you aren't too adventurous is to upholster each of your wooden chairs with a different, but co-ordinated fabric.  Note how this room sports more traditional chairs with a very simple table. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUduNkZyBhDSKRLrI-GwyQ2K_977lg2-tfwZRhyphenhyphenu8Te1G8cFEnRFEgua-hTXOLD5vzKqGiN79Wh96Llr_-UuGo43gWJzD-JkBanlXSiMCLfefsjepQFYd3AUM85R4HS0t4cNfNctg7jBBK/s1600/dining+from+doorway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mid century modern dining chairs, charcoal dining chairs, buffets" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUduNkZyBhDSKRLrI-GwyQ2K_977lg2-tfwZRhyphenhyphenu8Te1G8cFEnRFEgua-hTXOLD5vzKqGiN79Wh96Llr_-UuGo43gWJzD-JkBanlXSiMCLfefsjepQFYd3AUM85R4HS0t4cNfNctg7jBBK/s1600/dining+from+doorway.JPG" title="Designing Home: 5 ways to add interest to a dining room" width="308" /></a></div><br />In the case of my own dining space, I painted my matching chairs charcoal  and upholstered them with a much lighter fabric to make them the centre of interest in  my sea of golden tones. I am trying to get up enough nerve to paint the solid ash buffets the same colour.   I'm not there yet.  It's difficult when your furniture is all hand made with love. <br /><br /><h4>Look for a harmonious  buffet </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Forget about having a matching buffet (I wish I could!).  Look for one with the same undertone as your table  or chairs and similar lines if you like, or go for something painted or a different style entirely.  Some element of it should relate it to the room as a whole: wood tone, style, or colour of other objects in room.</div><br />Here are two I would choose for my space to work with my chairs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4DDCBxkgrwLsTpcsna3CGim83g3ylD9D7A9Kia55aXdtrG0t5VnvUL4yR-JOwAeK7frgYZsRQlnrFXegy3oKYxttJj1fMW2GYSX0o4597JleBBkrFNuNNgLr7nC8DEz8NtYW4aGC8osP/s1600/geo-charcoal-buffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4DDCBxkgrwLsTpcsna3CGim83g3ylD9D7A9Kia55aXdtrG0t5VnvUL4yR-JOwAeK7frgYZsRQlnrFXegy3oKYxttJj1fMW2GYSX0o4597JleBBkrFNuNNgLr7nC8DEz8NtYW4aGC8osP/s400/geo-charcoal-buffet.jpg" title="Designing Home: 5 ways to add interest to a dining room" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEtDhewFk_iJgbt5MCdw3-6ZgbUxegVrcBnTva6E67GKuhdmRjYAFAGiqarVN7FzxaTZvWwDpaO_R7qOLsbCW4nwfWIRRR799FmrZmWuGSFqndD6gr2B8uwrteRF2pZF9UcTZj5xi5sti/s1600/5-Jessica-Hasten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEtDhewFk_iJgbt5MCdw3-6ZgbUxegVrcBnTva6E67GKuhdmRjYAFAGiqarVN7FzxaTZvWwDpaO_R7qOLsbCW4nwfWIRRR799FmrZmWuGSFqndD6gr2B8uwrteRF2pZF9UcTZj5xi5sti/s400/5-Jessica-Hasten.jpg" title="Designing Home: 5 ways to add interest to a dining room" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They certainly harmonize with the darkness of the chairs, the style is mid centuryish like the table and I like the fact they are both raised off the floor.  This openness will give the illusion of space, always an added plus in a small room. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4>Have at least one hand made/original item</h4><br /> We live in a mass produced economy where the answer  to everything is in a big box store.  Not so.  Save your pennies, visit an antique shop, a fine craft store or gallery.  Look for something you love, made by the hand of an artist, and place it with pride knowing it's unique.  It doesn't have to be large.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypMB_WQY9FWrukdYgM2RQCOP37UN5MyYlE_2y-6eCW2Z4s4uXyyblUdoTx5hXxe0VcNXN9CSRDtniPJCbG579X96zH9gyMwdWZy0wm6avfXCXJNWjH6wDWJr2Ysb5mjM5CfpD-KGvI0lC/s1600/DSCN0904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ceramic pot, Anita Singh, barnacle " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypMB_WQY9FWrukdYgM2RQCOP37UN5MyYlE_2y-6eCW2Z4s4uXyyblUdoTx5hXxe0VcNXN9CSRDtniPJCbG579X96zH9gyMwdWZy0wm6avfXCXJNWjH6wDWJr2Ysb5mjM5CfpD-KGvI0lC/s400/DSCN0904.JPG" title="Designing Home: 5 ways to add interest to a dining room" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This month I have a lovely pot on my buffet created by an artist friend, Anita Singh.  I love her work </div>because it always relates to the natural world.  Barnacle is always a conversation piece.  It is also the perfect example of my next point. <br /><br /><h4>Use a variety of textures</h4><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiN-Uh91guBfWqjR9bpvRHS261epV0d0HmBmJ2GLNvepQtypli6qITMfleJFLf5MEKqODiPZC2fjLqQQja23hYkTlZfqeDSppqViKPrHxrbSrui6136uvfWQlF8OoF7IZ7n2ioRNXC0-6/s1600/vase+and+candlesticks+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="white textured vase, silver candlesticks, mother of pearl" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiN-Uh91guBfWqjR9bpvRHS261epV0d0HmBmJ2GLNvepQtypli6qITMfleJFLf5MEKqODiPZC2fjLqQQja23hYkTlZfqeDSppqViKPrHxrbSrui6136uvfWQlF8OoF7IZ7n2ioRNXC0-6/s400/vase+and+candlesticks+.JPG" title="Designing Home: 5 ways to add interest to a dining room" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU3ar3QhNdsSzsepMot_fHLdUUe3MWBewne0oYaSRNWgQEpdDP7_nGQzeJSAwQ8_DvPKzIzW5FtbDmvkSseizI_9c33iRmB55wBqfEqstI2wMjdQWmKwYg3oX0zqEiteRl7tLLO6JX6Aw/s1600/DSCN0901_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU3ar3QhNdsSzsepMot_fHLdUUe3MWBewne0oYaSRNWgQEpdDP7_nGQzeJSAwQ8_DvPKzIzW5FtbDmvkSseizI_9c33iRmB55wBqfEqstI2wMjdQWmKwYg3oX0zqEiteRl7tLLO6JX6Aw/s400/DSCN0901_01.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Textures make the most interesting addition to spaces, and it is the element that I see under-utilized  in homes. In my space I have silk drapes, lots of wood grain, a highly textured plant container made from ceramic, a white wavy vase, metal candlesticks with mother of pearl, and two plants.  I love texture!</div><br /><h4>Choose one unexpected element</h4>Right now the pot my ferns are in is my an unexpected item.  It is so rough and worn looking and I have it paired with silk drapes. Other options could be your light fixture, a painting, something on your tabletop or a small piece of furniture in a corner.  Some would say it should have bling, but I'll leave that up to you.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfCpEQw0Rw6XIeRVb04sCT7TZDjC0pjezhzBKIWfHXmd-Tbevckd6w5ZctjN0hTa4mJDhviLe1VywKeVjSR4bLCL8vpkwmPKmbGFsC6g4dhrVfb7Xfm_dMnwrO1D2IyaFae8Iw7I0VySP/s1600/DSCN0905+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="textured trough, boston ferns " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfCpEQw0Rw6XIeRVb04sCT7TZDjC0pjezhzBKIWfHXmd-Tbevckd6w5ZctjN0hTa4mJDhviLe1VywKeVjSR4bLCL8vpkwmPKmbGFsC6g4dhrVfb7Xfm_dMnwrO1D2IyaFae8Iw7I0VySP/s400/DSCN0905+2.JPG" title="Designing Home: 5 ways to add interest to a dining room" width="300" /></a></div><h4>What's your "interesting " score?</h4> This is a very arbitrary checklist, based on what is "current"  in my  decor reading and viewing.   Hardly scientific!<br /><br />No my dining room isn't perfect but hopefully it is interesting.<br />Just because I write about design doesn't mean my space is perfect (whatever that means) or that it even lives up to what I know about the elements and principles of design.  There's the small matter of competing priorities including: budget, interest and energy, connections to objects and furniture, beliefs about your role consuming and junking, and the desire for good old predictability in your environment etc.<br /><br /><br /><br />

