Sorry for the radio silence yesterday, but I have been alternating between hustling and hibernating for the past 48 hours. Anyhow, part of the hustle was this fancy Sciolari fixture I won on ebay for a song:
Yes, that’s a 1st Dibs picture, because it’s the SAME FREAKING FIXTURE. Somebody had no idea what they were listing, which always makes me kind of sad — like I’m taking advantage. On the other hand, I really needed a pick me up right about now. So I’ll take it.
I’m going to put it in the dinette, and it’s not exactly what I had planned (maybe a little too predictable?), but I think it will work ok:
After much conferencing with Sanders about paint colors, this is the current situation. It’s not knocking my socks off, but it’s a small space so it can’t handle too much insanity. Plus, this is what I can reasonably do with my budget in a non-glacier time frame. I’m not loving the chairs, but I need something simple and cheap. I added a leather bench against the window because the sills sit too low to build a banquette.
Also I’m not super hot on the window fabric, but I don’t see anything else that I love for a reasonable price. Any hints out there?
Also also, I tried about 50000000 different paint colors, and it’s a really tough space. Peach is no bueno, but perhaps I should go more muted…?
Obviously the chandelier is going to have to carry the space.
Maybe the chandelier can pick out some paint colors and chairs and window treatments while he’s at it.
You can do it, chandelier. I believe in you.
Have a super swell weekend, peeps!
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OMG. I hate you.
How do you do it?!?! I love that light fixture. You have some mad eBay skills!! That is so kickass.
Stupid fly.
Holy sh*t, that’s amazing! Man, I need something like that for my still-not-fully-painted office.
Love the light fixture!
Why do you have to have a piece of fabric over your window?
I think it needs a little something something in there, and I don’t think it can come from the rug… hmmm.
NICE! I don’t think its too predictable.
I can’t commit to the wall color as a supporter or a hater. Sorry to be no help.
As for the window treatments… Do you need them? Can you do something like this?
http://pinterest.com/pin/45950858668309850/
(but with contrast trim in color of your choice… peach?)
I’m not really feeling the valance. I’d rather see the pattern on the floor.
How about some rattan/bamboo vintage dining chairs? Hey how predicable am I?
What about fun fabric for the chair upholstery? Laminate that shit!
Also, what about painting the cabinets that moody color and keeping the walls lighter? I just think that no matter what you do, you are going to hate that space until the oaky cabinets go away.
Ok, I’ll stop now.
Maybe.
Like the curtain idea — much easier to deal with than shades (sewing wise), but do I have room?
http://design-crisis.com/?p=3992
Will it be weird if I have different curtains in the adjacent room? This curtains business is all new to me.
I’ve been looking for chairs I can upholster but no luck… bamboo would be awesome. Maybe maybe maybe I’ll get lucky soon.
I’m waiting for a quote on custom cutting and binding a rug to fit the space. If it’s reasonable, that will open up my rug options considerably.
I very much DESPISE the cabinets, but the estimate I got for painting is 2K. For that price, I can just about get new cabinets, so we were thinking we’d wait until we redid the whole shebang. Sound about right? You’re the kitchen expert!
I don’t think a light color is going to work in there… the window looks out onto a covered patio and it’s pretty dark all day.
I think you have room. Just hang them as close to that soffit as possible. And yes, I think they can be different than the family room. Since they are in the same room they should at least coordinate, though.
Have you considered painting the room Dark Habor? I so love that color in your office… errr playroom. And the two rooms connect, right? I guess Sanders would know better if it works in that particular lighting. It just may help your whole fear of too many colors.
I like the idea of the structured cornice over the window – something like Palmer Weiss did in her home in her family room (from Lonny, can’t remember which one). I was hoping you’d use spoon flower to make that fabric from your original mood board with the cool bargello fabric! (Then I could buy it!!!)
So jealous, that fixture is gorgeous!!!
I’m very keen on the idea of an upholstered cornice rather than curtains. Looks fantastic with the light fixture and the table. I think curtains might be a bit fussy for such an oddly shaped space which is essentially an extension of the kitchen.
Those chairs…I’m sorry. They look ridiculous. There’s got to be a better option out there. Oh wait, here it is:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20105831/
Yeah, I’m not a huge Ikea booster either but this chair is perfectly acceptable. And inexpensive. And it has a removable, washable cover. Or you could have custom covers made sometime down the road.
Oh, and why can’t you paint your own cabinets? I’ve lived in five houses in six years, painted every single kitchen cabinet at least once per, and not once have I hired the work out to anyone else. And I’m probably the laziest person in the world. DO IT.
