I can’t believe that two months have passed since I enlisted the help of you savvy readers in rearranging my dining room… It seems like I should have completed a lot more projects than just redoing one measly room, but my days are usually filled with picking up toys, cleaning rice cereal out of Ike’s ears, and changing some increasingly odd diapers. (In case you should ever come to my house for dinner, rest assured that last thing never takes place in the dining room.) At any rate, it’s done(ish). I say “ish” because you know me… nothing is ever really done. In other words, this place will probably look totally different next month. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and check out its previous iterations:
Super old:
Kinda old:
And right now — today — this is what I’ve got going on:
I took the suggestion a lot of you bandied about and bought some Ikea Aina curtains for my puny window. See? I listen(ish). HB hung them high and wide, and voila! Bigger window. The sexy 70s lucite chandelier came from Ebay.
I tried to reuse most of my old goodies, like this Curtis Jere(ish) brass tree, but the table and chairs had to take a hike. The old Danish table went to our office, and the Burke chairs went to Karly’s dining room. Because, sharing means caring, right?
Our new (to us) 90″ long reclaimed wood and stainless steel dining table came from craigslist, and the sellers even delivered it for no additional charge. Super score! The Marcel Breuer(ish) chairs came with Karly’s glass table and I wasn’t totally sure about them at first, but for $150, I’ve decided they’re awesome. And comfy.
The brass sconces came from Ebay. I almost photoshopped out the fugly cords, but I decided to keep it real, yo. Ok, and I’m lazy. And busy. And I’d also like to know what to do about them. I think I should nail them to the wall and paint them black. Thoughts?
I already had the Karly Springer(ish) console table, but I added a few nick knacks, trying to keep the neutral vibe going. The Head came from Room Service, the mask and bronze hand were both made by art school buddies, and the faux bois tray is vintage. The cord is pissing me off.
Here’s a view of the left side of the dining room/entry way. I didn’t want the dining room pieces to compete with the ceiling, so I kept everything on the down low. Except for Doris.
Doris is my new David Hockney(ish) million color screenprint that I picked up for $4.99 while thrifting with the ladies. She’s 100% hand pulled awesomeness.
Yet another view of the right side of the room… I may have gotten a bit carried away with the photos, but at least you can see that the vintage Drexel benches reverted to their original linen upholstery.
Beethoven is holding down the back corner. My friend Peter did the naughty etching above his head. It’s a special surprise that you can only see up close and personal… real personal.
That’s it for my home tour! Hope you dudes aren’t disappointed that there aren’t any trees growing out of the floor or poltergeists in the corners. I’ll get to work on that, pronto.
Ish.
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Great job! I love seeing what you’re doing. I have loved all the versions, though (don’t tell your HB…).
As for the cords, they sell cord covers at Home Depot et al. You can cut them around the cord switch and paint them black. I have one light in particular that I have covered like that and you don’t even notice the cord (although the switch is more near the bottom).
I love Doris.
Wow, that table is PERFECT. I really like it. I also love both the ladies you have facing off on opposite walls.
love the chandelier and the widening of the window trick. where did the fabulous painting come from – the lady with a halo? love it.
yay!! you know i love the new room.
I like HG’s suggestion for the cord covers. You could also just rewire them with black cords and black switches (which you could put lower on the cord). It’s super easy, Ben could have both done in 10 minutes.
It looks SENSATIONAL. So sophisticated. And I think putting the etching behind Beethoven really helped balance him out against the tree on the other side.
And Doris is a badass.
Wow, lady. I love it. The golden tree and yearning maiden make me think of an enchanted realm (I am reading a lot of fairy tales these days, so that is a good thing.)
It looks amazing!
Having recently experienced EB’s house firsthand, I must tell you ladies (and honorary ladies) that this room is but a tiny eensy weensy sliver of the fabulousness that is Schloss Berin von BenandErin.
In person, that dining table will bring tears to your eyes. The chairs compliment it to perfection. I rarely envy others’ home decor, but I was turning green in Erin’s (and Karly’s) abode.
As for the cords, I would say hardwire the fixtures and get rid of the cords altogether. But by the time you locate an electrician, another pair of sconces will have caught your fancy. You’re a frustrated retailer, I tell ya!
Thanks, thanks, everyone for the kind comments!
Sherri, the lady is a vintage painting I’ve had for years. She came from a dusty shop in California.
HG, I like this cord cover idea — will investigate soon(ish). Raina, I would make Ben hardwire them, but what if I decided to put something else on that wall? Then I’d have two holes. Oh, and I am totally a frustrated retailer! I’m watching so much crap on Ebay right now…
Love the changes. The table and chairs look like a place to eat and drink and talk for hours I tell ya! Curtains add that certain soft edge to the room that is so nice! I love the screen print and I love that photo of it with the reflection of your awesome chandy in it too! Okay- and If I may gush a little more- that ceiling paint job is really on spot too.
I just realized that I broke my own personal rules/record of how many exclamation points I could use in one comment. But that’s how great it is.. (!)
Looks good – the curtains and light fixture make a huge difference! And the entry way ceiling is bananas…in a good way of course!
I’m just a lurker, but I have to comment that Doris is perfect. It’s like she’s sun-bathing in the awesomeness shining from your ceiling.
fan-farking-tastic! i love it! especially the ceiling and the “hockney”! WELL DONE!!!
Susan, I am such an exclamation point whore — it’s all good. !!!!
Waxy, good to hear from you!
Sarah, hello and welcome! Are you sure you’re not secretly karly? She said the same thing…
Drollgirl, thanks!
It looks sooooo good! I am with Raina on hard-wiring the lights. You may find other lights you like better, but you can hard-wire those too! Go go go!
Concur with all above – loves it!
I LOVE IT!! (no ish…)
Thanks, ladies!
I totally agree hard wiring would be awesomest, but the issue isn’t whether or not I may someday find sconces I like better (of course I will!), the issue is that there are no outlets back there. HB would have to run wire and then cut holes in my pretty wall. I’m ok with him doing all that work (heh), but what if I get a different sized painting or need to move the console over 4 inches or change out the furniture over there altogether?
It’s an enigma wrapped inside a conundrum shaped riddle.
Nice room! What is the blue color you used? I looooove it.
Now this is what I’m talking about. You were shooting for greatness, but I think you turned the corner and found Nirvana.
I gotta concur with drollgirl- fan-farking-tastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awww, nkp, you are such a lovey!
Alison, it’s actually black — the highlights from the window just show up blue in the picture. Anyway, it’s Black Beauty from Benjamin Moore.
LOVE that new table. Looks great in there. Jealous of. xo
Wow… amazing table. what a find!! i really must scour craigslist more often. the whole room is beautiful and very inspiring!
Gorgeous job, lady! I love, love, love the gold starburst ceiling. I grew up with Marcel Breuer(ish) chairs, by they way. Memories!
this is absolutely amazing! all versions are equally terrific but I must say, the latest is refreshing. you are quite the finder! oh & those caned chairs….adore!
Cantilevered chairs are my all time favorite and this set is exceptional. BTW, what is the story on the painting of the lady with the halo? She is spectacular.
Hello jyll, and welcome! I’m pretty happy with the chairs — super comfy. As for the lady, glad you like her. I bought her at an antique store in CA for $100. She’s definitely old, but I’m not sure if she’s 1820s old or 1920s old.
[...] am I kidding? Look, gold + my cat + a pretty picture of my old dining room = head exploding [...]