5 Ways to add interest to a dining room

When someone says dining room, what picture appears in your mind?  Try  it.  List the elements. For many of us these words conjure up a dini...

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Accessories: A decorator's perspective

<h4></h4><span style="font-size: x-small;">Part 2 of 5</span><br /><h4>Accessorizing a client's home</h4>I'm often asked what is the most difficult job I do as a decorator.  Truthfully it is to accessorize a home.  Not because I can't create beautiful vignettes or select interesting objects, it's because I have a belief in individual expression in a home, and it is so difficult to feel this, and then try to create a look for someone else. The one thing I have as a decorator is an unbiased eye for someone else's space. That is helpful, and I often see new life in their discarded items.<br /><br /><h4>How I do it </h4>With clients I spend a lot of time chatting and gathering information.  I ask them to pull out all kinds of objects they already have, even ones they think they don't want anymore, and look for things to integrate with newly purchased objects.  Check out this <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2013/11/accessories-making-it-all-work.html">post</a> to see one client's vignette.  I find out about their interests, travels, background etc.  I consider if they have children and what their interests are.  It is also worthwhile to look at children's art work for inspiration.  Another telling activity is to look at what is currently in a home and ask questions about its origins, etc.  When I ask how they want people to  feel/think when they come into their home, I usually get guidance for the overall look clients are going for.   Then I  put all the information together to come up with meaningful accessories that work for a particular  family.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LVQOQNANwz6eJSK0sS-rH1INrNwm03gBXDvKT8OF8aeB8n2OPo9qlnjUcrACfho6jjXHweeU463cmMgqVYCYXF8R81gRfcIprdIrnHoPAa3QGnXA1GlsFvVo4fgrh_VhmreHy3LR9zqi/s1600/OB-organic+accessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="inspiration board, organic, geometric, spring green" border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LVQOQNANwz6eJSK0sS-rH1INrNwm03gBXDvKT8OF8aeB8n2OPo9qlnjUcrACfho6jjXHweeU463cmMgqVYCYXF8R81gRfcIprdIrnHoPAa3QGnXA1GlsFvVo4fgrh_VhmreHy3LR9zqi/s1600/OB-organic+accessories.jpg" title="Accessories: A decorator's perspective" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Client inspiration board - organic references </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">This inspiration board was created for clients who were interested in finishing their space with additional accessories to add to objects they purchased during their travels.  When I looked at what they already had, I could see strong contrasts,  elongated textural sculptures</span>, and several vibrant colours.  I chose an earthy green, nature references and rounder shapes to work with the more elongated ones they already had.  I wanted to warm up the predominant " blackness" of their space and play into their obvious interest in geometric motifs and texture.  With the inspiration board in hand the clients chose to shop themselves over time to complete their space.  The flowers of course never happened!  Twigs were more their style.<br /><h4></h4><h4>A long term activity</h4>Adding the final touches to your home can take a long time.  You many have certain things in mind and can't find them; you many have budget restraints after purchasing big ticket items; you may be just plain exhausted doing everything else, and have no energy left to deal with little things. Or you can be bored with what you have and want to start over.   No matter where you are on the accessorizing continuum, you need to have a plan in place to create an interesting, personal space.<br /><div><br /></div><h4>Two ways to do it</h4>Of course the easiest way is to hire a decorator!  An inspiration board like the one above is a very affordable solution, and you can purchase all the objects referenced online, or you can use it to shop your area.  When people want to purchase locally, the inspiration board would contain objects/furniture available in the city.  Most decorators also have rates for personal shopping for clients.