Dining Room

It’s not so much a room as a space for a table in the living room, but the carved out nook has got great potential. The first order of business is to sell the dining set and matching bar/hutch in the kitchen (hence the photos). Great solid 1970s pieces in near-perfect condition, inherited after my father-in-law passed away. Part of the problem in this space, as well as in the adjacent living room, is that we have far too much dark-wood furniture. Too much brown. And in regards to the table, the oval shape is just a bad fit for the area.

So, for the centerpiece of the space, I’ve (finally) decided on the white Parsons table from West Elm. It’s 36-inches square—plenty of room for four to dine comfortably (not that we actually eat at the table), and it will open up more space on either end of the nook.

And for the first pair of chairs, CB2’s Joe chair. It’s literally old school, with the shiny metal base and retro tweed upholstery. And they’re good-looking enough to be used as extra seating in the living room. But mostly I think they’ll be far more comfortable and inviting than what we have now, which will encourage actual use of the space. Plus, they’re $150 each.

The other two open spots I want to mix and match and throw in some color. For now, the pair of folding chairs I repurposed with leafy green spray-paint and patterned seats will do if we need extra seating. But I’d love an armchair, maybe go for the investment Nelson or Eames piece; probably the light blue Eiffel armchair. *swoon*

The last horrendous thing to replace is the old-lady crystal (“crystal”?) chandelier that’s not located where one might think to install a light for a dining area. It’s a bit askew, and seems like it wants to be in the living room and the dining area. *sigh* At least it has a dimmer.

While it’s a wee space, there are still lots of fun options of lighting for this little dining room. A pair of stainless-steel or chrome pendants would be great, as would a mid-size Nelson lamp. Or if you’ve got eight grand, I’ll take the small stainless-steel Artichoke light. But really, this is another spot with lots of affordable options, and besides, I’d just have to take the Nelson with me whenever we move.