I love that you invite me to run my mouth on your blog.
Ha! Anytime.
I don’t love those chairs, either. I don’t mind an upholstered seat, but not a fan of fully upholstered dinner chairs… unless they are sexy leather and brass. I just need something simple. I’m totally open to suggestions.
How about these?
http://copenhagenliving2.reachlocal.net/catalog/product/796?room_id=5&page=6&furniture_type_id=42
Not as cheap, but still under $100/chair. They come in black and white.
I suppose it would be possible for me to paint the cabinets, but I’m not going to do it. That’s a shit ton of work — sanding, priming, painting — and I’m not going to do that while pregnant. I may not ever do that… Obviously I am lazier than you
Congrats on scoring that gorgeous chandelier…although I am super jealous haha!
I wish I could offer some advice on your dining room, but I’m in the same situation. Paint your ceiling matte black? Haha idk…
that entire scenario screams yellow to me…not too creamy or earthy or acid…you know? haha. It would look so cool with the chandelier and that curtain fabric, and crisp and modern with the black table!
Needs more acid wasp, though that chandelier is going to do a lot. What happened to the green color? That seemed more fitting.
I’m not nearly as good at this and I have to reset my brain to eclectic/regency/mod, but somehow I can’t quite see that color. I mean, I love the color, a friend of mine painted a bedroom that color and I was going to steal it from her until I realized I had already picked out paint colors for all my bedrooms. But I can’t see that color with the other things in the picture. I am trying to do the math from start to finish.
Blue-gray + chandelier = good.
Blue-gray + chandelier + black table = good.
Blue-gray + chandelier + table + dark blue picture (?) = starting to be doubtful.
Blue-gray + chandelier + table + blue picture + pink-and-white valence = no bueno.
I feel like blue/gold is sort of grown-up complementarity. Pink/gold is girly/glam. Blue/pink is The Children’s Place. And in my mind they don’t all compute at once. What if the valence were TIGER-COLORED tiger print? And the rug were also…some sort of animal print or earth tone…and the chairs were…different? Gold? Wood-toned? Amusing, because if I could put just one thing in that photo in my actual house it would be those chairs, but perhaps for that reason I am concerned that they don’t go in your house.
Also, I saw what I have decided is the best color ever on a hutch today on Centsational Girl’s blog (the photo is Martha Stewart but no original link, sadly). It’s a hunter green PLUS BLUE, which somehow makes it magical (at least, to me), sort of like how your Dark Harbor is navy PLUS GREEN. I don’t have a color name for you and I can’t see how you could fit it into your dining room but, um, maybe it could make you want to paint your cabinets, even if in a totally different color
. So I am sharing: http://c497280.r80.cf2.rackcdn.com/2012/04/white-dishes-martha-stewart.jpg. Have a lovely weekend!
Valance. Decor, not chemistry. Sigh.
That whole sanding, priming, etc. nonsense was created as a conspiracy by painters. just grab a roller and slap the paint on. No need to hire anyone. Ike should be old enough to help by now!
I can’t concentrate on the other issues because of the Ebay score jealousy. It doesn’t even matter what else you do…that fixture kills.
I’m picking my jaw up off my keyboard. Wowza. Your eBay score is whipping me. Unbelievable!! You have mad talent, girl. I’m in awe. Who cares about the room? THAT IS A SCIOLARI. Damn.
idk. something’s missing. could you keep color balance in board #3 from other day and swap in fab new light fixture? ie black/off-white patterned valance and paint these chairs in that delicious peachy color of the chairs in board #3? also, think the subtle black striping in rug from board #3 was kind of good. and i agree with erica! definitely just wipe down those cabinets and paint. not worth effort to sand, prime etc if they will be tossed in 2 years and any paint color will be an improvement, no? love your blog.
Congrats on the Ebay swag — gorgeous!
What doesn’t work here are the pinky valance and those chairs. I predict that if you go with those chairs, you’ll next be writing about setting fire to them.
I’ll be cheering you on.
Have a RELAXING weekend!
What about these chairs?
http://austin.craigslist.org/fuo/2974588948.html
Phew. I’m glad I’m not alone in my hatred of those chairs in that space. Your other pick (from copenhagen) isn’t much better, IMHO. You’re playing it too safe, which is going to land you in a big, steaming pile of regret later on. Search CraigsList and Ebay until you find a set that makes more of a statement! Jill’s suggestion is pretty close, though for some reason I can’t picture those in your space either. Maybe painted a glossy black? With scrubbable velvet seat cushions in that fantastic peachy-pinky shade?