<br /><br />If you want to do it all yourself, I suggest the following:<br /><ul><li>Look online (Pinterest, Houzz) and collect inspiration images looking for patterns,  objects, colours, textures that  resonate with you; look at how they are displayed/arranged;</li></ul><br /><div>I keep way too many files on <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/margaretryall">Houzz</a> and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/mryall/">Pinterest </a>to use as inspiration and reference when talking to clients about concepts. </div><div><br /></div><ul><li>Make a list of possible items for accessorizing from your inspiration images; have headings (e.g. art, table top vignette, pillow arrangements and styles etc. )</li><li>Remove all the accessories in the space you are working on and put them in another room; </li><li>Check your storage areas  and other rooms to see  if you have things that might have a new life in a different space;</li><li>Look at your collection and choose anything  that you love and think could work in the space;</li><li>Bring them to the room you want to accessorize and place any that work; </li></ul><br /><div>I went to my own storage area to see what extras I didn't have in use. Then I integrated some of them with arrangements I already had in my dining room to show you how many things can work and be changed around.  Obviously I care about these objects or they would have made their way to charity. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVMk5Yx2vWzN5Iu8w8hqY9nO8Yp8Os7L7GsOtUC7CpSgCPdnADvF7PYK_DVgLDTK8nKpFGuu6Z5NF82J1n3MVhPg31LRerAYwqcqjGnSJxwdHUl9p50ep7XunoREvxobWP9zWlxhHjOHe/s1600/dining+vignette+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dining room vignette, Boblen vase, accessories, " border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVMk5Yx2vWzN5Iu8w8hqY9nO8Yp8Os7L7GsOtUC7CpSgCPdnADvF7PYK_DVgLDTK8nKpFGuu6Z5NF82J1n3MVhPg31LRerAYwqcqjGnSJxwdHUl9p50ep7XunoREvxobWP9zWlxhHjOHe/s1600/dining+vignette+1.jpg" title="Accessories: A decorator's perspective" width="320" /></a></div><br /> These two items on the right get used for all sorts of things.  The top is image shows a Boblen  vase that I wrote about <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2012/11/a-must-have-vase.html">here</a>, and the plate is part of a set of 8 that I use for entertaining.  It also works as a candle holder or propped up on a small plate holder it becomes a graphic piece of art.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1qdrRRCr3v8ZOLzZp6VIz7arDDJWAh_LGXri16d4zpwKOhrN9nJseQwaT0OVhhF68VmEJRdp90_0yxEWtuyWG243TTe660Fua3_Oh4GkF3xbCQzDI9-zOXI7Df3Lxym02WpPI2_uILay/s1600/buffet+vignette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="wooden vase, black candle holders, fall decorating" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1qdrRRCr3v8ZOLzZp6VIz7arDDJWAh_LGXri16d4zpwKOhrN9nJseQwaT0OVhhF68VmEJRdp90_0yxEWtuyWG243TTe660Fua3_Oh4GkF3xbCQzDI9-zOXI7Df3Lxym02WpPI2_uILay/s1600/buffet+vignette.jpg" title="Accessories: A decorator's perspective" width="320" /></a></div><br /> The black mesh square tray was the base for a gift  I received last Christmas.  Black and square are two of my loves, when you add texture how could I let it go?  Anything hand made is alway a keeper especially when it has the beautiful form this vase does.  A few colourful berry branches the colour of the season can change the look completely.  Use your imagination about what additional seasonal objects you place in the basket/tray.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii1l8Ik7Iq-P22wFUPsZfObjqS8RI6aN7ygz3KrBLjRQTinI3iq52Rtr69keAF41lEV3pxnKLb3pIT-PcBu8yEqTJdrb_RD9SMk8XzZnBt6O1_D3NvpiVeKW_MKM5L0O_jN9vQK38H-0g/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stone eggs, accessories, black candle holders, vignette " border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii1l8Ik7Iq-P22wFUPsZfObjqS8RI6aN7ygz3KrBLjRQTinI3iq52Rtr69keAF41lEV3pxnKLb3pIT-PcBu8yEqTJdrb_RD9SMk8XzZnBt6O1_D3NvpiVeKW_MKM5L0O_jN9vQK38H-0g/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" title="Accessories: A decorator's perspective" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And on to the stone eggs my sister gave me years ago.  This hand crafted white  bowl has a beautiful irregular form and can be filled with all sorts of goodies. </div><div><br /></div><div>You get the idea.  Once you've found homes for the objects you love,  you can...</div><div><br /></div><ul><li>Make a list of what else you will need;</li><li>Record needs and the size/height/colour of objects; </li><li>Take pictures of the areas you want to accessorize;</li><li>Go shopping (with your phone)! Don't forget to look in second hand stores, antique stores, dollar stores, craft studios, and on line second hand sales sites.  </li></ul><br /><div>Oh yes, trade with your friends and/or siblings!</div><br />Check back for Part 3 of my accessories posts where I visit a local home to explore how the owners went about adding the final touches to their new home.<br /><br /><br />

Accessories: A decorator's perspective

Part 2 of 5 Accessorizing a client's home I'm often asked what is the most difficult job I do as a decorator.  Truthfully it is to a...

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Paint solves many problems

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You know how it goes with decorating.  You get one thing to a point where you love it and that improvement only makes other things in the space look dismal.  And that is the point where we left off in the last post-  loving the chairs and not liking what is happening on top of the buffet.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="painting upholstery dining chairs buffet vignette" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG5CI9kByKFJ_Yud820APzD38tJ6ZstoBevwkvgY561Rvc-jqoIvmZ-pQp3QvBw8ez8OKVTlNJnGXqG7JEMpx1PdY5Fj36iDDGZv_RiT_T4Qqh31v42yFu4-OsrPP_ncs6dDe1UW-wEoK/s400/DSCN0087_01.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Paint solves many problems" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost but not quite</td></tr></tbody></table><h4>One problem area</h4><div>Let's start with the lamp.  I've always loved this lamp and when  I recently moved it from the living room it needed a new home. I perched it on several books as a way to increase the height and  connect the dark chair colour to the buffet.</div><div><br /></div><div>  I left it for several days, but I knew what would happen.  Every time I passed by I had the same thought</div><div> ( that shade is way too white).  Problem arising... what were the chances I would find this type of lamp shade in St. John's?  NIL  What was left?  Paint it or cover it with fabric or paper.  I chose paint knowing if I totally messed  it up I could use fabric or paper to cover it. </div><div><br /></div><div><h4>What colour? </h4></div><div> The lamp had to relate to the drapes without overmatching, I trotted to my studio to see what I had there and chose  BM floral white OC29 left over from painting  frames for an dart show.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin Moore Floral White OC 29 </td></tr></tbody></table>This  is a dirty white with the faintest hint of warmth without looking too yellow. Perfect in my book. Some bloggers recommend it as a good white for cabinets if you have white appliances.<br /><br /><h4>How to?</h4></div><div> I watered down the paint by half  and brushed it on with a 2 inch art brush -synthetic soft hair for acrylic paint.  It's a  messy business so have something to catch the drips. If you are careful you only need one coat.   It worked like a charm with no buckling or patchy areas.  You definitely have to water down  the paint or it will look too solid and not be absorbed into the fabric. </div><div><br /></div><div>  Some references I consulted said to use a fabric medium with the paint but I didn't.  From my art experience I think you could add acrylic matte medium to replace the fabric medium if you so desired. </div><div><br /></div><div><h4>Problem two</h4></div><div>Once I used  red as an accent on the buffet and in my living room, my beautiful landscape by Carolyne Honey Harrison started to remind me of a Christmas tree.  The green frame (which hubby made for it) had to be changed. I have a terrible aversion  to "seasonal" colour connections.<br /><br /><h4>What colour?</h4></div><div></div><div> First I  painted the frame BM Black panther, a soft black I use for art frames, but it was too harsh for this particular  artwork and space.  All you could see was the frame.  I prefer the art to show and the frame to support it. <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ9cqCaYTisUkLhF_vDH2eTKcsaKwdslQD_9YrfwXIDxoDuBMmIfA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin Moore Black Panther 2125-10</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain  2134-30</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Next try was  BM Iron Mountain left over from painting my Media unit (<a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2014/02/my-furniture-painting-secrets.html">see here)</a>. Worked like a charm.  It brought more dark to that side of the room and played off the chair colour without matching perfectly.   My daughter joked that everything in my house would soon be some form of charcoal.  Possibly!<br /><br /><h4>The reveal </h4><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><img alt="painting upholstery dining chairs buffet vignette" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG5CI9kByKFJ_Yud820APzD38tJ6ZstoBevwkvgY561Rvc-jqoIvmZ-pQp3QvBw8ez8OKVTlNJnGXqG7JEMpx1PdY5Fj36iDDGZv_RiT_T4Qqh31v42yFu4-OsrPP_ncs6dDe1UW-wEoK/s400/DSCN0087_01.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Paint solves many problems" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Almost but not quite</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHjDwV9e_PmO2qCfwL5K8niNcQ7aOshA9jP5p0Dks782Xnfg7-rTVpi6sF1LO3tii3b2LZ7BIRUPMSvQrXuDTMNTA11jv2lTjTaGnd4JQjieuwFnc5Shp6j7-ehaC8q5_s7U1efAytiUS/s1600/DSCN0179_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="painted chairs painted lampshade painted frame" border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHjDwV9e_PmO2qCfwL5K8niNcQ7aOshA9jP5p0Dks782Xnfg7-rTVpi6sF1LO3tii3b2LZ7BIRUPMSvQrXuDTMNTA11jv2lTjTaGnd4JQjieuwFnc5Shp6j7-ehaC8q5_s7U1efAytiUS/s1600/DSCN0179_01.JPG" title="paint solves many problems" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Subtle changes make a difference </td></tr></tbody></table><br />And you might think this room is now complete.   I wish!  More problems and solutions to come. <br />Is paint a solution in your home decor?  I'd love to hear what you've done with it.  </div><div><br /></div>

Paint solves many problems

You know how it goes with decorating.  You get one thing to a point where you love it and that improvement only makes other things in the sp...