Can I ask why you’re painting the table? With some rad chairs the trad finish will look great! Plus it’ll hold up better to abuse than a painted surface would. Please, take this advice from a woman who has painted kid-used dining tables and desks before. BAD NEWS.
Still think your color choices are right on. Your rug should have pattern, though. Leopard-spotty pattern.
You should also throw some lovely emerald green in the mix!
I second Jill’s chairs in gloss black, and the table in original (mahogany?) finish.
Also, I just painted a giant 7′ x 7′ bookshelf with glossy varnish, so I realized that I can share what worked – and didn’t work – for me:
(1) Don’t sand (that part works).
(2) Use a grease-cutting non-soap cleaner – one quick once-over. (I do NOT mean a caustic degreaser. I used TSP, which worked fine, but does call for rubber gloves. Diluted bleach would work fine too, but so would one of those organic all-purpose household cleaners, as long as it doesn’t leave a film.)
(3) Use regular primer, but it MUST be tinted the same color as your paint. As I learned, this is the difference between one coat of paint after priming – and THREE.
(4) I painted with a brush, because it’s woodwork and I wanted it to look that way. But a (small) foam roller might be better for cabinets, and likely also faster.
(5) Or you could borrow a friend’s paint-sprayer…and friend to operate it? I bet you could trade for the use of some of your magical eBay skills.
If I had painted one color (instead of matching the backs to the walls) and had used the right color of primer, I could have finished this project in a day.
I’m just mesmerized by that chandelier. Believe in it. It will bring you to the promised land of awesome breakfast/dining areas.
I’m with Rosie and Susie Q.
(Would you mix metals? How about these cute chairs? http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20115038/
@ Anita — I’m not an IKEA fan, but the grey version of that chair is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thanks!
I really like the wall color and the LAMP, but like everyone else am not keen on the rose colored print valence thingy.
Suggestions? I am terrible at such things and it usually take me several tries to get it right. Maybe add the color with the chairs?
More mirrored surfaces? gold beaded curtain? maybe not…
On lamp notes – my husband was mesmerized by a large Lucite lamp at a local junk shop and had to buy it even though we have no where to put it and it is about 4′ tall. I then found it on 1st dibs http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=571408
well okay then. It now hangs face level in our basement rec room but I forgive him anyway.
that chandelier needs a spanking.
Firstly, I can’t believe you scored that light!! I have been searching eBay relentlessly for a vintage brass chandy. It is amazing.
Second, I LOVE the Copenhagen chairs.
As for the table, I think it would be great black as I kinda think it looks a little suburban the way it is right now – you need to acid wasp it! Regarding painting cabinets, I’ve painted kitchen AND bathroom cabinets with no sanding and no priming and they have turned out perfectly. I use C2 or Pratt & Lambert, brush/foam roller combo. I have no problem washing them or anything.
Lastly, why don’t you use your dining room as a dining room? Do the kids area in the other end of the living room (you did mention this once) with the black cabinet and animal print rug. Don’t you think a great dining room is better than a squishy dining room and a giant playroom?
You could do a great sitting area in the dining nook with two fabulous chairs or a settee. The kids could play there as well. We have that setup in our kitchen and I swear it is the most used ‘room’ in our house. Guests lounge there while I make dinner, my husband sits there with the kids, I surf the web with my tea… you get the idea.
Congrats again on the eBay score, I’m still in awe lol
Hey Erin.
If you’re a gamblin, curious kinda girl, go to my facebook page to see my quickie take on your dining room dilemna! http://www.facebook.com/pattfarrelldesigns..
i would go DARK for DRAMA on the walls. keep table as is, brings in wood tones from the other room.
no valance, but roman blinds mounted inside the trim, that bring in most of the colors from the other room(s) will visually tie the spaces together.
I would do TWO benches with upholstered cushions in a coordinating fabric to the roman blinds (if floral or overly patterned on the blinds, then a smaller scale stripe or check on the cushions..or vice versa.) end chairs could float anywhere and pulled up as needed…
maybe large mirror floats on other wall to expand space visually and bounce light around.
Look at FLOR (www.flor.com) squares for flooring opts…great for kids and customizing to your specific needs..lots of opts in terms of pattern and color there.
GEE, that was FUN FOR ME. Hopefully you enjoyed this “design eye” ….
THX,
pf