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Dining room solutions

I<span style="font-family: inherit;">n January during a blackout our pipes broke resulting in water damage to a number of rooms in our home. What was a bit of a disaster turned into a positive for me because it finally got me moving to do something about  one of my biggest decorating problems.  That would be my dining room.... See my complaints in this  <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2012/10/do-you-have-problem-room.html">post</a><u> </u>.  It's quite a list. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><h4><span style="font-family: inherit;">Too much of a good thing</span></h4><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is how it all looked  in early 2000 .....</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="problems furniture arrangement dining room" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z8-vSlqkqQwF9gXVzhj_0BMlfX5No9c3cjpwaZ4hvYgzC69Wltv2FG7eGgGI545z9rlBDvHYQcIXemHxBrGzn8Z44-beNamDsaFGUnX8o4FQ6N2NWmyvhhdiHqjl8R1aUa9WDg8LyYLi/s400/DSCN56586666.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Dining room solutions" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wood, wood and more wood</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Problem lines  </span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Wood everywhere isn't the only problem.  Note the all the horizontal lines from the buffets to the railing,  a light hung too high and a window that has a view of the window next door.   Below is my first attempt to solve some of the highlighted problems.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><img alt="arranging dining room furniture " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2XpLMZjEms8fAtIgnWC0vsUlVVaslYf5F6lPMXPgvmPAWvzL1yKqfuYgWJDw7uqrtzgTYywAzmrWlYeoGkvNXWnPpTyxaY1EbMB0Yr4Jf4ws6-BcjkiwqhjDxibx6YwWV8Qu9dta1cud/s400/DSCN8196_01.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Dining room solutions " /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> A different orientation solves some problems</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Rearrange and add</span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I liked the changes and that satisfied me for a short time.  The new light was a good height and the roundness worked well against all the rectangles.  I also added longer (very temporary and too short) drapes to break some of the horizontal lines.    I moved the art work from  the living room to dining room,  and created some height and brightness on the dining table.  Still seriously problematic in my book because I did nothing to alleviate the wood issue, but it was improved but sorely lacking  pizazz.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Enter 2014... </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The power of paint and fabric</span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">One of the cheapest updates you can make to any space is to paint something.  I don't care if it is furniture, accessories or walls, it works every time. Since we had to repaint all the walls (BM Glacier white) I continued on to paint quite a few things which I will reveal over the next several posts.  </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG5CI9kByKFJ_Yud820APzD38tJ6ZstoBevwkvgY561Rvc-jqoIvmZ-pQp3QvBw8ez8OKVTlNJnGXqG7JEMpx1PdY5Fj36iDDGZv_RiT_T4Qqh31v42yFu4-OsrPP_ncs6dDe1UW-wEoK/s1600/DSCN0087_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="painting upholstery dining chairs gray circles" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG5CI9kByKFJ_Yud820APzD38tJ6ZstoBevwkvgY561Rvc-jqoIvmZ-pQp3QvBw8ez8OKVTlNJnGXqG7JEMpx1PdY5Fj36iDDGZv_RiT_T4Qqh31v42yFu4-OsrPP_ncs6dDe1UW-wEoK/s1600/DSCN0087_01.JPG" title="Dining room solutions " width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Bringing  it into 2014</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">To break up the wood and the set,  I was determined to sell all the dining chairs and buy new ones. I still don't know how I got hubby to agree to selling 8 hand made solid ash chairs because they were too matched. He was probably fed up listening to complaints!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br /></span>After an extensive search,  I realized the chairs that looked best with the table  were the ones my husband made for it. I don't like sets, but in this case I had to concede.  So ... after much discussion with sister and daughter and varying opinions, I found a fabric I loved and then choose spray paint to work with it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I would like to say that cleaning and spray painting 8 chairs was exciting.  Not so.... But I got to use my favourite motif (circles) and my favourite colour gray. What could be better!   Part 2 coming soon... new problems and solutions. Hint:  Look at the vignettes on the buffet and table.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">What do you think?  </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />

Dining room solutions

I n January during a blackout our pipes broke resulting in water damage to a number of rooms in our home. What was a bit of a disaster turne...

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One simple move

 In my last post I presented my problem dining  room. I feel I've put the space on the road to salvation.  Here's the update so far.  I have more ideas, but they require a lot of elbow grease and won't happen before Christmas.  I think it's looking more spacious and welcoming.<br /><br /><b>Before </b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z8-vSlqkqQwF9gXVzhj_0BMlfX5No9c3cjpwaZ4hvYgzC69Wltv2FG7eGgGI545z9rlBDvHYQcIXemHxBrGzn8Z44-beNamDsaFGUnX8o4FQ6N2NWmyvhhdiHqjl8R1aUa9WDg8LyYLi/s1600/DSCN56586666.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z8-vSlqkqQwF9gXVzhj_0BMlfX5No9c3cjpwaZ4hvYgzC69Wltv2FG7eGgGI545z9rlBDvHYQcIXemHxBrGzn8Z44-beNamDsaFGUnX8o4FQ6N2NWmyvhhdiHqjl8R1aUa9WDg8LyYLi/s400/DSCN56586666.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> After</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2XpLMZjEms8fAtIgnWC0vsUlVVaslYf5F6lPMXPgvmPAWvzL1yKqfuYgWJDw7uqrtzgTYywAzmrWlYeoGkvNXWnPpTyxaY1EbMB0Yr4Jf4ws6-BcjkiwqhjDxibx6YwWV8Qu9dta1cud/s1600/DSCN8196_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2XpLMZjEms8fAtIgnWC0vsUlVVaslYf5F6lPMXPgvmPAWvzL1yKqfuYgWJDw7uqrtzgTYywAzmrWlYeoGkvNXWnPpTyxaY1EbMB0Yr4Jf4ws6-BcjkiwqhjDxibx6YwWV8Qu9dta1cud/s400/DSCN8196_01.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4fG5PpecuJ-DtpUHpbw2ByK-j5EIeC9r5bH551IKSvtighjfebbH4tkL3nMnlaq7cIwmz2mdLKnRze4aTmDpYCr5um6uEaoqWSLKJNeAuFoDCAsRJoHkTXL6BRDitVhjSfM0XXGeRAa-/s1600/DSCN8197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4fG5PpecuJ-DtpUHpbw2ByK-j5EIeC9r5bH551IKSvtighjfebbH4tkL3nMnlaq7cIwmz2mdLKnRze4aTmDpYCr5um6uEaoqWSLKJNeAuFoDCAsRJoHkTXL6BRDitVhjSfM0XXGeRAa-/s400/DSCN8197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b>I moved  the furniture, placing the  buffets along the kitchen wall. and set the table up vertically in the space.   That allowed me to hang floor length draperies; these are temporary until  my custom ones are ready. My new ones will be off white and hung higher.  Yes, I do know these are too short! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The strong vertical of the draperies plays nicely against the railing and breaks up the horizontal lines.  I have a new light fixture which is larger in scale and hung a little lower, but not so low that  my tall family will bang into it! I still want to see the art work over the buffets while seated in the living room. I always choose function over anything else. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also like the fact you can't look directly into the buffets from the front porch!  I'm  thinking about stripping the natural finish on the furniture and doing a gray wash to change the colour and make it stand out from the floor.  I'd love new chairs, lamps for the buffet,  something more interesting in the corner by the railing.....  We'll see...... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What do you think? </div><br /><br />

One simple move

 In my last post I presented my problem dining  room. I feel I've put the space on the road to salvation.  Here's the update so far....

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Do you have a problem room?

We all have them, those rooms that defy all you know about design, and just continue to go about their merry way creating problems no matter what you do with them. I managed to create a monster a quarter of a century ago right  in the middle of my house because  my mind was focused on other things at the time. I've spent the intervening  years trying to make my dining room "right" by my standards - I haven't achieved that yet.  <br /><br />No one has ever walked into my house and said "OMG, what a mess this dining room is."  So what's wrong with it  in my eyes?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNaFwoqAd1VufmCuYzTsG7fvoMxSfoR3cksojbDt8o1MTNwJq6gD0QKjVpGFpr63l_AI-6FSfWFK6H8Y67B9BfpvFbal5az6FKwYl2m86h9sL41ZJmGUD5g3Mk6VTXSMk9jMUZdAEfq1m/s1600/DSCN565566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNaFwoqAd1VufmCuYzTsG7fvoMxSfoR3cksojbDt8o1MTNwJq6gD0QKjVpGFpr63l_AI-6FSfWFK6H8Y67B9BfpvFbal5az6FKwYl2m86h9sL41ZJmGUD5g3Mk6VTXSMk9jMUZdAEfq1m/s400/DSCN565566.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>Location:</b>  When you're standing in my entry  you look directly into the dining room.  The archway frames the table and the window.  It is also a walk through space from the living room  on the right  to the kitchen which is to the left.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcAXKB6szpxNOZG2hpH_-palBotMGIgS4vuM7A9S1MvoCJ-ffLRrFwSK2Ui5eZl4S-xiBmHO-zpQksVi5DCRlHjb9I4o-FV5j7S2YeQcCJsFK1t11KixuBLOkLMdDWEsm4ugsreSF1s01/s1600/DSCN566266.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcAXKB6szpxNOZG2hpH_-palBotMGIgS4vuM7A9S1MvoCJ-ffLRrFwSK2Ui5eZl4S-xiBmHO-zpQksVi5DCRlHjb9I4o-FV5j7S2YeQcCJsFK1t11KixuBLOkLMdDWEsm4ugsreSF1s01/s400/DSCN566266.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There is an alternate hallway beside the stairs, but we never go that way. My dining room is the room in the middle with no identity. Because the walkway needs to be maintained  only half the room is really accessible for  the table - <i>problem #1.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I noticed another problem when I looked at this photo but it was easily fixed. Can you spot the fix?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN9rSRccOi5DzCBVGd4IyoP_qMLQrf4OaMQR8Te2ZNJIDjSBj7hT3wzaC7xT9_K5XOyvFscFTXTmaRTEvo5yxP7y6lLp28WFkx5dkpfbJDwTtnOK9NPVxA3fVpm9vuZIoV0E11yACiU-J/s1600/DSCN567366-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN9rSRccOi5DzCBVGd4IyoP_qMLQrf4OaMQR8Te2ZNJIDjSBj7hT3wzaC7xT9_K5XOyvFscFTXTmaRTEvo5yxP7y6lLp28WFkx5dkpfbJDwTtnOK9NPVxA3fVpm9vuZIoV0E11yACiU-J/s400/DSCN567366-2.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Across from the table looking  toward the front porch. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Top art work by <a href="http://www.angelaantle.com/main/">Angela Antle</a> and bottom by <a href="http://www.theleytongallery.com/anita_singh.html">Anita Singh</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A second artwork was added to connect with the chair below it. Doesn't that look better?</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuusmlU2FdFCUQJwHJJFPcsdvtXhXLyjgM5r3XUcxX6Q-X2-qtSaFMG5T9TpC3N3tzXqB8QVEH730dzT8OOUXJb0uZX9SKcRbhrcPMKd_pjU_xH1xv0WHRkhIEiNAP9AAwK7tbQK2I25ic/s1600/DSCN566066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuusmlU2FdFCUQJwHJJFPcsdvtXhXLyjgM5r3XUcxX6Q-X2-qtSaFMG5T9TpC3N3tzXqB8QVEH730dzT8OOUXJb0uZX9SKcRbhrcPMKd_pjU_xH1xv0WHRkhIEiNAP9AAwK7tbQK2I25ic/s400/DSCN566066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Furniture:</b> The dining room buffets, table, and chairs were handcrafted, especially for me, by my man who can do anything.  The set has that "casual contemporary with a nod toward mid -century modern look" that I love.    The scale and style fits the room and the buffets are nicely tucked away behind the table.  Have you noticed <i>problem #2 yet?</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguybO65SlCmXdiCN67Mgei-MfuZs6Ygciif4GtpEbEu8JrHdyIS34gLpl0VXA1OVWiC6jeCAHDb-SO0vGsAkDROhcrG8DVNaWWCMslGbAlGOomst8MPBUu1Ddq2NFWDLcsELeUTzCJUGa-/s1600/DSCN566866.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguybO65SlCmXdiCN67Mgei-MfuZs6Ygciif4GtpEbEu8JrHdyIS34gLpl0VXA1OVWiC6jeCAHDb-SO0vGsAkDROhcrG8DVNaWWCMslGbAlGOomst8MPBUu1Ddq2NFWDLcsELeUTzCJUGa-/s400/DSCN566866.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguybO65SlCmXdiCN67Mgei-MfuZs6Ygciif4GtpEbEu8JrHdyIS34gLpl0VXA1OVWiC6jeCAHDb-SO0vGsAkDROhcrG8DVNaWWCMslGbAlGOomst8MPBUu1Ddq2NFWDLcsELeUTzCJUGa-/s1600/DSCN566866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A rather dark  view  from the living room.  Thankfully the railings aren't that orange!</div><br />You're right! The furniture is the same height as the railing causing your eye to run along the lines and never go anywhere else. I've used all my tricks to make it otherwise, with minimal success. Note all the verticals - floor lamp, tall twigs, candle sticks, vertical artwork, accentuated vertical windows in living room.  The strength of the horizontal lines and the preponderance of wood wins out every time. <br /><br /><b>Flooring and railing</b><br /><i>Problem #3</i><br />The aged oak is so orange- my least favourite tone in wood. Because I can't rip it all up or throw away the furniture, I've decided to embrace the orange  and pick it up in interesting art works that also have lots of purples and blues to tame down the orange.   <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Problem #4</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Because the furniture is in one half of the room, there isn't enough space  for an area rug which would keep the furniture from blending into the floor.  If I wanted to use an area rug I would have to cover most of the floor, but that would mean vacuuming;  I would rather use a dust mop! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Problem #5 </i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have a love/ hate relationship with the railing.  It is solid wood, has a good design and fits with the age of the house and our design aesthetic. I have strong feelings about maintaining "period "architectural detailing and the railing is necessary because the living room is sunken.  But it is soooo difficult to ignore that orangey railing..  It didn't look like this in 1986.  Time ages wood to either orange or yellow especially when treated with oil based products.   </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z8-vSlqkqQwF9gXVzhj_0BMlfX5No9c3cjpwaZ4hvYgzC69Wltv2FG7eGgGI545z9rlBDvHYQcIXemHxBrGzn8Z44-beNamDsaFGUnX8o4FQ6N2NWmyvhhdiHqjl8R1aUa9WDg8LyYLi/s1600/DSCN56586666.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z8-vSlqkqQwF9gXVzhj_0BMlfX5No9c3cjpwaZ4hvYgzC69Wltv2FG7eGgGI545z9rlBDvHYQcIXemHxBrGzn8Z44-beNamDsaFGUnX8o4FQ6N2NWmyvhhdiHqjl8R1aUa9WDg8LyYLi/s400/DSCN56586666.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>Lighting </b><br /><i>Problem #6 </i><b><br /></b><br />The light fixture was an impulse buy  because I liked the lines,  but its scale is too small, and it is hung too high in my efforts to make sure you could see the painting at the end of the room.   As an artist, art always takes precedent over every other design  decision in my house.  This often leads me into hot water.<br /><br /><b>Wall colour </b><br /><i>Problem # 7 </i><b><br /></b><br />You may be thinking at this point why doesn't she have the walls pained a cooler neutral.  Can't happen because the living room, where most of the light comes from, is north facing and the house next door blocks off any light in the dining room.  Both rooms are dull and cold.  The living room is  Elephant Tusk OC 8 Benjamin Moore and the dining room is Light Khaki  BM 2148-40.<br /><br /><b>Window treatment</b><br /><i>Problem #8 </i><b> </b><br />I love these back tab drapes for the subtle design and their softness,  but the necessity to crop them to allow for the buffet further emphasizes all the horizontal lines. I also think I should have a window treatment that covers the window in some way so you can't see the wall of the next house with is very close to the window and certainly not interesting.<br /><br /><b>Matching set  </b><br /><i>Problem # 9 </i><br />I have an aversion to matched sets of furniture and here I am living with just that. Matching always looks so uninspired in my eyes and gives the appearance of laziness.  Like you couldn't be bothered to put the room together.  Yes I like a curated room and I have a bundled set!<br /><br />I'm sure if I really tried I could find a <i>Problem 10.  </i>Many of you may feel it is the lack of cove mouldings, but that again is not part of the architectural details of the original house.  <br /><br /> Well that about explains the problems. Who knew there was so much wrong with my dining room?  Most of my friends would be very surprised by this analysis!  In the next post I'll look at some possible solutions.  If you have anything to suggest that might help with my design dilemmas, I'd love to hear from you.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcAXKB6szpxNOZG2hpH_-palBotMGIgS4vuM7A9S1MvoCJ-ffLRrFwSK2Ui5eZl4S-xiBmHO-zpQksVi5DCRlHjb9I4o-FV5j7S2YeQcCJsFK1t11KixuBLOkLMdDWEsm4ugsreSF1s01/s1600/DSCN566266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>

Do you have a problem room?

We all have them, those rooms that defy all you know about design, and just continue to go about their merry way creating problems no matter...

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Hot seats

<br />Dining rooms have a tendency to be formal affairs with matching table and chairs. but that doesn't mean they have to be. You can shake it up with unique styles and colours.    Here are some of my favourite <b>Wow</b> dining "sets" from my <a href="http://pinterest.com/mryall/dining-rooms/">Pinterest collection.  </a><br /><br /><b>Make it  patterned </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuZQRJ4rdCm5AVaADsOWow-tkPvY2wWJZ0CpGmSkV_ql9Iv8R7aFyUFOx3uTr6YvtYdkD3DdnHJrOT6FZFHPtm_znjhaJtqq7KSwzWQiRymkTh9O_X2RvvH4bzWHhb9laevZO1DQZ2XQi/s1600/171277592048041248_3HKoICh5_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuZQRJ4rdCm5AVaADsOWow-tkPvY2wWJZ0CpGmSkV_ql9Iv8R7aFyUFOx3uTr6YvtYdkD3DdnHJrOT6FZFHPtm_znjhaJtqq7KSwzWQiRymkTh9O_X2RvvH4bzWHhb9laevZO1DQZ2XQi/s640/171277592048041248_3HKoICh5_f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />These luxurious chairs invite you to cozy up to the table. I'm a sucker for texture, and I would totally enjoy having a meal at this table.  Think of how soft the fabric would be!   I like the fact that the chairs  are patterned on the back and  plain on the opposite side.  The tufting supports the more traditional design and the high back chairs at the ends work well with the size of the space and the curves of the other chairs. The  hobbled roman shade is is a soft but clean window treatment in this room.  Lots of ideas to steal in this set up.<br /><br /><b>Repeated curves</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtdE45j7cGiufsFpugmiqU_eCQfJpwJAgCdMKI4x1vmHNMvN625MNe-LZFKiTrEySGGbr1kakqxSmGso3zEFhlbCrLxEwDWaC1xUzv_PfRmvHMYk6zL5vf76bsxiT_VQhn7Se6hmIvIuR/s1600/125960120797782645_4q8JpmwF_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtdE45j7cGiufsFpugmiqU_eCQfJpwJAgCdMKI4x1vmHNMvN625MNe-LZFKiTrEySGGbr1kakqxSmGso3zEFhlbCrLxEwDWaC1xUzv_PfRmvHMYk6zL5vf76bsxiT_VQhn7Se6hmIvIuR/s640/125960120797782645_4q8JpmwF_f.jpg" width="478" /></a></div> Lately I'm very attracted to everything aqua. Doesn't this colour look great with dark wood?  Curves abound in this room - in the draperies, the stairs, the chair arms, the vines in the carpet and in the light fixture. A soothing room all around with an unconventional chair colour. <br /><br /><b> Popping yellow</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglca-eruiu6yi5lHzzWDIGYlbdUkXVG_eFlhQx42cbu_zdcqtQWcdrgjahA2IhO2K6yafjca1cdmUiKxN6b2Nv_oWnwc8th900CvTQq0V21-HxgCSMvqE7CZfVptNbT85kWhzDBbt6_YX7/s1600/214413632229812813_E0yuNJnU_f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglca-eruiu6yi5lHzzWDIGYlbdUkXVG_eFlhQx42cbu_zdcqtQWcdrgjahA2IhO2K6yafjca1cdmUiKxN6b2Nv_oWnwc8th900CvTQq0V21-HxgCSMvqE7CZfVptNbT85kWhzDBbt6_YX7/s640/214413632229812813_E0yuNJnU_f.jpg" width="492" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who could ignore these canary yellow chairs? I love the way everything else in the room plays second fiddle to the chairs and allows them to be the star. I want to whisk those red flowers away though. Don't we all have our opinions about what looks best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Serene colour scheme</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VxrcnF0rfbzOSgRnq1opIe6L1u7maZ-QULypn8_Oa7LtEXEeUL1Z4QzfaWQbgsTJhtSMUsnwFYrlYD15k7MgT_PFh1jSEH3UnhHUsiaR8ZF9na59U2c8LNar8i4OL6CztHGLvw0KvAJv/s1600/171277592048041247_zLBCoE1L_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VxrcnF0rfbzOSgRnq1opIe6L1u7maZ-QULypn8_Oa7LtEXEeUL1Z4QzfaWQbgsTJhtSMUsnwFYrlYD15k7MgT_PFh1jSEH3UnhHUsiaR8ZF9na59U2c8LNar8i4OL6CztHGLvw0KvAJv/s1600/171277592048041247_zLBCoE1L_f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VxrcnF0rfbzOSgRnq1opIe6L1u7maZ-QULypn8_Oa7LtEXEeUL1Z4QzfaWQbgsTJhtSMUsnwFYrlYD15k7MgT_PFh1jSEH3UnhHUsiaR8ZF9na59U2c8LNar8i4OL6CztHGLvw0KvAJv/s640/171277592048041247_zLBCoE1L_f.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This room is different in every way from the one above. I love the clean lines of the benches and chairs . Remember that you need a central leg or an X leg if you want to move easily to and from a bench style seat. Armless banquettes are the most versatile.   The texture on the front of the buffet;  the circular ceramic vases with  twigs, and the rounded edges of the table add interesting lines and some complexity to the room. The colour and lines of the light fixture work well with everything else.  Doesn't this room look serene? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> Repetition of curves </b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzUd8q-VpTkbu7aBB8cC_oDo0HhbIQYybhCVkBEnnm_AP8xk0RdKK8tLQ17Tn33RLJcqnjjyCejtoHP1k08V-tkVj8B3Teu2xQXTRpox15GuVMmK8j2FtqaLLzXO9rLDCGVQySyJ-TpRc/s1600/177962622744890857_TOy4d5VO_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzUd8q-VpTkbu7aBB8cC_oDo0HhbIQYybhCVkBEnnm_AP8xk0RdKK8tLQ17Tn33RLJcqnjjyCejtoHP1k08V-tkVj8B3Teu2xQXTRpox15GuVMmK8j2FtqaLLzXO9rLDCGVQySyJ-TpRc/s640/177962622744890857_TOy4d5VO_f.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />More  banquettes, but this time paired with patterned chairs and a curvy table. The four leg table design will make getting into the banquette a little more difficult.The arms will add to the problem.    The chair  shape is repeated in the  mirror and the doors of the buffet.   An interesting mix. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglca-eruiu6yi5lHzzWDIGYlbdUkXVG_eFlhQx42cbu_zdcqtQWcdrgjahA2IhO2K6yafjca1cdmUiKxN6b2Nv_oWnwc8th900CvTQq0V21-HxgCSMvqE7CZfVptNbT85kWhzDBbt6_YX7/s1600/214413632229812813_E0yuNJnU_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviVHC0HFKbMvoVycmpZQPAweesaBTdynvBL5qbHHl9kqA1_RB51iEEPaK_jWD5BqjIRPQoeCMn87aFn0rMj60CE90KA9ZmJLsT6mgYc4jmOy16oCa8-xWLnrj0M0t-5CnjSEBebL6_NrM/s1600/285415695104110842_eiBop4m2_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviVHC0HFKbMvoVycmpZQPAweesaBTdynvBL5qbHHl9kqA1_RB51iEEPaK_jWD5BqjIRPQoeCMn87aFn0rMj60CE90KA9ZmJLsT6mgYc4jmOy16oCa8-xWLnrj0M0t-5CnjSEBebL6_NrM/s640/285415695104110842_eiBop4m2_f.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br />There's nothing formal about this room! It will definitely appeal to the colour and texture lovers out there. I want to see a more substantial table with all this colour, but that's just me. <br /><br />How do you feel about chairs and tables not matching?

Hot seats

Dining rooms have a tendency to be formal affairs with matching table and chairs. but that doesn't mean they have to be. You can shake i...

Read more »